Pakistan’s political and military leadership on Monday marked the fifth anniversary of India’s unilateral abrogation of held-Kashmir’s special constitutional status with statements condemning Delhi’s actions and calling on the global community to act on behalf of Kashmiris.
In separate statements marking Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the CJCSC, services chiefs, and the armed forces stressed that Kashmiris had waited for over seven decades for the United Nations to fulfil its solemn commitments. They also called on the global community to pressure India into ending its human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and implement all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri population.
In his statement, President Zardari said Pakistan would continue to extend full moral, diplomatic and political support for the just struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to achieve realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. Noting that Aug. 5 marked five years since India had attempted to consolidate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, he lamented that Delhi had taken several unilateral and unlawful steps to undermine the internationally-recognized disputed status of Kashmir.
Since Aug. 5, 2019, he said, India has undertaken an unceasing campaign to alter the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK. Issuing domicile certificates to non-residents; registering temporary residents in voters’ lists; gerrymandering constituencies; and modifying land and property ownership laws were all initiatives aimed at achieving the goals of this campaign, he added.
“All these measures are in blatant violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention,” he said, lamenting that India’s actions since Aug. 5, 2019 had demonstrated complete disregard for international law, the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. He warned that India would not succeed in its goals of suppressing the just struggle of the people of IIOJK, emphasizing that Delhi had turned IIOJK into one of the most militarized regions in the world.
The president noted that gross human rights violations in IIOJK were extensively documented, and condemned globally. “The mistreatment of Kashmiri journalists and human rights defenders has further revealed India’s willingness to go to any lengths to silence dissenting voices,” he wrote.
P.M.’s statement
In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said Pakistan would continue to extend its strong moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. “This somber occasion reminds us of the grave consequences of India’s illegal actions of 5th August, 2019 vis-à-vis Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” he said, summarizing the steps taken by India to consolidate its occupation of IIOJK.
“Ever since, India has been trying to convince the world that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of its territory. However, international law, historical facts, moral principles and the situation on the ground deny India’s baseless claims,” he said, regretting that efforts were underway to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiris, even as thousands of political prisoners remained imprisoned.
“Harassment of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called ‘cordon and search operations’ have become a matter of routine. The Indian forces are operating with impunity, according to them under different draconian laws,” he said. “I, however, salute the indomitable courage of the Kashmiri people that has enabled them to withstand every Indian attempt to subjugate them. There is no doubt that India’s coercive methods have failed to diminish their yearning for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,” he said.
Stressing that durable peace in South Asia was linked to settling the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, he urged India to move from “dispute denial to dispute resolution” in the larger regional interest. “The international community must urge India to halt its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5th August, 2019; repeal the draconian laws; and implement the U.N. Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Military statement
In a third statement, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), services chiefs, and the Pakistan Armed Forces also reaffirmed their steadfast solidarity with the courageous and resilient people of IIOJK. “We unequivocally support their legitimate and protracted struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination,” read the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Describing as “deeply reprehensible” Indian security forces’ violations of international law, attempts to illegally alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, and persistent human rights abuses, it said such actions—coupled with the Indian government’s belligerent rhetoric and hostile posturing—were perpetuating security and humanitarian crises in IIOJK.
It emphasized that lasting peace and stability hinged on the resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.