Pakistan must reiterate its principle stand during SCO meet: Dr. Mir
Washington, DC. May 2, 2023: Chairman, Kashmir Diaspora Coalition (KDC), Dr. Ghulam N. Mir has welcomed the remarks made by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the foreign minister of Pakistan, when he articulated the Pakistan’s policy towards Kashmir not only in the regional platforms but also at international for a. Foreign minister was representing the sentiments of the people of Indian occupied Kashmir when he said, ‘India must end its gross human rights violations in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019 including demographic changes; repeal draconian laws; allow UN-mandated investigations into cases of extrajudicial killings and; implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.’ Foreign minister added that ‘I want to remind our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that Pakistan will never sit back and watch silently while Kashmiris continue to suffer Indian atrocities.’
Now, the foreign minister has decided to participate in the forthcoming summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held on May 4-5, 2023, in Goa, India. While realizing fully that SCO is an important multilateral intergovernmental organization which deals with regional development and regional security issues, KDC believes that Pakistan should have abstained from its participation. However, while in India, the foreign minister must make it clear that there will be no bilateral talks unless Modi Administration reverses Article 35 A and in particular ‘Domicile Law’ which is designed to change the demography of Jammu & Kashmir.
SCO summit provides an opportunity to foreign minister to reiterate the principle stand of Pakistan that it reaffirms its unwavering support for the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and must make it clear that only a just and peaceful resolution of Kashmir in accordance with the wishes and aspiration of the people guarantees regional development, peace, and stability.
Foreign minister’s interaction with his counterparts as well as Indian media provides him an opportunity to spell out the controversial decision of G22 to have its meeting in internationally recognized disputed territory of Kashmir. He must tell his counterparts that its aim is to divert global attention from the core issue of the occupation of a people without their consent. It creates ambiguity around the matter and undermines the legitimacy of the Kashmiris’ demand for a plebiscite in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
He must also demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners who have been wrongfully detained under politically motivated ‘Unlawful Activities Prevention Act’ (UAPA) which is designed to harass, assault and imprison Kashmir’s human rights activists, political leaders, and journalists. One prime example is Khurram Parvez, an internationally recognized human rights defender about whom Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur has said, ‘Khurram Parvez is not a terrorist. He is a human rights defender.’
The Kashmir Diaspora Coalition (KDC) has six international affiliates: World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Washington, DC; Kashmir House Istanbul; Kashmir Civitas, Canada; World Kashmir Freedom Movement, London; Tehreek-Kashmir, UK and Europe and Kashmir Campaign Global, London.
Dr. Mir can be reached at: info@kashmirawareness.org
