ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan will stand by Kashmiris till the realization of their demands for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, I reaffirm Pakistan's firm commitment to a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the protection of their fundamental rights,” the prime minister said in his message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed on February 5.

The prime minister said the Kashmir dispute had been on the agenda of the United Nations for more than six decades as an unfulfilled obligation.

He said the government of Pakistan would continue to extend its unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people to safeguard their right of self- determination through a free and impartial plebiscite in line with the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions and for the protection of their fundamental rights.

He said Pakistan had always supported dialogue with the government of India.

“We have initiated CBMs in good faith and hope that the CBMs would mitigate the suffering of the Kashmiri people. We also hope that the CBMs would lead to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” he said.

“We give the people of Kashmir our solemn pledge that they can count on us in their hour of anguish,” the PM said.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said thousands of Kashmiris had laid down their lives.

“Atrocities and humiliations could not deter them from a cause based on their legitimate aspirations of their right of self- determination as enshrined in the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions,” he said.