Pakistan slams use of tear gas, pellets on Muharram procession in IIOJK

Says India in clear violation of UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, other international conventions

ISLAMABAD:

The inhuman military siege, communications blockade, media blackout and continued restrictions on all forms of freedom of Kashmiri people in IIOJK continue unabated for 395 days, observed the Foreign Office in its weekly press briefing on Thursday.

The FO maintained that in further acts of unabated state terrorism over the past one week, the Indian Occupation forces have martyred 20 more Kashmiris, in fake and staged encounters.

Over 300 innocent Kashmiris, including women and children, have been martyred in fake encounters and so-called “cordon and search” operations during the last one-year, the FO observed.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the use of tear gas shells and firing of pellets on Muslims taking part in the Muharram procession in IIOJK," the statement read.

The Foreign Office observed that due to the illegal and indiscriminate use of pellets, dozens of Kashmiris were seriously injured, including on the eyes, causing permanent blindness.

Indiscriminate targeting of civilians with pellet guns, causing excessive and permanent injuries and even deaths, is a clear violation of human rights and humanitarian law, Pakistan stated.

The Government of India is in clear violation of the United Nations’ Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials.

Pakistan observed that the BJP leadership was directly responsible for the illegal actions of the Indian occupation forces.

"No illegal Acts, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA), can provide a legal cover to a crime recognized as such by international law," the statement further read.

Pakistan condemned the Indian government's decision to forcibly impose Hindi language on the Kashmiri people in IIOJK through the "Jammu and Kashmir Languages Bill, 2020", approved by the Indian cabinet.

The decision was a part of the BJP regime’s condemnable design to deprive the Kashmiris of their distinct culture and identity, observed the FO.

The move was also said to be further aimed at facilitating an illegal change in the demographic structure of the occupied territory in violation of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

"Pakistan and the people of Kashmir reject Indian attempts to impose illegal and unilateral decisions in IIOJK against the wishes of the majority," the FO maintained.

"The international community must take cognizance of the series of illegal Indian decisions and actions taken since August 5, 2019 and act in support of the human rights of the Kashmiri people," the statement read. Pakistan also expressed deep concern at the worsening human rights situation and treatment of minorities in India under the BJP’s “Hindutva” inspired regime.

Referring to the Amnesty International's report, the FO stated that the "findings of Amnesty International’s Investigative Briefing of August 28 2020, had documented serious and systemic human rights violations committed by Delhi police during the February 2020 Delhi riots." The FO added that these findings are both worrisome and challenging for the collective conscience of the international community.

"The violations documented by Amnesty International field investigation include Delhi police officers indulging in violence with the rioters; torturing in custody; using excessive force on protesters; dismantling protest sites used by peaceful protesters and being mute bystanders as rioters wreaked havoc," the FO maintained.

According to the Foreign Office, the field investigation is a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s stance that the large-scale, targeted violence against Muslims that took place in New Delhi in February 2020 was a direct result of the exclusionary and extremist rhetoric and policies of the BJP-RSS combined.

The FO further added that the investigation is also a sad testament to how India’s entire state security apparatus has been compromised to serve the ideologically motivated objectives of current political dispensation. It also reflects how the extremist ideology had permeated the state institutions of India.

"Pakistan seconds the investigation’s recommendation that a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation needs to be launched into all allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement officials," the FO added.

Speaking of the Indian nationals that Pakistan had proposed to be designated as terrorists, the FO statement maintained that, "As you are aware, Pakistan had proposed designation of Indian nationals under the United Nations Security Council’s ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions list in 2019."

FO added that Paksitan regrets the decision by some members of the UNSC Sanctions Committee to block the designation of two Indian nationals, Gobinda Patnaik and Angara Appaji, to the sanctions list on September 2, 2020.

"Pakistan has always stressed the need for de-politicization of and transparency in the UN sanctions regime for its effectiveness and credibility," FO said. "These Indian nationals are wanted criminals in Pakistan for their involvement in many high-profile terrorist attacks and are currently residing in India under state protection."

Pakistan had provided sufficient evidence to the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee including information about financial support, travel record and training camps established by this Indian terrorism syndicate to foment terrorism and instability in Pakistan, the FO added.

"Pakistan will continue to expose Indian sponsorship of terrorist entities like TTP, JUA and other," the spokesperson added.

Afghan peace process

The statement further stated that today, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a telephone conversation with the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar.

"The Foreign Minister underscored the need to further strengthen bilateral relations as well as progress in the ongoing Afghan peace process. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process."

He expressed the hope for early initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations leading to an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan, the FO statement observed.

The second review meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) was held in Kabul on August 31.

Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood led the Pakistan delegation, while the Afghan side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab.

During the meeting, the entire spectrum of bilateral relations was reviewed, added the FO.

The five working groups, including politico diplomatic, military cooperation, intelligence cooperation, economic and trade cooperation and refugee issues held in-depth discussions on key tracks of bilateral relations.

The foreign secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to a peaceful, stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.

He also reassured Pakistan’s continued support to the ongoing Afghan peace process, the FO observed.

While focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding trade, the foreign secretary reiterated that the ongoing peace process offered a unique opportunity to address the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour.

The need for a time-bound and well-resourced roadmap for return of refugees was underscored, said the FO.

Islamophobia in Europe

Regarding the recent Islamophobic instances of this week, Pakistan strongly condemned the incidents of desecration of Holy Quran in Malmo Sweden and Oslo, Norway, and the decision by the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, to reprint deeply offensive caricature of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the spokesperson said.

"Such deliberate acts to offend the sentiments of over a billion Muslims around the world cannot be justified as an exercise in press freedom or freedom of expression," the FO statement read. "Such actions undermine the global aspirations for peaceful co-existence as well as social and inter-faith harmony."

The FO added that Pakistan will continue to raise the issue, and underscore the need to respect all religious beliefs and inter-faith harmony.