Waiting for the day Kashmir joins Pakistan: Sharif

Pakistanis are waiting for the day when Jammu and Kashmir becomes a part of Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared on Friday.

In his first public address following his return from London after open heart surgery in May, Sharif urged Kashmiris in Pakistan "not to forget those in (Indian) held Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives to their movement for freedom.

"Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed. All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan," the Dawn quoted him as saying.

Sharif spoke after his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won a landslide victory in elections to the "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" assembly held a day earlier.

The PML-N is set to form the next government in Pakistani Kashmir, whose official name is "Azad Jammu and Kashmir".

"The day is not far when Jammu and Kashmir will become Pakistan," the Prime Minister said, adding that those in Indian Kashmir were facing the "worst violations of human rights".

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of arming and training militants fighting to secede Jammu and Kashmir from India. Pakistan says it only provides moral and diplomatic backing to the separatist campaign.

Pakistan has taken a stridently anti-India line since mass protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after the July 8 killing by Indian security forces of militant commander Burhan Wani.

Street clashes between those protesting Wani's killing and the security forces have left over 45 people dead and hundreds injured. Many have been blinded by pellets used by the security forces.

--IANS

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