Elections not a substitute for plebiscite in Indian Kashmir: foreign secretary
He expressed concern over human rights violations carried out by Indian forces in Indian Kashmir
An Indian soldier keeps watch from his position overlooking army barracks near the Line of Control (LoC). PHOTO: AFP
On the eve of Kashmir solidarity day, Pakistan Wednesday reiterated that any amount of elections cannot be a substitute for plebiscite under the auspices of the UN as he raised concerns over brutalities committed by Delhi-led forces in Indian Kashmir.
A foreign office statement said that foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry briefed Islamabad-based Ambassadors of countries who are part of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
He pointed out the large number of Kashmiris killed, the women who had been widowed and dishonoured, and the children who had been orphaned in the gross human rights violations carried out by Indian forces.
Explaining Indian efforts to manipulate elections in the disputed state, Chaudhry pointed to the policies of the BJP-led government aimed at changing the demographic makeup of Jammu and Kashmir.
He accused India of settling non-state subjects in Indian Kashmir, thereby manipulating the Muslim majority into a minority, and dividing the population on ethnic, communal and religious lines.
Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on February 5, on the status of the issue and plight of Kashmiri Muslims in Indian Kashmir.
The foreign secretary stressed that the peace in the region would remain elusive till the Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN Resolutions that call for a free and fair plebiscite to determine the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also expressed appreciation in regard to consistent support from the OIC and the secretary general to the Kashmir cause.
Highlighting the efforts of OIC, he noted with satisfaction how the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, consisting of Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, meets regularly and adopts resolutions affirming OIC’s continued support to the Kashmiris.
Chaudhry noted the secretary general’s emphasis on an early peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The ambassadors were told that Kashmiris had welcomed the recent mandate given to OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) to monitor human rights violations in Indian Kashmir.
The foreign secretary emphasised that OIC, as a body of 57 countries with the 1/5th of the world’s population and many trillion dollars GDP, could influence India to fulfill its obligations under UN resolutions, de-militarise Indian Kashmir and refrain from blatant human rights violations.
The OIC ambassadors, while noting the points made by Chaudhry, participated in the discussion focusing on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan-India relations and other developments in the region.
A foreign office statement said that foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry briefed Islamabad-based Ambassadors of countries who are part of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
He pointed out the large number of Kashmiris killed, the women who had been widowed and dishonoured, and the children who had been orphaned in the gross human rights violations carried out by Indian forces.
Explaining Indian efforts to manipulate elections in the disputed state, Chaudhry pointed to the policies of the BJP-led government aimed at changing the demographic makeup of Jammu and Kashmir.
He accused India of settling non-state subjects in Indian Kashmir, thereby manipulating the Muslim majority into a minority, and dividing the population on ethnic, communal and religious lines.
Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on February 5, on the status of the issue and plight of Kashmiri Muslims in Indian Kashmir.
The foreign secretary stressed that the peace in the region would remain elusive till the Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN Resolutions that call for a free and fair plebiscite to determine the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also expressed appreciation in regard to consistent support from the OIC and the secretary general to the Kashmir cause.
Highlighting the efforts of OIC, he noted with satisfaction how the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, consisting of Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, meets regularly and adopts resolutions affirming OIC’s continued support to the Kashmiris.
Chaudhry noted the secretary general’s emphasis on an early peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The ambassadors were told that Kashmiris had welcomed the recent mandate given to OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) to monitor human rights violations in Indian Kashmir.
The foreign secretary emphasised that OIC, as a body of 57 countries with the 1/5th of the world’s population and many trillion dollars GDP, could influence India to fulfill its obligations under UN resolutions, de-militarise Indian Kashmir and refrain from blatant human rights violations.
The OIC ambassadors, while noting the points made by Chaudhry, participated in the discussion focusing on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan-India relations and other developments in the region.