“This is the most historic day in Pakistan’s history,” he said while addressing a news conference after chairing the meeting of federal cabinet, which approved the new map on Tuesday.
PM Imran said for the first time in history, Pakistan has launched a political map which shows the whole Kashmir region including IIOJK as part of the country’s territory.“Today is a historic day we have launched a new political map of Pakistan which is as per the aspirations of the entire nation as well as the people of Kashmir,” he said.
The prime minster said the newly-launched map is backed by all political parties of the country which he said support the principled stance of the people of IIOJK. “This map also opposes the Indian government’s illegal act of August 5 last year,” he added.
The resolution of Kashmir dispute only lies in the UN Security Council resolutions and Pakistan will continue to make efforts for the people of Kashmir, said the premier, adding that, “We believe Kashmir dispute can only be resolved through political means not military.”He said this new official map will henceforth be used in curriculum across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi congratulated the entire nation and Prime Minster Imran for taking the “unprecedented step”.“For the first time in history our government has openly presented its stance before the world,” he said.
Qureshi said the plebiscite should be held in Kashmir region under the watch of UN to determine the future of disputed territory. “We believe that entire Kashmir region is disputed and it needs solution.”Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet, under the chairmanship of PM Imran, discussed overall political and economic situation of the country and accorded approval to different agenda items.
Presiding over an All Parties Conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding law and order situation in IIOJK earlier in the day, FM Qureshi said had that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-inspired BJP government has sown seeds of hatred in the hearts of not only Kashmiris but also minorities in India.
All Kashmiris have categorically rejected the unconstitutional and unilateral measures taken by the Indian government on August 5 last year, he added.
PM Imran Khan, during a recent interview, has said that the Indian government's revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 turned the disputed region into an "open-air prison".
Article 370 was the basis of Kashmir's accession to the Indian union at a time when former princely states had the choice to join either India or Pakistan after their independence from British rule in 1947.
The article, which came into effect in 1949, granted Indian-held Kashmir special status, with the Muslim-majority region given jurisdiction to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. But many of those powers were gradually watered down by New Delhi.
