We call upon the int’l community to hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in occupied J&K: Asim Iftikahr Ahmad
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has said that the Indian government must immediately investigate the custodial death of Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Shah and hold to account all those responsible. He said that Pakistan strongly condemns the extra-judicial killing of two more Kashmiris in fresh acts of state-sponsored terrorism by Indian occupation forces in IIOJK.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad while addressing the weekly press briefing on Friday.
FO spokesperson said that the latest incidents of violence and hostility perpetrated by Hindutva extremists against Muslims in India, during the recent Hindu festivals are a matter of grave concern. This is yet another manifestation of the growing ‘saffron terror’ that has deeply permeated the Indian society. “We call upon the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to take cognizance of the rapidly deteriorating situation of Islamophobia in India and the resultant threat to the safety and security and wellbeing of its Muslim citizens and other minorities” Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said.
FO spokesperson said that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana, Kazakhstan.
In his address to the Plenary, the Prime Minister articulated Pakistan’s key priorities and perspectives on a range of issues – including the urgency of climate action, win-win cooperation to promote the common objectives of peace, economic development, and enhanced trade and investment, and connectivity in the region. He also spoke about the Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling upon India to respect its international obligations and undo all unilateral and illegal actions since 5 August 2019 aimed at undermining the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
CICA members expressed solidarity with Pakistan facing the unprecedented climate induced floods and called for supporting the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. On the Summit sidelines, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides interacting with other leaders.
FO spokesperson said that earlier, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari undertook an official visit to Germany on 6-7 October. The delegation level talks and the press briefing with the German counterpart covered a whole range of issues from bilateral cooperation to regional and global issues including Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan. Germany also announced additional 10 million Euros for flood relief assistance. The Foreign Minister also met the President of the upper house of the German Parliament.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that in New York, on 7th October, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution expressing the international community’s solidarity and strong support for the Government and people of Pakistan in the wake of the devastating floods. Proposed by Pakistan, this resolution was co-sponsored by an overwhelming number (151) of countries from all regions. The President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General and member states expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Pakistan, and committed full support for the ongoing relief efforts and the subsequent rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
He said that media would have also followed the UN General Assembly proceedings on the situation in Ukraine, and Pakistan’s principled position stated therein.
Also during the last week, Under-Secretary-General (USG) for UN Department of Peace Operations Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, during his visit to Pakistan, called on Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, besides other engagements with the military leadership and UNMOGIP. The visit was an important opportunity for exchange of views on further enhancing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations, and Pakistan’s continuing active participation therein.
He said that Pakistan-China Spokespersons’ Dialogue was held virtually on 10th October. It was an occasion to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in the domains of media and public diplomacy to project the strategic partnership, shared objectives, and people to people linkages.
He said that a group of UN Disarmament Fellows comprising officers from 24 countries visited Pakistan from 8-10 October 2022 as part of the international study tour under the auspices of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNoDA). They visited various institutions and state-of-the-art facilities, and were also briefed at the Foreign Office.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that recently, Pakistan Navy flotilla comprising Pakistan Navy Ship HAIBAT and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Ship BASOL visited Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain during overseas deployment. The port calls will further enhance our close and cordial relations with these friendly countries.
While talking about the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that we are deeply saddened, at the inhuman custodial death of Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Shah, who remained imprisoned in the infamous Tihar Jail for the last five years. He said that Indian Charge d’ Affaires (Cd’A) in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conveyed Pakistan’s strong protest over the death of Altaf Ahmad Shah caused by Indian government’s willful and deliberate negligence, and utter disregard for human rights, which was part of India’s systematic campaign to suppress and brutalize the Hurriyat leaders and the Kashmiris.
FO spokesperson said that the media would have also seen our rejection of the Indian Prime Minister’s remarks about IIOJK during a public rally in Gujarat. The Indian Prime Minister’s farcical contention that he has, somehow, “resolved the Kashmir issue”, is not only false and misleading but also reflects how oblivious the Indian leadership has become of the ground realities in IIOJK. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute that has been on the agenda of the United Nations for over 7 decades awaiting a just and peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.