Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stated that the Kashmir issue remains the primary source of tension with India, as he criticised New Delhi’s move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The Indian government abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019, effectively removing the region’s special autonomy and bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Since then, Pakistan has been observing the day as Youm-i-Istehsal to mark its protest against the move
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Islamabad seeks friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries and prefers dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation.
Speaking at a rally in Islamabad, Dar said that Pakistan’s armed forces and its people are “fully capable of giving a strong response to any act of aggression.”
Special walks and events were held across all four provinces and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to mark the day. Pakistani missions abroad also organised commemorative events to observe the occasion.
Sharif reiterated that Kashmir continues to be the core issue between the two nations.
“The will and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, as per UN Security Council resolutions, are the only viable way forward,” he said.
He added that a just resolution of the Kashmir issue remains a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and urged the international community to play its part in reversing what he described as India’s “unilateral” actions of August 5, 2019.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Islamabad seeks friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries and prefers dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation.
Speaking at a rally in Islamabad, Dar said that Pakistan’s armed forces and its people are “fully capable of giving a strong response to any act of aggression.”
Special walks and events were held across all four provinces and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to mark the day. Pakistani missions abroad also organised commemorative events to observe the occasion. (Agencies)
