FM Qureshi says India failed to convince UNSC that IoK is bilateral issue

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday that India has failed to convince the United Nations Security Council meeting that Kashmir is a bilateral issue, adding that the act only reaffirms the resolution that the dispute should be resolved through an impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices, reported Radio Pakistan.

The FM remarked on the recent meeting, saying that India has illegally occupied the valley and has intensified ceasefire violations across the Line of Control in a move that gravely threatens regional security.

Qureshi said that UN Secretariat and UN Military Observer Group in Pakistan's representatives also briefed the session regarding the current situation in IoK, confirming the status as tense.

The foreign minister said that he sent across a message saying that Pakistan will continue to be the voice for the oppressed Kashmiris on international platforms.

A day ago, a special meeting of the UNSC was convened in New York to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

China, which is among the five permanent Security Council members, pushed for the meeting owing to reports of widespread human rights violations and a crippling curfew in the Indian occupied part of the disputed territory.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on behalf of Pakistan, had welcomed the meeting. "This is a mark of solidarity of the international community and Council members with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, subjected to a savage military siege," he had said.

"This third meeting in a year by the UN Security Council serves as a stark repudiation to the Indian claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an 'internal matter' and further reaffirms validity of UN resolutions on the Kashmiris' right to self determination through an impartial plebiscite," Qureshi had added.

FM Qureshi urges OIC to come together on Kashmir issue

FM Qureshi has urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Muslim ummah to come together on the Kashmir issue, saying Pakistan was always ready to sacrifice for the security and protection of Saudi Arabia and it was time they did the same.

Speaking to a private news channel, Qureshi said Pakistan was not in favour of aggression, but was fully prepared and would retaliate effectively if India indulged in any misadventure.

“If there is any misadventure, we will not have any choice but to retaliate.

The world should understand that Pakistan will have to react,” he said.

Responding to a question about India diverting the world’s attention, the foreign minister said, they could not rule out that possibility.

“Anything or any drama can be expected from India’s Modi government which is desperate and adventurist. But Inshaallah we are ready and prepared to respond effectively,” he remarked.

To a question about any back-channel contacts with India on the issues like Siachen and Sir Creek, he replied in the negative, adding, no talks could be held in such an environment.

“Sitting with the government of Narendra Modi [for talks] is tantamount to wastage of time,” he said.

The foreign minister added that Modi had lost the battle of “hearts and minds” in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), adding that the just freedom struggle of Kashmiris could be suppressed through force.

Commenting on the laying of the foundation stone by the Indian prime minister for the construction of Ram Mandir at the site of historical Babri mosque, he said it would further hurt the soul of Muslims who were already being discriminated by various actions of the Modi government in India.

FM Qureshi said the entire Pakistan, including the government, opposition and all political forces were on the same page on the issue of Kashmir and stood with its people in their freedom struggle and their just right to self-determination.