ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the Indus Water Treaty was a mutually agreed arrangement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank in 1960, and no one country can unilaterally separate itself from the treaty.

The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting here, which was attended by Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, National Security Advisor General (R) Nasir Janjua, Foreign Secretary, DG Military Operations and senior civil and military officials.

The meeting expressed its deep concern on the increase in systematic human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir and condemned brutal use of force by Indian security forces and India’s attempt to unilaterally separate itself from Indus Water Treaty. The Prime Minister said that the world was witness that Pakistan had given tremendous sacrifices for global peace.

The country had shown unequalled and unprecedented restraint despite great provocation, he added.

The meeting agreed that Pakistan would continue to strive for a peaceful South Asia with a view to enable its people the progress and prosperity of the 21st century.

At the same time, the meeting also agreed, that Pakistan was fully capable of meeting any internal or external security threat with the complete resolve of its people and valiant armed forces.

The Prime Minister reiterated that violence on Kashmiris, fighting for their right to self-determination, promised by UNSC resolutions, would never be tolerated and the oppressed Kashmiris deserve not only Pakistan’s support but also the support of the entire world.

He said Pakistan would continue to extend its moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris until the issue of Kashmir was resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiri people.

The meeting reviewed other matters pertaining to national and regional security. The participants expressed satisfaction over the preparedness of the armed forces to defend the territorial integrity of Pakistan.