Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, briefed a 20-member delegation of ‘Kashmir Journalist Forum’ on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the grave human rights situation in IOK and steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to sensitize the international community.
The adviser underlined that the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for self-determination in IOK has entered a critical phase since the new wave started on July 8, 2016.
He presented a brief synopsis of the human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces against unprotected Kashmiris in IOK and precarious security situation due to Indian unprovoked ceasefire violations since July 8, 2016.
Sartaj Aziz noted that despite Indian brutalities, on one hand, the enthusiasm for getting freedom from India’s unlawful occupation and sacrifices of Kashmiris, especially the youth, has been rising and this phenomenon, on the other hand, has also defeated the Indian propaganda of downplaying the Kashmir issue, as if there is nothing wrong. If there is nothing wrong then why there are over 700,000 fully armed Indian occupation forces stationed? Why the entire media has been blocked? The adviser said these were the questions that India should explain. Moreover, the current phase of the movement has also buried Indian propaganda of cross-border terrorism. The whole world is witnessing that it is a movement by unarmed indigenous Kashmiris youth. He mentioned Indian refusal to receive ‘Fact Finding Missions to IOK’ by UNHCR and OIC. He commended, OIC’s strong statements condemning Indian atrocities in IoK.
Despite the gravity of the situation on ground and persistent international pressure on India to resume dialogue with Pakistan with particular focus on Kashmir dispute, Indian government has been trying to divert global attention from the situation in IOK by heating up Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB).
Sartaj said that in this background, India’s refusal to accept the role of the UN or good offices of the other leaders for reducing tension between India and Pakistan by resolving the Kashmir dispute reflects Indian desperation to hide its crimes against humanity in IOK. Bilateral route had run in scores but without achieving much in substantive terms.
He stressed that Kashmir was an internationally recognized dispute. There are UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir dispute that call for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a UNSC supervised plebiscite. Kashmir dispute is outstanding on the UN Security Council agenda. Pakistan wants to settle all contentious issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute with India through a sustained and result-oriented dialogue. Pakistan wants India to immediately stop bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris and create enabling environment for implementation of the UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir.
The UN, OIC and human rights organisations must step up efforts to stop the bloodshed of Kashmiris in IOK and ensure early implementation of UNSC resolutions, he urged. The briefing was followed by an extensive session of Q&A.
