‘War Not An Option’: Pakistan PM Rakes Up Kashmir Issue at UNGA, Calls for ‘Peaceful Dialogue’ With India

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday raked up the Kashmir issue with regard to relations with India, saying sustainable peace and stability in South Asia depended on a lasting solution to the dispute at the centre of three wars the two neighbours had fought since 1947. The prime minister, however, called for peaceful dialogue with India to resolve the issues and said war was not an option.

“India’s illegal and unilateral occupation of the Kashmiri people and its ruthless campaign against Kashmiris hampers the cause of peace between the two countries,” Sharif said in his address before the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, where he also highlighted Pakistan’s devastating floods.

He added: “Pakistan needs a stable economy, and we look for peace with all our neighbours including India. Sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute…”

Sharif further said the two neighbouring countries could not afford to spend money on getting “armed to teeth” but should use their resources to “feed, educate, provide jobs and healthcare” to their people.

“I think it’s high time that India understands this message that both countries are armed to the teeth. War is not an option, only peaceful dialogue can resolve issues so that the world becomes more peaceful in the time to come,” Sharif said, highlighting that Pakistan remained consistent in its commitment to peace in South Asia.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country, and that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution.

The Pakistan PM described India’s abrogation of Article 370 as undermining the prospect of peace calling it “illegal” and an attempt to “alter the demographic structure” of Kashmir. He said this had inflamed regional tension as New Delhi had ramped up military deployment in the erstwhile state making it one of the most “militarised zones” in the world. He also accused the central government of issuing fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris.

“India must take credible steps to create an enabling environment for constructive engagement. We are neighbours forever and the choice is ours to live in peace or keep fighting,” Sharif said, adding that the tense relations between India and Pakistan had only brought upon “misery, poverty and unemployment” in the form of three wars.

He said: “We have had three wars since 1947 and, as a consequence, have brought upon only misery, poverty and unemployment and it’s on us to resolve our differences through deliberation and discussion. So that we can save our resources to provide education, healthcare and employment to scores of youth.”

(With PTI inputs)

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