ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has emphatically stated that resolution of Kashmirdispute as per UN Security Council resolutions is cornerstone of itsforeign policy.
At his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign OfficeSpokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said it is the success of our foreignpolicy that the UN Security Council discussed the situation in occupiedKashmir at length after a gap of fifty years. He said this matter is notclosed but is on the agenda of the Security Council and furtherdevelopments are expected on it.
The spokesperson said the visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi toGeneva to attend the meeting of UN Human Rights council is on the cards. Hesaid our special envoy Tehmina Janjua is already in Geneva for an extensiveoutreach with OIC and other countries.
Voicing concerns over prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir, Dr MuhammadFaisal said 5th August’s unilateral steps taken by the Indian governmentare not tenable and the resolution of this festering dispute lies only inUN Security Council.
The spokesperson said India should stop misleading the internationalcommunity and accept the ground realities and aspirations of the people ofJammu and Kashmir instead of continuing with its policy of obduracy.
Drawing attention towards the prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir, thespokesperson said occupied Kashmir is under siege and cut off from the restof the world. He said Indian forces continue to impose an unprecedentedmilitary lockdown and total clampdown which risks lives of the people. Theresidents are facing acute shortage of food and lifesaving drugs. He saidthe valley is facing humanitarian crisis.
The spokesperson said Indian authorities have converted the occupiedKashmir especially Srinagar into a military garrison by deploying Indiantroops in every nook and corner to prevent people from stagingdemonstrations against the Indian illegal steps. He said people haverepeatedly been flouting the curfew and other restrictions and stagingprotests to show their resentment against the Indian occupation and itsnefarious move.
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He said Pakistan impresses upon the international community to takecognizance of blatant human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
When asked about the airspace closure with India, the spokesperson said thematter has been discussed at the highest level and we can exercise thisoption at the time of our choosing.
Responding to a question, the foreign office spokesperson said a technicalmeeting on Kartarpur corridor is being held tomorrow at zero point. He saidPakistan remains committed to completely inaugurate the corridor as per theannouncement made by the Prime Minister.
To a question about Afghan peace process, Dr Muhammad Faisal said Pakistanhas been making sincere efforts to facilitate the process. He said the nextround of talks between Afghan Taliban and the US has started. He said thepeace agreement between the two sides is in its final phase and we arehopeful to see its early positive conclusion leading to peace and securityin Afghanistan. He said Pakistan will continue to work to help take peaceefforts in Afghanistan to its logical conclusion.
