New York: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday raked up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying that the international community could not "draw a veil on it".
Blaming India for the cancellation of the Foreign Secretary-level talks, which were scheduled to be held in August, Sharif said that it was another "missed opportunity" to address outstanding issues.
"We were disappointed due to the cancellation of the Foreign Secretary-level talks with India. Many generation of Kashmiris have lived under occupation, accompanied by violence and abuse of their fundamental rights. Kashmiri women, in particular, have undergone immense suffering and humiliation," Sharif said.
"The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved. This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil on the issue of Kashmir, until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Sharif also said that Pakistan was "ready to work for resolution of this problem through negotiations". "Our support and advocacy of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is our historic commitment and a duty, as a party to the Kashmir dispute," he said.
In a stinging remark, the 64-year-old said that India was yet to fulfill a UN resolution on holding a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
"More than six decades ago, the United Nations passed resolutions to hold a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting for the fulfillment of that promise," he said.
Sharif's comments came even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached New York to begin his 5-day visit to the US.
Modi will address the UNGA on Saturday.
Full coverage: Modi's US trip
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