Europe ,UK up in arms against G20 moot in Kashmir

LONDON – Putting a question mark over the facade of the so-called rules-based order as advocated by most of world’s biggest economies, people across Europe and the UK Sunday held protests against India’s plans to hold G20 meeting in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIoJK).

Responding to the call by Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK, hundreds of people, allies of Kashmiris and Pakistan, came out in various cities of the UK and urged the G20 nations to abandon the so-called invite by India to IIoJK for the G20 tourism-related meeting.

Protestors came out in Glasgow , Bradford , Manchester , Nelson , Luton and Birmingham.

Demonstrations were held against India’s invite to G20 members to IIoJK for a tourism-related meeting which Kashmiris have boycotted while Pakistan, China and other human rights defenders have slammed.

IIoJK is a UN-designated territory and holding any international event in the region is tantamount to violating the UN mandate.

China has out rightly rejected to attend such meeting in the disputed region, thus upholding the rules-based international order.

Türkiye has not confirmed its participating while Indonesia has downgraded its participation to a single diplomat.

“Attending G20 meeting in UN-designated disputed territory of IIoJK is a slap on those G20 members which raise the bogey of rules-based order,” said Fahim Kayani, leader of TeK UK.

Referring to the G7 summit that just concluded in Japan on Sunday which emphasized on upholding rules-based order, Kayani lamented: “There is no value nor worth in such statements when these same member nations are violating the international order and UN mandate by participating in G20 meeting by India in IIoJK.”

All G7 members are part of G20 and have not yet opposed India’s plans of G20 meeting in IIoJK – the meet is slated for May 22 and 23.

Raising pro-freedom slogans in favor of Kashmiris in IIoJK, demonstrators in Europe and in the UK sought immediate cancellation of the so-called G20 meeting in IIoJK.

“Kashmiris are not children of lesser God,” the protestors said, urging the British and European governments to slap door on Indian invite to IIoJK.

“You are welcome to visit IIoJK but in an independent capacity to probe India’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by occupying Indian forces in IIoJK,” the protestors said, addressing the G20 nations.

Practicing what is delusional Chanakya diplomacy, India through its arrogant foreign policy advisors and fascist media have mislead international community, particularly G20 nations, and is planning a G20 meeting in IIoJK.

Kashmiris, Pakistan and their allies have slammed the Indian move, describing it’s a step to whitewash New Delhi’s illegal actions taken on August 05, 2019.

Backing the claims made by Kashmir, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes said: “India is seeking to normalize the brutal and repressive denial of democratic and other rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities” by holding G20 meetings in IIoJK.

The UN expert said that “massive human rights violations” have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir since the Union Territory came under the direct rule of the Centre in August 2019. “These included torture, extrajudicial killings, denial of political participation rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities,” he said.

“G20 should on the contrary uphold International human rights obligations and the UN Declaration of Human Rights should be upheld… and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting,” said Fernand.