Sushma Swaraj can't give verdict on 'future of Kashmir': Pak

Pakistan on Sunday hit back at Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over her recent assertion on Kashmir, saying the verdict on the future of the region will be decided by the people of the valley and not her.

"Such a verdict on the future of Kashmir can only be given by the people of Kashmir and not by the External Affairs Minister of India. This right has been promised to the people of Kashmir by the UN Security Council. It is high time that India allowed the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise this right through a free and fair UN supervised plebiscite," said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, in a statement.

"Once the majority of the people of Kashmir have voted for joining either Pakistan or India the whole world will accept this verdict of the Kashmiri people," he added.

Swaraj had yesterday slammed Pakistan's unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism in Kashmir and said the neighbouring nation's delusional dream that 'Kashmir will one day become Pakistan' would never be realised.

"The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists," she said.

Swaraj had also lashed out at Pakistan for glorifying the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

In response to this, Aziz said, "India cannot ignore the fact that over 200,000 Kashmiris participated in the funeral prayers of Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 50 different locations throughout Kashmir despite strict curfew clamped in the Valley, which still continues 15 days after Wani's killing on 8 July 2016."

The statement further said that Pakistan remains firmly committed to support Kashmiris' movement for self-determination and resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir.