Pakistan's Prime Minister reached out to Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi in a recent letter, in which he thanked her for her 'trust in Pakistan', and said he will continue to extend support for the "Kashmiris' struggle". 

In response to Andrabi's earlier letter, Sharif reportedly told the Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief that her "struggle is for a right that has been recognised by every nation that believes in human, moral and democratic principles". 

Sharif also called the Kashmir dispute "an unfinished agenda of 1947 Partition Plan" and said that a UN-sponsored plebiscite was the only solution, according to Radio Pakistan. 

Andrabi, wife of jailed separatist leader Qasim Faktoo, has been arrested on several occasions in recent months, including for slaughtering a cow after a beef ban was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir and for waving Pakistani flags on Pakistan's Independence Day on 14 August. 

She was also detained ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Sringar rally earlier this month as she had planned to join the 'Srinagar million march' protest. 

In the letter dated 30 September, Sharif thanked Andrabi for "reposing trust on Pakistan's policies towards Kashmir issue".

He also said that Islamabad would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir in their struggle for right to self-determination.

He lauded Andrabi and other separatists for their efforts towards achieving the 'supreme cause'. 

The letter is likely to increase tensions between India and Pakistan, as the former had called off NSA-level talks in August this year after Pakistan National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz's invitations to Kashmiri separatists. 

India had also called off foreign secretary-level meeting with Pakistan last year for similar reasons. 

Andrabi's all-women Islamic Dukhtaran-e-Millat is an offshoot of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. 

Source - Radio Pakistan

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