120 Whither Kashmir? (Part II) - Islamabad Policy Research Institute

Whither Kashmir?
MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE VITAL TO RESOLVE KASHMIR
DISPUTE: GILANI
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday said meaningful dialogue
is a necessity to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN
resolutions. The Prime Minister was speaking at a Kashmir Convention
here in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at Pakistan National
Council of the Arts. Pakistan has always emphasized the necessity of a
meaningful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute; he said adding
Pakistan believes that the Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance
with relevant UN Resolutions.
He expressed the government’s resolve to continue extending moral
and political support to the people of Kashmir in their just struggle. He
reminded that Kashmir dispute is the root cause of tension in South Asia.
He said the government and people of Pakistan are in complete solidarity
with their Kashmiri brethren. We shall always stand with our Kashmiri
brothers and sisters for the realization of their fundamental and
inalienable rights. Together we shall succeed.
Gilani said for more than 60 years, the people of Kashmir have
been waging a valiant struggle for realization of their inalienable right to
self-determination. Their right has been recognized by the international
community. It stems from international law and has been legitimized by
resolutions of the United Nations, he added.
The people of Kashmir were among the first to be promised their
right to self-determination by the UN. Yet, Kashmir remains an
unfinished agenda; he recalled and regretted that unfulfilled promises over
the years have taken a heavy toll of the Kashmiri people.
They have faced oppression and blatant abuse of human rights.
The list of their martyrs continues to grow. Despite all odds, the
Kashmiri people have steadfastly continued their struggle for achieving
their legitimate rights, he added.
He lauded the resolve, determination and faith of the Kashmiris and
said violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir emanates from the massive
human rights violations perpetrated by Indian occupation forces acting
with impunity. These violations have been well documented by
international human rights organization. Each household in Indianoccupied
Kashmir has a tragedy to narrate. In the recent past, the
Amarnath Shrine land issue and the brutal killing of two young Kashmiri
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