FM, AJK leaders discuss steps to highlight held Kashmir situation

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reaffirmed on Saturday Pakistan would continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to the oppressed Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.

He was speaking at a meeting with parliamentary leaders of Azad Kashmir, here on Saturday, which discussed future strategy for highlighting the six-month long curfew and gross human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

The foreign minister said: “We made extensive efforts to raise the dire human rights violations in occupied Kashmir at diplomatic level.” He said Kashmir issue was present at the agenda of the UN Security Council but Pakistan’s effort to move the UNSC again was aimed at highlighting the Kashmir issue afresh and get Pakistan’s stance reiterated. “We got success at the Security Council and the Kashmir issue was discussed.”

Qureshi said: “We also effectively raised Kashmir issue at the meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He said Kashmir issue had also been debated at EU Parliament and the US Congress. He said the Kashmir Cell established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the direction of the Prime Minister was playing its effective role to highlight the Kashmir issue.

Lauding the efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider emphasised the need for joint efforts for highlighting Kashmir issue at international level effectively.

The foreign minister thanked the AJK Prime Minister and other AJK parliamentary leaders for their suggestions on the Kashmir issue.