UNSC not waiting with garlands for you: Pak Min on Kashmir

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has asked Pakistanis to not live in a "fool's paradise" by expecting United Nations Security Council to "wait with garlands" to support Islamabad's contentions regarding India's decision to abrogate Kashmir's special status.

"Giving vent to emotions is easy and raising objections is much easier. However it is difficult to understand the issue and move forward. They are not waiting for you with garlands in their hands. Any members out of the P-5 nations can be a hurdle... Do not live in the fool paradise," said Qureshi.

Qureshi's comment came a day after Russia becomes the first P-5 member to support India over the abrogation of Article 370.

It said all action taken by India was under the Constitutional framework.

Addressing the media in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir where he celebrated Eid al-Adha and visited a refugee camp, Qureshi said the entire "Pakistani nation and political leadership is united on the issue of Kashmir and one voice will be sounded on August 14 in support of Kashmiris."

Qureshi urged for unity among political parties in Pakistan on Kashmir and warned that doing politics on the issue would harm the cause.

He urged political parties to come together on the Kashmir issue, saying that Pakistan must have a united stance on the matter.

"We have our differences...But there is no difference on the issue of Kashmir. If there was any difference, a joint resolution would not have been passed," he said.

Last week, a joint sitting of Parliament was marred due to differences between treasury and opposition over language of resolution against India

Opposition lawmakers last week condemned the arrest of Maryam Nawaz, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter and vice-president of Opposition PML-N, saying the Imran Khan government's action amounts to dividing the nation at this crucial juncture when unity is required to give a befitting response to the Indian government for scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Qureshi said India's "unilateral" abrogation of the special status of Kashmir has left Kashmiris with no option but to stand against it.

India has reiterated that its move to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution removing special status to Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and advised Pakistan to not create an alarming environment after the move.

A rattled Pakistan has initiated a series of decisions, including downgrading bilateral relations with India and suspending bilateral trade, halting of Samjhauta and Thar Express trains from its side and banning of Indian movies from Pakistani cinemas.

To a question about giving status of province to Gilgit-Baltistan, Qureshi said that doing so would harm Kashmir cause and Pakistan's stance.

"It was discussed in the cabinet as there is popular demand for it. But we will not do anything which can harm our legal position on Kashmir,” he said.

Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would visit PoK on August 14 and also address its legislative assembly.

Pakistan has announced that it will observe August 14 as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' and August 15 as 'Black Day' after India scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.

He said Pakistan has decided to take the issue of Kashmir again to the UN Security Council and China has assured to extend full support for this purpose.

With inputs from PTI