The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has called on the Nigerian Government, United Nations and other international organisations to end the alleged India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir and Jammu.

The High Commissioner of the Pakistani Embassy in Nigeria, Maj.-Gen Sohail Khan (retd), said at a private ceremony annually held in Abuja in solidarity with the Kashmir and Jammu people.

Mr Khan said that the day was annually observed as “Youm-e-lstehsal” (Day of Exploitation/Abuse) around the globe to mark the India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IlOJK) on August 5, 2019.

He said during that period, India scrapped the special status of IlOJK by abrogating Article 370 and bifurcated it into two called ‘Union Territories’ to alter its internationally recognised disputed status and undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri People.

He stated, “The scale of this move cannot be overstated. Abrogating Article 370 represents a major tipping point of an already fraught dispute with serious implications for Kashmiris and Kashmir Dispute which is part of unfinished agenda of sub-continent’s partition. Article 370 enabled Kashmiris to craft and implement policies independently, with the exception of key spheres such as foreign affairs and defence.

“It also prevented outsiders from acquiring land in Kashmir. Kashmiris face daily restrictions on their freedom of expression and movement, along with the constant risk of rough treatment from Indian security personnel.”

According to the envoy, revocation of Article 370 is a nightmare scenario, because it brings Kashmiris closer to an Indian state that they despise.

“Besides UNSC Resolution-47, the statements of early leadership of India including Mahatma Gandhi had ‘solemnly promised’ for a plebiscite to determine people’s wish in
disputed valley. However, with passage of time and leadership transition, India brought change in its policy statements by preposterously terming Kashmir as an integral part of India.

“Apart from propagating the provisional nature of ‘forcible occupation’ of the disputed valley, India showed its conciliatory face to the World by awarding Kashmir with a special status under articles 370 and 35A in its constitution,” he said.

The high commissioner said that no government of time ever tinkered with the special status of Kashmir, stating that Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, ventured to change the constitutional status of Kashmir due to political expediency.

He said, “Wherein, revocation was part of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’) electoral manifesto as well as a move to make Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) hard lines happy by altering the demography of the disputed valley.

“According to the Indian Constitution, Article 370 could only be modified with the agreement of ‘State (Kashmir) Government’ but there was no government in ll0JK for over a year at the time of the illegitimate move by Modi /BJP. The Kashmiri people and its leadership have utterly rejected illegal Indian occupation of J&K as well as the abrogation of Article 370.

“It is also worth mentioning that the mainstay of argument behind this illegal move to abrogate Article 370 i.e. normalcy, peace and prosperity has completely lost its relevance. As Kashmiris have faced worst kind of human rights violations with every passing day since August 5, 2019, in the backdrop of India’s recent aggression against Pakistan, this year’s ‘Youm-e-lstehsal” assumes greater significance.

“While the resounding success of Pakistan’s “Operation Bunyan-al- Marsoos’ is a matter of great pride for the People of Pakistan, the day also underscores the need for a settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“This should be done in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri People, for a lasting peace in South Asia. For its part, Pakistan will continue to extend all possible political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of I10JK for the fullest realisation of their legitimate rights,”

(NAN)