As Pakistan celebrates its 73rd Independence Day in solidarity with Kashmir, President Dr Arif Alvi reiterated
the nation’s commitment to always stand with its Kashmiri brethren in their just right to self-determination.
“We are for Kashmiris and they are for us. Their plight and affliction affect us,”
the president said while addressing a flag-hoisting ceremony in Islamabad.
Condemning India’s unilateral steps, Alvi maintained that Pakistan “does not accept
the efforts” to change
the demographic composition of
the occupied territory.
He said immediately after India revoked Article 370, stripping occupied Kashmir of its autonomous status,
the government of Pakistan suspended bilateral trade with India, downgraded diplomatic relations and decided to take
the issue of Kashmir to
the UN Security Council.
The president said
the joint resolution of parliament condemned
the unilateral and illegal steps taken by India to change
the disputed status of Kashmir.
“India has not only violated
the UN resolutions on Kashmir but also threw
the Simla Agreement in
the dustbin. The Indian act of changing
the status quo contravenes
the Simla Agreement,” he stated.
He said
the presence of 900,000 Indian troops had made Kashmir
the highest militarised zone.
“The blocking of communication and freedom of expression is a serious violation of human rights of Kashmiris.
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Alvi urged India to stop its brutal treatment of Kashmiris, grant communication access to people and restore civic and social liberties of
the people of
the occupied territory.
“India
has also been violating
the ceasefire agreements by firing and shelling on civilian populations along
the Line of Control,” he said.
“Pakistan is a peace-loving country and wants a message of peace in love. It wants to resolve
the issue of Kashmir through negotiations and dialogue. However, India should not misunderstand our policy of peace as our weakness,” he stressed.
Alvi u
nderscored that Pakistan did not wish to go to war but was fully prepared to defend if a war was imposed on it. “The war will not be limited to
the [two] countries; rather its impact will be felt in
the whole world,” he said, and urged India to be reasonable.
The president also asked
the nation to fully utilise social media to expose
the heinous crimes committed by India against Kashmiris.
He urged
the UN and
the OIC to constitute an inquiry commission to probe
the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) and also made an appeal to
the youth to devote themselves to
the development and reconstruction of
the country.
The president paid rich tributes to sacrifices and dedication of armed forces of Pakistan for protection of
the country through their courage and professionalism.
Various political leaders, including National Assembl
y Speaker Asad Qaiser, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan were in attendance. Mushaal Hussein Mullick,
the wife of detained Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik, also addressed
the event during which she shared a poem she wrote about
the freedom struggle of people under Indian occupation in Kashmir.