ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz addressed letters to the UN secretary-general, president of the UN Security Council, the secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Countries, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to express Pakistan’s serious concerns on the alarming situation in the disputed state of Jammu Kashmir.
Drawing attention to the brutal killings of the innocent civilians and the grave violations of the fundamental human rights of the Kashmiris by the occupying forces, the adviser noted that in these times of democracy and accountability, the international community led by the United Nations, cannot remain passive to the callous behaviour and the grave violations of human rights by India in the region over the last many decades.
The letters recalled that the UN has a special and permanent responsibility with regards to the Jammu Kashmir issue, which also remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council and is yet to be resolved in accordance with its relevant resolutions.
The current situation in the region is in fact the result of the continued denial by India of the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices that was assured by the UN in its multiple resolutions.
He noted that non-resolution of the Kashmir issue was a constant source of tension and instability in the region, and a threat to the international peace and security. Lack of progress in finding a durable solution to the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions, the continuing violations of human rights in the disputed state and lack of accountability thereof, have led to the feelings of frustration and resentment especially among the new generation of Kashmiris who are increasingly adding their voice to the decades long indigenous movement for self-determination.
India can no longer be in denial of these facts by terming the situation as its internal matter. It is a position that has no standing whatsoever in view of the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu Kashmir as also reflected in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the letters noted. He urged that India should be called upon to stop the killing of innocent civilians and to cease its repressive policies and human rights violations in the disputed state.
He also underlined that as a concerned party, Pakistan remains committed to peacefully resolving the issue in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. He said that Pakistan will continue to extend its moral and diplomatic support for realisation of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu Kashmir. Pakistan has also always welcomed the role and initiatives of the UN secretary-general to facilitate the resolution of the Jammu Kashmir question and would continue to support such efforts in future, he added.
In his letter to OIC Secretary-General Iyad Ameen Madani, he recalled that OIC had always taken a strong position on the Jammu Kashmir issue and had shown solidarity with Kashmiris. Pakistan hoped for the continued support of the OIC towards the just struggle of the Kashmiris for their right to self-determination, and lauded initiatives taken in furthering the cooperation among the members of the OIC especially for the OIC’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
In his letter, he also noted that the Indian security forces were trampling the fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people with complete impunity. Jammu Kashmir was witnessing yet another brutal bloodbath at the hands of the Indian forces. The use of excessive force against the innocent civilians protesting peacefully over the extrajudicial killings was a blatant violation of the right to life, right to freedom of expression and opinion, right to peaceful protest, right to peaceful assembly and other rights.
The OIC had also condemned, in strongest terms, the killing of the Kashmiri young man Burhan Wani, by the Indian armed forces and the killing of Kashmiris, who were peacefully demonstrating Wani’s killing. The secretary-general also expressed sorrow on the killings in the disputed region and deplored the use of force by the Indian forces on the peaceful protesters.
The absolute absence of accountability and justice to address the abuses committed by the Indian security forces has invoked a sharp reaction from all segments of the Kashmiri society. He requested the high commissioner of the Human Rights Council to look into the grave violations of the human rights and the fundamental freedoms being committed against the Kashmiri people by the Indian forces, and intervene to end these terrible atrocities.
It called for protecting the right to life of the Kashmiri people, ending impunity of Indian occupation forces, a fair, transparent and independent inquiry to bring to justice those responsible for the extra-judicial execution of Wani and the opening of fire on the peaceful protestors, bringing an end to India’s oppressive measures against the Kashmiri people, and urging India to fulfill its human rights obligations and its commitment under UN resolutions.
