- FO Summons Indian Envoy over Kashmir killings
- Briefs Security Council’s permanent members over Indian brutality in Kashmir
ISLAMABAD, July 12:- Pakistan Foreign Office Monday evening summoned the Indian High Commissioner and conveyed Islamabad’s serious concerns over the continued killings in Kashmir.
“The foreign secretary called in the Indian High Commissioner this evening and conveyed Pakistan’s serious concerns over the recent killings of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians in Indian occupied Kashmir by the Indian military and paramilitary forces,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office read.
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry also deplored the extrajudicial killings of innocent Kashmiris.
“The use of excessive force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, is deplorable and blatant violation of the right to life, right to freedom of expression and opinion, right to peaceful protest, right to peaceful assembly and other fundamental rights,” the communiqué quoted Chaudhry as saying.
He highlighted such brutal use of force were not acceptable under any circumstances.
Aizaz also called for a fair and transparent inquiry against individuals responsible for the killings.
“It was emphasised that oppressive measures cannot deter the valiant people of the Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.
The foreign secretary reiterated Pakistan’s call on the Indian government to fulfil its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the UN Security Council resolutions to resolve Kashmir dispute.
Meanwhile, in response to a question regarding the South China Sea, the Spokesperson of the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday that Pakistan maintains that disputes over the South China Sea should be peacefully resolved, through consultations and negotiations by states directly concerned, in accordance with bilateral agreements and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
In this context, the Spokesperson added in a statement that Pakistan opposes any imposition of unilateral will on others, and respects China’s statement of optional exception in light of Article 298 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Pakistan believes that maintenance of peace and security is the collective responsibility of all parties to the South China Sea. Countries outside the region should fully respect efforts made by China and the ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, and play a constructive role to this end,” he said.
The Pakistani spokesman was showing reaction to a verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that delivered verdict against China.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry also briefed five permanent members of Security Council in the Foreign Office against Indian extremism and brutality in Kashmir.
The Foreign Secretary apprised Ambassadors of the Permanent Members of the Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and USA) over the tense situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK) and expressed Pakistan’s serious concern over the brutal killings of civilians and violation of their other fundamental human rights by the Indian Security Forces.
The Foreign Secretary informed the Ambassadors that due to the excessive use of force against civilians protesting the killing of Burhan Wani, more than 30 innocent people have lost their lives and more than 350 have been injured so far. He emphasized that India should conduct a fair and traparent inquiry against the individuals responsible for these killings.
The Foreign Secretary urged the international community and particularly the Permanent Members of the Security Council to take notice of the gravity of the situation in IOK, call on India to respect human rights of the people of IOK and implement UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
The Foreign Secretary rejected Indian attempts to claim that the deteriorating human rights situation in IOK was an internal affair of India and emphasized the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir awaiting the implementation of the UNSC resolutions. The Foreign Secretary said that killings of innocent Kashmiri people could not be condoned under the pretext of terrorism. He observed that the just struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination cannot be equated with terrorism. The Foreign Secretary emphasized that such inhumane and oppressive measures cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. Agencies/DNA
