Will raise Kashmir issue at UN General Assembly on Sept 27, says Imran

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday (August 26) said that the country was successful in internationalising the issue of Kashmir and that he will highlight the crisis at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27.

PM Imran Khan said this in an address to the neighbouring nation minutes after his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi told US President Donald that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between the two countries.

In his address, he further assured the people of Pakistan that his government will stand by the Kashmiris till India lifts the restrictions in the Valley.

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Outlining his government’s future strategy on Kashmir, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, “First, I believe, the entire nation should stand with the Kashmiri nation. I have said this that I will act as Kashmirs ambassador.”

“I will tell the world about this, I have shared this with heads of state that I have been in contact with. I will raise this issue at the UN as well,” he said while referring to his scheduled address to the UN General Assembly next month.

“I read in the newspapers that people are disappointed that Muslim countries are not siding with Kashmir. I want to tell you not to be disappointed; if some countries are not raising this issue because of their economic interests, they will eventually take this issue up. They will have to, with time,” he said.

Further, the cricketer-turned-politician claimed that PM Modi had made a “historic blunder” by revoking Kashmir’s special autonomy.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.

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During Modi’s bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on Monday, the Indian Prime Minister categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying that the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally and “we dont want to trouble any third country.”

On his part, Trump said that he and Modi spoke about Kashmir “at great length” on Sunday night and he feels that both India and Pakistan can resolve it on their own.

“We spoke last night about Kashmir, the Prime Minister really feels he has it (situation) under control. They speak with Pakistan and Im sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good,” Trump said.

(With inputs from agencies)