BY: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD— President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message on the occasion of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day), said the day serves as a reminder of the historic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their enduring bond with Pakistan.
The President said the people of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir are united by strong historical, cultural and spiritual ties, adding that the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination must be respected.
He reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. He urged the international community to take notice of the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and called upon the United Nations to play an effective role in ensuring the implementation of its resolutions.
President Zardari reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to extend its unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people. He emphasized that supporting the inalienable right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination remains a consistent and principled policy of Pakistan.
The President further stated that lasting peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia are closely linked to a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
