Pakistan rejects Indian criticism on CPEC bus service

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected purported protest by India and statement by the neighbouring country regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dr Muhammad Faisal, said in a statement: “India’s repeated regurgitation of claims over India-occupied Kashmir can neither change the facts of history nor the legality of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.

“As per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed, the final status of which is to be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the United Nations,” said Mr. Faisal.

He further said that the Indian aggression was in complete violation of the UNSC resolutions, and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people. “India continues to maintain its illegal hold over Jammu & Kashmir through brutal use of force.”

Read: CPEC Passenger Bus Service to start operations from Nov 3

The India-occupied Jammu & Kashmir remains the most militarized zone in the world, where the occupation forces are killing and maiming people on a daily basis. According to FO, “the gross and systematic violations of human rights of the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir at the hands of occupation forces have been extensively documented in the report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2018.”

The FO spokesperson said India couldn’t mislead the international community or hide its state-terrorism against a people engaged in a legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.

“We call upon India to vacate its illegal occupation. We also call upon India to allow the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended by the OHCHR to investigate human rights violations, and resolve the Jammu &Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people,” Mr. Faisal added.