Pakistan asks India to stop state terrorism

• Foreign Office rejects Indian claims about IOK
• Says Indian response in IOK is outrageous violation of international human rights, UNSC resolutions

Rejecting the Indian claims that Indian-held Kashmir (IOK) was its integral part, Pakistan on Friday asked India to stop state terrorism in the occupied valley.

“Pakistan categorically rejects the Indian claim that Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK) is its integral part. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed state as per UN Security Council resolutions,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in response to a question.

He said that India had denied the oppressed people of IOK their right to self-determination that its founding fathers had pledged at the august forum of the United Nations Security Council and was enshrined in its resolutions.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan was a fully functional and thriving democracy with complete freedom of expression and a polity where all fundamental human rights were practiced and cherished.

“There is extreme pain and anguish in the people of Pakistan on the brutalities being committed against the unarmed and innocent Kashmiri people who are only exercising their right to peaceful protest,” said the spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, the Indian response in IOK is an outrageous violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, as well as UNSC resolutions,” he added.

The spokesperson said the unanimous resolution passed by the Convention of the Muslim Conference on July 19, 1947 demanding the accession of the state to Pakistan ‘in view of the geographic, economic, linguistic, cultural and religious considerations’ was and is an expression of the will of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, who constituted 80 per cent of the population of the state.

Muslim Conference had 16 out of 21 seats reserved for Muslims in Maharaja’s Legislative Assembly and therefore the only representative party of the Muslims of Jammu & Kashmir.

“India claims to be a democracy, but has blocked all public speech, mobile phones, internet, cable TV and print and social media in IOK. Strict curfew remains in place in most parts of IOK. The Kashmiris in IOK are facing the worst form of state terrorism at the hands of Indian occupation forces. Innocent civilians including women, children and elderly are facing terrible atrocities, but are standing up to this reprehensible repression,” the spokesperson said.

He said that India must permit the holding of a free, fair and impartial plebiscite, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, to ascertain the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.