ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated his unwavering support for the struggle of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as the country observed Youm-e-Istehsal marking the completion of five years of India’s latest campaign to consolidate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a message on the eve of Youm-e-Istehsal on Sunday he said five years ago, India on this day took a number of unlawful and unilateral steps in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to undermine its internationally recognized disputed status.
“Since 5 August 2019, India has embarked upon a ceaseless campaign to alter the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK,” he said.
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said issuing domicile certificates to outsiders, registering temporary residents in the voters’ lists, gerrymandering assembly constituencies and modifying land and property ownership laws are some of the key features of this campaign. He added all these measures are in blatant violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.
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He said the continued presence of hundreds of thousands of Indian troops has turned IIOJK into one of the most heavily militarized zones in the world. The president in the message said the gross human rights violations in IIOJK have been documented widely and condemned internationally. He said the mistreatment of human rights defenders and Kashmiri journalists has further revealed India’s willingness to go to any lengths to silence dissenting voices.
He noted India’s actions since 5 August 2019 demonstrate complete disregard for international law, the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and. He strongly believed India would not succeed in suppressing the just struggle of the people of IIOJK through domestic legislation and judicial verdicts.
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said for the past seven decades, the Kashmiris have waited for the United Nations to fulfil its solemn commitments. He said it is crucial that the international community urges India to stop its human rights violations in IIOJK and implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
He concluded that Pakistan, for its part, will continue to extend full moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
