By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani Wednesday said his government will enter into “meaningful and result-oriented” talks with India for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
“We want friendly relations with India and want to resolve all outstanding issues through talks,” Gillani said in his address to the joint sitting of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir legislative assembly and council.
He said that talks were the only option to address conflicts and termed it a positive trend.
The prime minister said that the ceasefire along the Line of Control in December 2003 was still effective, the bus service still plying, and entry points along the border being opened.
Gillani demanded an end to what he termed as “brutalities” in Indian Kashmir, saying “human rights violations must end”.
He said that Pakistan desired result-oriented dialogue with India to seek a permanent resolution of the dispute, and stressed that it was Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that took the issue to international fora and initiated dialogue with India.
Gillani, who was on his first visit to Pakistan-administered Kashmir since assuming office, said his country always stood for peace as it was the guarantee of stability in the region and the world at large.
He paid rich tributes to Kashmiris for their struggle for the right to self-determination.
“The sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste,” he vowed and said their struggle was not against anyone, but only to seek materialisation of the pledge made to them by the United Nations.
The prime minister said providing jobs to unemployed youth was part of the PPP’s and its coalition’s agenda. He said the programme “Green and Skilled Kashmir” would be reviewed and all possible measures would be taken to make it operational.
“We understand the problems of Kashmiris,” he said, adding that it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who vowed to wage a 1,000-year war for the liberation of Kashmir.
Gillani said the government was aware of the devastation caused by the 2005 earthquake and desired early rehabilitation.
He went on to say that members of the Kashmir legislative assembly would soon be made part of parliamentary delegations of the National Assembly and Senate. He said Rs.5 million as development fund would be provided to each member of the Kashmir legislative assembly.