World must help end bloodshed in Indian Occupied Kashmir: Aziz

Adviser to PM briefs 20-member Kashmir journalists' forum in Islamabad

Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has urged the United Nations and human rights organisations to play their role in bringing the bloodshed in Indian-occupied Kashmir to a halt.

"The UN, OIC and Human Rights Organisations must step up efforts to stop the bloodshed of Kashmiris in IoK and ensure early implementation of UN Security Council resolutions," Aziz told a 20-member Kashmir journalists' forum in Islamabad on Monday.

The statement came two days after four people were killed by security forces in the occupied valley, prompting a complete shutdown. All businesses remain closed while the traffic is slow in all major towns of the disputed Himalayan region.

The Indian authorities have placed curfew-like restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations in Srinagar.

The adviser underlined that the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for self-determination had entered a critical phase since a new wave of resistance started on July 8, 2016.



He highlighted that over 150 people, mostly youth, had been martyred, many in extrajudicial killings and fake encounters. Also, around 8,000 people were affected by pellet guns that had blinded more than 250 youth, either fully or partially, with another 930 at the verge of losing their eyesight.

Aziz said as many as 697 women had reported molestation by Indian forces. Around 18,000, he added, were injured and over 17,000 arrested arbitrarily with their fate and welfare unknown.

"The whole world is witnessing it is a movement by unarmed indigenous Kashmiris youth," Aziz said. "The current phase of the resistance has also buried Indian propaganda of cross-border terrorism as well as efforts to downplay the issue."

He lamented the Indian refusal to allow UNHCR and OIC fact-finding missions to the held valley. He commended OIC’s strong stance condemning Indian atrocities.

Aziz highlighted that voices expressing concerns and condemning Indian atrocities had echoed in the parliaments of various countries including Australia, EU, North America, Nordic and the UK.



The Western media also had deplored that “there is no recorded instance of a modern democracy systematically and willfully shooting at people to blind them”.

An Indian article reminded the Indian government that “the land of Kashmiris is with us, the people of Kashmir’s are not,” the adviser cited.

However, he said, the Indian government has been trying to divert global attention from the situation in held Kashmir by heightening up tensions on the Line of Control and Working Boundary.

"During the last one year India has committed more than 450 unprovoked ceasefire violations," he maintained.

Pakistan, Aziz reiterated, wants India to immediately stop bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris and create enabling environment for implementation of the UNSC resolutions.