Reiterating Pakistan's moral and political support to the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said the country was committed to its principled stand on the issue.
"We remain committed to our principled stand on the Kashmir issue and will never compromise or make a deal, which may be contrary to aspirations of Kashmiri people," he said while talking to various Kashmiri delegations and addressing a joint session of the legislative assembly and Pakistan occupied Kashmir council in Muzaffarabad.
The prime minister travelled to Muzaffarabad in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed throughout the country and PoK. One-minute silence was observed all over Pakistan at 1000 hrs (local time) to 'pay homage to Kashmiris, who lost their lives for achieving right to self determination.'
"Pakistan always supported solution of the issue in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiris as they are the
most important stakeholders," the prime minister said.
Pakistan's sincere efforts helped 'internationalise the Kashmir issue,' Aziz said, adding that there is growing realisation across the globe for an early solution of the issue. The leadership in India and Pakistan also fully realise that a solution acceptable to all stakeholders should be found for establishment of a lasting peace in the region, he said.
He, however, stressed that the ongoing dialogue process could not make progress without resolving the Kashmir issue. To mark the occasion, the people of Pakistan and PoK formed a big human chain at the Kohala bridge, which links Pakistan with PoK.
In Islamabad, a delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians, led by chairman of the Kashmir parliamentary committee, visited the United Nations office and presented a memorandum to a senior UN official asking the international community to take practical steps for resolving the Kashmir issue.