Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The spokesperson of Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif has consistently stated that Pakistan and India must resolve their bilateral issues, particularly the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through talks and peaceful means.
The statement came in reference to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya channel, where he spoke in length regarding India’s violation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that guaranteed autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir region.
The spokesperson mentioned that PM Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly stated on record that dialogues can only take place after New Delhi reverses its illegal action of August 5, 2019.
“Without India’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir status, negotiations are impossible,” the statement read. “The settlement of the Kashmir issue must be in line with the UN resolutions & the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
The spokesman said that the prime minister clarified this position in his interview with the Al Arabiya news channel during his latest visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Human rights violations by India in occupied Kashmir
The prime minister, during the interview, also highlighted the flagrant human rights violations in India held Kashmir, saying that India had usurped a semblance of autonomy given to the Kashmiri people according to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The autonomy was revoked on August 5, 2019.
He pointed out that minorities in India were being persecuted, adding, “This must stop so that message can go around the world that India is ready to have talks.”
Shehbaz said India and Pakistan were neighbours and had to live with each other.
“It depends on us to live peacefully, make progress, quarrel with each other, and waste resources and time. We have fought three wars with nrighbouring India, and it only brought more unemployment, misery, and poverty to the people,” he said. “We have learned our lesson and want to live in peace provided we can resolve our genuine problems.
Emphasizing the importance of peace, he said, “We want to achieve prosperity, alleviate poverty, and provide health and education facilities and employment opportunities to our people and not waste our time and resources on ammunition and bombs; that is the message I want to give to Indian Prime Minister Modi,” PM Shehbaz added.
