Pak celebrates 59th ID; Aziz supports Kashmiris

Islamabad, Aug 14: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reaffirmed his country's unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir and said a lasting peace can only be achieved by resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

''We have blood ties with Kashmiris, our hearts beat in unison and no world power can separate us from them, Mr Aziz said while speaking at a flag hoisting ceremony held here on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day.

The Prime Minister unfurled the National Flag and sang National anthem along with the people of Pakistan as the entire rail and road traffic came to a halt across the country for one minute at 0759 hrs.

Pakistan, he stressed, resumed talks with India with all sincerity as it believes that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved with the resolution of the Kashmir and other outstanding issues.

''Kashmiris are an important party to the issue and their wishes and aspirations cannot be overlooked,'' he said in his address which was telecast live.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan was a peaceful country with no aggressive designs against any one.

''But we are not oblivious to our defence needs, as we know that weakness invites aggression. Effective defence is vital for progress and that is why we have resolved to maintain a strong defence at all costs.'' ''The country's defence is in safe and strong hands,'' he said, adding the Armed Forces of Pakistan were fully capable to defend the country.

He noted Pakistan was a ''nuclear power'' of 160 million people and its every child knew how to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

With a huge portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and National Flag in the background, the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) that Pakistan was pursuing the path of indigenisation for a strong defence and was meeting its defence needs through local means.

''Our missile and space program is advancing, the locally assembled Agosta submarine has been handed over to Pakistan Navy and the JF-7 Thunder aircraft is in the final stages...these are great achievements and the nation is proud of its engineers and technicians,'' he added.

Mr Aziz pointed to the grave challenge posed to the Islamic Ummah with the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and said innumerable innocent lives, including that of women and children, were lost due to this.

He urged the United Nations and the international community to play their role in finding a resolution of the issue.

''The Lebanese people should not consider them alone and the people of Pakistan stand by them in their hour of trial,'' he said and added that lasting peace in the West Asia was linked to the just resolution of the Palestine issue.

The Prime Minister also reiterated his country's ''vital role in the international war against terrorism,'' and said the threat can only be eliminated by addressing its root causes.

While rejecting any linkage between terrorism and Islam, the notion of clash of civilisations and labelling of Muslims as extremists, he said it was a big challenge for the Ummah and a number of measures had been taken to meet it at all levels.

Mr Aziz said the world was changing rapidly and it was essential to be prepared to meet any challenge.

''This can only be achieved if we are strong, we have complete unity amongst our ranks as any infighting at this juncture could hurt our interests.'' He said the government was pursuing the same objectives which were Quaid-e-Azam's dream, but said the entire nation would have to work with devotion to move forward with dedication and commitment.

UNI

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