New Delhi: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Sunday said the struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for “right to self determination” was legitimate and it cannot be suppressed.

“Political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be suppressed. Nor could anyone belittle or wish away their legitimate struggle and enormous sacrifices,” Basit said in a speech to mark the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day.

He said Pakistan would continue to extend “its full diplomatic, political and moral support to the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir till they get their right to self determination”. He urged the international community to ensure the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions to settle the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

India had on Saturday made it clear that it would talk on “contemporary and relevant” issues in Indo-Pak relations and at this time it included stoppage of Pak-supported cross-border terrorism.

India had virtually turned down Pakistan’s offer for a dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir seeking an end to Pak-supported cross-border terrorism. Basit’s comments came on a day when Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.