With Kashmir, till the end!

• PM says agenda of Pakistan-India dialogue will remain inconclusive without inclusion of Kashmir dispute
• Assures Pakistan will continue diplomatic, political support to Kashmiris, urges conflict be resolved in light of UN resolutions

Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to firmly stand by Kashmiris, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday said that the government will continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris for their unprecedented struggle for the right to self- determination.

Addressing the joint session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council on the Kashmir Solidarity Day, the premier said that Pakistan seeks meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India for the resolution of outstanding issues including Kashmir.

Establishing that the agenda of Pakistan-India dialogue will remain inconclusive without the inclusion of Kashmir dispute, PM Sharif stressed the need for the resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions for ensuring durable peace in the region.

“Pakistanis fully support the struggle of their Kashmiri brethrens and sisters and I assure you that no solution against the will of Kashmiris will be accepted. We think that our agenda of dialogue with India is incomplete without Kashmir issue. There is no solution to this problem but the right of self-determination,” the prime minister said.

Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan will not accept any solution of Kashmir dispute that is contrary to the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir cause, Sharif said that despite the brutal use of force by the 700,000 Indian troops, the Kashmiri people are relentlessly continuing their struggle for their just cause.

“Time is not far away when the clouds of oppression will shed and the Kashmiri people will see the dawn of independence,” he said, adding that the international community has also recognised that the struggle of Kashmiri people could not be suppressed through the use of force.

The prime minister said he has forcefully raised the Kashmir dispute at the international forums, including the UN and the OIC. He said the UN will have to break its silence on the implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir dispute.

Referring to the close affinity between Pakistanis and Kashmiris, spanning over centuries, the prime minister said no power of the world can break this strong bond.

About the development schemes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sharif said Pakistan has been put on the path of development and the government is providing resources for timely completion of development schemes in Azad Kashmir. Resources have been provided for the Neelum Jhelum project as this mega project will generate economic activity and benefit the local population, he added.

PM Sharif said that Pakistan-China economic corridor project will also benefit the people of Azad Kashmir as the project envisages construction of basic infrastructure and establishment of power plants.

Expressway will be constructed from Khunjerab to Islamabad and work on Gilgit-Raikot section has already been started, he said, adding that Murree-Islamabad expressway will be extended up to Muzaffarabad.

Moreover, the prime minister said he will visit Muzaffarabad early next month along with his team to review the development schemes. Special arrangements will be made for completion of all development schemes in Azad Kashmir. He assured that problems faced by Kashmiri migrants will also be addressed on a priority basis.

He also assured that the building of Azad Kashmir legislative assembly will also be constructed at the earliest and this will be a gift from Pakistan for AJK. Turning to terrorism, the prime minister said the menace will be eliminated at all costs and no compromise will be made on it.

Furthermore, the prime minister also met a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, comprising Yousuf Naseem, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Mahmood Ahmed Saghar and Rafique Ahmed Dar.

During the meeting, he assured that Pakistan is committed to a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Hurriyat leaders expressed confidence in the government of Pakistan and also thanked the premier for visiting Muzaffarabad to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

AJK Prime Minister Abdul Majid in his remarks appreciated the prime minister for forcefully presenting the aspirations of the Kashmiris at the UN and other international forums.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir, Kashmir Committee Chairman Fazlur Rahman, AJ&K President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, AJ&K Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, AJ&K Legislative Assembly Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq and Leader of Opposition Raja Farooq Haider were also present during the meeting.