While reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to continue extending moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for the right to self-determination, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Kashmir issue remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. “We are committed to continue with the moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. The whole nation including all political parties are united on the cause of Kashmir,” Gilani said while addressing the Kashmir Convention held at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day on Sunday. The prime minister said Kashmir policy had been the focus of the PPP-led government in line with the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was founded on the cause of Kashmir. Gilani said the success of the PPP in the Azad Kashmir elections was also dividend of the party’s policy on Kashmir and the support to Kashmiris, adding that observing February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day was the initiative of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and was given permanency by Benazir Bhutto. However, since Pakistan is a responsible country and nation as well as a responsible nuclear power, it has to make responsible policies. With four wars already fought on this issue, the region still is a flash-point,” he said adding that, “But in the 21st century, we cannot afford wars.” “We want to resolve the issues through dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy and national consensus,” he remarked. Gilani said the country’s policies should be made with national consensus and by the chosen representatives of masses, not by individuals. He said there were question marks in Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan, as it was made by a dictator, who was wearing four hats: the chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, chief of army staff, the president and chief executive, but could not sustain the pressure after a call from the US under secretary.
