SHAFAQNA- Arriving back in Islamabad on Sunday after a week at the UN General Assembly in New York, Pakistan’s prime minister said that those standing by Kashmiris were doing “jihad” and Pakistan will support Kashmiris even if the world does not.
“It (standing by Kashmiris) is jihad. We are doing it because we want Allah to be happy with us,” he said. “It is a struggle and do not lose heart when the time is not good. Do not be disappointed as the Kashmiris are looking towards you,” he said. He said “Kashmiris would win if the Pakistani people stood by their side”.
Khan said if even the world does not stand with the Kashmiri people, his country always will.
Khan on Friday raised the Kashmir issue in his address to the UNGA and demanded that India must lift the “inhuman curfew” in Kashmir and release all “political prisoners”.
In his speech that went on for about 50 minutes, far exceeding the 15-minute limit for UN speeches during the General Debate, Khan devoted half of his address to the Kashmir issue, warning that if there’s face-off between two nuclear-armed neighbours, the consequences would be far beyond their borders, financialexpress.
In a guest op-ed in Metro New York on Friday, Imran Khan wrote that it is time for the world community to decide how long economic and political expediencies will continue to overshadow human values and morals, reported state-run Radio Pakistan.
“The Pakistani nation will not sit back until Kashmiris are given their right of self-determination, whatever be the cost,” he said.
Khan added that Kashmir is no mere territorial dispute, but a “tale of an unfulfilled promise of the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir,” as spelled out in UN Security Council resolutions, according to Iqna.
The people of Kashmir are also looking for international support for their just cause, Khan said.
“How long will the Kashmir dispute simmer as the nuclear flash point between India and Pakistan? What is the likely cost of this apathy and complacency, for not only two countries, the people of Kashmir, but for the world at large?” he asked.
Jammu and Kashmir has been facing a clampdown since Aug. 5, when the Indian government revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which conferred it a special status.
Hundreds of people, mostly political leaders, have been detained or arrested by authorities since the Indian government made the move.
India has said that 93% of the restrictions have been eased in the conflict-ridden region.
India and Pakistan hold Kashmir in parts and claim it in full. China also controls part of the contested region, but it is India and Pakistan who have fought two wars over Kashmir.
Read more from Shafaqna:
‘Time for the world to act’: Imran Khan warns Kashmir row could spill over into new war with India
Pakistan PM: War is not a solution to problems
Muslim Day Parade’s goal was Kashmir & Muslim Unity
Imran Khan to RT: World must intervene to help avoiding a nuclear war in Kashmir