ISLAMABAD, Sept 4 (APP):‑Minister for Information and Kashmir Affair and Northern Areas Qamar Zaman Kaira on Friday briefed the kashmiri leaders here in the Foreign Office along with other issues on Gilgit‑Baltistan self‑reliance and empowerment Ordinance. The briefing was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Zulqarnain Khan, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, representatives of Indian Occupied Kashmir leaders and other Kashmiri leaders.

Kashmiri leadership appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to resolve the  Kashmir issue expressed their resolve and commitment to continue their efforts to find a just and peaceful resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

They emphasized the need to resume dialogue process between Pakistan  and India and added that both Islamabad and New Delhi would benefit from the resumption of dialogue process which is in the interest of peace and security in South Asia and added that Kashmiris must be associated with these talks.

Expressing concern and regret to put ‘pause’ by India on the Composite Dialogue process they stressed the need that the dialogue process should continue.

The participants noted the steps taken by government of Pakistan to grant empowerment to the people of the Northern Areas and they endorsed the action taken by the government in this regard.

The meeting expressed full solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir underlining that Pakistan will never abandon the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

The meeting called for resolution of the water issues between Pakistan and India in accordance with the Indus Treaty of 1960.

Appreciating the holding of the ceasefire along the Line of Control the Kashmiri leaders termed it an important Confidence Building Measures (CBM).

They also noted that CBMs on Kashmir including cross LoC travel and trade were positive development.

The meeting said the elections in Indian Occupied Kashmir are not a substitute for the right to self‑determination. The low vote turnout in the elections was a clear message to New Delhi that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected all steps by India to force its will on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting endorsed the holding of a conference on Kashmir early next year.

Earlier, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while speaking on the occasion said, “Pakistan remains committed to finding a just and peaceful solution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of people of Kashmir.”

He said Pakistan will continue its moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir.

The Foreign Minister said all political parties in Pakistan speak with one voice on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Qureshi said the Kashmir issue needs to be projected more vigorously and the role of the Kashmiri Diaspora is extremely important in this context.

He said it was also a unanimous view that India must put an end to the human rights violation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The minister said Kashmir holds the key to a durable peace in the region.

“We feel that Kashmir dispute is central to Pakistan‑India relations which highlights the need for the Kashmiris to be associated with the dialogue process.

He said the Kashmir issue remained key factor in all the rounds of composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India so far held.

The Minister said Kashmir issue remained focused in all the meetings of President or Prime Minister or at foreign minister level with the Indian leaders.

Referring to the recent meetings between the two prime ministers at Sharm‑El‑Sheikh the Foreign Minister said, it underlines that “the two prime ministers recognized that dialogue is the only way forward.”

He said, “We feel that the reaction in India to the Pakistan‑India talks in Sharm El‑Sheikh and the subsequent joint statement has been emotional.”

Referring to elections held in IOK in April‑May 2009, the Minister said, “In our view elections in IOK are an administrative measure and not a substitute to conflict resolution.”

The Minister assured the Kashmiri leaders that Pakistan has been making consistent efforts to project the Kashmir cause at the national and international levels.

He said the Special Committee on Kashmir of the National Assembly has proposed to hold a conference on Kashmir early next year in Islamabad.

On the water dispute, the Minister said, “We have emphasized to the Indian side that there is a need to ensure respect to Indus Waters Treaty and the commitment to address concerns related thereto.

Qureshi said a major step has been announced by the government recently to grant empowerment to the people of the Northern Areas now Gilgit‑Baltistan and termed it indeed an important development.