ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Kashmir, saying India’s unilateral and unlawful actions cannot change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his message on Kashmir Exploitation Day, President Zardari said lasting peace in South Asia was closely linked to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He urged the international community to take notice of what he described as Indian human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Indian government policies had intensified what he called state repression in the region, but the courage and resilience of the Kashmiri people remained undiminished despite continued hardships.
The prime minister described the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as one of the region’s oldest and most pressing unresolved issues. He said lasting peace could not be achieved through the use of force or unilateral measures, but only through a fair and peaceful settlement of the dispute.
Shehbaz Sharif called on the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and play a meaningful role in securing a just and lasting resolution.
He reiterated that a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and said Islamabad would continue extending diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people at every level.
