Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris for their right to self-determination at all international forums.

Chairing a meeting of the Kashmir Council in Islamabad on Thursday, he said Pakistan expresses solidarity with its Kashmiri brethren and we have raised the issue of Kashmir at every forum of the world. The prime minister said that Pakistan strongly condemns the use of pellet guns on innocent Kashmiri people by Indian forces. He urged the international community to take notice of the Indian brutalities in the Occupied Kashmir. He said the Kashmir cause was a heroic struggle which would be remembered for times to come. Pakistan had raised the issue of Kashmir at every forum, he added.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and support for the development of Kashmir. He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had allocated unprecedented amount of resources for the development of Kashmir. “We need to prove with our actions that we are focused on the development and welfare of the Kashmiri brethren”, the prime minister remarked and directed for holding the sessions of Kashmir Council regularly.

During the meeting, the Kashmir Council offered prayers for the martyrs of the Kashmir cause. The council members highly appreciated the prime minister for effectively presenting the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly this year.

From July last year until the end of September 2017, Indian atrocities have resulted in the killings of over 460 innocent Kashmiris, injuring over 20,000 and deliberately blinding hundreds. Over 200 people lost their eyesight, while vision of thousands had been impaired. Over 7,000 Kashmiris had been arrested with their current status unknown, while scores of women had been raped and molested. These facts seek urgent attention of the international community; it was said during the meeting.

Published in Daily Times, October 27^th 2017.