LONDON: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has termed Indian state’s aggression in Kashmir as barbarism. He said that 108 people have so far been martyred, 150 blinded and thousands injured so far in the valley by Indian state’s brutality.
Talking to media in London Friday night, Nawaz Sharif said that he discussed everything in his address at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He said that the whole world was looking at the way the Indian state was behaving.
The Prime Minister rejected the Indian allegations on Uri attack as “irresponsible” and “without any evidence.” He said before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its atrocious role in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and mentioned the brutalities being perpetrated against the innocent Kashmiris by the Indian forces in the Occupied Kashmir.
He added that the Uri attack could be Indian government’s response to the protest of the people of Kashmir. “Fixing blame on Pakistan for the attack within 12 hours, without any kind of inquiry, was unfair”, said PM. He said that an inquiry into the Uri attack must be held and the circumstances that led to this attack must also be looked into.
Nawaz Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
When asked about Balochistan issue, Nawaz said that the Balochistan stunt by the Indian government came out of nowhere. He said that there was no reason Balochistan could be equated with Kashmir. The Prime Minister said the whole world including the United States did not believe in the issue of Balochistan raised by India.
Nawaz told that he highlighted the Kashmir issue in his discussion with the British Prime Minister as well. He added that Pakistan continuously raises Kashmir issue on every platform. “The impression that Kashmir issue is highlighted only when the Indian state brutality peaks in the valley is wrong. Pakistan continuously highlights the issue at every platform”, he said.
To a question about the reports that India was pressurizing the SAARC member countries not to attend the regional summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan in November, the Prime Minster said Pakistan was preparing for the summit and he hoped all the member countries would attend the summit.
Prime Minister Sharif, responding to another query, said whenever Pakistan talked to India, we demanded discussion on Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as the achievement of lasting peace was impossible without the resolution of this dispute.
PM refused to answer the questions regarding Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s treason and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s extension.
Responding to a question about the feared clash between Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers at the PTI sit-in in Raiwind, PM said that Punjab chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif had already instructed the workers to remain calm and no such situation would arise. He also forbade the workers to create any hurdles in any political rallies.
The prime minister highlighted the government’s projects going on in Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worried Pakistan’s enemies. But it will be safeguarded and not only will we connect Gwadar to Khunjrab but will also connect Balochistan with Central Asia.
To a question about the possibility of his meeting with Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari in London, Nawaz Sharif said, exchange of views and consultation among the political parties should continue.
He said, Asif Ali Zardari, the former president, completed his tenure with respect, adding, “We did not make any effort to destabilize their government, and we are also taking them along.”
About the development work in Azad Kashmir, he said, development of infrastructure and construction of new roads as well as the rehabilitation of the existing ones was needed in
AJK, for which the federal government was providing funds.
The Prime Minister said the development budget of AJK has been doubled and major projects in the areas of health-care, education etc. were being launched to provide facilities to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Nawaz Sharif said, he would visit AJK soon to discuss with the AJK government and approve various development project for Azad Kashmir.