In a statement Mirwaiz said Pakistan premier’s statement that “Kashmir issue was a litmus test of the political foresight of the present Indian and Pakistani leadership” not only speaks of a courageous approach to end the present confrontation and distrust between the two countries but also reflects the honest intentions of Sharif about a just resolution of the Kashmir issue.
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The UN Security Council Resolution 47, adopted in 1948, called for a vote among residents of Kashmir to determine the disputed Himalayan region’s fate. He said the United Nations too has to answer questions why it has failed to implement its own resolutions in support of the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
The ambassador said the Pakistan Mission continues to highlight the Kashmir issue and the suffering of the Kashmiri people in various fora of the United Nations in an effort to push the world body towards its resolution.
On “Kashmir Solidarity Day”, which fell on Friday, Sharif himself had said: “Pakistan reminds the global community of its responsibilities in the matter and urges it to fulfil its promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir 68 years ago”.
He also expressed his hope for early resumption of bilateral talks between Pakistan and India, which were to be held in January but were delayed following an attack on an Indian air base. He said that Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be the main beneficiaries of the CPEC.
“We will steadfastly support the struggling people of Kashmir…”
Lauding the Pakistan-China friendship, the prime minister said that $46 billion from China for the CPEC was not a loan; it was an investment and $34 billion were from the private sector.
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Saturday that Kashmir was going to top the agenda for talks, expected to begin with foreign secretary S Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad soon. He announced Rs150 million for development projects in the AJK. He said that it is only the PML-N government which had focused on electricity projects and construction of infrastructure in the country and added that the Muzaffarabad road was also constructed by his government in the 90s. He said the government has chose to improve management and functioning of PIA, in order to ensure its progress but some political parties were creating hurdles in this regard. He said that Pakistan wanted peace in the region.
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The groups led by Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed held a conference outside National Press Club here to mark “Solidarity Day” with Kashmiris yesterday.
