ISLAMABAD – Pakistan expresses serious concern over the progressivelydeteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir.
Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement on Saturday said there isdeepening anxiety and fear among the people of occupied Kashmir because ofreports of deployment of additional 38,000 Indian paramilitary forces inrecent weeks.
The advice to tourists, yatris and students to immediately leave the IOK,and messages urging people to store food supplies, have stoked furtherapprehensions.
Speculation has mounted that the Indian authorities might attempt to alterthe demographic structure in occupied Kashmir and to bring about a materialchange on the ground.
As in the past, Pakistan is strongly opposed to any move that would seek toalter the demographic structure of occupied Kashmir to change theinternationally-disputed nature of Jammu & Kashmir.
Any such move would be in violation of the UN Security Council resolutionsand seriously endanger peace and security in the region.
The recent developments have been accompanied by increased level ofceasefire violations by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC).Between 19 July-3 August 2019, unprovoked firing and use of heavy weaponryby India has led to 6 civilian deaths, injuries to 48 civilians, and damageto civilian infrastructure in AJK.
In the latest provocation, cluster ammunition has been used by the IndianArmy against civilians in Azad Jammu & Kashmir resulting in the martyrdomof 2 civilians including a 4-year child and critical injuries to 11civilians.
Pakistan strongly condemns this action, which is in contravention ofinternational humanitarian law.
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Pakistan also rejects the self-serving Indian assertions of “intelligenceinputs” about some imminent “terrorist” attack in occupied Kashmir as ajustification for new deployments.
This is a familiar Indian ploy to externalize blame, use baselessallegations as a smokescreen, and persist with its state-sponsoredrepression against the Kashmiri people.
We again caution the international community against any false flagoperations.
The Foreign Minister has addressed letters to the UN Secretary General andthe Presidents of UN Security Council and UN General Assembly drawingattention to the evolving situation in occupied Kashmir.
The Heads of Mission in Islamabad from the Permanent Members of the UNSecurity Council were also briefed on Saturday on these seriousdevelopments and their implications for regional peace and security.
Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediatecognizance of the deteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir, urge Indiato act responsibly, and counsel India to work towards preserving ratherthan imperiling peace and security in South Asia.
