Kashmir Core Cause of Strain Between India and Pakistan: PM Shehbaz Sharif
Islamabad, August 6: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stated that the Kashmir dispute remains the central point of tension between Pakistan and India. He criticized India’s 2019 decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
The Indian government had on August 5, 2019, scrapped Article 370, reconstituting the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Pakistan continues to mark August 5 as Youm-i-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) to protest against India’s move.
Sharif reiterated that resolving the Kashmir issue in line with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations Security Council resolutions is the only viable solution. He emphasized that a just resolution of the matter is a key element of Pakistan’s foreign policy and called upon the global community to intervene and help reverse India’s “unilateral actions” of August 5, 2019.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan seeks peaceful relations with all its neighbors and favors dialogue and diplomacy over conflict. Speaking at a rally in Islamabad, Dar asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens are fully prepared to respond strongly to any act of aggression.
To mark the day, special rallies and events were held across Pakistan’s provinces and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistani embassies abroad also organized commemorative events.
