ISLAMABAD, 30 SEP, (DNA) – The Federal Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met in Islamabad on Friday.  The situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and ceasefire violations by India on the LoC came under discussion.

The Prime Minister, at the very beginning of the meeting, said that we wanted to focus our energies for the betterment and welfare of our people, and the development of our country.

He said that his government was committed to eliminating poverty and unemployment. To achieve these goals, peace was essential. However, we would defend our homeland against any aggression. The entire nation is standing shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces. Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of Partition, which cannot be wished away. The Indian atrocities cannot suppress the passions of the Kashmiri people.

The Prime Minister said that the Indian aggression poses a serious threat to the regional peace and security. The Prime Minister added that the leadership and people of Pakistan are united in their resolve to counter any aggressive Indian designs.

The Cabinet joined the Prime Minister in completely rejecting the Indian claims of carrying out “surgical strikes”. The Indian Occupation forces had resorted to unprovoked firing on the LoC in complete violation of India’s commitments under bilateral arrangements as well as international law.

The Cabinet praised the brave and valiant Jawans of the armed forces of Pakistan for their befitting response to the Indian aggression. The Cabinet also offered fateha on the shahadat of two armed forces personnel and expressed sympathy to their families on this irreparable loss.

The Cabinet expressed deep concern over the continued killings and grave human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Occupation Forces have killed more than 110 Innocent civilians’ including women, children and elderly persons. The Cabinet appreciated the courage, valour and commitment of the Kashmiri people who continue their just struggle for the realization of the right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

The Cabinet reiterated Pakistan’s call for free, fair and impartial investigation into the killings of innocent civilians, under the UN auspices. It called upon the international community to take notice of the massive human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Cabinet welcomed the decision of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a Fact Finding Mission to the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Cabinet expressed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to provide political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet also decided to continue to highlight Indian brutalities, excesses and state sponsored terrorism in IOK at the international level.

The Cabinet deplored the provocative statements of the Indian leadership alleging Pakistan for the Uri attack, without any evidence. The false Indian accusations were completely rejected. Indian statements and actions are aimed to deflect international community’s attention from the situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet noted that the statements of the Indian Prime Minister have provided fresh evidence of Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan, which is a clear contravention of the UN Charter and international law.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan’s commitment for peace must not be construed as weakness. In case of any aggression or violation of LoC, Pakistan will take all necessary steps to protect its people and territorial integrity. =DNA