Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealed to India for dialogue over the Kashmir dispute on the eve of Pakistan's observance of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 that had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Article 370 was abrogated by India on August 5, 2019, along with Article 35A, and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The 5th of August has since 2020 been celebrated as 'Youm-i-Istehsal' in Pakistan as a protest against the Indian move. In a televised speech, he addressed lawmakers in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saying that India needs to shift from denying the dispute to resolving it for permanent peace in South Asia.
He once again said that though Pakistan is a nuclear power and it does not compromise on its defense, it never followed the path of aggression. It desires a solution to the Kashmir dispute peacefully through dialogue, reported Radio Pakistan.
India has also wished to have normal relations with Pakistan but it has been insisting that it would happen if Pakistan created a terror-free environment for any meaningful engagement.
The relations between India and Pakistan started deteriorating in 2019 when Islamabad had downgraded the diplomatic ties after India suspended Article 370.
The day was marked by a number of events held across the country while its diplomatic missions abroad also held special events. On this occasion, the Foreign Office said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar dispatched letters to the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation about the situation.
Rallies and banner, poster displays were held in Muzaffarabad while documentaries were screened in all major cities. In Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister Dar led a rally on Constitution Avenue. A special session of the Legislative Assembly was also convened in PoK.
The top military command of Pakistan reiterated the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. The position that has been spelt out is the one for enduring peace and stability in the region, which can be achieved through the resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the United Nations Resolutions.
Read also | Private News Channel Reports Sheikh Hasina Resigns and Exits Bangladesh
Read also | Bangladesh Imposes Internet Blackout Amid 'Long March to Dhaka' Protest Movement
