Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the world should hold India accountable for the gruesome torture on innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Minister Qureshi took to the Twitter on Friday and reminded the international community that protection from torture is a 'jus cogens' of international law norm prohibited in absolute terms by Convention against Torture, Common Article 3 of Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law.
"Innocent Kashmiris are facing unprecedented abuse under illegal Indian occupation. The world should hold India accountable for the gruesome torture on innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces unmasked by BBC journalist," Qureshi said in a tweet.
Talking to reporters, the foreign minister said that the international media is exposing the India's worst torture and inhuman treatment of the Kashmir people after arresting them from their homes.
"The real facts would come out from the occupied valley when the curfew is lifted, as it is 26th day the entire valley has been put under strict restrictions and complete lockdown," Qureshi said.
"I would also like to ask India to apologise for the stupidity [annexation of Kashmir], seek forgiveness and let the Kashmiris get free," he said, adding that the more India suppresses the Kashmir people, the more freedom struggle intensifies.
Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will address to the UN General Assembly on September 27 where he will forcefully raise the issue of Kashmir and the Indian atrocities in the occupied valley.
Addressing a protest demonstration organised by the officials and employees of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express solidarity with Kashmiri people in connection with 'Kashmir Hour,' Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood reiterated Pakistan's continued moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiri people for realisation of their right to self-determination.
He referred to the leading efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sensitise the international community on the worst human rights situation and continued persecution of the Kashmir people in the Indian occupied Kashmir, especially following the August 5 illegal action by Modi government.
He said that Pakistan will continue to highlight the Kashmir issue till realisation of right to self-determination of the people of occupied Kashmir.
The foreign secretary said Indian atrocious and illegal steps in the occupied valley are being strongly condemned at the international level and the world is expressing concerns over the situation.
The foreign secretary said that it is the 26th consecutive day Kashmiri people have been facing the inhuman lockdown, adding that efforts are underway to highlight the Indian atrocities at the international level.
He said Pakistan always talked about peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue for more than 70 years, adding that Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom from the Indian occupation.
The foreign secretary led the rally to condemn the Indian brutalities and its illegal occupation of the held valley. The protesters who marched on the Constitution Avenue were carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-India slogans. They also chanted slogans against India and in the support of innocent people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir for realisation of their right to self-determination.