- Pakistan’s envoy urges world to take note of rights violations against Kashmiri people
While pledging continued political, moral and diplomatic support of Pakistan to the just struggle of Kashmiri people, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khalid urged the world community to take note of serious human rights violations against Kashmiri people and raise their voice.
“The just struggle of Kashmiri people is being met with state repression. Hundreds of Kashmiris have lost their lives and many more injured,” he said this while addressing a reception organised to commemorate Defence Day of Pakistan.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Forces Deputy Commander Lt Gen Peng Bo was the chief guest on reception hosted by Ambassador Khalid and Defence Attachi Brigadier Ahmad Bilal. Senior military officers and diplomats of various countries were present.
Ambassador Khalid said that it was cardinal principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy to have a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood. Pakistan has endeavoured to improve its relations with its eastern neighbour and seek peaceful resolution of all issues.
“Unfortunately, despite our positive approach, our neighbour has refused dialogue and continues its aggressive behaviour,” he said and added there have been over 600 ceasefire violations this year alone. He said today armed forces of Pakistan were successfully engaged in fight against terrorism and they had rendered enormous sacrifices to make the region and world peaceful.
“Their ongoing military campaigns have helped to deal a big blow to terrorists and militants outfits,” he added. Pakistanis people had rendered enormous human and material sacrifice in this fight but their resolve to root out terrorism remained firm, he said.
Terming Pakistan and China as strategic cooperative partners, he said that both the countries had shared agenda of promoting peace and stability in the region. “We are forging connectivity and inter-civilisations linkage by implementing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” he added.
Ambassador Khalid said that the armed forces of both the countries enjoyed friendly cooperation and were close partners in peace and development. “We thank the Chinese government and PLA for their friendship and support.”
Welcoming all the distinguished guests, he said the Defence Day of Pakistan was marked to remember martyrs and valiant armed forces who fought fearlessly and bravely to defend the motherland when Indian forces crossed the international border of Pakistan without a formal declaration of war and launched a multi-pronged attack on September 6, 1965.
The UN-brokered a ceasefire on September 23, 1965. A cake cutting ceremony was jointly performed by the chief guest, the ambassador and defence attachi. The students of the Pakistan Embassy School sang national songs of Pakistan and China. A short documentary showing different events of the victory of Pakistani forces during 1965 war was also screened.