LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif on Monday condemned India’s “mean attempt” to repeal Article 370 of its constitution.
“Innocent Kashmiris were martyred with cluster bombs,” Shahbaz Sharif said referring to India’s recent aggression in Azad and Jammu Kashmir while addressing a press conference against the Indian parliament’s repealing Article 370, which gave held-Kashmir more autonomy.
He said it was childish to expect Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was involved in historic massacre of Muslims in Gujarat, to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
The former Punjab chief minister said it was time for the civilized world to stand by unarmed citizens of Kashmir for their right of self-determination and against India’s atrocities.
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“It is also a test for US President Donald Trump who had offered meditation on Kashmir issue,” he said adding that war was not a solution, however, if Modi thought he could resolve this issue through war then he must be a fool.
The PML-N president appealed to China, the United Kingdom, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud to intervene and resolve the tardy issue. He said Kashmir was a matter of life and death for Pakistan.
He asked all the nation to get united to raise voice on this issue. He said we should resonate with one voice.
The Indian government on Monday announced to repeal the special status given to the occupied Kashmir under the constitution’s Article 370, which is feared to spark unrest in the disputed territory.
The announcement was made after massive deployment of additional Indian soldiers by the Indian government and thousands of tourists and Hindu pilgrims had been forced out of the Himalayan valley.
Educational institutes have been closed, public gatherings banned and internet and cellular services suspended indefinitely in the occupied valley. Mainstream and separatist Kashmiri leaders alike placed under house arrest, including former J&K CMs Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. Residents of the valley had stockpiled essential rations and fuel amid the security crackdown.
