Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday reiterated his resolve to extend Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic and political support to the “indigenous freedom struggle” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharif made the remarks to Sardar Yaqoob Khan, the outgoing President of the Pakistani side of Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.
The prime minister said the world needed to take stock of the latest “brutalities against unarmed innocent Kashmiri people who are heavily sacrificing for attainment of their inalienable right to freedom”.
Sharif’s remarks came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, openly came out in support of “freedom” for Balochistan and the Kashmir governed by Pakistan.
Islamabad termed Modi’s Red Fort speech a “diversionary tactic”. Foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said: “The contrast between the Indian Kashmir and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir could not be more stark.”
The Kashmir Valley is witnessing weeks of unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of rebel commander Burhan Wani.
Five civilian protesters were killed in firing by security forces yesterday, taking the death toll to 65.
All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses have remained shut since July 9, a day after Wani was killed.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani newspaper said yesterday that relations between India and Pakistan look bleak after the two countries indulged in a war of words on their Independence Days on August 14 and 15.
“At the moment, things do indeed look bleak between Pakistan and India and it would require extraordinary diplomatic manoeuvring to reshape relations from here,” the Daily Times said in an editorial.
It said “things are spiralling from bad to worse” as Pakistan and India have engaged in a war of unsavoury words.
Pakistan dedicated its Independence Day on August 14 to the cause of “independence” in Jammu and Kashmir where militants are fighting against Indian troops.
New Delhi in turn accused Islamabad of exporting “international terrorism, cross-border infiltrators, weapons, narcotic and fake currency”. And on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his annual Independence Day address, openly came out in support of “independence” in Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-held Kashmir.
The Times said there was “sadly...nothing new about any of this as Pakistan and India have long held intransigent positions, and indulged in political point scoring that has effectively precluded the possibility of any meaningful progress (in negotiations)”. 
While urging New Delhi to talk Kashmir, the daily said Pakistan must address India’s security concerns and apprehend all those linked to cross-border terrorism.
However, it said that Modi’s “confrontational” stand vis-a-vis Pakistan on India’s Independence Day was “in appallingly bad taste”.
“Modi’s remarks would worsen Pakistan-India relations and give teeth to Pakistan’s allegations,” it said.
The News International too said that neither India nor Pakistan was in any mood for diplomacy now.