The meeting of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir took place on the sidelines of UNGA. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir was held on Wednesday on the sidelines of UN General Assembly at the UN Head Quarters in New York.
The meeting focused on the continuous Indian acts of aggression against innocent Kashmiri civilians and gross human rights violations by Indian Security. The Contact Group called for impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
According to an official statement, Qureshi briefed the delegates on recent escalation of atrocities against innocent Kashmiri civilians and gross violations of human rights in the held valley, including gruesome incidents of rape, murder, torture and inhuman use of pellet guns.
The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan's principled position to find a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s pledge to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in their relentless struggle to reclaim their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan also referred to the report on Jammu and Kashmir released by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2018, that had shaken the “delusion of India”. The evidence based report on the grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir recommends the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate into the allegations of human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Sardar Masood Khan, President of AJK effectively raised the issue of grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with impunity. He called upon the international community, especially the Muslim Ummah to urge India to immediately halt these grave violations of human rights and to permit the holding of the free and fair plebiscite as enshrined in UN Security Council Resolutions.
'Kashmir has become dreadful battleground’
He thanked the OIC member states especially members of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir for their continued support in highlighting the grave injustices being perpetrated against the innocent people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, OIC Secretary General condemned the consistent killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians by the Indian occupation forces and the recent spike of escalating atrocities at the hands of Indian forces.
He reiterated OIC’s principled position on supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir in achieving their legitimate rights, including their right to self-determination. He emphasised that the conflict should be resolved in accordance with the aspiration of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The secretary general also took note of Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights’ report and endorsed the recommendation to constitute Commission of Inquiry for investigating abuses of Human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also called for genuine dialogue between Pakistan and India on all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He also thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for his commitment to peace.
In their statements, the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Niger and the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia expressed their support for peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and called upon India to observe United Nations standards enshrined in the human rights instruments and international law.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Sardar Masood Khan presented a memorandum to the Secretary General of OIC on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UN and the Director General from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Niger also attended the meeting and delivered statements. Sardar Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended as the True Representative of Kashmiri People.
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