PM Imran Khan Unveils New Political Map of Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday has unveiled a new political map of Pakistan which also includes occupied Kashmir.
This landmark move from Pakistan’s government move comes a day ahead of the first anniversary of a controversial unilateral decision by the Indian government to revoke the area’s semi-autonomy.
Read more: India revokes disputed Kashmir’s special status; Article 370 scrapped
Addressing the nation alongside Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the premier shared the details of the decisions made in the Cabinet meeting.
“Today is the most important day in the history that we are presenting a new political map of Pakistan before the world,” he said.
“The cabinet has approved the map,” said, PM Imran Khan adding that the Kashmiri and national leadership has also green-signaled it.
The new map would now be used in schools and colleges as well, PM added.
“Their right to self-determination, given to them by the world community, has still not been given. And we clearly want to say to the world that it is the only solution,” he said, adding that the government will keep making efforts in this regard.
“Pakistan has always thought Kashmir should be a part of the country,” he said, adding that this was a “first step” in that direction.
“We will do political struggle, we don’t believe in military solutions. We will remind the UN again and again that you had made a promise [to the people of Kashmir] which you did not fulfill.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi explained the changes made in the new map, saying it reflected the will and aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
FM Qureshi also congratulated the incumbent government for unveiling a map of the country, which included Gilgit-Baltistan as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan has made it clear today that we reject India’s tactics and that Islamabad is ready for a peaceful solution to the disputed territories — Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir,” he said.
“The first thing that this map clears is that the solution to Kashmir will stem from the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution [of 1948], which has been printed on the map.
“The second point it clears is that the Siachin is ours and it shall remain that way,” he added.
