Islamabad (IINA) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stressed his country’s determination to continue its support for the Kashmiri people so as to be able to achieve their legitimate right to self-determination, news agencies reported.

“Oppressive measures cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,” Sharif said in a statement released Wednesday from his office.

The Pakistani prime minister issued the statement deploring “the use of excessive and unlawful force” by the Indian security forces against civilians of Jammu and Kashmir to quell protests over the killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani.