Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday said Kashmir is the core issue between India and Pakistan and its resolution will ensure peace in the region.
Sharif told the UK’s National Security Adviser, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and pursues the policy of maintaining friendly relationships with its neighbours, News International reported.
According to the Prime Minister, the Kashmir issue must be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions.
He called upon the international community to take note of the “human rights violations and atrocities committed by Indian forces” in Kashmir.
Appreciating Sharif’s policy of reaching out to neighbouring countries, the British NSA said such efforts would be encouraged.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, during a meeting with Britain’s National Security Adviser Mark Lyall Grant on Sunday said the UK being a member of the UN Security Council should urge India to end human rights violations in Kashmir.
“As a country with historic links to this region and as a member-state of the UN Security Council [five permanent members], it was incumbent on Britain to urge India to end its human rights violations in the occupied territory and to enter into a sustained dialogue with Pakistan so as to enable the two countries to peacefully resolve their differences,” Fatemi said, Dawn reported.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Office, regional security issues and matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.
Grant acknowledged the important role being played by Pakistan in promoting peace and stability in the region, the successes made by the country and the sacrifices rendered by its people in the fight against terrorism. He reaffirmed Britain’s continued support for Pakistan in this endeavour.