Pak PM Nawaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir issue at UNGA, says disappointed over cancellation of talks by India

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the International community to resolve the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, of Pakistan, addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. ( Souirce: AP )

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the Kashmir issue in his address to the UN General Assembly Friday, and blamed India for “another missed opportunity” to address outstanding issues by cancelling the foreign secretaries’ talks.

No “veil” could be drawn over the “core” issue of Kashmir, Sharif said, adding that Pakistan was ready to work for its resolution through negotiations. “Our support and advocacy of the right to self-determination of the people of J&K is our historical commitment and a duty, as a party to the Kashmir dispute,” he said.

“Many generations of Kashmiris have lived their lives under occupation, accompanied by violence and abuse of their fundamental rights. Kashmiri women, in particular, have undergone immense suffering and humiliation…

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“The core issue of J&K has to be resolved. This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil on the issue of Kashmir, until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of J&K.”

On August 18, India had called off talks between foreign secretaries Sujatha Singh and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary scheduled for August 25 in Islamabad, soon after Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit disregarded Indian advice and met Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in Delhi.

On Thursday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Indian journalists in New York that Islamabad’s action had “spoiled the game”.

In his address, Sharif said, “We were disappointed at the cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks. The world community, too, rightly saw it as another missed opportunity. Pakistan is convinced that we must remain engaged in the dialogue process for settling disputes and building economic and trade relations. Let us not ignore the dividends of peace.”

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Sharif said it was his government’s “aspiration and effort” to build a peaceful neighbuorhood by pursuing a policy of constructive engagement.

“In South Asia, our people have missed opportunities for prosperity because of unresolved conflicts. We have a choice today: continue with the status quo or to seize the moment to resolve all outstanding issues.”

Sharif’s line on the cancellation of the foreign secretary level talks had been indicated earlier by his National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, both of whom on Thursday put the onus on New Delhi to start the process afresh.

In reaction, Swaraj had said, “New government has given a new signal. So they (Pakistan) spoiled the talks, they spoiled the game… No question of (reaching out) first or second,” she said. PTI

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