ISLAMABAD – Pakistan strongly responds over Indian bifurcation of OccupiedKashmir.

Pakistan has rejected the “void” and “illegal” bifurcation ofIndia-occupied Kashmir into two union territories, saying that “no step bythe government of India” can change the internationally recognised factthat it is a disputed territory.

In a statement released by the Foreign Office on Thursday, Pakistan termedthe move a “complete violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions andbilateral agreements between India and Pakistan, especially the SimlaAgreement”.

The statement underlined that India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is aninternationally recognised disputed territory. “No step by the governmentof India can change this. These changes are illegal and void as per therelevant UNSC Resolutions, and do not prejudice the right toself-determination of the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir.”

Pakistan particularly highlighted that the August 5 measures announced byIndia “were forced upon” the people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir”through the barrel of a gun”. The FO statement said that the region hasbeen turned into a prison with the deployment of over 900,000 Indiansecurity forces.