Day: August 4, 2021

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): On this day today, marking twenty-four months since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, we honour sacrifices of Kashmiris and salute their indomitable spirit in their just struggle for inalienable right to self-determination. In violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and of international law, India tried to obliterate the distinct identity of the Kashmiri people.

India hoped that by attempting to alter demographic structure of Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), it could dampen the spirit of the Kashmiri people or at the very least, make them compromise on their legitimate right to self-determination. On both counts, India has abjectly failed. These steps were forcefully rejected by Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the international community. The unabated Indian repression including extra-judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris, unprecedented restrictions on freedom of speech, fake encounters, cordon-and-search operations, custodial torture and deaths, enforced disappearances, incarceration of Kashmiri leadership and youth, use of pellet guns, destruction and burning of houses, and other methods of subjugation have miserably failed to shake the resolve of the Kashmiri people.

The Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan has been on the agenda of UN Security Council since 1948. It remains an internationally recognized dispute, the solution of which is firmly anchored in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in accordance with UN Charter and the wishes of the people of Kashmir. Regrettably, India has not fulfilled its commitments to the UN Security Council, Pakistan, international community and the Kashmiri people.

The international community, human rights organizations, international media and the civil society have called India out on its tyranny in the region. World leaders and Parliamentarians have expressed concern and shown their support for the Kashmiris. More than 1.5 billion people of the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity which has been held hostage to the gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK.

Pakistan calls upon the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes against Kashmiris and demand that India reverses its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, revoke draconian laws, cease all human rights violations, and stop its state-terrorism against the people of IIOJK. We express complete solidarity with the people of IIOJK and assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that the Government and people of Pakistan stand united with them. Pakistan will not relent in its support until the Kashmiris realize their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):Today marks two years of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which were in violation of several UNSC resolutions and the international law. Knowing that neither Kashmiris nor Pakistan or the international community would accept these actions, India concomitantly unleashed an unprecedented campaign of repression against Kashmiris causing enormous human suffering.

India’s military siege of IIOJK- with more than 900,000 troops – has lasted for two years now. Since then, hundreds of Kashmiris have been killed, most often in fake ‘encounters’. The only crime of the innocent Kashmiri youth summarily executed by Indian Occupation Forces is their demand for freedom from Indian yoke. India must know that Kashmiris have a glorious history of standing up for their rights and not bowing down before the Indian Occupation Forces.

Kashmiris have resisted Indian occupation for more than seven decades and will continue to stand their ground no matter what. Kashmiri leadership remains incarcerated under trumped-up charges. Extra- judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, staged cordon- and- search operations and custodial torture by Indian Occupation Forces continue with impunity in IIOJK. The weak, the elderly and sick as well as women and children have suffered the most in the past two years.

Since December 1989, when the present phase of Kashmiri struggle commenced, around 100,000 Kashmiris have been martyred, more than 22,000 women widowed, and 108,000 children orphaned. Over 12,000 Kashmiri women have been robbed of their honour. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India is an internationally recognized dispute which has been on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council since January 1948.

In the past two years, the Government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has undertaken enormous efforts to firmly oppose the unilateral and illegal Indian actions of August 2019 in IIOJK and unequivocally support the rights of oppressed Kashmiris at all forums. Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue at every forum including the UN and bilaterally in important world Capitals.

Through our Government’s determined efforts and diplomacy, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was deliberated by the UN Security Council thrice. Such consultations on Kashmir dispute had not happened in the past 55 years. Indian mantra of Kashmir being “internal” matter of India has been repudiated decisively. We have witnessed increased awareness in the world community of the festering dispute and India’s evident atrocities in IIOJK.

International human rights and humanitarian organizations, world parliaments as well as international media of repute, have highlighted the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and the dire human rights situation in IIOJK.

The United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the OIC, UN Secretary General, and many world leaders have expressed support for Kashmiris. We call upon India to immediately lift the ongoing siege of Kashmiri population in IIOJK and stop all human rights violations as well as release all political prisoners, especially the leadership of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the true representatives of Kashmiris.

Pakistan firmly believes that a just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, will ensure durable peace and stability in South Asia. As the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and as a worker of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party dedicated to the Kashmir cause, I reassure my Kashmiri brothers and sisters that Pakistan remain unwavering in its support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for their right to self-determination.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): On 5th August 2019, India, yet again, in violation of international law and norms undertook illegal and unilateral actions in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to further perpetuate its occupation. Through these actions, India tried to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory and eliminate the distinct identity of the Kashmiri people in violation of UN Charter and International law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

These Indian actions were also aimed at denying the right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people that was promised to them in numerous resolutions of the UN Security Council. Through continuous illegal steps, the racially motivated BJP Government of India has created an environment of fear and chaos in IIOJK. The people of IIOJK are being subjected to collective punishment by the Indian Occupation Forces, which have turned the territory into the largest militarized zone in the world. For the past twenty-four months, Kashmiris have suffered the worst human rights violations at the hands of the Indian Occupation Forces which include military sieges and unprecedented restrictions on fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris.

To this day, the senior Kashmiri leadership remains imprisoned under trumped-up charges. Extra-judicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detentions also continue unabated. These illegal Indian actions in IIOJK are a manifestation of the rising Hindu Fascism in India and are aimed at breaking the spirit of the Kashmiri people. These steps were also forcefully rejected by Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the international community.

These Indian actions have also been denounced by international media and human rights organizations as a means to continue its illegal and brutal occupation of the region. The day also serves as a reminder to the international community to hold India accountable for its war crimes against the civilian population of IIOJK and deliver on its promise to the Kashmiris.

A just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, is indispensable for durable peace and stability in South Asia. The international community must call upon India to end its campaign of repression and human rights abuses in IIOJK and reverse all its illegal actions, including those initiated on and after 5 August 2019, and to cease and desist from imposing any additional unilateral changes in the occupied territory.

The people of Pakistan stand firmly by their Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle and will continue to highlight the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to the international community. Our ultimate objective remains the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as per relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): Today marks two years since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). These actions were followed by unprecedented military siege and restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people to perpetuate Indian occupation in the occupied territory. Yet, India has failed to break the will of Kashmiri people.

Kashmiris face unabated extra-judicial killings, custodial tortures and deaths, arbitrary detentions, burning and looting of houses to inflict collective punishment, and other worst forms of human rights abuses. India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 and subsequent measures particularly pertaining to domicile rules and the land ownership laws are aimed at changing the demographic structure of IIOJK and converting the Kashmiris into a minority in their own land. These measures are in blatant violation of international law including the UN Charter, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and the 4thGeneva Convention.

Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the international community forcefully rejected these steps. The criticism and censure of India’s illegal actions in IIOJK by a number of international organizations including UN, OHCHR, European Parliament, international media and by various human rights experts and human rights organizations is well documented. Pakistan has the utmost respect for the people of IIOJK for their unparalleled courage, sacrifices and persistence in facing Indian tyranny as they resolutely struggle for their legitimate right to self-determination.

All the unilateral and illegal actions taken by India in IIOJK, from the outset, the measures initiated on and after 5 August 2019, and any additional unilateral changes that India may introduce in the future, are violations of international law including the Security Council Resolutions and the 4thGeneva Convention, and ipso facto null and void.

Pakistan calls upon the international community, including the United Nations, human rights organizations and the global media, to hold India accountable for its crimes against the Kashmiri people. I would like to reaffirm Pakistan’s abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause. We will continue to extend all possible assistance to Kashmiris till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination and a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): For over 70 years our brothers and sisters in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are affected by multiple forms of injustice, denial of rights and opportunities. The Illegal Indian occupation of Kashmir and subsequent violation of human rights and suspension of freedom of expression clearly manifest Modi’s fascist design/Hindu Fascism. This day it will be two years of India’s illegal and unilateral action to end the special status of IIOJK in Indian constitution and further its nefarious designs for perpetuation of its illegal occupation of the territory.

We condemn the continuing violation of human rights of the people of IIOJK and demand end of India’s impunity in committing these crimes against the most resilient and unrelenting people on earth. The UN and the world community must affectively urge India to end the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and its brutal victimization and systematic violations against people of IIOJK. The International community must come forward to address the flagrant violation of international laws. We commit our unequivocal support for our Kashmiri brothers and sisters till the time the matter is resolved according to the UN resolution. My compatriots in the Kashmir Youth Forum (KYF) joined me in expressing these sentiments.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): SAPM on CDA Affairs Mr. Ali Nawaz Awan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today. SAPM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and Chairman CDA Mr. Amer Ali Ahmed were also present. Monsoon plantation and issues related to climate change were discussed in the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk

Islamabad, August 04, 2021 (PPI-OT): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Planning Minister Asad Umer, MNA Ghaus Bakhsh Mehr, MPA of Sind Assembly Ali Gohar Mehar, Shehryar Mehar and Safdar Abbasi were present. Overall situation of Sind province, particularly Law and Order, COVID-19 and public issues were discussed. The Prime Minister directed to ensure timely implementation of “Sind Package” projects.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk