Pakistan urges int’l community to hold India responsible for its brazen persecution of innocent Kashmiris in IIOJK: FO Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, Oct 07 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has said that Pakistan reiterates its call for the investigation of extra-judicial killings in IIOJK by a Commission of Inquiry as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its Kashmir Reports of 2018 and 2019. He said that Pakistan urges the international community to hold India responsible for its brazen persecution of innocent Kashmiris and play its role in ensuring a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad while addressing a weekly press briefing on Friday. At the outset of the briefing, FO spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is on official 2-day visit to Germany on the invitation of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The visit is an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange of views on issues ranging from the climate-induced floods in Pakistan to regional and global situation. We will keep sharing further details as the visit progresses.
He said that sustaining the momentum of flood relief efforts and continuing international spotlight on the challenging situation remains top priority of the Government of Pakistan.
He said that United Nations Revised Flash Appeal to the tune of USD 816 million was launched in Geneva earlier this week on 4 October. The revised appeal upscales the Floods Response by USD 656 million from the initial appeal of USD 160 million. This increase reflects the rising needs and the unprecedented scale of destruction caused by the disaster and is focused on provision of urgent and lifesaving assistance and protection to the affected people. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Director General WHO represented the UN in the event, whereas the Minister for Climate Change represented Pakistan attending in-person, and the Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs participated virtually.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that the Government of Pakistan, the United Nations, humanitarian and philanthropic organizations, and local communities have been working hard to assist flood-affected areas across Pakistan. The global community has stepped forward with valuable assistance. Sustained international support is going to be crucial to complement the national efforts going forward, ensuring effective rehabilitation of the millions who have been affected, and rebuilding and reconstructing in a more resilient and sustainable manner.
FO spokesperson said that our Missions across the world are engaged in extensive outreach to better inform the international community and to mobilize response. He said that the media would have seen the European Parliament’s debate in Strasbourg with some very powerful statements and expressions of support for Pakistan.
He said that later on Friday, in New York, the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution, which was introduced by Pakistan, and was co-sponsored by over 130 countries. This resolution expresses strong solidarity and support for the Government and people of Pakistan in the wake of the devastating floods. So this is going to happen today.
He said that there was a flurry of diplomatic engagements during the course of the week. On 4th of October, Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management called on Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. EU has committed further Euros 30 million in humanitarian aid for the flood affectees.
He said that the same day, Right Honorable Angela Reynar, the Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party, accompanied by Lord Wajid Khan, Member of House of Lords, called on the Prime Minister. The visiting delegation assured the Prime Minister of their continued cooperation to garner support for flood affected population. Turkish Red Crescent Goodwill Ambassador and Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci also called on Prime Minister the same day.
FO spokesperson said that on Thursday, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League called on the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts for Muslim unity, highlighting important causes such as Kashmir and Palestine, and spreading the message of peace, tolerance and inter-faith harmony. He also appreciated the support provided by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in the aftermath of the floods. He said that during the week, the Ambassador of China Nong Rong, U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan, Thomas West, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič and the Ambassador of Kuwait, Nassar Abdulrahman J Almutairi called on Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar. During these meetings, diverse areas of bilateral cooperation and global and regional issues of mutual interest came under discussion.
He said that Pakistan-EU Joint Commission Session was also held in Islamabad on 5th of October.
He said that the media have seen our strong statement rejecting Indian External Affairs Minister’s highly irresponsible remarks insinuating at Pakistan’s so-called involvement in “international terrorism”.
He said that Pakistan’s contribution to world peace, from successful counter-terrorism operations to our role in the global fight against terrorism, is widely acknowledged by the international community.
In stark contrast, nowhere is state-terrorism more evident than in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), where over 900,000 Indian occupation forces continue to terrorize, torture and torment innocent Kashmiris with impunity.
He said that no pretense at portraying normalcy, as is attempted by the recent visit of the Indian Home Minister to IIOJK can hoodwink the world into believing that the situation is normal in IIOJK. The visit means nothing for the oppressed and subjugated Kashmiris; it is a mere smokescreen aimed at diverting international attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation troops in IIOJK.
He said that the world is also aware of the “saffron terror” orchestrated and unleashed by the BJP-RSS zealots against Muslims in India. Most recent harrowing example is the public floggings meted out to Muslim men in Gujrat for allegedly disturbing the Hindu religious festival of Navrati.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that Indian Charge d’Affaires (Cd’A) in Islamabad was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week and conveyed Government of Pakistan’s serious concerns over the deteriorating health condition of Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Shah who has been incarcerated in the infamous Tihar Jail for the last five years and is suffering from renal cancer and is consistently denied medical aid by Indian authorities.
“We also remain deeply concerned over the deteriorating heath and continued incarceration of Kashmiri political prisoners including Hurriyat leaders like Yasin Malik who are languishing in different jails of India and in IIOJK” he said. FO spokesperson said that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remains under house arrest and is continuously denied access to go to the Jamia Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon. Worryingly, IIOJK continues to be strangled economically, facing the brunt of Indian occupation forces ‘economic terrorism’. While the region has a stark unemployment rate, its farmers are faced with prolonged and forced road blockades by the occupation forces, exposing them to risks of the produce going rotten. This is a deliberate attempt to destroy the region’s economy.
He said that reprehensibly, in the past one-week, Indian forces have blatantly carried out a series of extra-judicial murders with impunity. Eight innocent Kashmiris were mercilessly martyred by Indian occupation forces in Baramulla, Shopian and Pulwama. Since its unilateral and illegal actions of 5th August 2019, Indian occupation forces have martyred more than 678 Kashmiris, including at least 158 this year.