ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today (Saturday) welcomed the statement by the spokesperson of UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres, reaffirming the United Nations’ position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, “Pakistan welcomes the reiteration of the position of UN on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute by the spokesperson of the UN secretary-general. The statement reaffirms that the UN position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is well-established and has not changed.”
The statement came days after UN Secretary General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric clarified that the UN’s “position on Kashmir is well established and has not changed. The clarification followed a claim by India’s UN Ambassador that the disputed state was now an “integral” part of India.
The spokesperson said Pakistan particularly appreciates the timeliness of the statement, as it coincides with completion of two years of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019, in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to actions by New Delhi, the FO spokesperson said India violated the UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions, and international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, by changing Kashmir’s status.
The spokesperson said the statement denies the self-serving remarks by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations claiming that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
He also pointed out in the statement that numerous UNSC resolutions had established that the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the wishes of the people of the valley.
“Ultimately, India will have to give in to the will of the Kashmiris and the commitment of the international community as enshrined in numerous UNSC Resolutions.” the FO concluded.
On Wednesday, to mark the completion of two years of India’s annexation of occupied Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a letter to the UN urged it to play its role in upholding the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Qureshi had drawn the UN chief’s attention to the “blatant measures” taken by India on August 5, 2019, to consolidate its occupation of the disputed territory that was followed by additional unlawful steps.
