Islamabad:
The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday rejected categorical remarks made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and called them “baseless and misleading.”
FO responded to Modi’s address in IIOJK earlier in the day, blaming Pakistan of attacking humanity and Kashmiri identity by targeting tourists in Pahagam.
In a statement, FO said that such remarks were a deliberate attempt to divert international attention from the serious and persistent human rights violations committed by Indian forces in the region.
“It is deeply regrettable that the Indian Prime Minister has again smoothed unfounded accusations against Pakistan regarding the Pahagam incident without presenting evidence,” the statement states.
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The declaration confirmed Pakistan’s long -standing position that Jammu and Kashmir are an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final status is to be determined in accordance with relevant the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) solutions and Kashmiri’s wishes.
“Statements and claims cannot change the legal and historical reality of the Jammu and Kashmir -Distvist,” added it.
In response to India’s claims of development on occupied territory, FO said that such claims are in sharp contrast to the situation on Earth, which is characterized by a heavy military presence and systematic oppression of fundamental rights.
“There are arbitrary arrests being implemented and a systematic effort is underway to change the demographic composition of IIOJK in clear violation of international law, including Geneva Conventions,” the declaration maintained.
FO also repeated Pakistan’s principle support for the Kashmiri people in their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination. “Pakistan remains steadfast in his support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their inalienable right to self -determination,” it added.
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It further urged the international community, especially the United Nations and Global Human Rights Organizations, to hold India responsible for its actions and to ensure that the Kashmiri people get their rights in accordance with international law and unscut decisions.
Earlier in the day, Modi claimed that Pakistan had targeted tourists in Pahaldam as part of a “conspiracy” to initiate common turmoil and disrupt the economic lifelines of the region. “Pakistan is against humanity, tourism and the livelihood of kashmiris and therefore attacked tourists in Pahagam,” he claimed.
He described the attack as an attack on “Insaniyat and Kashmiriyat“Added that” India will not bow to terrorism “and that youth in the region were united in the fight against it.
