News Desk |
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has rejected India’s notion that abolishing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was its “internal matter”, adding that Pakistan would take the matter to the United Nations Security Council UNSC.
While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister made the announcement that Pakistan would take the matter of India revoking the special status for occupied Kashmir to the UNSC. He said that the decision was taken in line with several pre-existing UN resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.
In light of India’s recent actions in occupied Kashmir, it was observed that August 15, the Indian independence day, will be observed as “Black Day”.
On Aug 7, the National Security Committee (NSC) decided to downgrade Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with New Delhi and suspend all bilateral trade.
The top security body’s meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, had decided to review Pakistan’s bilateral arrangements with India, take the matter of revocation of Kashmir’s special status to the United Nations, observe the upcoming Independence Day on August 14 “in solidarity with brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right of self-determination”.
Read more: Article 35-A: Court’s move could be problematic for Indo-Pak relations
In light of India’s recent actions in occupied Kashmir, it was observed that August 15, the Indian independence day, will be observed as “Black Day”.
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of NSC at Prime Minister’s Office. Committee discussed situation arising out of unilateral & illegal actions by Indian govt, situation inside Indian Occupied J&K and along LOC.
The Committee decided to take following actions: pic.twitter.com/2wVySU4IxP— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 7, 2019
A day earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs asked Islamabad to review its decision so that “normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved”.
Read more: Article 35-A: Indian SC defers hearing to January 2019 as IOK shuts down
Foreign Office orders Indian High Commissioner to leave Pakistan
During his weekly briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that the government of India has been told to withdraw its high commissioner. “India has also been informed that Pakistan will not be sending its high commissioner to designate to India,” he said.
The National Security Committee decided to downgrade Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with New Delhi and suspend all bilateral trade.
“Pakistan has strongly condemned and rejected the announcements made by the Indian government regarding the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which is an internationally recognized disputed territory,” he said.
“No unilateral step by the Indian government can change this internationally accepted disputed area as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolution nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and of Pakistan,” he added.
Read more: Mockery of Democracy: Indians Criticize Revocation of Article 370
Fear of genocide, ethnic cleansing
Earlier, foreign minister Qureshi had feared “genocide and ethnic cleansing” by India in Kashmir. “God willing, one day Kashmir will become Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan has slammed the Indian move to clamped a complete shutdown on occupied Kashmir as it scrapped the region’s statehood and special status, including the right to its own constitution.
The changes made in article 370 and 35-A of the Indian laws has lifted a ban on property purchase by nonresidents of Kashmir and opened the way for Indians outside the territory to invest and settle there – a move that can change Kashmir’s demography, culture and way of life.