Kashmir black day: Pakistan summons Indian diplomat to register protest

India should immediately lift its military siege in IIOJK, says MoFA

Pakistan summoned the senior Indian diplomat on Tuesday to register a strong protest on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day and condemned the continued human rights violations against innocent Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

The Indian chargé d'affaires was demanded that the Indian government give the Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions which call for a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices, said a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“India [should] rescind its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, immediately lift its military siege in IIOJK, and reverse its illegal measures to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory,” the press release stated.

The Indian side was also called upon to cease extrajudicial killings of Kashmiri youth in fake encounters and so-called cordon-and-search operations and release illegally detained youth and political leadership, the communique added.

The MoFA further underscored that to enable an accurate assessment of the humanitarian situation in the region, India needed to immediately remove all restrictions on the media, Internet and mobile communications in IIOJK and allow independent observers, human rights organizations and international media unhindered access to the occupied territory.

"Pakistan reiterated its position that India’s illegal steps cannot alter the disputed status of the occupied territory nor can these prejudices the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UNSC Resolutions to which Pakistan extends the fullest support."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support to the people of Kashmir.

President Alvi said the people of Kashmir have been subject to 73 years of torture by the Indian armed forces, but their resistance continues.

He reaffirmed Pakistan's support with the Kashmiris until their right to self-determination is recognised and said the solution to the Kashmir dispute is possible only through the Security Council resolutions.