Pakistan asks UN to act against Indian rights violations in Occupied Kashmir

Pakistan has called on the international community to take action against the well-documented human rights violations being committed with impunity by Indian occupation forces against innocent Kashmiri men, women and children.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while reiterating Pakistan’s strong and steadfast support for the Kashmiri people of Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) till realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, has reminded the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council, of the imperative of honouring its commitment in this regard.

“Being a direct party to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Pakistan will continue to underscore the imperative of holding a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the prime minister said in a message and a number of tweets on the occasion of Kashmiris’ Right to Self-determination Day observed on January 5.

Pakistan stands unequivocally with the Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom from the tyranny of one of the most ruthless, inhumane & illegal Occupation in modern history.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 4, 2021

Referring to the 72nd anniversary of the United Nations’ commitment to uphold the fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, on this day in 1949, the United Nations Commission for India & Pakistan (UNCIP) had pledged the realization of the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.

The importance of the inalienable right to self-determination, the prime minister said, had been acknowledged in various human rights covenants and decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. “Owing to Indian intransigence, the Security Council has failed to fulfill its pledge to the Kashmiri people,” he added.

We call on the international community to take action against the well-documented human rights violations being committed with impunity by Indian Occupation forces against innocent Kashmiri men, women & children; & to ensure Kashmiris get their right to self determination.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 4, 2021

Imran Khan said for over seven decades, the life of Kashmiris in the IIOJK had been a chronicle of state-sponsored cruelty and terrorism. Around 900,000 occupation forces had converted the region into the largest militarized zone in the world.

“Post-5th August 2019, India has unleashed a new reign of terror in the IIOJK, maintaining an inhuman military siege, perpetrating egregious violations of human rights of the innocent people especially women, children and the elderly with unprecedented impunity, and seeking to illegally change the demographic structure of the occupied territory,” he added.

The prime minister said “The world must ensure that human rights abuses do not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity are held accountable.”

Despite suffering 73 years of brutal Indian Occupation, generation after generation of the Kashmiri people remain steadfast in the demand for their inalienable right to self determination as guaranteed to them under the UN Charter and by the UNSC.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 4, 2021

For more than 500 days now, the prime minister said, Indian occupation forces had been further brutalizing the besieged innocent Kashmiris, brazenly denying their basic rights of communication, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and above all, freedom to determine their own future.

“Kashmiris have been deprived of their fundamental rights to life, food and health despite the rampant Covid-19 pandemic.

The recent spate of unprecedented Indian state-sponsored terrorism in the IIOJK and discriminatory steps against minorities, especially Muslims, are a clear manifestation of the ‘Hindutva’ ideology espoused by the RSS-inspired BJP regime,” he added.

President Alvi’s message

“Self-Determination Day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir reminding the global community that they cannot shy away from their responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). On 5th January 1949, the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP) adopted the resolution that guarantees a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to enable the Kashmiri people realize their right to self-determination. The United Nations must honour its commitment which was made 72 years ago.

The right to self-determination is a vital component of human dignity. Negation of this right is the negation of human freedom, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and UN Human Rights Covenants. India is the biggest violator of this inalienable human right.

Since 5th August 2019, through continuous illegal and unilateral steps, the Indian government has created an environment of fear and chaos in IIOJK. More than 500 days of military siege and draconian restrictions on fundamental freedoms and rights, including the right to life and health, despite Covid-19 pandemic, have challenged the conscience of international community and India’s credentials of being a respectable member of the comity of nations. Indian actions have been widely rejected by the international community, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations.

The current situation in IIOJK is the worst in recent history where people have been deprived of all basic rights, including rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as self-determination. The people of IIOJK are being subjected to collective punishment by Indian occupation forces who have turned the territory into the largest militarized zone in the world and are seeking to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory in violation of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

Pakistan will continue to extend all possible support for the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir till the realization of their right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions."