Muzaffarabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the freedom of Kashmir is drawing closer as a result of the immense sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people.
Addressing a session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said Kashmiris could sacrifice everything, including their children, but would never relinquish their right to freedom.
Recalling Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s statement that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan, he said this principle remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that the Kashmir dispute can be resolved through the implementation of United Nations resolutions and affirmed that Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiri people until their right to self-determination is achieved. He claimed that slogans of “Kashmir will become Pakistan” are resonating across the occupied valley and expressed confidence that freedom would soon be realized due to continued sacrifices.
Referring to what he described as the “Battle for Truth,” the Prime Minister said Pakistan had inflicted a humiliating defeat on India through the grace of Allah, the prayers of the nation, and the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
He stated that the defeat suffered by India under the leadership of the Field Marshal would be remembered for generations and had brought the Kashmir issue back into global focus.
He added that India’s false narrative had collapsed on both military and diplomatic fronts, while Pakistan had achieved significant diplomatic success. Praising the Deputy Prime Minister, he said effective efforts had been made to highlight the Kashmir issue internationally, stressing that peace in the region cannot be achieved unless India abandons its aggressive policies.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan desires peace but emphasized that lasting peace can only be established on the basis of equality. He added that Pakistan, in coordination with Islamic countries, has taken steps to promote peace in Gaza, and that the people of both Palestine and Kashmir must be allowed to live according to their own will.
Announcing development initiatives for Azad Kashmir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government would continue working with the AJK administration to improve infrastructure. He announced an increase in the monthly stipend for refugees from Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000.
He also announced the establishment of a sub-campus of Daanish University to provide technical education to Kashmiri youth, as well as the creation of a Khidmat (Service) Center in Muzaffarabad similar to the one in Islamabad. Additionally, he said 2,096 Kashmiri students had been provided laptops this year, with another 1,700 students to receive laptops soon.
The Prime Minister concluded by stating that, in line with the vision of Quaid Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan would continue pursuing national development alongside the Kashmir cause.
