Pakistan rejects bifurcation of IoK into two union territories: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan rejects the “bifurcation” of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, said a statement from the Foreign Office on Thursday.

According to the statement, changing of status quo in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is in complete violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions and bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan especially the Simla Accord.

The Foreign Office stated that Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory.

“No step by the government of India can change this. These changes are illegal and void as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions, and do not prejudice the right to self-determination of the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir,” said the statement.

The Foreign Office underlined that the measures announced by India on 5 August 2019 were forced upon the people of occupied Kashmir through the barrel of gun by turning the region into a prison by over 900,000 Indian security forces.

Political leaders, civil society members, and common people including women and young children remain under illegal detention.

“An iron curtain remains in place on more than 8 million Kashmiri people snapping their communications with the outside world.

“Curfew remains imposed and movement of people restricted. Many people, especially women and children, are being continuously abused and tortured by Indian occupation forces,” it added.

The illegal and unilateral changes effected by India are in no way an “internal matter” as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains on the agenda of the Security Council.

Furthermore, contrary to the projection by the Indian authorities, the purpose of these illegal changes iis neither development of the region nor welfare of the Kashmiri people.

The real motive is to alter the demographic structure of the Muslim majority state in pursuance of the extremist “Hindutva” ideology.

The Foreign office called on the international community to take notice that transfer of civilian population from outside into held Kashmir is in grave violation of the international laws particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.

“The people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir will never accept the illegal and forceful occupation. The illegal unilateral actions taken by India would only further aggravate the human rights situation in the IOJ&K and threaten to destabilize the peace, security and stability of the South Asian region as well as the world,” said the statement.

It further stated that India should stop brutalising the innocent Kashmiris who are suffering under illegal occupation for the last seven decades.

“India should immediately withdraw its military forces from the region, remove draconian laws, restore basic human rights of the people, free all detainees, lift all restrictions on the free movement and communications, allow unimpeded and full access to the UN and other international human rights observers, including independent foreign media,” added the statement.

Furthermore, it stated that it is imperative that India implements the UN Security Council Resolutions on the right of Kashmiris to self-determination, without further prevarication.

Pakistan would continue to extend its full moral, political and diplomatic support to the suffering Kashmiris until the realisation of the inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.