Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that India is levelling baseless charges of cross-border terrorism against Pakistan to divert world’s attention from human rights violations in Kashmir and urged the international community to take note of state-sponsored terrorism in the Occupied Kashmir.
He was speaking at a seminar hosted by the Pakistan Embassy on “Jammu & Kashmir Dispute” coinciding with the observation of ‘Black Day; by Kashmiris around the World.
Every year, October 27 is observed as ‘Kashmir Black Day’ throughout the world. In 1947, Indian forces landed in Srinagar to illegally occupy this heavenly land and started one of the most tragic chapters in human history.
“In its desperate attempts to divert international attention, India has resorted to accusing Pakistan of unfounded and fabricated charges of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan would not give up its moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir despite India’s war mongering and threats to violate Indus Water Treaty,” the ambassador said.
He expressed the hope that the international community would fulfil their commitments towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the UNSC resolutions as well as take notice of the culture of impunity, grave human rights violations and state-sponsored terror in the occupied territory. “Violence against innocent civilians must stop and basic human rights including the right to protest and political activity be respected,” he added.
The ambassador said that for years, India promised to uphold the United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite, but instead of abiding by the international law and respecting the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of their right to self-determination, India consistently resorted to outright genocide of Kashmiris.
“The recent upsurge in the state sponsored violence against civilian protesters has further exposed the tyrannical rule in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). After the martyrdom of Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, the people of Kashmir turned in thousands to attend his funeral prayer and to protest Indian oppression,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, guest speaker Ambassador Toquir Hussain said that a new Kashmir was born after the assassination f Burhan Wani, young Kashmiri freedom fighter. He added that the world had acknowledged the current Kashmiri freedom movement as being indigenous and spontaneous.
Kashmir American community representatives, including Dr Imtiaz – a resident of Srinagar, also spoke on the occasion. The Kashmiri leaders called upon the international community to wake up on Kashmir issue and take notice of the gross human rights violations occurring in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
A documentary, featuring the history and significance of the ‘Black Day’, was screened on the occasion. The Embassy also arranged a picture exhibition highlighting the recent spate of Indian atrocities and massive human rights violations in the Indian Held Kashmir.
