NEW YORK: Pakistan will continue to support the valiant struggle of Kashmiri people for their freedom and self-determination as it has always done, Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi addressed a large gathering of Kashmiri and Pakistani community members on Friday evening. Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Dr Lodhi said, “Until Kashmir is independent, our moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people will continue.” She expressed her views at the meeting organised by the Consulate General of Pakistan to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. She said, “We will support the struggle of Kashmiri people. This comes from the heart.” The ambassador said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had forcefully and clearly reaffirmed Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir dispute before the international community when he addressed the UN General Assembly back in September and again on Thursday when he spoke to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The prime minister had called for a just settlement of the decades old dispute in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. At the same time, Dr Lodhi said that the efforts are being made to resume the comprehensive dialogue process with India for resolution of all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir. There would be no peace in South Asia without the resolution of the core dispute of Kashmir, she added. The ambassador said that Pakistani Mission continues to highlight the Kashmir issue and the suffering of the Kashmiri people at various forums of the United Nations in an effort to push the world body towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute. The mission is also watchful against sinister attempts from various quarters to reduce the importance of the issue. Consul General Raja Ali Ejaz urged the audience to step up their efforts to apprise American politicians, lawmakers and common citizens of the situation in Kashmir. Such an approach would build up support for the cause of Kashmir. Other speakers including PML-N’s USA President Rohail Dar and former member of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Sardar Sawar Khan thanked Pakistan for its continued support to the Kashmir cause and urged the international community to help resolve the decades old dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and protection of their fundamental rights. Rohail Dar also paid tribute to the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. He said that there has never been such clarity on the Kashmir issue. Sardar Sawar Khan gave historical background of the Kashmir dispute and said that the Kashmir movement was based on two-nation theory that led to the establishment of Pakistan.