Highlighting the legal, security and humanitarian aspects of the decision of the extremist Indian government, the participants discussed the Hindutva driven policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his attempt to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 that was accorded in the Indian Constitution. By abolishing the articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, Indian government has malevolently attempted to turn the Muslim majority into minority in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) with ultimate objective to absorb it in the Indian Union territories. The decision tramples the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people and is also violative of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, noted the embassy in a statement.
The participants also condemned the human rights violations and freedom of the Kashmiri people in IoJK that have spiked after the abrogation of articles 370 and 35A. Currently, the Kashmiris are under strict lockdown and are facing worst atrocities at the hands of the Indian security forces especially in the wake of Covid-19. Continuous lockdown has crippled life in Kashmir.
The students were also briefed that the Indian action constituted the material change to the situation in Kashmir which was prohibited under the UNSC resolutions including 38 and 91. The efforts made by the Government of Pakistan were also highlighted. Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute that must be settled in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmir issue.
The students appreciated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for his support to the Kashmiris in their struggle on different occasions.
PHOTO: A civilian raises his hands as he moves past Indian soldiers in Srinagar [Danish Ismail/Reuters]
MAH/PR