Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he will continue to raise his voice in support of Kashmiris under Indian occupation. He promised to do so until they are given the right to self-determination as promised by the United Nations Security Council.
“ I will keep reminding the world of the pain and suffering of Kashmiris,” he said in a video message on the anniversary of the valley’s occupation by Indian forces in 1947. The premier highlighted that state-sponsored terrorism was evident in occupied Kashmir in the form of the extra-judicial killings, the blackout on the media and the discovery of mass graves. He added that India was also carrying out state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan which would soon be exposed in front of the world.
Commenting on India’s decision to revoke the region’s special autonomy in August 2019, the premier said that the region has been turned into an “open prison”.
“[In August 2019] India carried out a military siege and stripped the people of their remaining rights, jailing the political leadership and youngsters living in the valley.” The prime minister also stated that peace in the region was the only way forward. “We only want one thing, we want peace,” he said, adding that it was the only way to bring prosperity to the people of the subcontinent.
“I say again to India that we are ready [for peace] but for that the military siege in Kashmir will have to end and the people of the valley need to be given the right to self-determination,” he said.
President Dr Arif Alvi said that on this day 73 years ago, Indian security forces landed in Srinagar to illegally occupy the territory and subjugate the people of Jammu and Kashmir in clear violation of international laws and humanitarian norms.
“In August 2019, India moved to alter the disputed status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and change its demographic structure. The illegal and unilateral Indian actions have been rejected by the Kashmiri people, by Pakistan, and by the international community for violating international laws, UNSC resolutions, and India’s own commitments made bilaterally to Pakistan and the people of Kashmir,” he said.
