Sharif looks to exploit PM's absence at UNGA, appoints 22 special envoys to rake up Kashmir issue

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be looking to exploit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from UNGC. He has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to be despatched to world capitals to highlight Kashmir issue at UN.

“We will remind the United Nations its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people,” Sharif said.

Stepping up Pakistan’s diplomatic offensive, the prime minister said he has decided to send the parliamentarians for highlighting the Kashmir issue in different parts of the World.

The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces.

“The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September,” Radio Pakistan reported.

“We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise,” he added.

Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance.