Pak PM asks 'occupying forces' in J-K to end repression

Islamabad, Jun 2 (PTI) In a strident anti-India
statement, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday
asked "occupying forces" in Jammu and Kashmir to stop
repression.

He offered Pakistan's "political, moral and diplomatic
support to the Kashmiri people for their right to self
determination" and said the issue must be resolved through a
"constructive and purposeful" dialogue with India.

"We also hope that Indian occupying forces will cease
human rights abuses and violence will come to an end and a
conducive atmosphere will be created for the final settlement
of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Gilani said addressing the
'Azad Kashmir Council' comprising representatives from
governments of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Claiming that the Kashmir issue "holds the key to
durable peace in the region," he pointed out that Pakistani
Parliament has passed resolutions "expressing solidarity of
the people of Pakistan for the people of Kashmir."

In their several statements, the top leadership of
Pakistan "condemned the use of force and demanded respect for
human rights of the people of Kashmir," Gilani said.

"These statements and resolutions are a true reflection
of the sentiments of the entire Pakistani nation," he said.

His comments came days after Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government assumed office for the
second five-year term in India.

"Pakistan remains committed to finding a just and
peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with
the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the
Kashmiri people," Gilani said in his policy statement at the
start of a new session of the PoK Council.

He said the issue must be resolved through "sincere
dialogue" in order to open up vast opportunities for the
socio-economic development of the South Asian region.

Pressing for resumption of the Composite Dialogue between
India and Pakistan, Gilani listed the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad
bus service and commencement of cross-LoC trade as the
Kashmir-related confidence building measures (CBMs)
implemented during the past few years.

The frequency of bus services between Srinagar and
Muzaffarabad and Poonch and Rawalakot had been increased and
cross-LoC trade had started, he noted. "These CBMs have been
guided by our desire to reduce the sufferings of Kashmiris and
(to) help to create an environment conducive for the
settlement of this dispute," he said.

"Following the Mumbai incident, India has put a pause on
the composite dialogue. Pakistan has stressed the need for
engagement and resumption of the composite dialogue," he said.

"We have pressed upon India that focus of the efforts of
the two countries should remain on countering terrorism which
is the real issue and not mutual recrimination," Gilani said.

He hoped that the peace process would resume soon and
"become result-oriented in addressing all outstanding issues,
including J-K."

"We firmly believe that for a durable solution, Kashmiris
should be associated with the dialogue process," Gilani said.

He said the "indigenous uprising" in Jammu and Kashmir
ignited by the Amarnath shrine issue last year had added
"another sad chapter to the sufferings of the Kashmiri
people."

"They were subjected to a prolonged economic blockade;
their lives and properties were attacked. Many Kashmiris were
martyred, including Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a prominent Hurriyat
leader," Gilani said, adding these events reflected the
"indigenous struggle" of the Kashmiris for "independence". PTI
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