ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that it is high time that the International Community moves beyond rhetoric and takes meaningful steps in putting an immediate end to the gross and systematic human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK).
In a meeting with the former Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon, who is on a six-day visit to Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, in Islamabad on Monday, the foreign mister raised the issue of human rights violations in IoK especially in the context of the OHCHR report on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir which recommends the formation of a Commission of Inquiry (COI).
While highlighting the Indian atrocities in IoK, the foreign minister stated that since 1989, Indian occupation forces have killed nearly 100,000 Kashmiris; more than 100,000 children have been orphaned, 22,000 women have been widowed and nearly 11, 000 women have been raped by Indian occupation forces. Since 2016 alone, Indian occupation forces have resorted to indiscriminate use of pellet guns and have mass blinded scores of Kashmiri civilians including youth, women and children.
The foreign minister reiterated that the only solution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute is to grant Kashmiris the legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked Lee Rhiannon for showing solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and urged her to highlight the atrocities inflicted upon the people of IoK before the International Community.
FM met former Australian Senator Ms.Lee Rhiannon and raised the issue of continued human rights violations in IOK and urged her to support the people of IOK in their struggle for inalienable right to self determination pic.twitter.com/oMGSoUzi2I
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) September 3, 2018
While expressing support for the Kashmiri people, Lee Rhiannon regretted that Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the longest unresolved disputes on the agenda of UN Security Council, which has taken its toll on the innocent people of IoK. She said that the International Community must take into account the findings of the OHCHR report on Jammu and Kashmir.
The former Australian Senator reiterated that peace and justice is indispensable for the region which can only be achieved with the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
Lee Rhiannon reaffirmed her commitment to raise her voice against the blatant violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people.
