Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Monday said the issue of Kashmir was engraved permanently in the hearts of Pakistanis and reiterated full support of the government and people of Pakistan to the just and legitimate right of the Kashmiri people for the peaceful resolution of the issue in line with their aspirations.

He said all the illegitimate use of force and coercive measures by the occupation forces in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) had miserably failed to suppress indigenous freedom struggle. About 207 million Pakistanis supported their Kashmiri brethren in their struggle.

The prime minister was addressing a joint session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council on the Kashmir Solidarity Day. President of AJK Sardar Masood Khan and Minister for Kashmir

Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Muhammad Barjees Tahir were also present on the occasion.

The prime minister said there might be differences among the political leaders but on the Kashmir issue, all the leadership was united and there were no two opinions.

Stressing upon unity for highlighting the Kashmir issue at all the international fora, the prime minister said the issue would remain alive till its peaceful resolution as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the UN resolutions.

He also underscored the need to involve the Pakistani and Kashmir diaspora to further highlight the IHK issue and the gross human rights violations committed by the Indian occupation forces.

The prime minister, referring to the AJK assembly and council, said the house had been a seat of unanimity among different Kashmiri leaders, who lent unequivocal support to the people in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

He called upon the ruling and opposition benches to set aside their political differences and work with more vigor for the Kashmir cause.

He said the Kashmir Solidarity Day reflected a spirit of unity among all the rank and file of the nation and in the legitimate struggle, Kashmiris were not alone as the whole Pakistani nation was standing with them.

“The hearts of Pakistanis and Kashmiris beat together,” he added.

The people of Pakistan, he said, felt the pains and sufferings of the Kashmir people in IHK, who had been facing the illegal subjugation of the Indian rule for the last 70 years, and extended their whole-hearted support to the Kashmiri leadership. Every child in the IHK was a freedom lover and their desires should be reciprocated with unity, he added.

He reiterated that the government of Pakistan and its people would continue their political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kahmiri people struggling for their right to self-determination.

The prime minister said the federal government would extend all possible support for the development of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The development budget for the AJK had been doubled, he added.

He said various dormant projects like Neelum-Jehlum power plant were being completed with the active support of the federal government.

He referred to the construction of Mansehra-Mirpur-Muzaffarabad road under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would enhance connectivity and spur progress and development in the AJK.

He also assured full support of his government for the families of Shuhada (martyred), who lost their lives as the result of Indian shelling.

The prime minister lauded the role of Pakistan Army in its success against the war on terror. Pakistan fought the biggest war on terror in the world with immense sacrifices and succeeded whereas the world had failed, he added.

He said there was no interference from the federal government over the formation of AJK government as it was elected by the Kashmiri people.

The prime minister also advised the AJK government to strive for providing a better governance system so that people could get their issues resolved at their doorsteps.

He also appreciated former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for his efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue and making defence of Pakistan invincible.