Imran Yaqub Dhillon
Special correspondent
New York
Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Council Javed Rathore express serious concerns over the news that government of Pakistan is going to declare Gilgit Baltistan a 5th province of Pakistan.
Javed Rathore said that he fully support the rights of the people of Gilgit Baltistan like people of Azad Kashmir and both areas must be treated like other provinces of Pakistan, but the legal status of both areas must be preserved.
Javed Rathore said that any change in the status of Gilgit Baltistan or Azad Kashmir will be considered alterations in the resolutions of United Nations, which will weakens Pakistan’s principle stand on Kashmir issue, while it will provide India an opportunity to propagate against Pakistan.
He said that such action of Pakistan government will be considered similar like the action of Indian government took on August 5th 2019.
Javed Rathore said that Pakistan always stood for people of Kashmir and repeatedly reiterated Pakistan’s support for right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir unconditionally.
Mr. Rathore said that this is the India which consistently denied to implement the resolution of United Nations to hold plebiscite and provide right to self-determination to people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Javed Rathore said any such action by the government of Pakistan will be considered violation of United Nations resolutions and deviation from her own long-standing principle.
He said that any action of declaring Gilgit Baltistan a province of Pakistan will change the dynamic of the issue and badly heart the freedom movement, while jeopardize the relationship between the people of Pakistan and the residents of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Rathore said such type of decision will create significantly negative implications on the issue of Kashmir in United Nations as well as create unnecessary controversy and misunderstanding among the people of Jammu and Kashmir and people of Pakistan.
Javed Rathore advised government of Pakistan to evaluate the implications and repercussions of such decisions before taking any further step.
Mr. Rathore said, its ok to grant people of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir more powers to strengthen the local judicial and governmental system, but Pakistan must refrain from taking any such move which could alter the United Nations resolutions and damage the legal respects of the issue.
He said that such type of unilateral action will shattered the trust and confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Javed Rathore suggested that instead of any such action government of Pakistan must consider to empower and restructure Jammu and Kashmir Council to provide a new joint mechanism to handle the issues related to Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltista Mr. Rathore said this Council must have a representation from Gilgit Baltistan from Azad Kashmir and from Pakistan.
He said such a common and high level powerful forum could be able to discuss and make unanimous decisions with mutual consultation and recommendation pertaining to delicate issues . He said that this will stop the pattern of taking unilateral decisions, those create unnecessary controversy.
Javed Rathore said that he firmly believe that interest, future, progress, prosperity, and sovereignty of Pakistan is dear to all Kashmiries there for government of Pakistan should not take any such decision which can shattered the trust and confidence of people.
