Srinagar: Nawaz Sharif has written to hardline separatist leader Asiya Andrabi saying Pakistan "knows its responsibility towards Kashmir" and will continue to take it up globally.
"Pakistan does not consider Kashmir to be a geographical or border dispute but a dispute due to the unfinished business of Partition of the subcontinent in 1947," Mr Sharif writes in his letter to Ms Andrabi, who heads the outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat.
"The faith you have expressed on Pakistan's current stand on Kashmir is a matter of satisfaction for me," he says.
Mr Sharif's letter was in response to Ms Andrabi writing to him lauding Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.
Mr Sharif writes: "The essence of the principles of Partition is that the Muslim majority state of Kashmir should be given the right to self -determination. This right has been recognised by the entire world through the forum of United Nations. India itself has promised the world community that Kashmir would be given the right to choose its political future through the exercise of self-determination.
"Backtracking from this promise would be betrayal of the promise done to the entire world community."
The letters have been condemned by the BJP, which co-governs Jammu and Kashmir along with the People's Democratic Party.
"Only elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir have the right to talk for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has no right. This is interference in the internal affairs of India," said state BJP spokesperson Arun Gupta.
He said: "If Pakistan is really concerned about the people of Jammu Kashmir, it should uphold the rights of the people of PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir)."
"Pakistan does not consider Kashmir to be a geographical or border dispute but a dispute due to the unfinished business of Partition of the subcontinent in 1947," Mr Sharif writes in his letter to Ms Andrabi, who heads the outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat.
"The faith you have expressed on Pakistan's current stand on Kashmir is a matter of satisfaction for me," he says.
Mr Sharif writes: "The essence of the principles of Partition is that the Muslim majority state of Kashmir should be given the right to self -determination. This right has been recognised by the entire world through the forum of United Nations. India itself has promised the world community that Kashmir would be given the right to choose its political future through the exercise of self-determination.
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The letters have been condemned by the BJP, which co-governs Jammu and Kashmir along with the People's Democratic Party.
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He said: "If Pakistan is really concerned about the people of Jammu Kashmir, it should uphold the rights of the people of PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir)."
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