MIRPUR (AJK) - Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday stressed the need for the early settlement of the Kashmir dispute in line with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a public meeting at Athmuqam - the headquarters of Neelam district in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) - during his day-long visit to the valley, Raja said Pakistan wanted to an early peaceful settlement of all outstanding issues through a result-oriented dialogue with India.
He assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan would continue moral, political and diplomatic support to their just and principled struggle for cause of right of self-determination. “This support will continue to Kashmiris till the settlement of Kashmir issue according to their wishes”, he declared.
The prime minister was accompanied by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira during visit. Earlier, he was warmly received by AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan and Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on his arrival in the Neelam Valley.
“The PPP-led coalition government has resumed dialogue process with India for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute which is the only way to ensure durable peace and sustainable development in the nuclear South Asia,” he remarked.
The prime minister said Pakistan was seeking durable and everlasting peace in South Asia, as he emphasised the need of increasing the cross-LoC (Line of Control) movement of the people through the on-going trans-bus service operating on Muzaffarabad-Srinagar and Rawalakot-Poonch routes.
“We want to resolve the Kashmir issue through discourse. The resumed dialogue process has helped Pakistan softening its borders with India as well as brought ease to the people residing across the Line of Control”, he added.  Raja asserted that the PPP-led govt had fulfilled all commitments it had made with the people and it promoted the politics of reconciliation to ensure the active participation of even the opposition parties in the national affairs. He declared that the PPP and its allies were working on transparent and impartial elections. “We are swiftly moving towards the general elections and no one should have any doubt or fear about the holding of fair and impartial elections‚ because we believe in the public verdict and we will recognise their decision.”
“The far off area of Neelum, I was told today, was given telecommunication facility when Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan and today I fulfil another promise, by inaugurating the telecommunication service,” he stated, adding that all the people of the district would soon have access to the service.
The prime minister said he had been informed that despite rich hydel power generation potential in AJK, the state government was not allowed to produce more than 100 MW of electricity by its own, but there would be no ban henceforth.
“You can generate as much electricity as you want. You produce 1000 MW and no one would create any hindrance in your way. The country is facing serious power crisis and the AJK has a great potential to meet with the shortage”, he added.