G 20 Summit in disputed territorial area
The writer is a former judge and President of Centre for Rule of Law Islamabad. He can be reached at email: judgemajid@hotmail.com
The distancing of leading economies among the G20 countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman and Egypt marred the efforts of the Indian government to ‘showcase Kashmir as its territory’ by organising the G20 meeting in the disputed territory — Srinagar, the capital of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The world cannot be befooled as they know that the Kashmir is a disputed area under the UN resolution and its fate has to be decided by the Kashmiris.
Formed in 1999, the G20 is a group of the world’s largest economies and function as a global forum on numerous economic issues. The G20 is a forum compromising 19 countries with some of the most immense economies as well as the EU. The G20 Summit is considered to be a leading forum of the international economic cooperation. It plays a vital role in forming and reinforcing the worldwide global structure and administration on all major international economic issues. India is also a founding member of the G20 and plays a vital role in forming the programme consequence of the summit.
Speaking about India hosting the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar and summit in Delhi in September, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed “it was a violation of international law”. On the other hand, India said it will showcase Kashmir’s cultural heritage and develop its tourism potential during the summit. The delegates will conduct traveling tours and will have communication on strategies to promote film tourism”, agreeing on an official statement. The G20, which brings together the world’s 19 richest countries as well as the European Union, represents 85% of the world’s economic output and two-thirds of the world’s population.
However, two top-notch members of G20 did not participate in this summit due to selection of venue by host country India along with Turkey, Oman and Egypt. Three Muslims countries — the UAE and Indonesia as member of G20, and Bangladesh as observer — sent their delegations in the summit. Around 57 delegates from 27 countries participated in the summit. This was the first major global event India hosted in the disputed territory since it revoked its special status on 5th August 2019, when India abrogated article 370 and 35(A) of its Constitution; and on 31st October 2019, the parliament of India gave the order of reorganising Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and also changed the whole demography of the region. The Government of Pakistan has strongly condemned the choice of venue and exposed India’s irresponsible actions and series of selfish measures to maintain the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, sheer disregard for UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the UN Charter and the principles of international law.
The UN special rapporteur on minority affairs recently criticised the meeting, saying that by holding the session in Kashmir, ”India is seeking to normalise what it is. Some describe it as a military occupation.” As India strives to make this scenic, conflict-ridden valley a welcoming destination for travelers and tourists from all over the world, Pakistan has no choice but to continue to internationalise the issue and keep it up in major forums. The UN representative said international human rights commitments and the UN declaration of Human rights ought to be maintained by associations such as G20 group.
As the calendar of events reflects India aiming the summit, these included G20 and Youth 20 meetings in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar. Kashmir is partly controlled by the two nuclear-armed neighbours who have combated two of the three wars on top of the region. The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint among India, Pakistan and now China. Eventually China availed the opportunity of the changed geopolitical landscape of Ladakh after the constitutional amendment on Jammu and Kashmir by India. Then Chinese troops moved in Ladakh, and another war between India and China took place. Resultantly, China took huge chunk of land from Ladakh and closed all the corridors of India’s entrances to GBT and CEPC.
Indian having planned to host this G 20 summit in Srinagar has raised lots of concerns for G20 member states about ethical, moral and legal implications of hosting this event in disputed Jammu and Kashmir. The venue of this summit is an example of severe human rights violation, killings of innocent Kashmiris by Indian military forces for last many decades. The G20 is a significant economic forum for discussing world important economic issues but India has made this forum more controversial with the choice of venue for all parties involved.
Through accepting events in disputed territorial areas, G20 cannot achieve high objectives and sustainable economic governance in the region. Simultaneously economic activities do not flourish where human rights are under threat and UN has to play a role in conflict resolution. This bizarre decision of India can lead to tension and conflicts between countries and may even exacerbate existing law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir
The hidden conspiracy behind choosing this venue for G20 summit is to legitimise illegitimate act of India’s control over the region. India is dreaming to attract FDI and signing BITs with G20 member states in tourism and entertainment sectors in violation of the UN charter and international economic practices for hosting such a summit in disputed territorial area. India is indulging leading countries in that region for an investment and economic activities, whereas the local residents cannot move and work freely and the whole valley has been locked for the last 1400 days and the area is an intra-disciplinary subject and has overwhelming military component.
Pakistan has voiced concerns at various international forums and tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue at bilateral and multilateral forums with great success. On the diplomatic front, China and Saudi Arabia have opposed and expressed their dissatisfaction and displeasure on the venue, indicating India not to repeat this practice and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is disputed area.
Pakistan should pursue the UN for official statement on this choice of venue and seek legal action against India in terms of preventive measures on pending the UN Security Council resolutions and demand for setting up an independent ‘UN Commission of Inquiry’. Pakistan could potentially lead to a diplomatic escalation with G20 countries and seek support from member states, especially Muslim states, to boycott the event if it happens again in Jammu and Kashmir.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2023.
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