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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday night rejected the ‘irresponsible and unwarranted’ remarks of Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding Gilgit-Baltistan, saying that reforms announced by the government for the region reflect the will of the indigenous population.
In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, “India has no locus standi whatsoever on the issue — legal, moral or historical.”
“Administrative, political and economic reforms are a long-standing demand of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The envisaged provisional reforms reflect the aspirations of the indigenous populace of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he added.
Referring to Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIoK), the FO Spokesperson said that India, for 73 years, has illegally and forcibly occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Regurgitation of false and fabricated claims by India can neither change the facts nor divert attention from India’s illegal actions and continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from perpetration of the worst human rights violations in [occupied Jammu and Kashmir],” he maintained.
The spokesperson further said that the final resolution of the dispute was only possible when Kashmiris’ will be able to exercise their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite held by the United Nations.
Earlier today (Sunday), Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to give Gilgit-Baltistan a provisional provincial status in the lead up to the elections to its legislative assemblies.
Prime Minister made the announcement, during a visit to the region to attend celebrations for its 73rd Independence Day. The Indian MEA had issued a statement in response, saying that it rejects the bringing of material changes to the territory.
