ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned and rejected the latest Indian action aimed at illegally changing the demographic structure of the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
Prime Minister Imran Khan termed the new Indian domicile law the latest illegal action to exploit the international focus on COVID-19 pandemic to push forward BJP’s Hindutva supremacist agenda.
He described the new Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Order 2020 as a clear violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.
In a series of tweets, the prime minister not only rejected the latest Indian move but also called on the international community to stop India’s continuing violations of the UNSC resolutions and international law.
The prime minister wrote, “We stand with the Kashmiris in rejecting this latest Indian attempt to alter the demography of IOK. Pakistan will continue to expose Indian state terrorism&it’s denial of the Kashmiris right to self determination.”
He pointed out that that the timing of this latest illegal action was particularly reprehensible because it sought to exploit the international focus on COVID-19 pandemic to push forward BJP’s Hindutva supremacist agenda.
The prime minister emphasised that the UN and international community must stop India’s continuing violations of UNSC resolutions and international law.
“We strongly condemn the racist Hindutva supremacist Modi govt’s continuing attempts to illegally alter the demography of IOK in violation of all international laws&treaties,” he maintained.
The new Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Order 2020, he contended, was a clear violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.
The foreign office also condemned the Indian move.
“The so-called ‘Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Order 2020’ is another illegal step by India to settle non-Kashmiris in IOK by changing the domicile laws. This is a clear violation of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention,” said the Foreign Office.
At this point of time when the world is reeling under the COVID-19, India hopes that it can get away with this new law, but Pakistan is firm that India will not succeed in its nefarious designs to subjugate the Kashmiris against their wishes.
“The latest Indian action, at this moment of global health crisis, is particularly reprehensible as it seeks to take advantage of the international community’s focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and further advance BJP’s sinister, ‘Hindutva’ agenda,” pointed out the Foreign Office.
It has been 242 days since the lockdown and communication blackout of the people in IOK.
While the world capitals look away Pakistan appealed to the United Nations and the international community to take immediate cognisance of this Indian action, prevent India from changing the demography of the occupied territory, and hold India accountable for its persistent violations of international law.
“This Indian action, a continuation of India’s illegal and unilateral steps since 5 August 2019, also constitutes a violation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan, and humanitarian norms,” said the Foreign Office.
It pointed out that the Kashmiris in IOK have outrightly rejected the new law as unacceptable.
“Indeed, the Kashmiris will never accept such blatant usurpation of their fundamental rights and attempts to change their demography and distinct identity,” added the Foreign Office.
Pakistan has been consistently sensitising the international community about the BJP government’s designs for demographic change in IOK to perpetuate India’s illegal occupation of the disputed territory, manifestly against the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
“On its part, Pakistan will continue to highlight India’s state terrorism in IOK, and its denial of the fundamental freedoms and inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. No matter what its tactics, India will never be able to break the will of the Kashmiri people. Nor will India succeed in its nefarious designs to subjugate the Kashmiris against their wishes,” said the Foreign Office.
In the weekly media briefing, the spokesperson also pointed out to 55 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in IOK so far. “It is one of the highest risk zones,” she said.
