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SRINAGAR

Nafees Zakaria
Nafees Zakaria

Pakistan on Thursday said that it is committed to extending complete diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiris’ movement for self-determination.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s participation in the 71st UNGA Session was very productive,” said Foreign Office spokesperson, Nafees Zakaria at a press briefing in Islamabad.

Pakistan made these comments hours after Delhi said that it carried out “surgical strikes” “inflicting significant damage along the Line of Control”.

Zakaria said that not only did Sharif “effectively” highlight and apprised the world community on the on-going “human rights violations in Kashmir by the Indian security forces”, but he also met many world leaders on the side lines to sensitize them on the Kashmiris’ plight, and gathered political commitments from various world leaders on Kashmir issue.

Zakaria said that it has been 83 days now and with each passing day “Indian atrocities on defenceless Kashmiris are adding to the list of martyrs (over 110), victims with eye injuries (over 800) and other injuries (around 12,000)”.

“India has unleashed state terrorism, committing crimes against humanity with impunity, which the international community is watching. Hurriyat (Conference) leaders remain in detention, and forced disappearances continuing,” he said in the statement posted in the website of Pakistan Foreign Office.

“Indian hatred against innocent Kashmiris and inability of more than 700,000 fully equipped Indian Occupation Forces to control Kashmiri youth, who are peacefully demanding their right to self-determination, has frustrated them so much that the Kashmiri students studying at Ganga Institute of Management and Technology Haryana are being persecuted by their counterparts and security guards in the campus at the behest of the Indian state. One student was so seriously injured that he is on the verge of incapacitation,” he added.

Further, Zakaria said, advisor to the Prime Minister, Sartaj Aziz, also met various dignitaries and “effectively raised the case of Kashmiris”.

On the issue of India withdrawing from scheduled SAARC conference in Islamabad in November, Zakaria said, “we have learnt about the India’s unfortunate decision of not attending the Summit.”

He said that India has a “track record of impeding” the SAARC process.” “Indian intentions of creating hurdles are visible from the actions and statements at the political level during the last two months, coupled with coordinated media efforts.”

“India is desperate to divert the international community’s attention from the atrocities and blatant human rights violations being committed by the Indian Occupation Forces in Indian Occupied Kashmir on defenceless Kashmiri Muslims. During the last eighty three days Indian Occupation Forces have martyred more than 100 innocent Kashmiris, including children, women and young men, caused injuries to the eyes of over 800 through use of Pellet guns, blinding many hundreds, either completely or partially, and injured more than 12000 people,” he replied to the question.

“The Indian atrocities have attracted the world attention, which is manifested in the strong condemnations and calls by the international political and human rights organizations as also members of civil society from across the world for sending fact finding missions to the Indian Occupied Kashmir,” he added.

Responding to the question that Delhi carried out “surgical strikes” in PaK, he said, “I am aware that there have been unprovoked violations on the LoC by the Indian security forces.” However, he did not divulge further details but referred to the statement made by Pakistan Army’s ISPR in which it said that two of its soldiers were killed in firing by Indian army and condemnation by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on “unprovoked” breach of the agreement on LoC by the Indian forces.

Zakaria guardedly responded to a question over Uri attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were killed. “We cannot comment prior to independent investigation report of the Uri attack. If you recall, there was call for an independent inquiry into the Uri attack.”

Replying to the reporter who asked the question, Zakaria said, “I would ask you to see this reported incident in the context of two important backgrounds: (i) on-going atrocities by Indian security forces in Indian occupied Kashmir and India’s desperate attempt to divert world’s attention from the region; and (ii) India has demonstrated capability of staging terrorists attack on its soil and blaming it on others. We have seen time and again that India would blame another country for terrorist activity and somewhere down the line it would turn out to be the handiwork of its own security agencies. A glaring example of this is the Samjhauta Express terrorist attack in Feb 2007, the responsibility of which was later on admitted by leaders of India’s own terrorist and extremist organizations namely; RSS and Abhinav Bharat. RSS Leader Swami Aseemanand’s public confession in December 2010 exposed India. There are many more such incidents that Indian elements belonging to the two terrorist outfits mentioned in collaboration with Indian establishment and agencies carried out and blamed on others.”

He further said that Pakistan cannot be isolated by mere statements.

On the issue of Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Zakaria said, “Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and would respond accordingly.”

“We have seen the media reports but have not received any formal communication on the matter,” he added.

“The Indus Waters Treaty is not time barred and was never intended to be time or event specific. It is binding on both India and Pakistan and has no exit provision,” he said giving details that the sub-provisions (3) and (4) of the Article XII of the IWT, the Treaty cannot be altered or revoked unilaterally.

“There is an Arbitration mechanism provided in IWT to resolve the disputes related to the implementation of the Treaty. This mechanism has been utilized by Indian and Pakistan to resolve many Indus water related disputes amicably. India cannot unilaterally revoke IWT as it would undermine India’s international standing,” he further said.

Zakaria said that Pakistan will continue to raise the issue of “Indian brutalities in Kashmir” at the UN, OIC and all other international forums as also with the HR Organizations across the world.

A series of activities organized by the Kashmiri Diaspora and Self-Determination Movement Organizations across Europe, Nordic region and North America with the support of local Parliamentarians, Pakistani Diaspora and Civil Society Members. PM’s Special Envoys are undertaking visits to various Capitals and sensitizing the elected representatives there as well as members of the civil society and our Diaspora. International Community is constantly apprised and pursued to play its role to immediately end the bloodshed in the IoK. India has unleashed a reign of terror in IoK. We are sure that the international community cannot ignore such a genocide of Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces and fulfil its responsibly to ensure the realization of the Right to Self Determination of the Kashmiri people, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Pakistan remains committed to the Kashmiri people’s cause,” he added.

As far as diplomatic efforts are concerned, Zakaria said, Pakistan has always called for dialogue, particularly with regard to the issue of Kashmir, for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

“During the recent atrocities in Kashmir, Pakistan has sent two letters to Indian Government for an exclusive dialogue on Kashmir with the view to resolve the longstanding issue. India has not been forthcoming in accepting Pakistan’s offers for dialogue. India’s conditional approach to dialogue is unacceptable,” he informed. “Before the current phase, there have been many occasions in the past where both India and Pakistan came very close to having exchange of visits to decide on dialogue process but India would back-track at the last minute from these commitments on the pretext of one excuse or the other.”

On the issue of Delhi sharing evidence on Uri attack with Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi on Wednesday, Zakaria said, “What they (Delhi) have shared with us is just a piece of paper. In the previous incidents too, there has been exchange of papers. We are waiting for details to come. Once received, we will look into the details and will share them accordingly.”

Zakaria added that the statement by External Affairs Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj that Jammu & Kashmir as an integral part of India is “denial of the UN Security Council resolutions calling for free, fair and impartial plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir”.

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