ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Dr Arif Alvi has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to always stand with its Kashmiri brethren in their just right to self-determination.
“We are for Kashmiris and they are for us. Their plight and affliction affects us,” the president said that while addressing as Chief Guest at an impressive Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad on Wednesday in connection with the 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan.
The Ceremony was attended by the Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, the Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, lawmakers, senior military and civilian officials, diplomats and a large number of people including students from various walks of life.
The president in his address said that immediately after India’s unilateral steps on Kashmir, government of Pakistan suspended bilateral trade with India, downgraded diplomatic relations and decided to take the issue of Kashmir to UN Security Council. He said the joint resolution of Parliament on August 7 condemned the unilateral and illegal steps taken by India to change the disputed status of Kashmir.
“Pakistan does not accept the efforts to change the demographic composition of occupied territory,” he said.
The President said that India has not only violated the UN resolutions on Kashmir but also threw the agreement of Shimla to dustbin. He said that the Indian act of changing the status quo contravenes the Shimla Agreement.
Dr Arif Alvi said that the presence of 900,000 Indian troops has made Kashmir the highest militarized zone. He said that the blocking of communication and freedom of expression is a serious violation of human rights of Kashmiris.
The president urged India to stop its brutal treatment of Kashmiris, grant communication access to people and restore civic and social liberties of the people of the occupied territory. He also demanded human rights arm of the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to constitute an inquiry commission to probe the human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
President Dr Arif Alvi further said that India has also been violating the ceasefire agreements by firing and shelling on civilian populations along Line of Control (LoC). He said that Pakistan is a peace loving Country and wants message of peace in love. He said that Pakistan wants to resolve the issue of Kashmir through negotiations and dialogue. However, he added, India should not misunderstand our policy of peace as our weakness.
Dr Arif Alvi said that we do not wish war but we will fully defend ourselves if war is imposed on us. He said that the war will not be limited between the Countries, rather its impact will be felt in the whole world. He urged India to be reasonable.
The president also asked the nation to fully utilize social media to expose the heinous crimes committed by India against Kashmiris.
Dr Arif Alvi appealed youth of the nation to value the Country as a blessing and never forget the sacrifices of our great leaders. He urged the youth to devote themselves to the development and reconstruction of the country. He also asked them to be proud of their social values.
Earlier, the Chief Guest President Dr Arif Alvi hoisted the flag at the ceremony.
Mashal Malik, wife of incarcerated Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, recited a beautiful poem on Kashmir written by her.
