Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed the ambassadorial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group virtually during its meet in New York. In his speech, Qureshi once again brought up the issue of Kashmir and urged the 57-member grouping to pressure India to end its human rights violations in the region. Referring to the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 that brought an end to the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, he called upon the members to exercise maximum pressure to deter the Asian power from unilaterally changing the status quo and push for a peaceful resolution to the issue in accordance with the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on the matter.
Highlighting Pakistan’s several concerns in the region, he said that India’s decision to withdraw the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir has turned the region into the world’s biggest “open-air prison.” He added, “New Delhi aims to compel Pakistan to accept the Indian-imposed fait accompli in occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the threat or use of force, terrorism, subversion, and economic aggression.” Accordingly, he said, “A unified political message to India from the OIC would be critical.”
Moreover, Qureshi specifically expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan, Niger, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, along with the OIC leadership, for their solidarity and support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Further, he applauded the OIC’s decision to extend support to Pakistan’s cause in Kashmir at the 47th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers meet. Following the November’s meet, the grouping’s Secretary-General presented a report saying, “The decision of the Indian government on 5 August 2019 towards changing the demographic and geographic composition of the territory, and the continuous blockade and restrictions together with human rights abuses, had awakened renewed efforts of the international community towards a resolution of the conflict.” Not only was this seen as a major win for Pakistan’s long-drawn campaign to garner international support against India in international fora, but was also a diplomatic victory for Pakistan, who has seen a severe deterioration in its relations with several Arab powers over the past year.
Qureshi’s statements come shortly after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s called for the restoration of Article 370 in Kashmir at his rally in Kotli on Wednesday, which Pakistan referred to as “Kashmir Solidarity Day.” Calling upon the Indian side to bring an end to the conflict, he said, “Today, I say to you again. Come resolve this Kashmir dispute with us. And for that, the first thing you must do is restore Article 370. And then speak to us and then as per the UN Resolution, give the Kashmiri’s their due right.” Further, he reassured the people of Kashmir that Pakistan would grant them the “right to decide” between independence or being with Pakistan.
Over the past week, several Pakistani leaders have been addressing the longstanding Kashmir conflict. In a rare move, the country’s Army Chief General, Qamar Javed Bajwa, released a statement on Wednesday wherein he called for a peaceful resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir conflict. Bajwa said, “Pakistan and India must resolve the longstanding issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a dignified and peaceful manner as per the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring this human tragedy to its logical conclusion.” He further added, “We stand firmly committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. It is time to extend a hand of peace in all directions.”
Moreover, on Thursday, Qureshi addressed a gathering at the President’s Secretariat. During his speech, he said, “Today, India stands fully exposed before the international community for usurping the fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people. India’s human rights violations have removed the façade of it being a so-called ‘democracy’.” On the same day, the topic of Kashmir was once again brought up by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi, at a seminar on “Emerging Dynamic of Kashmir Issue: Predicament and Prospects.” According to a statement by the Pakistani Ministry of Information Broadcasting, National History, and Literary Heritage, Afridi said that the Pakistani Parliament “would act as a new centre to push Kashmir diplomacy.” He added that his committee was further collaborating with several bodies “to ensure level playing field to Pakistani and Kashmiri activists on digital platforms.” He also applauded the Kashmiri people’s “resolve for freedom from Indian subjugation despite spending decades in jails and offering sacrifices.” He also accused India of systematically attacking Kashmiri culture and executing its “genocide plan”.
Pakistan Once Again Raises Kashmir Issue at OIC
Pakistani Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called Kashmir the world’s biggest “open-air prison” in his address to the Organisation of Islamic Countries.
February 8, 2021
SOURCE: DAILY PAKISTAN