ISLAMABAD: The political leadership of Pakistan on Monday showed unanimity on the Kashmir issue as the parliamentary parties agreed to revive the National Security Committee of Parliament.
The political leadership from the treasury and opposition maintained that stopping rivers’ water by India would be tantamount to aggression. The leadership was appreciative of the resolve, commitment and will of the Pakistan Army for safeguarding and defending the territorial integrity and soveregnty of the country.
Despite the sharp political differences, government and opposition expressed their unflinching resolve to support the people of Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) and maintain unity in the face of aggressive Indian posture.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed that the Kashmiri freedom movement would notbe suppressed by the Indian brutalities any further.Chairing the conference of Parliamentary Group leaders here at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he said that Kashmiris and Pakistanis are inseparable. “We will leave no stone unturned to highlight the Kashmiris’ plight at all international forums.” The leaders took stock of the situation and struggle of Kashmiri people in IHK and tension created by India on the frontiers. The meeting that lasted more than five hours discarded the Indian claims of declaring Kashmir as its integral part and the so-called surgical strikes across the LOC on Friday last.
The leaders resolved, “We stand united on matters of national importance, particularly on Kashmir.” The conference was convened to formulate a unanimous response to Indian belligerency. PTI leader Imran Khan opted to stay away from the conference and designated former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to represent him in the meeting.
PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain designated Senator Kamal Ali Agha to represent him in the conference. The PML-Q Parliamentary Group Leader Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi was also absent as he was not invited to the event.
A joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the conference stated that the people, government, political parties and the armed forces of Pakistan are firmly united in supporting the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, as guaranteed to them in the United Nations charter. “We condemn the stated intent by India to use water as a weapon against the people, not only of Pakistan but of the region, in flagrant violation of its international treaty obligations and state that any Indian attempts at unilateral revocation of the Indus Water Treaty shall be taken as an act of aggression.”
The communiqué said that the parliamentary leaders “applaud the bravery and unwavering commitment of the armed forces of Pakistan for their befitting response to Indian aggression”. It said, “We reject the ludicrous Indian claims of carrying out ‘surgical strike’ across the LoC, as blatantly false and brazen attempts to divert international attention from its atrocities in IHK.” The leaders also agreed that in order to coordinate on national security efforts, a national security committee of parliament will be constituted.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry briefed the conference and told the participants that India is constantly violating the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris. An escalation in the situation was witnessed following the killing of freedom fighter Burhan Wani by the Indian forces on July 8 last. The parliamentary leaders decided to send delegations to countries in order to highlight the Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Political parties have also demanded that a security committee should be formed. It was also said that the United Nations Commission for Human Rights (UNCHR) should be made aware of Indian atrocities in the Valley and that a delegation from the international body should be sent there to investigate the ground reality.
Earlier in September, tension between India and Pakistan soared as at least two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in an incident of firing by Indian troops at the LoC.
While India claimed to have performed a “surgical strike” by crossing the disputed boundary, the Pakistani Army rubbished those claims as “baseless”. After blaming Pakistan for the September 18 attack on the Uri army camp, India this month initiated a diplomatic drive to isolate Pakistan by opting out of the Saarc summit.
Leading his party at the meeting, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that despite differences with the government on multiple issues, the party was with the prime minister, on the Kashmir issue and Indian aggression along the LoC. “We will support you. The PPP has taken a clear stance on these issues. This is a turning point in Pak-India relations,” he said and added, “A united Pakistan can counter Indian aggression and by working together we can achieve our national security goals. There is no military solution to Kashmir. It is a proud moment for Pakistan that all parties are together on Kashmir issue,” he told reporters after the meeting. “We all agreed to work together for national unity on Kashmir issue. If we don’t answer India collectively, our diplomatic stance gets weak internationally. This resolution is on the Kashmir issue; we don’t want our disagreement to damage the Kashmir cause.”
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “Indian behaviour, the way they have tried to breach the Indus Waters Treaty, should be considered as an act of aggression, a hostile act.” The PTI leader was referring to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Commission talks and reports that India planned to accelerate building of new hydro-power plants along three rivers that flow into Pakistan.
Qureshi added that the situation in Balochistan should be kept separate from the ongoing situation in held Kashmir. “Kashmir is an internationally-recognised dispute whereas Balochistan is a part of our sovereign nation,” he said.
PML-Q leader Kamil Ali Agha said that no compromise could be made on Pakistan’s defence. “We are one nation and one voice on this issue” he said and added that Indian state sponsored terrorism was condemnable and Pakistan should expose Indian propaganda on Balochistan and Gilgit. He said Pakistan should work hard to forge new alliances at international forums.
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour of the Awami National Party said the prime minister’s speech at the UNGA had given a new life to the Kashmir dispute on the diplomatic front. He congratulated the prime minister on holding the meeting of parliamentary leaders at this critical juncture.
Addressing the conference, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, “We need to form national unity at this critical moment and we need the collective voice and resolve of the entire nation at the political and diplomatic levels.” He added, “We need to denounce and highlight the brutal atrocities in IHK. Today’s meeting has sent a positive message to the world.”
The meeting was attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ali Shah, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Sadruddin Rashidi, National People’s Party (NPP) chief Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Awami National Party leader Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) head Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar and leader Dr Khalid Maqbool, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Hina Rabbani Khar, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari and Engr Usman Khan Tarakai, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq and leader Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, National Party (NP) chief Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and ledaer Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai, Fata leader Dr Ghazi Ghulab Jamal, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Kamil Ali Agha (PML-Q).
The government was represented by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt-General Nasser Khan Janjua, special assistants to PM Dr Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Adviser to the PM Professor Irfan Siddiqui and Secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad.https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/154779-National-Security-Committee-of-Parliament-to-be-revived
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