‘There can never be a compromise on Kashmir’: COAS

In his message on Pakistan’s 73rd Independence Day and Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Asif Ghafoor quoted the COAS and said that Kashmir’s reality will never be changed by an illegal piece of paper.

News Desk |

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa has said that Pakistan will stand by Kashmir and the army ‘will remain fully ready to perform its part’ in line of national duty.

In his message on Pakistan’s 73rd Independence Day and Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Asif Ghafoor quoted the COAS and said that Kashmir’s reality will never be changed by an illegal piece of paper.

In a two-part tweet, the DG stated: “Reality of #Kashmir was neither changed by an illegal piece of paper in 1947 nor will any other do it now or in future. Pakistan has always stood by Kashmiris against India’s hegemonic ambitions, will always do. There can never be a compromise on #Kashmir”

The Tweet further said that “we shall stand in the face of tyranny, regardless of the cost. Pakistan Army is fully alive to the sanctity of Jammu & Kashmir and will remain fully ready to perform its part in line with our national duty for Kashmir cause”.

Pakistan Army Firmly Stands by Kashmiris: COAS

On Aug 6, a day after India revoked Article 370 and 35-A which deprived Kashmir of its special and autonomous status, the army chief had made it clear that Pakistan Army stands by the Kashmiris in their just struggle to the very end, adding that the army was prepared and ready to go to any extent to fulfill its obligations in this regard.

The constituent assembly was dissolved in 1957 and replaced by the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, which was dismissed last year after the BJP-PDP [Peoples Democratic Party] alliance.

General Bajwa had said that the Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) fully supports the government’s rejection of Indian actions regarding Kashmir. The army chief had said that Pakistan has never recognized the sham Indian efforts to legalize its occupation of Jammu & Kashmir through article 370 or 35-A decades ago, which have now been revoked by India itself.

Major General Asif Ghafoor had shared the statement on Twitter following a meeting of the CCC at the at General Headquarters (GHQ). The meeting had a single point agenda of the situation regarding Indian-occupied Kashmir.

“The forum fully supported the government’s rejection of Indian actions regarding Kashmir. Pakistan never recognized the sham Indian efforts to legalise its occupation of Jammu & Kashmir through article 370 or 35-A decades ago; efforts which have now been revoked by India itself,” the ISPR statement said.

“Pakistan Army firmly stands by the Kashmiris in their just struggle to the very end. We are prepared and shall go to any extent to fulfill our obligations in this regard,” the ISPR quoted General Bajwa as saying.

Article 370 

As originally envisaged, Article 370 formed the basis of Kashmir’s special and autonomous status and the article has governed the accession and relationship of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir with India under the Indian Constitution. After it was revoked, the pro-India political leaders Mehbooba Mufti, Farooq Abdullah, and others said that revoking Article 370 means a break in the relationship between the state and India.

Read more: Revocation of Article 370: Violation of UNSC, Indian Constitution & Victory for RSS Ideology?

Under the article, the president of India can revoke 370 only on advice from the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. The constituent assembly was dissolved in 1957 and replaced by the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, which was dismissed last year after the BJP-PDP [Peoples Democratic Party] alliance.

The current presidential order replaces the legislative assembly in Article 370 with the governor of Jammu and Kashmir thereby using the governor’s consent as the consent of the state. This may be challenged in an Indian court in the coming days.