PM's Special Asst tells IPU president: 'Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of IIOJ&K issue as per UN resolutions'

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister's Special Assistant on National Security and Strategic Policy Planning Dr Moeed Yusuf on Monday said that Indian forces had grossly trampled human rights in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) depriving and denying the people of the valley access to basic facilities and had turned IIOJ&K into an open jail.

During a meeting with Gabriela Cuevas Barron, president of Inter-Parliamentary Union at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), he said Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution to the long-standing issue through a peaceful and negotiated manner as per the UN resolutions.

He said Pakistan believed in peace and wanted to settle the outstanding issues through a peaceful dialogue, while ensuring respect for human rights. He said the sufferings of the people of IIOJ&K called upon the world bodies to take cognizance of the prevailing human rights situation.

He said the Indian government had unilaterally changed the constitutional status of the IIOJ&K and opened up a new flood gate of atrocities and barbarism in the occupied areas. He also drew attention of the IPU president towards Indian ceasefire, and noted that continuous lockdown of the valley was a violation of international covenants and other treaties.

Dr Yusuf said the Indian government was getting isolated and voices were rising from within India and across the world. He termed the IPU an important multilateral platform that could play a significant role in protecting the human rights of the people of IOK and ensure a durable solution as per aspirations of the people of IIOJ&K as per the UNSC resolutions.

Regarding Afghan peace process, Dr Yusuf said Pakistan continued to support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led solution. He emphasized that durable peace could only be achieved through dialogue and negotiations. He said Pakistan had suffered immensely due to instability in the region and "we intend to support all efforts aimed at promoting regional peace."

The president of the IPU termed her visit to Pakistan a fascinating and memorable one. She underlined that Pakistan was an active and dynamic member of the forum. She called for more collaboration between the IPU and Pakistan to promote more understanding.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020