Kashmir Not an Integral Part of India, Says Pakistan Parliament

Islamabad: The Pakistan Parliament on Friday passed a resolution expressing solidarity with Kashmiris, and stated that Jammu and Kashmir is not an integral part of India.

The resolution, tabled by Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz passed on the third day of the joint session of parliament, also termed as condemnable allegations by India regarding involvement of Pakistan in the September 18 attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri, in Kashmir.

It condemned "false Indian claims of carrying out a surgical strike" in Pakistan and added that Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadav was involved in spreading terrorism in Balochistan.

The resolution also urged the international community to carry out an independent investigation into "gross human rights violations" in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

It condemned the use of force by the Indian Army and called for the world community to take notice of the "plight of innocent Kashmiris", Geo News reported.

It said that Pakistan is ready for talks with India over the Kashmir issue provided that it be solved according to the United Nations resolution and plebiscite be held in the state.

After passing the resolution, the opposition Pakistan People's Party leaders asked the government some tough question about its handling of the Kashmir issue.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman slammed Pakistan's foreign policy, asking: "Why are we not able to mount a serious, sustained, protracted defence of the federation of Pakistan?"

"Kashmir is one of the most important issues for us regarding our foreign policy... You cannot build your foreign policy through one speech," Rehman said, referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's UNGA speech.

Senior PPP leader Khursheed Shah said that it would have been better if the Prime Minister was also present during the session.

PPP leader Aitezaz Ahsan said that the day the Prime Minister utters Indian spy Khulbhushan Yadav's name from his mouth, he will donate Rs 50,000 to a trust for blind persons.

The joint session was adjourned for an undeclared period.

On Wednesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the joint session of Parliament that the Kashmir "liberation struggle" has taken a new turn after the "martyrdom" of militant commander Burhan Wani.