ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed that Pakistan’s commitment for peace must not be construed as weakness, and said that in case of any aggression or violation of Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan will take all necessary steps to protect its people and territorial integrity.
While presiding over a meeting of the Federal Cabinet which discussed the situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and ceasefire violations by India on the LoC in Islamabad on Friday, the prime minister said that we wanted to focus our energies for the betterment and welfare of our people, and the development of our country.
The prime minister said that his government was committed to eliminating poverty and unemployment. To achieve these goals, peace was essential. However, we would defend our homeland against any aggression.
Sharif said that the entire nation is standing shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces. Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of Partition which cannot be wished away. He said that the Indian atrocities cannot suppress the passions of the Kashmiri people.
The prime minister said that the Indian aggression poses a serious threat to the regional peace and security. He added that the leadership and people of Pakistan are united in their resolve to counter any aggressive Indian designs.
The Federal Cabinet joined the prime minister in completely rejecting the Indian claims of carrying out “surgical strikes”. It said that the Indian Occupation forces had resorted to unprovoked firing on the LoC in complete violation of India’s commitments under bilateral arrangements as well as international law.
The Cabinet praised the brave and valiant Jawans of the armed forces of Pakistan for their befitting response to the Indian aggression. It also offered fateha on the shahadat of two armed forces personnel and expressed sympathy to their families on this irreparable loss.
It expressed deep concern over the continued killings and grave human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It said that the Indian Occupation Forces have killed more than 110 Innocent civilians’ including women, children and elderly persons.
The Federal Cabinet appreciated the courage, valour and commitment of the Kashmiri people who continue their just struggle for the realization of the right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
The Cabinet reiterated Pakistan’s call for free, fair and impartial investigation into the killings of innocent civilians under the United Nations auspices. It called upon the international community to take notice of the massive human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Moreover, the Cabinet welcomed the decision of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a Fact Finding Mission to the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Cabinet expressed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to provide political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It also decided to continue to highlight Indian brutalities, excesses and state sponsored terrorism in Indian Occupied Kashmir at the international level.
The Federal Cabinet deplored the provocative statements of the Indian leadership alleging Pakistan for the Uri attack without any evidence. It completely rejected the false Indian accusations, and said that Indian statements and actions are aimed to deflect international community’s attention from the situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Cabinet noted that the statements of the Indian Prime Minister have provided fresh evidence of Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan which is a clear contravention of the UN Charter and international law.
