ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Kashmiris’ struggle for the right to self-determination has taken a new turn with a political resistance movement gaining strength in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
While addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, he pointed out that six political parties of IIOJK have rejected the Indian steps of August 5 last year.
The foreign minister said that these political parties have forged an alliance, vowing to wage a joint struggle to revive the old status of the territory.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that this is not an ordinary occurrence but an important development as the joint statement issued by the political parties holds the signatures of Farooq Abdullah and enjoys the support of the Congress party which is the main opposition party in India.
The minister said that it is a clear message to the Modi government that the Kashmiris have stood up against the illegal steps of August 5.
The foreign minister said that India undertook the illegal steps to change the demography of the disputed territory and disempower the local population.
However, he said that the Indian brutal acts of the last one year including military siege and communication blackout have not shaken the resolve of the Kashmiri people.
Responding to a question, the foreign minister said that there is no change in the stance of Saudi Arabia on Kashmir. He said that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are discussing different proposals.
Qureshi said that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has several times passed unambiguous resolutions in support of oppressed Kashmiri people.
