Pak PM seeks implementation of UNSC resolution on Kashmir

New York: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday demanded that the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir be implemented, asserting that his country will continue to support the right of self determination for Jammu and Kashmir.

Identifying Kashmir as the core issue with its eastern neighbour, Abbasi exuded confidence that the resolution will help address the contentious issue.

"I think the basic issue is Kashmir. The implementation of the Security Council resolution will be a great starting point that will help address each other's concerns and provide peace to the region and between Pakistan and India. That's the core issue between the two countries," Abbasi said at an event organised by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

Abbasi was responding to a question from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who sought to know from him what India and Pakistan needed to do to achieve peace.

Abbasi, who is here to attend the annual UN General Assembly session and will deliver his sppech today, asked the world community to honour and defend the fundamental right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We fully support the right to self-determination. We've fully supported that at every forum since 1948, and we continue to support that. And that issue should be resolved as per the UN Security Council resolutions. There are no two opinions about that. We fully support the self-determination rights of the Kashmiri people, and we ask the world community to honour and defend that," he said.

He accused the Indian security forces of committing atrocities in Kashmir and asked the world community to take note of it.

Abbasi said the two neighbours need to engage on core issues and that he wants "normal relation" with India.

"Those have to be resolved first, and Kashmir is the basic core issue there. But unfortunately, in the recent past, the aggression from India has continued unabated, and that is not acceptable. And we want normal relations with India, but on the basis of trust and respect," he said in response to another question.