Kashmir policy: Qureshi writes letter to Opp leaders for positive suggestions

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday sought "|positive" suggestions from the opposition to formulate future course of action with regards to Pakistan's Kashmir policy.

Through a letter, addressed to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the foreign minister also thanked the opposition for extending their support in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-related legislation.

Qureshi said that the ruling and opposition parties had once again proved that all political forces in the parliament had the same stance on protection of the national interest, including on Kashmir.

He thanked both the opposition leaders for attending the joint sitting of the parliament held on August 6th with regards to the FATF-related legislation and expressing solidarity with the Kashmiri people on completion of one year of the Modi government's illegal and unilateral actions in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

"The manner in which not only the government but also the opposition parties showed maturity in the joint sitting of Parliament is commendable," Qureshi said, adding that the government would always give value to the workable suggestions by the opposition.

He pointed out that the unconstitutional and unilateral measures taken by Modi government in the India Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) on August 5, 2019, were also unanimously rejected by all the political parties in the Parliament through a joint resolution.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan highlighted the ongoing heinous violations of human rights in the IIOJ&K at every international forum, adding that Kashmir issue was discussed thrice at the United Nations Security Council in a year after 55 years.

"On important national issues including Kashmir, we wish to take the opposition along and we will always give importance to the workable suggestions put forward by the opposition," he said, adding that he would be waiting for "positive" suggestions from the opposition to formulate future course of action regarding Kashmir policy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020