JEDDAH, 5 February 2008 — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has reiterated that his country will continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support for a “just and peaceful settlement” of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
“The Kashmir issue remains on the agenda of the UN as an unfulfilled obligation. We remain engaged in a sincere, sustained and purposeful dialogue with India on Kashmir. We believe that with sincerity, courage and flexibility, we can achieve a solution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute,” he said in a message on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, which is being observed today.
Musharraf said that his four-point proposal was aimed at breaking the decades-old deadlock and demonstrating Pakistan’s readiness to work constructively to find a solution acceptable to all parties, especially the Kashmiri people.
“Pakistan has always stressed the need to end violence and human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir. We firmly believe that an enabling environment is necessary for the success of the peace process. Several Kashmir-related confidence-building measures initiated by us seek to bring some relief to the Kashmiris living on both sides of the line of control (LoC). Today, we stand in solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters and assure them of our full support in their just struggle for self-determination,” he added.
Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro said the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination was among the first to be recognized by the United Nations. “Nearly six decades later, this commitment by the international community remains unfulfilled. Lasting peace can only be achieved once the international community and India honor the pledge made to the Kashmiri people,” he said and expressed his confidence that the invaluable sacrifices of Kashmiris would not go in vain and that justice and freedom will eventually dawn in Kashmir. Expatriate Pakistanis will express their firm support for the “just cause of the freedom movement of the Kashmiri people” at a special function organized by the Kashmir Committee at the residence of Pakistan Consul General Zaigham Uddin Azam in Jeddah tomorrow. Ambassador Izzat Kamil mufti, special representative of the secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Jammu and Kashmir will be the chief guest.
