President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have reiterated Pakistan's moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for their legitimate rights, saying Pakistan believes that a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute can be found through a process of dialogue and engagement. "Pakistan believes that a just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute can only be found through a process of dialogue and engagement.
It is with this resolve and purpose in mind that we embarked on the composite dialogue process with India last year," Musharraf said in a message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day, being observed on Saturday.
Continuing, the president said: "Our effort was and continues to be to engage in a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue to seek a peaceful, negotiated and final settlement to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he said.
PRINCIPAL PARTY: At the same time, he added, "Pakistan believes that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal party to the dispute, and must therefore be the principal beneficiaries of the Pakistan-India dialogue process.
"For this reason, we have reiterated time and again, our demand that the Kashmiri people be associated with the composite dialogue process. Any viable and final settlement of the Kashmir dispute must reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir."
The president said: "The observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day demonstrates Pakistan's unequivocal support for the Kashmiris."
"We Pakistanis observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 every year to demonstrate our unequivocal support for the valiant struggle of the Kashmiri people to achieve their legitimate right of self-determination."
"It is a reaffirmation of our resolve to stand by our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their endeavours to decide their own future freely, as promised to them by the international community through the UN Security Council Resolutions, without the threat of coercion." Musharraf said, "it is our belief that there is a need to create an enabling environment for the peace process."
HR VIOLATIONS: "In this regard, violence, repression and grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the occupation forces in Indian held Jammu and Kashmir must stop."
Reiterating support for the Kashmiris, he said: "On the occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day, I reassure our Kashmiri brethren that at this critical juncture of history, they have the full moral, diplomatic and political support of the government and the people of Pakistan."
"Their goals are our goals. Their dreams are our dreams. May Allah grant us the strength to realise them. Ameen."
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has assured the Kashmiris of Pakistan's unflinching support to their struggle for the fundamental right to self-determination promised to them in the UN Security Council Resolutions.
"We assure our Kashmiri brethren of our unflinching support to their struggle for realisation of the fundamental human right of self-determination promised to them in the UN Security Council Resolutions," the Prime Minister said in his message on the occasion.
Shaukat Aziz said the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 provides an opportunity to all Pakistanis to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the just cause of the Kashmiri people.
He said, "The Kashmiris struggle for their legitimate right of self- determination has entered its 58th year. Generations of Kashmiris have grown up under the shadow of the gun."
"They have lost homes and hearths, friends and family members, but they have not lost hope, nor have they lost the will to fight on. Today, we honour the Kashmiri people for courage and determination in the face of tremendous adversity," he added.
The Prime Minister said, "The commemoration of this Day is a tribute to the sacrifices rendered by people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for their just cause." "We hope that the international community would play its role in bringing an end to repression, violence and human rights violations being committed by the occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir against the innocent people." While remaining steadfast in extending moral and political support to the people of Kashmir in their just cause for attaining the right to self-determination.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, "Pakistan has always emphasised the necessity of a meaningful and constructive dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute."
"The rigidity, violence and aggression must give way to accommodation and flexibility. If indeed, we are to find a durable and peaceful solution to the problem. We own this much to the Kashmiris who have sacrificed and suffered so much."
He said the composite dialogue that commenced in February 2004 between Pakistan and India offered an unprecedented opportunity to achieve an equitable settlement of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people."
The Prime Minister said, "Pakistan has entered into the dialogue process with India with the firm commitment and hope that it would result in a just and lasting solution to this long-standing dispute reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control."
"The Kashmiri people have expressed their firm support for the initiation of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan." "We hope that the governments of Pakistan and India can live up to the expectations of their own people as well as the people of Kashmir so that we can finally see the dawn of a lasting peace," Shaukat Aziz maintained.