'Imperative that China-India border issues are resolved in line with bilateral agreements'

FO spokesperson says India's unilateral, expansionist actions imperilling regional peace

ISLAMABAD:

In a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri stated on Thursday that the country believes it was imperative that China-India border issues are resolved in line with agreed understandings and bilateral agreements through established mechanisms and peace and tranquility is maintained in the region.

"Regarding the latest incidents at the China-India border, Pakistan has been repeatedly emphasizing that India’s expansionist, and unilateral actions, particularly since 5th August 2019, have been imperiling regional peace and security. The latest situation at the China-India border areas validates Pakistan’s concerns and demonstrates that India’s belligerence remains a major impediment in resolving the issues at its borders," the FO spokesperson stated.

He further stated that yesterday marked the completion of 400 days since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019.

"In complete disregard of its international legal and moral obligations as a member of the international community, India has continued its brutal oppression, deliberate state terrorism, inhuman military siege, unprecedented communications blockade, unacceptable media blackout and unabated restrictions on all forms of freedom in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir," Chaudhri observed.

He further maintained in the statement that the Kashmiri leadership and thousands of Kashmiri youth remain incarcerated on frivolous charges. "Many of those detained are kept at undisclosed places, away from their families. The Indian occupation forces continue extra judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in fake encounters and cordon and search operations," he added.

In the month of August alone, 20 more Kashmiris, including two young boys and a woman, were martyred by the Indian occupation forces, the FO spokesperson said. "Voices from around the world continue to condemn the inhuman oppression of Kashmiri people. Human Rights Watch in its latest statement of 4th September has once again called upon the Indian authorities to prohibit its security forces from using shotguns firing metal pellets in IIOJK,' said Chaudhri.

The statement stressed that the use of metal pellets, firearms and ammunitions are in violation of international law, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearm.

It further underlined that “Indian leaders who claim that their policies are improving the lives of Kashmiris cannot disregard that security forces are maiming, blinding, and killing people.

On September 8, ambassadors of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir in Geneva, virtually met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. The group discussed with the UN high Commissioner, the worsening situation in IIOJK and conveyed serious concerns on the grave human rights situation there. observed the FO spokesperson. "The group also urged the High Commissioner to continue monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in IIOJK," he said.

The spokesperson further maintained in the briefing that, "Separately, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood has briefed the OIC and EU ambassadors on the current situation and gross human rights violation in IIOJK. In attempts to divert world attention from its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK, India continue to resort to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting innocent civilians."

This year alone, India has committed 2,199 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 17 shahadats and serious injuries to 171 civilians, including women and children. "As you are aware, in an amusing demonstration of out of place hubris, India has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to remove Jammu and Kashmir dispute from the Council’s agenda," the FO informed.

The ill-conceived Indian move, ahead of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly later this month, is another desperate but pointless attempt by the BJP regime to find an escape from its global condemnation. “India-Pakistan Question” is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council, he said.

"The outstanding question remains on the Security Council’s agenda since India has never implemented the Security Council Resolution concerning Jammu and Kashmir dispute. By denying the Kashmiris their inherent and inalienable right to self-determination as shrined in the UN Security Council resolutions, India is in continued violation of its international obligations," Chaudhri further observed.

"This is not the first time that India has tried to delude itself and the international community about the currency of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at the UNSC. It may be recalled that after the 7th round of Foreign Secretary level talks between Pakistan and India, held in Islamabad in January 1994, the Indian Foreign Secretary claimed that the UNSC Resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir had become inapplicable," said the FO spokesperson.

Contradicting the Indian claim, the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General reiterated the solemnity, effectiveness, and continuity over time of the said Resolutions," added Chaudhri. "The United Nations remains seized of the matter. Since 5 August 2019, UNSC has discussed the Jammu & Kashmir dispute three times. These Consultations have reaffirmed the “disputed” nature of Jammu and Kashmir and the Council’s role in the dispute," he observed.

According to Chaudhri, the convening of these consultations directly repudiated the Indian untenable position that their actions were an “internal affair”. "The UN Secretary General in his statement of 8th August 2019, made it clear that the position of the United Nations on this region (i.e. Jammu & Kashmir) is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council Resolutions," he maintained.

Subsequently, the spokesperson added, that during his visit to Pakistan in February 2020, the Secretary General again expressed "deep concern" at heightened tensions over the disputed region of Jammu & Kashmir and called for India to respect "human rights and fundamental freedoms". India must accept the fact that “India-Pakistan Question” will remain on the agenda of UN Security Council, till the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as per the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

"The only way India can get the Jammu and Kashmir dispute off the UN Security Council agenda is by letting the Kashmiris exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices," said the FO spokesperson.

He called for the international community must play its role in making India comply with its obligations under international law, UN Charter and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is currently in Moscow to attend the Meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting. Chaudri said. In his address at the CFM, the foreign minister shared Pakistan’s perspective on regional cooperation for promoting peace, security, connectivity and socio-economic development in the region, added the spokesperson.

"Pakistan considers SCO an important organization that has immense potential to enhance regional cooperation. Pakistan has been actively participating and contributing to the deliberations of SCO on important regional and international issues. On the sidelines of the SCO-CFM, Foreign Minister Qureshi is also holding bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other SCO member states," he stated.

"Yesterday, the Foreign Minister met with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the development of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen it further. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) and multiple Joint Working Groups (JWGs) in the areas of Trade, Investment, Transport, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism are useful platforms to achieve the desired goals," Chaudhri stated.

Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood held a video call with the British Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad. Views were exchanged on matters relating to bilateral cooperation, regional situation, and multilateral issues, he added.