August 05 action in occupied Kashmir 'rejected', says Qureshi in letter to UN

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has addressed a letter to the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General on the completion of two years since India’s illegal and unilateral actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 05, ARY NEWS reported.

In his letter, the Foreign Minister has drawn attention to the blatant measures taken by India on 5 August 2019 to consolidate its occupation of the disputed territory, followed by additional unlawful steps to strengthen its colonial hold over IIOJK.

“These additional steps include illegal changes to the demographic structure and electoral boundaries in the occupied territory, aimed at further marginalization of Kashmiri Muslims to suppress their demand for freedom from Indian occupation and repression,” Qureshi was quoted as saying in a press release issued by Foreign Office.

The foreign minister categorically rejected all unilateral measures initiated by India in IIOJK, including the illegal measures announced by it on and after 5 August 2019, as well as any further unlawful steps that may be imposed in the future.

He underlined that all such measures by India in IIOJK are violations of international law, including the UNSC resolutions and 4th Geneva Convention, and, are ipso facto, legally and materially, null and void.

The letter highlighted that, in order to suppress the people in IIOJK, India has deployed 900,000 security personnel; enforced the most extended curfew and lockdowns; imprisoned the Kashmiri political leadership; illegally detained 15,000 Kashmiri youth; tortured and extra-judicially killed young boys; put down peaceful protests violently, including by the use of pellet guns; and imposed collective punishments by demolishing and burning entire neighbourhoods and villages.

Read More: TALKS WITH INDIA TO RESUME IF AUGUST 05 ACTIONS IN OCCUPIED KASHMIR REVERSED: PM IMRAN

Noting India’s active planning as well as promotion and financing of terrorist activities against Pakistan from across the borders, including the recent bombing in Lahore, Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged the Security Council to demand that India halt its terrorist and subversive campaign against Pakistan.

Recalling that a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is essential for sustainable peace in South Asia, the Foreign Minister has emphasized that the onus remains on India to create a conducive environment for engagement and result-oriented dialogue.

“To create such an environment, India must reverse all unilateral and illegal measures imposed in the occupied kashmir, including those initiated on and after 5 August 2019; rescind the demographic changes initiated in IIOJK, and halt its oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK.”

In addition to urging the UNSC to demand that India take these measures, the Foreign Minister has also called upon the Security Council to fulfill its obligation to ensure the full implementation of its resolutions guaranteeing the exercise of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.