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Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on Wednesday, said that Pakistan has not made any decision to close the air space yet, and the decision lies with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Addressing the media outside the NADRA office, during his visit to NADRA on Wednesday, Shah Mehmood Qureshi observed that India is escalating tensions and restrictions in the occupied Himalayan territory by defying UNSC resolutions.
Decision on closure of Pakistan's airspace to be taken after consultation: FM Qureshi https://t.co/93UfYAZr0k pic.twitter.com/Q4pfpwccuw
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) August 28, 2019
The occupied valley has entered the 23rd day of security lockdown, an unprecedented communications blackout and acute shortage of money, food supplies, and life-saving medicines.
Allow UN Observers to Visit IoK
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi noted that British-Pakistani Boxer Amir Khan freely moved around Azad Kashmir, and the UN Observers should be allowed to freely move around Indian-occupied Kashmir in the same manner so they can observe the situation.
The Foreign Minister remarked, “India claims that the situation in occupied Kashmir has normalized. In that case, UN observers must be allowed to visit Indian-occupied Kashmir to examine the situation and present a factual report to the United Nations.”
There is no chance of dialogue-first India must lift the curfew restricting everyday movement in the occupied valley of Kashmir. All imprisoned Kashmiri civilians, leaders, and activists must be released.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi underscored that the international community has woken up after witnessing the barbaric human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir, and international opinion-makers and media narratives are against New Delhi’s blatant violations. He noted that India continues to regard Kashmir as an internal matter despite the statements given by the UN Secretary-General.
Qureshi highlighted that the Indian Supreme Court has received 14 petitions filed against the Modi administration’s unconstitutional and unlawful move on occupied Kashmir. He said that the Indian Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Modi-led government in this regard. Qureshi said, “This is now a test for India’s most superior judiciary, either it will succumb to the pressure or they will give a decision that signifies their freedom.”
Qureshi noted that if the Indian Supreme Court reviews its older rulings, and the decisions of the high court, it will identify with the position given to Indian occupied Kashmir as per the Indian Constitution and law.
Responding to a question on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation to the Modi administration to initiate dialogue on Kashmir, Shah Mehmood Qureshi noted, “For the past one year, the Prime Minister has urged India to take one step forward, ensuring that Pakistan will take two steps forward. However, our offer for dialogue has been misconstrued as a weakness.”
Read more: Kashmir: Internal, bilateral or international?
First India must Lift the Curfew
The Foreign Minister stressed that India must first lift the curfew from the occupied Himalayan valley.
Lamenting New Delhi’s decision to deploy thousands of additional army troops to bolster the heavily militarized presence of the Indian army, and keeping innocent Kashmiris under siege for the past 23 days, Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that the “question of dialogue has been ruled out”.
Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi observed that the Narendra Modi-led Indian government did not have the courage to enter a bilateral dialogue with Pakistan on the longstanding dispute of Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Massive protests were held on August 26, 2019 in Rawalakot, Hajira, Bagh and Palandri against abrogation of article 370 & 35-A and India's atrocities in #Kashmir. 1000s participated in the protests and demanded right of self determination through fair and impartial plebiscite. pic.twitter.com/OCv1A4GOSp
— Frontline Kashmir Reports (@Fkdotpk1) August 27, 2019
Addressing the media at an event in Islamabad, Qureshi apprised the media about Pakistan’s willingness to enter dialogue. Qureshi stressed that the Prime Minister was eager to initiate dialogue for a year, however, the Modi administration exhibited a non-committal attitude.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said, “There is no chance of dialogue-first India must lift the curfew restricting everyday movement in the occupied valley of Kashmir. All imprisoned Kashmiri civilians, leaders, and activists must be released.”
The 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council will initiate from 9th September, and the Foreign Office is undertaking preparations for Foreign Minister Qureshi’s participation in the meeting.
Qureshi continued, “They do not have the courage to initiate dialogue to discuss the ongoing situation in the occupied Himalayan territory.”
Qureshi to Attend UNHRC Session
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be attending the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September, in a bid to highlight the suffering of the innocent Kashmiris demanding freedom and self-determination in the Indian-occupied valley.
Apprising the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of this development, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, ‘I will personally attend the UN Human Rights Council session, and inform the members of the UNHRC of the escalating human rights violations committed by Indian in the occupied valley of Kashmir.”
The 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council will initiate from 9th September, and the Foreign Office is undertaking preparations for Foreign Minister Qureshi’s participation in the meeting. Sources from the Foreign Office reveal that recently appointed special envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Tehmina Janjua is presently in Geneva to oversee the arrangements.
The occupied valley of Kashmir has entered its 23rd day of curfew and security lockdown, restricting all routine movement, and barring the availability of food supplies and life-saving medications after the abolishment of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which provided special constitutional privileges to Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Read more: UAE’s callous conduct: Qureshi & UAE’s FM to discuss Kashmir situation
International media is reporting large scale protests staged by the Kashmiri people despite the brutal security clampdown, resulting in unprecedented violence against unarmed civilians as the Indian troops resort to attacking them with pellet guns and tear gas.
Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of the Human Rights Watch, tweeted in this regard, “India’s communications shutdown in Kashmir is fueling misinformation, limiting independent verification of alleged human rights abuses. As authorities deny protests, protesters have taken to holding placards with the day’s date to prevent denial.”
India's communications shutdown in Kashmir is fueling misinformation, limiting independent verification of alleged human rights abuses. As authorities deny protests, protesters have taken to holding placards with the day’s date to prevent denial https://t.co/IukyiT4bYK pic.twitter.com/4GrWWQcroJ
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) August 28, 2019