Nawaz Sharif gives controversial statement: Claims Kashmir 'unfinished agenda of partition'

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif fired a fresh salvo on Kashmir on Thursday, while claiming that it was "unfinished agenda of partition". He also stated that  Pakistan would continue to provide support to Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination. 

"Jammu and Kashmir dispute is an unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent," Sharif said. "No power can deter us from supporting our Kashmiri brethren in their just and legitimate struggle for the exercise of their right to self-determination guaranteed to them by the UNSC relevant resolutions," he said. 

Sharif condemned what he described as Indian violation of LoC and said Pakistan was capable of defending itself. "No external force has the capability or capacity to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan. We have the best armed forces in the world and we are proud of that," he said. According to several statements by PMO, Sharif spent hectic day, consulting his aides on the security situation. Sharif was briefed regularly by the security institutions on the situation on the LOC. National Security Adviser Nasir Janjua submitted a comprehensive report on the LOC situation to the PM office. 

Sharif showed satisfaction on the level of preparedness of Pakistani armed forces. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan met Sharif and discussed the security situation. Sharif has convened a cabinet meeting tomorrow. He also called a meeting of National Security Committee on Tuesday with special invitation to all the Chief Ministers to deliberate at length the emerging scenario across the Line of Control and "brutal state oppression" in Kashmir. 

Another statement said that he convened the joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday to reaffirm the national resolve for safeguarding the sovereignty and preserving the territorial integrity of the motherland against any kind of external or internal threat as well as reiterating the moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir. Sharif will take nation and Parliament into confidence, it added.