Pakistan will continue raising voice for Kashmiri people facing tyranny of Indian forces in IIOJK: FO Spokesperson
ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has urged international community, especially the United Nations and permanent members of UN Security Council, to take specific actions to refrain India from continuing its negative, hostile and regressive policies in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to questions during weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Indian regime’s oppressive policies are continuing unabated in the held valley.
He said Pakistan will continue raising voice for Kashmiri people facing tyranny of Indian forces in IIOJK. The Spokesperson said Pakistan wants cordial relations with all its neighbours including India but New Delhi does not reciprocate in the same manner.
He said that Kashmiris in IIOJK and around the world marked 26 January as a Black Day deploring the 7 decades of Indian illegal occupation and state-sponsored terrorism unleashing a reign of unprecedented violence and oppression against the Kashmiris while denying them their right to self-determination.
He said that it is a matter of grave concern that India continues to commit widespread and gross human rights violations in IIOJK with impunity. These gruesome acts are well-documented by the UN and international human rights organizations. On various occasions, Pakistan has also presented to the UN and the international community evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK.
Asim Iftihar Ahmad said that Pakistan also continues to draw attention to India’s irresponsible state behavior and track record of willful non-compliance with international rule of law. For over seventy years, India has violated the UN Charter and fundamental principles, norms and rules of international law. On Jammu and Kashmir for example, by refusing to implement the UNSC resolutions, India remains in consistent breach of its obligations under Article 25 of the UN Charter that stipulates that “The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council”.
He said that the world is increasingly aware of the grave situation in IIOJK. Let India be warned that its reign of terror and illegal actions cannot continue unchecked. The government and people of Pakistan reaffirm our strong resolve to continue to raise our voice and extend all possible support for our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle.
“We strongly urge the members of the international community to hold India to account for its atrocities in IIOJK, and to play their due role in enabling the Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as pledged to them under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Peace and development in South Asia must no longer be held hostage to India’s irresponsible and reckless approach” the FO spokesperson said.
Asim Iftikhar dispelled the impression of any slowdown in projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said both Pakistan and China are strongly committed to take CPEC forward and make it successful.
The Spokesperson also urged international community to come forward in fulfilling humanitarian needs of people of Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan had announced a five billion rupees’ assistance package, comprising 50,000 tons of wheat, medication, shelter and other things, for the people of Afghanistan.
The Spokesperson said Islamabad has conveyed its willingness to Indian authorities allowing humanitarian assistance India has announced, especially the provision of wheat, to pass through Pakistan’s territory.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will be undertaking a visit to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next week. During the visit, the Prime Minister will have meetings with the Chinese leadership. The visit will reinforce the All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between our two countries, and further advance the objective of building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.