It has been four years since India unilaterally and
illegally revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu &
Kashmir (IIOJK) on 5 August 2019.
Since then, India has resorted to use of brutal force
and violence to suppress the Kashmiri people. It has also undertaken a series
of measures clearly aimed at altering the internationally recognized disputed
status of IIOJK. In particular, India has tried to bring about demographic
changes to undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.
The recent steps by India indicate its nefarious
designs to disenfranchise the Muslim majority population of Kashmir. To this
end, it has carried out a selective delimitation of electoral constituencies,
issued fake domiciles to millions of non-Kashmiris, and added hundreds of
thousands of temporary residents to alter the existing voter rolls. These are
part of a well thought-out strategy to change Kashmir’s demography and
political landscape. Pakistan outrightly rejects all such unilateral and
illegal steps.
The barbaric and brutal occupation of IIOJK by India
not only violates international law, but also makes a mockery of the globally
accepted norms of fundamental rights and freedoms. The international community
can no longer remain silent while India continues to perpetrate its oppression
in Kashmir.
Despite more than seven decades of Indian occupation,
including four painful years of continuous military siege and media blackout,
India has failed to silence the voices of the brave Kashmiri people, whose just
freedom struggle has further intensified. Three successive generations of
innocent Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and liberties, but courageously
continued to defy the increasing coercion of the Indian occupation forces.
Pakistan salutes these brave Kashmiri men and women and assures them of its
continued resolute support in their cause for freedom from Indian subjugation.
India’s failure to honour its commitments to the
Kashmiri people and to the international community as well as to the United
Nations, brings into question its standing as a responsible member state.
India’s refusal to grant the Kashmiris their inalienable right to
self-determination has serious implications for South Asia and beyond.
Pakistan will continue to lend its unstinted moral,
political and diplomatic support to the rightful and just cause of the freedom
struggle of the Kashmiri people. It is Pakistan’s abiding commitment and
promise to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will echo their voices, at
every forum until the world takes action and urges India to end its egregious
human rights violations and forcible occupation of IIOJK, undo all unilateral
and illegal measures it has taken since 5 August 2019, and take necessary steps
to carry out a fair and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United
Nations Security Council resolutions.
The people of South Asia desire peace and stability
and this can only become possible through meaningful and purpose-oriented
dialogue between India and Pakistan that includes discussion on all outstanding
issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
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