Kashmir freedom struggle took new turn after martyrdom of Wani: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday told a joint session of Parliament that the Kashmir "liberation struggle" has taken a new turn after the "martyrdom" of militant commander Burhan Wani.

Speaking on a motion moved by Law Minister Zahid Hamid for discussion on Kashmir issue and the situation arising out of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, the Prime Minister said Wani's "martyrdom" is a symbol of "Kashmiri Intifada" and India cannot hold innocent Kashmiris hostage despite grave human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.

Inviting India to resolve all the outstanding issues through composite dialogue, Sharif said that Pakistan is a responsible state, but its desire of peace should not be considered as its weakness, adding: "Our armed forces are capable to thwart any foreign aggression effectively."

He asserted that Pakistan stood by its commitment to extend all possible political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in the past, continuing in the present and will continue to do so in future with the same spirit, and called upon the world community to implement of the United Nations Security Council resolutions without any delay.

He said that Pakistan offered for holding composite dialogue to India time and again but "our efforts were always sabotaged". He said resolution of Kashmir issue is imperative for durable peace in the region, Radio Pakistan added.

He said in order to divert the attention of the world from Kashmir issue, India is engaged in levelling "baseless allegations against Pakistan". He said India blamed Pakistan just six hours after the Uri terrorist attack.

He said Pakistan has demanded for impartial investigation into the incident.

He said on September 28, "the Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing across the Line of Control by violating the ceasefire agreement" and killed two Pakistani soldiers, but the Pakistani forces gave a befitting response to "Indian aggression".

Asserting that Pakistan was capable of addressing any challenge effectively, he said, the country wants to have peace in the region and have no aggressive designs.

He called upon "the India to come forward and work together or compete for elimination of poverty and unemployment from the region and work for the welfare of the people of the region".

--IANS

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