Kamran Aziz
The dispute over Jammu and Kashmir dates back to 1947 when India and Pakistan came into being as two sovereign states under the Partition Plan. As per the plan, Jammu and Kashmir was among the princely states about whom it was decided that the people of these states would decide their political future.
However, in total defiance to the Partition Plan, India hatched a conspiracy with the involvement of Viceroy and Mahraja of state against the people of Kashmir and Pakistan to annex the Muslim majority state by force.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir, which had been a Muslim-majority state governed by a Hindu ruler at the time of partition. Despite persistent illegal actions, India has miserably failed to dampen the resilient spirit of the Kashmiri people, who continued to stand firm in the total rejection of India’s illegal occupation. Pakistan has always stood by Kashmiri people.
Due to continuous efforts of Pakistan to support the cause of oppressed Kashmiri people, prominent world leaders, parliamentarian across the globe, international media, think tanks and human Right Organizations reiterated their support for the Kashmiris in their legitimate cause. Pakistan also engaged the Islamic world/OIC to exert pressure on India to abide by UN resolution on Kashmir.
Pakistan also supported Kashmir cause at all diplomatic channels to educate international audience on grave human rights abuses by Indian government and occupational forces by arranging seminars, conferences, talk shows, photo exhibitions, debates.
Pakistan has always remained firm on its policy that Kashmir will always remain cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Pakistan has reiterated its firm resolve to stand with Kashmiris till realization of their right of self-determination as promised by the international community.
Pakistan believes that only solution of Kashmir dispute lies in bindings of the UN Security Council resolution and wishes of Kashmiri people are imperative, indispensable and associative in the process of advancing the process.
The Indian state is bound to observe the international norms as referred by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Article 27 of this convention declares that a party cannot invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a treaty.
Despite suffering for 75 years under illegal Indian occupation, Kashmiri people remain committed to their demand for right to self-determination, and Pakistan has emerged as voice of Kashmiris at all international forums.
International community, especially the West, must rise above their economic and strategic interests and put pressure on the Indian government to withdraw its illegal forces from IIOJ&K and give the people their right to self-determination.
