ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has dedicated this year's Independence Day to the freedom of Kashmir, expressing grief over recent tragedy in Quetta and remembering the martyrs who sacrificed to protect the country's independence.

"I dedicate this year's 14th August to the freedom of Kashmir. I dedicate it to those people of Kashmir, who bravely faced the state oppression but kept the spirit of freedom alive," he said in his message to the nation on Independence Day.

He said besides the traditional pleasure, this year the day of 14th August also carried deep feelings of grief. "The pain of Quetta's martyrs is still fresh. Today, we are also remembering those martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to protect this independence," he remarked. The prime minister said this Independence Day was also memorable due to the fact that nowadays the spirit of independence in Occupied Kashmir was on its peak. The new generation of Kashmiris had raised the flag of freedom with a new vigour, he added.

He said the day was dawning with the determination of Pakistani nation that Pakistan, with the grace of Allah Almighty, would remain forever. The spirit of 1965 was still alive with full vigour, when Pakistani armed forces and the people together confronted the enemy.

He remarked that the protection of independence was even harder than its achievement. Without the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the creation of Pakistan was impossible.

"If our armed forces, security institutions, police and people did not have shed their blood, its (Pakistan's) survival and security was impossible," he said.

Nawaz said "In the month of August, when we remember the Quaid, leaders and workers of Pakistan movement, our hearts are also enlightened with the memory of those martyrs, who have become immortal by sacrificing their lives for the country.

"Today, we are remembering our all those martyrs. They belong to every segment of the state. They are in every political party. They are in every field of life. They are in every sect. They are in every religion. They are all Pakistanis. They are individuals of one nation. We are paying tributes to all these martyrs. We are presenting salute to their souls. All of them are pronouncing that the nation is united against terrorists," he maintained.

He said on the Independence Day "we have to solemnly affirm that, till we are alive, we would sacrifice our interests for the stability, security and survival of Pakistan. We will take forward this tradition of martyrs that after us, the world gives the same evidence in our favour, which we are giving today for our martyrs."