National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Italy’s defence minister Roberta
Pinotti on Monday said her country opposes use of force and lethal
weapons against peaceful protestors in (Indian Occupied) Kashmir.
In a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain here at the Aiwan-
e-Sadr, the Italian defence minister said Italy would apprise the
international community of the ongoing human rights violation in Indian
Occupied Kashmir.
President Mamnoon Hussain called upon the international
community to urge India to immediately put an end to atrocities
against innocent Kashmiris.
He stressed for the resolution of Kashmir dispute in
accordance with United Nations’ resolutions for durable peace in the
region.
Expressing concern over Indian atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir,
the President condemned violation of human rights by Indian armed
forces and use of brutal means to suppress the peaceful struggle of
the Kashmiris for attainment of their rights.
The President noted that ongoing Indian atrocities resulted
into martyrdom of over 100 Kashmiris.
He mentioned that the use of pellet guns had resulted in
blinding over 160 people including children and women.
President Mamnoon Hussain also recalled that more than 100,000
Kashmiris have lost their lives since 1989 and 10,000 women had been
raped by the Indian forces during peaceful struggle of the Kashmiris
for their right to self-determination.
He apprised that India had rejected the UN High Commissioner’s
demand for fact finding mission for Kashmir and also not
responded to a similar demand from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The President further informed that India had also closed down
all offices of Amnesty International on raising voice against its
atrocities in Kashmir.
President Mamnoon Hussain said that Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif would forcefully raise the issue of occupied Jammu and
Kashmir during his address to the United Nations General Assembly
and would call upon the world community to play its role in
resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with aspirations of the
people of Kashmir.
He said Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of all outstanding
issues with India, including Jammu and Kashmir dispute, adding that
a consistent, uninterrupted and result-oriented dialogue between the
two countries was the key to resolve out standing issues between the two countries.
The President noted that the internationally recognized
unresolved dispute of Jammu and Kashmir remained the root cause of
tensions in South Asia for more than 68 years.
President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan being the biggest
victim of terrorism, was committed to eradicating terrorism and
extremism from its soil through National Action Plan and operation
Zarb-e-Azb.
He said Pakistan desires peace, stability and development in
Afghanistan and had taken measures for better border management to
avoid undesirable incidents and to promote peace.
The President noted that Pakistan and Italy shared views on a
number of regional and global issues and hoped that both countries
would continue to work closely on all issues of mutual interest.
He expressed confidence that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
defence cooperation between Pakistan and Italy would pave the way
for further enhancing defence collaboration between the two
countries.
Minister Roberta Pinotti acknowledged that Pakistan had
suffered a lot and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for eradicating
terrorism.
She also lauded Pakistan’s efforts for bringing peace in
Afghanistan and for generously hosting millions of Afghan refugees.