04 Thursday, August 15, 2019 Asia ‘Stand shoulder-to-shoulder Pakistan accuses India of planning with Kashmir’: Govt, oppn share I-Day messages military action in disputed Kashmir As the nation observes ation in occupied Kashmir required the attention of Independence Day, world leaders and more im- Prime Minister visits “Azad Kashmir” on Pakistan’s Independence Day messages from leaders portantly, it reminded Pa- called attention to kistani leaders of the true REUTERS the plight of people in meaning of compassion. On ISLAMABAD/KARACHI Kashmir in the face of behalf of the PML-N, he as- sured Kashmiris of the sup- Pakistan Prime Minister recent actions by India. port of Pakistanis. Imran Khan used an address In his Independence Day celebrating Independence DAWN.COM message, Foreign Minister Day on Wednesday to accuse ISLAMABAD es- India of planning military ac- poused the vision of Quaid-i- tion in the disputed Kashmir Pakistan has called for an Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. region that has long been a urgent meeting of the United In a letter to the UNSC flashpoint between the two Nations Security Council president calling for an emer- nuclear-armed neighbours. (UNSC), saying the move by gency session on Kashmir, India revoked the spe- India’s Hindu nationalist-led Pakistan had reminded the cial status of its portion of government to downgrade UNSC of the “inalienable Himalayan Kashmir, known Jammu and Kashmir’s sta- right” of Kashmiris, which as Jammu and Kashmir, on tus threatens international he said was the international Aug. 5 and moved to quell peace and could lead to ethnic body’s “duty to protect”. widespread unrest by shutting cleansing and genocide. While speaking to the me- down communications and PPP Chairperson Bilawal dia, Special Assistant to the clamping down on freedom of Bhutto-Zardari in his message Prime Minister on Informa- movement. on Wednesday said that the tion and Broadcasting Firdous Islamabad retaliated by country stands “shoulder to Ashiq Awan said that without suspending bilateral trade shoulder” with Kashmiris. the independence of Kashmir, and all public transport links “We stand shoulder to the independence of Pakistan with India, as well as expelling shoulder with our Kashmiri was incomplete. New Delhi’s ambassador to Is- brothers and sisters in their “The whole nation is lamabad. struggle to exercise their right standing in solidarity with On Wednesday, Khan to self-determination.” Kashmir,” she said. travelled to Muzaffarabad, Leader of the Opposi- National Assembly capital of Pakistan-admin- tion in the National Assem- Speaker also istered Kashmir, making his bly Shehbaz Sharif said that said the people of Pakistan first visit to the region since now was the time to take and were standing with Kash- becoming Pakistan’s leader implement timely decisions miris. NA Deputy Speaker in 2018. on Kashmir. said that India In a speech he told the Shehbaz said that this would never be able to sup- region’s parliament that In- year the streets of occupied press the Kashmiris’ move- dia planned more extensive Kashmir were wearing a de- ment for self-determination. action than that of February, serted look and were asking Earlier, President Dr Arif when its fighter jets struck “If not now when?” He said Alvi addressed a flag hoist- inside Pakistan, following a that they had always been ing ceremony at the con- dramatic escalation in tension committed to Kashmir but vention centre in Islamabad between the rivals. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad, on Wednesday. (AFP) now was the time to take and during which he said that “They have made a more implement timely decisions. Pakistan has always stood horrendous plan to divert after a deadly attack on Indi- Muslim Friday prayers. The PML-N president with Kashmiris and would world attention from their an police by a Pakistan-based In Islamabad, posters added that the current situ- continue to do so. move in Kashmir, they plan militant group resulted in air urged residents to express action in Azad Kashmir,” strikes by both countries. solidarity with Kashmiris and Khan said, referring to the India’s revocation of spe- roadside vendors sold Azad portion held by Pakistan. cial status for Jammu and Kashmir flags as well as the “The Pakistani army is Kashmir blocks the state’s Pakistan flag commonly dis- fully aware that they (India) right to frame its own laws played on Aug. 14. have made a plan of taking ac- and allows non-residents to “Independence Day is an tion in Azad Kashmir.” buy property there. opportunity for great happi- Khan also repeated com- Prime Minister Narendra ness, but today we are saddened ments comparing the Rash- Modi’s government has said by the plight of our Kashmiri triya Swayamsevak Sangh, the old laws prohibiting people brothers in occupied Jammu ideological parent of India’s from outside Kashmir from and Kashmir who are victims of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, buying property, settling Indian oppression,” Khan said to the German Nazi Party. there and taking up govern- in an earlier statement. Representatives of India’s ment jobs had hindered its “I assure my Kashmiri armed forces and its foreign People wave the flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir flags to express development. brothers that we stand with ministry did not immediately solidarity with the people of Kashmir, on Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Restrictions were lifted in them.” respond to requests for com- Day in Quetta, Pakistan, on Wednesday. (REUTERS) five districts of Jammu and Pakistan has also said ment on Khan’s remarks. nine districts of Kashmir on it will observe India’s Inde- India rules the popu- mir, a wedge of territory in fought two wars over Kashmir Monday, India’s home min- pendence Day on Aug. 15 as Pakistani girls hold Kashmir’s flag as the nation celebrates lous Kashmir Valley and the the west. China holds a thinly since gaining independence istry said, adding that secu- a “Black Day” this year, with Pakistan Independence Day to express solidarity with the people Hindu-dominated region populated high-altitude area from colonial power Great rity would be heightened for flags flown half-mast on gov- of Kashmir, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. (epa) around Jammu city, while in the north. Britain in 1947, They came both countries’ Independ- ernment buildings in protest Pakistan controls Azad Kash- India and Pakistan have close to a third in February ence Day celebrations and at India’s decision. Hong Kong protesters offer apologies, China doubles down after airport clash REUTERS ment to respect freedom of Flights resumed on a banner held up by a group of furious demonstrators before HONG KONG speech, and issued a travel Wednesday amid heightened a few dozen demonstrators in withdrawing once the man was advisory urging caution security at Hong Kong airport, the airport arrivals hall in the removed, and leaving the termi- China said on Wednesday when visiting the city. which is one of the world’s busi- morning. “We were desperate nal briefly in control of activists Hong Kong’s protest move- By nightfall, police and pro- est, after two days of disruptions and we made imperfect deci- who then detained a Chinese re- ment had reached “near testers were again facing off on sparked by protesters swarming sions. Please accept our apolo- porter for a short time. terrorism” and more street the streets, with riot officers the airport and, late Tuesday, gies,” the banner said. It was not clear whether the clashes followed ugly scenes shooting tear gas almost im- detaining there two men they In chaotic scenes that would scenes of violence might have the previous day when pro- mediately as their response to suspected opposed them. once have been unthinkable for eroded the broad support the testers set upon men they sus- demonstrators toughens. China’s Hong Kong and Hong Kong, a peaceful sit-in at movement has so far attracted pected of being government Ten weeks of increas- Macau Affairs Office in Bei- the airport turned violent late in Hong Kong, a major financial sympathisers. ingly violent confrontation jing called the behaviour at on Tuesday as protesters con- hub. The protests have also hit The United States said between police and protest- the airport no different to ter- fronted and held a man they the city’s faltering economy. it was deeply concerned at ers have plunged Hong Kong rorism and said it must be se- believed was an undercover “We promise to reflect and news of Chinese police forces into its worst crisis since it re- verely punished. Chinese agent. to improve,” protesters said in Anti-government demonstrators sit in a designated area of the arrival gathering near the border, verted from British to Chinese “We’re deeply sorry about Busloads of riot police ar- one message distributed on so- hall of the airport, after police and protesters clashed the previous urged Hong Kong’s govern- rule in 1997. what happened yesterday,” read rived in response, clashing with cial media app Telegram. night, in Hong Kong, on Wednesday. (REUTERS)

Deploying new US missiles would be ‘reckless act’: N Korean media Thailand orders arrests of four REUTERS to deploy a new offensive to contain great powers and more suspects in Bangkok blasts SEOUL weapon in South Korea,” it hold supremacy in North- said in a commentary. east Asia, not the one for REUTERS Wednesday’s warrants seek Any move by the United Other senior US officials ‘shielding’ South Korea from BANGKOK four new suspects on charges of States to place new ground- have said any deployment someone’s ‘threat’,” KCNA organized crime, arson, causing launched, intermediate- of such weaponry would be said. Thai authorities issued arrest explosion, and illegal posses- range missiles in South Ko- years away. North Korea’s military warrants on Wednesday for sion of explosives, Krisana Pat- rea could spark a “new Cold South Korea’s defence has launched a series of mis- four more suspects believed tanacharoen, a deputy police War” and an escalating arms ministry has said there had siles in recent weeks to pro- to be responsible for a series spokesman, told Reuters. race in the region, North been no discussion of plac- test what it sees as a military of bomb attacks as the capital “There will be more war- Korean state media said on ing American intermediate- build-up in South Korea, as hosted a key diplomatic meet- rants for others involved,” he Wednesday. range missiles in the coun- well as joint military exer- ing this month. added, as the investigation con- US Defense Secretary try, and there were no plans cises by South Korean and Six small bombs and six tinues. Mark Esper this month said to consider the idea. American troops stationed incendiary devices went off on Authorities had detained he was in favour of placing The KCNA statement on the peninsula. Aug. 2 as the foreign ministers two men on Aug. 2 accused of ground-launched, interme- also criticised recent moves The launches have com- of Southeast Asian nations met planting bombs the police said diate-range missiles in Asia, North Korea test fires a new weapon, in this undated photo released on to improve military sites in plicated attempts to restart in Bangkok, an event also at- were fake in front of Bangkok a day after the United States August 11, 2019 by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). South that host US Terminal talks between US and North tended by diplomats from Chi- police headquarters the day be- withdrew from the Interme- (KCNA via REUTERS) High Altitude Area Defense Korean negotiators over the na, the United States and other fore the coordinated blasts. diate Nuclear Forces (INF) (THAAD) systems, which are future of the country’s nu- world powers. Four people were They have said the two sus- treaty with Russia. missiles in the Asian region said. “It is a reckless act of designed to intercept ballis- clear weapons and ballistic wounded, with police saying pects in custody have ties to the “The US pointed out and South Korea has been escalating regional tension, tic missiles. missile programmes, which they were seeking at least 15 insurgency in Thailand’s Malay- that it is now examining a singled out as a place for the an act that may spark off a “It is a hard fact that the prompted sanctions by the suspects over the coordinated Muslim-dominated south that plan for deploying ground- deployment,” North Korea’s new Cold War and arms race deployment of THAAD is United Nations Security attacks that could be linked to has killed nearly 7,000 people to-ground medium-range state news agency KCNA in the Far Eastern region pursuant to the US strategy Council. political issues. since 2004.