Sharif

Burhan Wani

Pakistan fanning discontent in Kashmir: India

no locus standi

Pakistan declares Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani a 'martyr', to observe July 19 as black day

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday declared slain Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani a "martyr" and said July 19 will be observed as a "black day" to express solidarity with people of Kashmir.Addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in Kashmir,termed the "movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom"."Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination," the Prime Minister said."The Prime Minister termedas martyr of independence movement," Radio Pakistan reported.He said, the "Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them."The Prime Minister directed all the relevant departments to highlight the Kashmir issue at international fora.India on Thursday said Pakistan is not only pushing in terrorists but also fanning discontent within the Kashmir valley by providing support to terrorist outfits.Asserting that Wani issue was internal to India, external affairs ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Pakistan hasin the matter and asked it to refrain from interfering in it.Asked if there was a shift in Pakistan strategy vis-a-vis Kashmir where one sees increase in number of 'home-grown militants', he said, "It is part of the continued strategy of Pakistan of not only infiltrating terrorists from across the border but also fanning discontent within the valley by providing various support to terrorist outfits."Terming Pakistan's continued effort to internationalise the Kashmir issue as "a self-serving exercise towards narrow political end", Swarup said the world has a clear view about which country in the region covets the territory of others, uses terrorism as state policy, provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists and terror groups and violates human rights."Terrorism is terrorism and no amount of justification on part of Pakistan is going to change that," he said.