Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, on Wednesday visited parts of Kashmir controlled by his country amid simmering tensions with New Delhi, which has tightened its control over the Indian-administered parts of the disputed region.
Khan planned to deliver a speech to the regional parliament as Pakistan marked its 72nd Independence Day.
He was also expected to express solidarity with the Muslim-majority people of Indian-administered Kashmir, which has been on a tight security lockdown ever since New Delhi stripped the region of its special autonomy last week.
India’s decision to revoke a constitutional clause giving Kashmir autonomy had escalated tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals, both of whom claimed Kashmir in its entirety.
However, Pakistan reacted by downgrading its diplomatic relations, halting bilateral trade and suspending cross-border transport links with India.
Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood-Qureshi, wrote a letter to the UN, calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss India’s move.
Khan said that his country would stand by the people in Indian-administered Kashmir in their struggle for freedom.
He, however, condemned the world’s inaction to stop India from changing Kashmir’s status, a dispute he warned could trigger a nuclear conflict.
Pakistan President Arif Alvi, also condemned the Indian move and urged the international community to step in.
dpa/NAN
