Islamabad, Aug 14: Pakistan President, Mamnoon Hussain in his official address during the country’s Independence Day ceremony on Tuesday said that the Pakistani people “remember the people of Kashmir and their historic sacrifices” as they celebrate their 72nd Independence Day.
In his address at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, President Mamnoon congratulated the nation on what he said was the “day of true celebration”, reported Dawn News.
“Pakistan will continue to provide its political and moral support to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions,” Mamnoon Hussain said.
He called upon the international community to raise its voice to get the Kashmiri people their due rights.
Earlier, Hussain hoisted the national flag at Jinnah Convocation Complex.
The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries.
Pakistanis are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour, with commemorative ceremonies held in cities across the country.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s incoming leadership under Imran Khan has accorded importance to good relations with all neighbours, including India, and finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue, the Pakistani envoy said on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day at the high commission in New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood said positive developments, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s phone call to congratulate Khan on his election victory, had raised hopes of improved bilateral relations.
The incoming leadership has made “a detailed reference to relations with India in which importance was given to ending the blame game, finding a judicious solution to the Kashmir issue through talks, and increasing trade and people-to-people contacts between the two countries”, Mahmood said.
“It is a good sign that Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan and congratulated him. It is expected in the light of these positive developments, Pakistan-India relations will improve,” he said, speaking in Urdu.
Pakistan’s leadership, Mahmood said, has “always wanted peaceful relations with India on the basis of mutual request and equality”.
He added, “It is clear that peace, security and economic progress in South Asia can be achieved only through peaceful relations. We can expect that this region, which has been left behind in the race for progress because of tensions, will witness a new era of regional cooperation.”
Imran Khan, who took oath along with all the newly elected Pakistani lawmakers on Monday, is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister next week. During a meeting with the Indian envoy Ajay Bisaria in Islamabad on Friday, Khan called for the resumption of dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.
He expressed the hope that the SAARC Summit will be “held soon in Islamabad” and also spoke about “human rights violations” in Kashmir during the 30-minute meeting. Bisaria briefed the PTI leadership on “India’s concerns about terrorism and cross-border infiltration”.
