New Delhi: In a major assertion towards normalising ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said they want to resolve all existing issues with India including the contentious Kashmir through diplomatic talks as he reaffirmed support for the “Kashmiri people”.
Speaking at a session of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, coinciding with “Kashmir Solidarity Day”, he reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue, emphasising the importance of resolving all outstanding matters, including Kashmir, through peaceful dialogue.
He also called on India to “come out of the thinking of August 5, 2019,” a reference to the date on which India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of its Constitution. This action also led to the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Sharif asserted that India should fulfil its commitments made to the United Nations regarding the Kashmir dispute and engage in a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan. He stressed that dialogue is the only viable path forward for the two nations, echoing the principles outlined in the Lahore Declaration of 1999.
This declaration was agreed upon during a visit to Pakistan by then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Sharif highlighted its continued relevance in the present context.
India has consistently maintained that it desires normal, neighbourly relations with Pakistan. However, this desire is contingent upon the creation of an environment free from terrorism, hostility, and violence. India has repeatedly conveyed this message to Pakistan, emphasizing the need for concrete steps to address these concerns.
New Delhi has also unequivocally mentioned that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “was, is and shall forever” remain an integral and inalienable part of India. The relationship between India and Pakistan has significantly deteriorated since India’s abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, creating a complex and challenging diplomatic landscape.
“The only solution to the Kashmir issue is the right of self-determination under the UNSC resolution…,” he said.
