Kashmir first line of defence for Pakistan: PM Imran Khan

Islamabad, Aug 21: Kashmir is the first line of defence for Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday as his Cabinet decided to highlight the situation in Kashmir during the weeks leading to the address of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the United Nations General Assembly next month.

The development came following a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Khan on Tuesday.

Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on information, said that Khan during the Cabinet meeting emphasised that Kashmir was the first line of defence for Pakistan.

She noted that Modi would address to the UN General Assembly on September 27 ahead of Khan.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.

India has categorically told the international community that revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.

Awan said if India refused to lift curfew in Kashmir, Pakistan would pursue the matter on the international forums according to international laws and norms. She said that Prime Minister apprised the Cabinet in detail about his telephonic conversation with the U.S. President Donald Trump.

She said the Cabinet also in principle approved to take the Kashmir issue to the International Court of Justice.

Awan also defended the 3-year extension given to Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying that he was paying a pivotal role in Afghan peace process.

"It is a right step from Prime Minister Imran Khan because we need continuity in policies in the context of regional policies," she said.