Islamabad
In commemoration of “Yom e Istehsaal”, the Embassy of Pakistan Jakarta organized a “Media Briefing Session” on 4 August 2020. The event was attended by ten prominent media houses in Indonesia including CNN Indonesia, Metro TV, TVRI (Official TV of Indonesia), Antara News Agency, MNC Media group, Radio Republic Indonesia (official Radio of Indonesia), Voice of Indonesia, Republika newspapers and Rakayat Merdeka News, says a press release received here today from Jakarta.
The Charge’ d’ Affaires of Pakistan, Mr. Sajjad Haider Khan briefly covering the Foreign Policy of Pakistan and Pakistan-Indonesia Relations, gave a detailed account of Peace & Security situation in South Asia. Referring to India’s hegemonic posture in the region, rise of RSS led Hindutva policies, Mr. Khan touched upon the evolving situation in the context of recent tensions created by India with nearly all of its neighbours including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Highlighting the historical as well as legal position on Jammu & Kashmir Dispute, Mr. Khan reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir remains an Internationally recognized dispute and the longest dispute ever at the United Nations Security Council Agenda, with almost a dozen UNSC resolutions seeking plebiscite to determine the wishes of the Kashmiris for a final settlement.
Mr. Khan pointed out that government of India repealed articles 35A and 370 of its Constitution on 05 August 2019, revoking special status granted to the Jammu & Kashmir, in clear violation of International law and UN Security Councils Resolutions. Mr. Khan also dilated upon the impact of Indian repressive policies specifically the total lockdown of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir since 5 Aug 2019 including shutting down of Internet services, schools/colleges and lack of medical services during Covid-19 pandemic.
He briefed the journalists on various aspects of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute including gross Human Rights Violations, Sexual abuse, violence against women & children and underscored the Indian illegal actions of bringing demographic changes in the region.
Highlighting the ongoing wave of intolerance and state sponsored repression against minorities (especially Muslims) in India, Mr. Khan spoke at length about the targeted hatred and discrimination against Muslims in India by the Modi Government such as the Babri Mosque verdict, the discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the lynching of Muslims by the cow vigilantes. Prime Minister Modi’s decision to lay the foundation stone of a Temple at the place of Martyred Babri Mosque, on 05 August this year was a reflection of the Hindu Rashtra mindset, which could be deadly for the Muslims in India and other minorities.
The Media Briefing marked the first anniversary of the India’s decision to change the special status of Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), a move rejected by the Kashmiris.
The Government of Pakistan is observing 05 August as Yom-e-Istehsaal (day of Exploitation) as a mark of solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Mr. Khan also urged Indonesian brothers and sisters and media houses to express solidarity with the innocent people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Embassy of Pakistan organized a talk programme on “Jammu Kashmir Dispute: 5 August 2019 to 5 August 2020”. The programme was attended by around fifteen distinguished writers, media men and analysts, as well as representatives of human rights organizations, says a press release received here today from Kathmandu.
Speaking at the Talk Programme, Ambassador Mazhar Javed recollected important developments and international reactions to India’s illegal action 5 of August 2019, and the alarming intensification of the human rights violations in that disputed territory,
Highlighting the centrality of the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu Kashmir, and the UNSC resolutions, the Ambassador recalled the discussions at the UNSC in August 2019 and then in January 2020.
He also referred to the statements of the UN Secretary General urging refrain from any steps that could affect the status of Jammu Kashmir, and underlining the importance of UN Security Council resolutions.
An important issue brought out at the Seminar were the grave human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces in the IIOJK. Ambassador Javed highlighted the gravity and scale of the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces which had been widely reported and condemned internationally, especially by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, OIC, EU, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
In the Question-Answer session that followed, the participants urged a resolution of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu Kashmir and UNSC resolutions.
They also stressed the urgency to resolve the dispute which had been the biggest challenge to the regional peace and security, now for decades. They said that the international community had an important responsibility to ensure the rights of the people of Jammu Kashmir including their right of self determination.
Mr. Manju Ratna Sakya, Secretary General Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association stressed the need to respect the rights of the people in IIOJK, including their right to self-determination, and the centrality of the UN Security Council resolutions.
A one-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the martyrs in IIOJK.
