LAHORE, Pakistan: The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan and India must initiate a diplomatic and political process to resolve the issue of Kashmir, and the United Nations must play its role in this regard.
Talking to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Masood Khan at his residence in Jati Umra, Lahore, Nawaz Sharif said Kashmir issue must be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people and human right violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir must come to an end.
During the meeting, Masood Khan briefed the former prime minister about the increase in killings, brutalities and crimes against humanity in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Masood Khan also said scores of civilians and soldiers in Azad Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) were being killed by Indian fire. He added it was the resolve of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC to continue to strive for the realization of their right to self-determination and align their destiny with Pakistan.
The president AJK thanked the former prime minister for his full support to Azad Kashmir’s economic development and informed him of various development projects that were being planned and implemented with speed in AJK.
Masood Khan said special attention was being given to building a modern road network, generating electricity, tourism industry, agriculture, education and health. He said with the constructive efforts of the federal government, AJK had been formally made a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This, he said, would bring in huge investment opportunities for local and international investors.
Highlighting the projects under the CPEC, the president AJK said a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was being planned according to international industrial standards in Mirpur which would be connected to the Western CPEC Route via the Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway.
Masood Khan said additionally two hydropower projects namely Karot and Kohala were also been built under the CPEC project. He thanked the former prime minister for making AJK a formal part of CPEC.
