'Sharif-Modi friendship' damaging Kashmir issue, says Bilawal Bhutto

Lahore, July 11 (ANI): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that "Sharif-Modi friendship" is causing irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause. Bilawal, in a statement on Sunday, said that Prime Minister Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have taken a similar stance over the killings in Kashmir and accused Prime Minister Sharif of damaging the country's foreign policy by giving Prime Minister Modi a "certificate of friendship", reports the Dawn. "Mr. Sharif is jeopardising the Kashmir issue by building his association with the Indian Prime Minister," said Bilawal. He also condemned the killing of innocent Kashmiris in India-occupied Kashmir and said that Indian authorities were violating the rights of Kashmiri Muslims. "While Muslims celebrated Eidul Fitr across the world, our Kashmiri brethren marked the day of festivities amid violence carried out by the Indian army. Scores of people, including women, were injured on a day that was supposed to be an occasion of joy and celebrations. Kashmiri leaders were denied the right to offer Eid prayers and people were traumatised by brutality of Indian army. Such aggression by Indian authorities has exposed the sham democracy prevailing in India," he added. Bhutto further reiterated the PPP's commitment to support oppressed Kashmiris and condemn Indian hostilities at every forum. Reportedly, Bilawal would return from London this week and address rallies in Azad Kashmir where he would speak against Indian brutalities in held Kashmir and criticise Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for taking a `soft stance' towards India. Reacting to Bilawal's remarks, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that the PPP chairman should recall the Kashmir policy of his grandfather, mother and father, adding that as prime minister, Benazir Bhutto had welcomed her Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi. (ANI)