Downgrading its diplomatic ties with India and suspending bilateral trade, Pakistan on Wednesday asked India to withdraw its High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and also conveyed that the country is not sending its High Commissioner-designate to India Moin-ul-Haq in response to Indian government's move to end special status for occupied Jammu & Kashmir and split it into two union territories.
"Pursuant to the decision of the National Security Committee today (Wednesday), the government of India has been told to withdraw its high commissioner to Pakistan," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in a statement. He further stated that the Indian government has also been informed that Pakistan will not be sending its high commissioner-designate to India. The newly appointed High Commissioner to New Delhi Moin-ul-Haq was scheduled to assume the charge of his diplomatic assignment in New Delhi on August 16.
According to Dr Faisal, the decision of the government of Pakistan was conveyed to acting deputy high commissioner of India who was summoned to the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, decided to downgrade diplomatic ties and suspend bilateral trade relations with India, besides other steps in response to the illegal actions taken by Modi government on August 5.
Winding up the two-day debate of the joint sitting of the Parliament, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi took the Parliament into confidence on the decisions taken by the National Security Committee.
He said that in line with the guidance of the joint sitting of the Parliament, the National Security Committee decided to downgrade diplomatic ties and suspend bilateral trade relations with India.
He said that the meeting also decided to review all bilateral arrangements with India, adding that Modi government through unilateral actions has also blatantly violated the 1972 Simla Agreement. Now, he added, the seven-member committee constituted by Prime Minister on Tuesday will review all the bilateral arrangements with India and make recommendations for future course of action. He said that it was also decided to take the matter to the United Nations, including the Security Council. Qureshi said that consultations are also being made with China for a joint strategy and he may dash off to Beijing for consultations with the Chinese leadership.
The foreign minister further said that it was also decided that upcoming Independence Day (August 14) will be observed in solidarity with brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right to self-determination while 15th August, the independence day of India, will be observed as Black Day.
He said that the illegal act by Indian government has been resonating internationally, adding that the Modi government itself has now internationalised the Kashmir issue. He said India has always tried to put the Kashmir issue on the back burner, adding that the act of 5th August by India has been frowned upon. Even in India itself, conscientious people in India have termed this act as grave mistake.
Qureshi said that Kashmiris have a long history of struggle against Indian subjugation, adding that various Kashmir factions have become united on opposing the Indian move. He challenged the India government to lift the curfew restrictions and see response of Kashmiri population on revocation of Kashmir's special status.
He said that Kashmiris are looking towards Pakistan and the response of the Parliament as well as the Muslim Ummah. He also called upon the Muslim Ummah to break its silence and condemn the illegal actions of the Indian government and atrocities against the Kashmir people. He said for the first time cluster ammunition has been used by India on innocent Kashmiris as it violates the international norms and Geneva Convention.
Qureshi said India stealthily moved the resolution of annexation of Kashmir. He said he on first of August sent a letter to UN Secretary General seeking his intervention to stop human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and India's plans to change the status of Kashmir. The letter urged the UN Secretary General to distribute this among all members of UNSC. He said, "We sent a letter to EU on third of this month apprising them of deteriorating situation." He said that on 31st July, the Kashmir Committee of the Parliament was informed of the Kashmir situation. After the India decision, the OIC secretary general was contacted and informed about Pakistan's concerns. He said same was done to apprise the foreign ambassadors based in Islamabad.
He said that the joint session deliberated in detail the implications of Indian act of revocation of special status of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, adding that members from various political parties were unanimous in their condemnation of illegal Indian act.
While concluding his speech the foreign minister also raised slogans as "Kashmir Banega Pakistan" [Kashmir will become Pakistan]. He also stated that on August 14 each and every corner of the country will witness the slogans of "Kashmir Banega Pakistan."
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