Kathmandu, 31 October – Pakistan Embassy organized a talk programme on “Jammu Kashmir Dispute and Recent Developments” to commemorate the Kashmir Black Day. The two-hour long programme was attended by some hundred and fifty intellectuals, writers and analysts as well as representatives of human rights organizations.
Ambassador Mazhar Javed recounted the historical perspective of the dispute and the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right of self determination which had been promised to them under several UN Security Council resolutions.
The Ambassador highlighted the human rights violations taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir after Indian Government’s illegal decision to revoke Article 370 on August 5, which Ambassador Javed said, violated the UN resolutions. The people of Jammu Kashmir have been subjected to inhuman curfew, thousands of arbitrary detentions mostly of teenagers, nights raids, rape, torture and clampdown on internet and cell phone.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Surendra K.C expressed serious concern on the media / information blockade, use of pellet guns and arrest of Kashmiri leadership. India has come under serious criticism by UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and other international human rights organizations for its repressive measures in the disputed territory.
It was noted at the talk programme that holding of the UN Security Council meeting in August to discuss the Jammu Kashmir dispute had conclusively negated the Indian propaganda that Kashmir was its internal issue. Kashmir dispute was an international dispute which needed to be resolved according to UN Security Council Resolutions.
Talk by speakers was followed by an interactive session. Two documentaries, one on the genesis of the dispute and the other on international reactions to ongoing human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir were screened.
Unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir dispute has posed the biggest challenge to peace in South Asia, ever since the two countries came into being in 1947 and the UN Security Council passed several resolutions for resolving the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu Kashmir.
Message by The Prime Minister of Pakistan on Kashmir Black Day 27th OCTOBER, 2019
The Kashmir Black Day being observed in Pakistan and across the world today is distinct from the past. On 27 October 1947, India had illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir, and, on 5 August 2019, it took further steps to unilaterally alter the disputed status of the territory and change its demographic structure and identity. Pakistan, the Kashmiris and the Muslim Ummah, have categorically rejected this travesty of law and justice.
Since 5 August 2019, the scale and intensity of the Indian government’s human rights violations have increased several-folds. Through the deployment of additional troops and an unprecedented media and communications blackout, that has continued for almost three months, Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) has been turned into the largest prison on the planet. There is a shortage of medicines and essential food items. Thousands have been arbitrarily detained. Thousands of young boys have been abducted, incarcerated in undisclosed locations, and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. The Indian state-terrorism has turned even more atrocious.
The world community, international human rights organizations and the international media are calling India out on this tyranny. The façade of India being the so-called ‘largest democracy’ stands fully exposed.
Pakistan demands the immediate lifting of the curfew and communications blackout as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions. We urge the international community to play its role in ensuring respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people and averting grave risks to peace and security posed by India’s irresponsible actions.
We express our unshakable solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir and assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that Pakistan will always be shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Pakistan will continue its full moral, political and diplomatic support until the Kashmiri people realize their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the applicable UN Security Council resolutions.
