MESSAGE FROM FIRDOUS ASHIQ AWAN

Today, when the people of Kashmir and the Kashmiri diaspora all over the world are observing black day in connection with landing of Indian troops on the Kashmiri soil in brazen and blatant violation of the Independence Act, the partition plan and international law, the Pakistani nation expresses its unflinching support and solidarity with their cause and reiterates its firm resolve to stand by them under all circumstances. Pakistan and its people will never leave Kashmiris alone in their just and legitimate struggle for their right of self-determination as enunciated in the UN resolutions. Kashmir is a story of ultimate barbarity. Regrettably India not only reneged on its commitments but also let loose a reign of terror i n the valley. Since the people of Kashmir started their freedom movement in 1989, more than one hundred thousand Kashmiris have been martyred besides rape of thousands of women. While the successive Indian governments have been trying to subdue the freedom movement through the barrel of the gun, the Modi government has gone a step further by revoking article 370 and 35 A of the Indian constitution which accorded special status to the state. This action in fact constitutes a unilateral repudiation of the UN resolutions and all the bilateral agreements between the two countries to resolve the Kashmir dispute, which is an affront to the conscience of the international community. Pakistan is deeply concerned over the alarming situation prevalent in IOK since 5th of August and the unfolding humanitarian crisis. Eighty million people of Kashmir are virtually under siege. In spite of complete communication blockade harrowing stories of atrocities against the people of the valley are being reported by the international media. There is acute shortage of food, items of daily use and even milk for the babies. But the Indian leadership inebriated by the fascist ideology of RSS seems unmoved by the sufferings of the people of Kashmir. The permeating situation in IOK is fraught with grave threats to the peace and security of the region and beyond as the Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the UN and the world community during his address to the UN General Assembly. It is time that the international community, the UN and all those nations who take pride in their credentials as champions of humanitarian causes and adherence to the universally acknowledged right of self-determination of the oppressed people, act immediately to pressurize the Indian government to lift the siege in IOK, stop the killing spree and resolve the Kashmir issue in consonance with the UN resolutions. Pakistan for whom Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition, will continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Kashmir at all the international forums till the time they win the freedom to exercise their right of self-determination.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

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