KL Monitoring Desk
SRINAGAR
Reacting first time to the accusation made by India, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, on Friday said that the attack on army base in North Kashmir can be reaction to “on-going Indian atrocities” in Kashmir.
Sharif was talking to media at Luton Airport in London on way to home from New York where he stopped before he flies to Islamabad.
Sharif was in United States to attend 71st session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he spoke on current situation of Kashmir on September 21, 2016 but did not touch Uri attack.
Responding to the questions of media personnel on Uri attack, Sharif said, “it was uncalled for to blame Pakistan for attack on Indian army.”
“12 hours had not passed (after the Uri attack) that Pakistan was blamed,” he said, “it is not correct and no one will accept it.” However, he once again demanded enquiry in to “human rights violations in Kashmir”.
At least 18 Indian army soldiers were killed in a suspected militant attack in the wee hours of September 18 in Uri when four attackers stormed the army base. The four attackers too were killed in the operation which lasted three and a half hours.
Sharif, however, added, “the attack on the army base could be reaction of Kashmiris to the on-going Indian atrocities in Kashmir.”
He said that Indian should have investigated the attack before accusing anyone. “(And) why not investigate the killing of innocent civilians in Kashmir,” he said, “over hundred innocent Kashmiris have been martyred in last more than two months which should be investigated.”
“India has been reluctant to discuss its own barbarities in Kashmir but is quick to level allegations against Pakistan,” he said.
He said that after he raised the issue of Kashmir “every one in United Nations came to know about the current situation” in the Himalayan region. “Heads of states attend it (UNGA),” he told the media men, “and after we talked about Kashmir, they were made aware (about the situation).”
Sharif said that whenever Pakistan and India hold dialogue, Issue of Jammu and Kashmir remains priority for Islamabad. “Peace is not possible in South Asia without resolution of Kashmir dispute,” Pakistan premier replied to another question.
Sharif also announced that his government will be extending all support to federal government in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK). “Our priority will be to increase the developmental budget followed by construction of roads and development in health care,” he said. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League won all the seats in PaK assembly elections recently.
Slamming down the “Balochistan propaganda”, Sharif said that the region will be connected to Central Asia to boost the economic activity.
He also expected that all South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members will be attending the next meet in Islamabad.
(The news story was prepared watching the media conference of Pakistan Prime Minister live on Geo News Urdu.)
