Pakistan PM: Brutal force can’t silence Kashmiris

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the voice and struggle of the people of Indian Administrated Kashmir cannot be suppressed through use of ‘brutal force and human rights abuses.’ In a meeting in Lahore with Jamait Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chairman, special committee of the parliament on Kashmir, Mr Sharif said Pakistan will not abandon the Kashmiris.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman apprised the Pakistan PM on his recent talks with the Kashmiri leadership over the ‘human rights violations’ by the Indian military and paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir, said an official statement. The meeting reiterated the condemnation of the killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians by the Indian military and paramilitary forces.

Mr Sharif said the government and people of Pakistan respected the sentiments of the Kashmiris and will continue to support the Kashmir cause at each and every forum internationally come what may.

He said the purpose of the special cabinet meeting was to devise the way forward for supporting the leadership and the people of Kashmir in the wake of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Kashmir due to oppressive actions of Indian security forces against innocent civilians of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the solution to the Kashmir dispute was only possible by the realisation of the right to self determination of the people of Kashmir, as per the UNSC resolutions, “through a fair and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.”