Pakistan expectedly raked up the Kashmir issue Friday in the UN General Assembly, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying the "core issue" of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved and pushed for a plebiscite in the state. He also blamed India for the calling off of bilateral foreign secretary-level talks last month.
Addressing the UNGA, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York, Sharif said that people of Jammu and Kashmir are "still waiting for fulfilment of the promise of plebiscite".
Sharif, whose own political existence is under threat in the light of two long-running protest sit-ins in Islamabad being held to seek his ouster over rigging in 2013 general elections, said the "core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved. This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil over the issue of Kashmir until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir".
Sharif alleged that "many generations of Kashmiris have lived their lives under occupation, accompanied by violence and abuse of their fundamental rights. Kashmiri women, in particular, have undergone immense suffering and humiliation".
"For decades, attempts have been made, both under UN auspices and bilaterally in the spirit of the Lahore Declaration, to resolve this dispute."
He said Pakistan was "disappointed at the cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks. The world community, too, rightly saw it as another missed opportunity".
"Pakistan is convinced that we must remain engaged in the dialogue process for settling disputes and building economic and trade relations. Let us not ignore the dividends of peace."
India had called off the Aug 25 foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan in Islamabad over its envoy in New Delhi hobnobbing with Kashmiri separatists, despite India requesting him not to do so.
Meanwhile, there was a large protest Friday outside the UN while Sharif was speaking. The protesters held up signs about corruption and cleansing the Pakistan government.
Nawaz was originally scheduled to deliver his speech in the evening but it was switched to the morning session. He is due to leave for Pakistan this evening.
Last week, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto had also raked up the Kashmir issue when he said he will "take back Kashmir, all of it".
"I will take back Kashmir, all of it, and I will not leave behind a single inch of it because, like the other provinces, it belongs to Pakistan," said Bhutto, who is the son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari.
