In the backdrop of heightened tension between Pakistan and India, United States President Donald Trump and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation to exchange notes on the matter. This was disclosed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in an 'emergency' media appearance on Friday. "Today, the US President and Prime Minister of Pakistan held a telephonic conversation to discuss the situation in the context of the recent tension between Pakistan and India," Qureshi said.
The conversation continued for 20 minutes in which the situation in Afghanistan also came under discussion, he added. "It was a productive conversation and both the leaders decided to stay in contact in future," the foreign minister said. Qureshi said Pakistan has stepped up efforts to mobilise international support on Kashmir issue and sensitise the world powers on deteriorating situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Pakistan has reached out to four of the P5 countries and efforts are on to facilitate contact between PM Khan and president of France, he said.
Contacts have been established with the top leaders of the US, the United Kingdom, Russia, China as well as other countries, he said.
Later, addressing a press conference Qureshi termed the consultative meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Kashmir, the first in 50 years, a landmark development.
"To be honest, we were concerned till the very last minute before this meeting took place that it could be postponed on any pretext but this has happened and its a milestone achieved. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will figure out what to do next after achieving such a great feat," said Qureshi.
He ruled out the possibility of a dialogue with India unless atrocities in the IOK are stopped. "You think there is a question of dialogue with a killer and atrocious side? Out of question," he responded to a query.
He congratulated the entire nation on "rebirth of UN resolutions on Kashmir."
The development surfaced ahead of the scheduled consultative meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Kashmir, the first in 50 years.
In a related move, Pakistan's Foreign Office on Friday summoned the deputy Indian envoy to protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian forces in the sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) that resulted in the martyrdom of two civilians and a soldier.
In this context, Ministry of Foreign Affair's (MOFA's) Director General South Asia & South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SA & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia on Friday and condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the LoC in Lipa and Battal Sectors, resulting in shahadat of two civilians, Muhammad Aziz and Muneeb and one armed forces personnel, Sepoy Ramzan," a statement from MOFA said.
"The Indian occupation forces, along the LoC and Working Boundary, have continuously been violating the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, which needs to be respected. The intended targeting of civilians is indeed condemnable. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," the statement said.
It added that the DG SA & SAARC urged the Indian side to instruct its forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. Dr Faisal, who is also MOFA spokesperson, urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
The bilateral ties between Pakistan and India have hit rock-bottom since August 5 when the Indian parliament passed a highly controversial law to repeal Articles 370 and 35A of Indian constitution to deprive IOK of special status and autonomy it enjoyed since decades. Since then, Pakistan has taken a number of steps to respond to India's move.
On August 7, the National Security Committee (NSC) approved a number of crucial decisions including downgrading of diplomatic relations with India, suspension of bilateral trade with India, review of bilateral arrangements, matter to be taken to the United Nations, including the Security Council, this Independence Day (August 14) to be observed in solidarity with Kashmiris and India's Independence Day (August 15) to be observed as 'Black Day'.
In consequence of NSC's decision to downgrade relations with India, Pakistan has expelled Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and has not nominated its high commissioner to New Delhi. Also on August 7, the two-day joint session of the Parliament unanimously passed a resolution to condemn the "illegal, unilateral, reckless and coercive attempt by India to alter the disputed status of Indian Occupied Kashmir as enshrined in the UNSC resolutions and other regressive measures to change its demographic structure (through repeal and revocation of Article 35(A) of the Indian Constitution) by the Indian government," while extending complete and unconditional support to the people of Kashmir.
At the conclusion of the two-day joint session that was convened by President Arif Alvi to discuss repealing of Articles 35A and 370 of Indian Constitution by Indian Parliament, scores of members of National Assembly (MNAs) and senators from all the parliamentary political parties came together to pass the resolution.
Last week, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani appointed 17 special Senate delegates to visit different parts of the world to highlight the worsening situation in IOK. The 17 special delegates are divided into five groups and each of the three groups comprises three senators whereas each of the last two groups comprises four senators. The delegations would visit the United States, Russia, Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU-Geneva, Switzerland), European Union (EU-Brussels, Belgium) and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia).
On Wednesday last, Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Muzaffarabad and addressed Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly where he warned Indian PM Narendra Modi of refraining from any misadventure in AJK.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his Spanish counterpart Josep Borrell to brief him on the current situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, according to a MOFA statement.
"The foreign minister highlighted the illegal and unilateral steps taken by the Indian government to change the disputed status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and its demographic structure. He added that these steps were in contravention of the UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and the International Law," the statement said.
According to the statement, Qureshi underlined that the actions taken by India entailed grave risk for peace and security in the region and were aimed at bringing a material change to the status of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the severe hardships faced by the people of the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the face of unprecedented lockdown of the entire population. The foreign minister apprised him of the worsening situation of safety and security of the people in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under curfew since 05 August 2019.
"Foreign Minister Borrell stated that they were closely monitoring the situation and that any further escalation would have severe impact on the peace and security in the region. He added that Spain and the European Union would make every effort to ensure peace and stability in South Asia. The two leaders agreed to continue to work together for peace and stability in the region," the MOFA statement said.
Qureshi also made a telephonic contact with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor and apprised her of the prevailing situation in Occupied Kashmir.
AFP adds: US President Donald Trump talked by phone Friday with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and urged that Pakistan engage with India to defuse tensions in the flashpoint region of Kashmir, the White House said.
"The president conveyed the importance of India and Pakistan reducing tensions through bilateral dialogue regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement.
Khan visited the White House last month and the contacts come as the United States is apparently closing in a possible peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, tension over Kashmir between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India is throwing the region into new danger.
During his meeting with Khan in July, Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in the conflict. Earlier Friday, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Khan and Trump had "exchanged on the situation in the region and particularly the situation in occupied Kashmir."
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