Unveiling of new political map by Pakistan is symbolic, says President Alvi on Youm-e-Istehsal

FM Qureshi challenges Modi to address Muzaffarabad, let Imran speak in Srinagar

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's actions, such as the unveiling of a new political map and renaming the Kashmir Highway as 'Srinagar Highway' on the eve of Youm-e-Istehsal, are aimed at highlighting the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at the international level, said President Arif Alvi on Wednesday.

Pakistan is also highlighting the military siege of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) by India since August 5, 2019, which caused economic losses worth Rs4 billion to the people of Kashmir.

Speaking to a private television channel, Alvi said that the unveiling of a new map by Pakistan is symbolic and such actions are a reiteration by Pakistan as it presents its case on Kashmir before the world.

We have to tell the world that India’s Hindutva and Nazi policy is aimed at changing the demographic status of IIOJ&K, he added.

The new map marks the Himalayan region as 'Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir', unlike its former status as "disputed territory". India on its part called Islamabad's move 'an exercise in political absurdity,' according to Anadolu Agency.

Youm-e-Istehsal

Adressing a rally in Islamabad held in commemoration of Youm-e-Istehal, which marks a year since India revoked Kashmir's special status and increased forces in the already heavily militarised region, Alvi urged the international community to press India to allow foreign media to enter IIOJ&K and report facts.

Alvi was flanked by Foreign Minster Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who said that if Modi were to address Muzaffarabad and Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed Srinagar, the Kashmir referendum would end up taking place today.

Participants at the rally sported black armbands and carried banners and placards condeming India's illegal and unilateral steps of August 5 and its continued human rights violations in the region.

Alvi demanded that India's actions, in violation of the UN resolutions and the Geneva Convention, should be reversed. He called upon the UN to fullfill its promises pertaining to the resolution of the long-standing dispute.

The president reaffirmend that Pakistan remains united on the Kashmir issue and reassured the Kashmiri people that Pakistan would continue to champion for their right to self-determination.

He underscored that the Kashmiri people are being subjected to human rights violations, with nearly 900,000 Indian troops in the region. He referred to the use of pellet guns against the Kashmiri people and called upon the global community to take notice.

According to Alvi, Pakistan has always tried to give the message of peace but India has not reciprocated.

Meanwhile, Qureshi said that the new political map unveiled by Pakistan makes it clear that Kashmir remains an unresolved issue. There are several UNSC resolutions on the matter which India cannot escape, he said.

He claimed that if Modi were to address Muzaffarabad and Imran were to address Srinagar, the matter of the referrendum would be resolved in a day.

He extended Modi an invitation to address Muzaffarabad and challenged him to let Imran do the same in Srinagar. He asked the Indian premier to permit this to happen and see the response of the Kashmiri people to both leaders. Qureshi taunted Modi and said the Indian premier should change his policies if he did not have enough faith in them to permit this to happen.

If India's oppressive tactics had managed to dissuade the Kashmiri people, India would not have had to resort to a curfew, said the foreign minister. The anniversary of India's illegal actions would not have been marked by mourning had India's steps been for the betterment of the Kashmiri people, observed Qureshi.

Others present at the rally included Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and Special Assistant on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yusuf.

The participants of the rally had worn black bands around their arms and carried banners and placards condemning the Indian illegal act of August 5 last year about Kashmir and its gross human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.