MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed support to the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people and underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue through talks. He also called upon the international community to persuade India to join the process of negotiations.

“Both countries need confidence-building measures and the international community’s influence and persuasion were required to bring India to the negotiating table,” Mr Sharif said in his address to the budget session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Council here on Thursday.

The prime minister said that Pakistan stood by its principled stand that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through talks in accordance with UN Security Council’s resolutions.

He assured the Kashmiris on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan that they were not alone in their struggle.

“We have been and we will continue to extend you political, diplomatic and moral support.”

He regretted that while UN resolutions have not been implemented, unarmed Kashmiris were being constantly subjected to ruthless atrocities, amounting to serious human rights violations.

He recalled that during his talks in 1999 with then Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, he had stated without mincing words that Kashmir was the issue that topped his prioritises.

“This reality is also being realised that economic prosperity in the region hinges on peace and, therefore, the UN should play its role in this regard.”

Mr Sharif said that a determined political will was required to solve a problem and Pakistan possessed that determination.

“I want to resolutely renew my commitment to continue support to the struggle for the right to self-determination of Kashmiris,” he said.

He also announced his decision to consult the Kashmiri leadership before proceeding for talks with India.

The prime minister paid tribute to armed forces of Pakistan and other (security related) institutions for their sacrifices and significant success in the war against terrorism.

“India’s propaganda that Pakistan shields terrorists is in fact an attempt to hide its own sins. We are curbing terrorism and terrorists,” he said.

“Blaming Pakistani institutions for acts of terrorism is a pack of lies. Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of terrorism and Kashmiris in the held territory are the victims of India’s state terrorism and barbarism,” he said.

Referring to recent exchange of fire at the Line of Control (LoC), he said that the Dec 24, 2013 meeting of the DGMOs of both sides had helped control the situation but the “current deliberate actions of the Indian army had flared up tensions”.

“This has dealt a serious blow to the confidence building.”

He stressed the importance of AJK’s development and claimed that his government had provided huge funds for upgrading the basic infrastructure and improving the economic situation.

A long-term plan for development of AJK had been prepared and it would be carried out over the next 20 years.

Regarding the Islamabad-Muzaffarabad rail link, he said he himself was monitoring the project which would hopefully be completed in two years.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014