President, PM vow unwavering support for Kashmiris

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have affirmed that Pakistan will continue to provide unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until they achieve their inalienable right to self-determination.

In their separate messages on the eve of Youm-e-Istehsal, being observed on Monday (today), they said that since August 5, 2019, India has demonstrated a complete disregard for international law and the UN Security Council resolutions regarding IIOJK.

On 5 August 2019, India took a series of steps to consolidate its occupation of lIOJK. The people and the government of Pakistan commemorate the day as Youm-e-Istehsal.

"This sombre occasion reminds us of the grave consequences of India's illegal actions of August 5, 2019 vis-a-vis Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)," Prime Minister Shehbaz stated in his message.

He added that the international law, historical facts, moral principles and the situation on the ground denied India's baseless claims that Kashmir was its integral part.

"Today, in IIOJK, efforts are being made to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people and muzzle the media. The number of political prisoners remains in their thousands, while 14 political organizations have been outlawed," Shehbaz said

He lamented that harassment of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called 'cordon and search' operations have become a matter of routine. "The Indian forces are operating with impunity, according to them under different draconian laws."

He said, "I, however, salute the indomitable courage of the Kashmiri people that has enabled them to withstand every Indian attempt to subjugate them. There is no doubt that India's coercive methods have failed to diminish their yearning for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination."

"History has proven, time and again, that durable peace in South Asia remains contingent upon the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. In the interest of lasting peace and security in South Asia, India must move from dispute denial to dispute resolution," he added.

The prime minister said, "The international community must urge India to halt its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019; repeal the draconian laws; and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir."

Meanwhile, in a separate message on Youm-e-Istehsal, President Asif Ali Zardari said India's actions since August 5, 2019, demonstrated a complete disregard for international law, the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and the UN Security Council resolutions regarding IIOJK.

He said, "Today marks the completion of five years of India's latest campaign to consolidate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day, five years ago, India took a number of unilateral and unlawful steps in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to undermine its internationally recognised disputed status. "

Since 5 August 2019, he said India has embarked upon a ceaseless campaign to alter the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK.

Issuing domicile certificates to outsiders, registering temporary residents in the voters' lists, gerrymandering assembly constituencies, and modifying land and property ownership laws are some of the key features of this campaign.

He observed that all these measures are in blatant violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

"The continued presence of hundreds of thousands of Indian troops has turned IIOJK into one of the most heavily militarised zones in the world. The gross human rights violations in IIOJK have been documented extensively and condemned globally. The mistreatment of Kashmiri journalists and human rights defenders has further revealed India's willingness to go to any lengths to silence dissenting voices. India would not succeed in suppressing the just struggle of the people of IIOJK through domestic legislation and judicial verdicts, " he added.

For the past seven decades, the president said the Kashmiris had waited for the United Nations to fulfil its solemn commitments. "It is crucial that the international community urges India to end its human rights violations in IIOJK and implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

"Pakistan, for its part, will continue to extend full moral, diplomatic and political support to the just struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions," he added.