Sharif’s cabinet asked India to hold dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and to include Kashmiri leaders in the process. Pakistan said on Friday it will observe July 19 as a “black day” to protest against killings in Jammu and Kashmir, drawing an angry reaction from India which again accused Islamabad of interfering in New Delhi’s internal affairs and backing terrorism. He directed government departments to highlight alleged “atrocities” in Jammu and Kashmir at international forums. Despite the ire expressed by India in the past few days, Sharif again described Wani as a “martyr of (the) independence movement” on Friday. Sharif had expressed a desire for better ties with India soon after coming to power in 2013.

Source: Hindustan Times July 15, 2016 09:42 UTC