For Pakistan, ‘Kashmir is matter of principle, not of territory’: President

MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 05 (DNA): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday said the
resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the pledges of the United
Nations was the “only option” to ensure peace in South Asia and asked
New Delhi to stop unabated acts of genocide and demographic changes in
Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Pakistan has a clear message for India; Our relations cannot be
improved without the resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the
resolutions of UN Security Council,” the President said in his address
at the special session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on
Kashmir Solidarity Day.

President AJK Sardar Masood Khan, PM Raja Farooq Haider, and members of
the Legislative Assembly attended the session held in the capital of
Azad Kashmir.

“Pakistan has a clear message for India; our relations cannot be
improved without the resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the
resolutions of UN Security Council”

President Alvi expressed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the rights of
Kashmiris and mentioned that the undeterred stance on Kashmir remained
the same for the last 73 years, no matter what the government in place.

“This [Kashmir] is not a matter of territory, but the matter of
principle,” he said, adding that Pakistan wanted to take the Kashmir
dispute towards its logical end, but only in line with UNSC resolutions.

He mentioned that UNSC in its several resolutions had emphasized holding
a free and fair plebiscite in Kashmir with a pledge made with Kashmiris
to decide about their destiny in the shape of self-determination.

President Alvi said Pakistan had always raised its voice against the
atrocities faced by Kashmiris and also for the rights of Muslims living
under difficult conditions in India.

He said both the government and the opposition in Pakistan, setting
aside their political differences, always held the same stance on
Kashmir. “The ultimate direction in this regard is based on national
unity.”

He vowed that any further steps with regard to Kashmir would be made in
consultation with the stakeholders, particularly the people of Kashmir.

The president said Pakistan at times asked India to hold discussions on
all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. He, however, regretted that
no positive response was received.

He recalled the offer of Prime Minister Imran Khan that Pakistan was
ready to take two steps forward if India came to the negotiation table
and showed intent to resolve the longstanding issue.

He urged India to open its occupied territory for the international
observers and media and let them monitor the ongoing worsening situation
of human rights.

He said the Kashmiri people had to face the horrendous acts of brutality
by Indian security like the pellet gun attacks that left hundreds;
including women and children, blind for a lifetime.

The Indian oppression, he said, was on rise in the IIOJK as its forces
were subjecting the youth to torture, illegal detentions, and fake
encounters.

“These are the same indicators as of Hitler’s era, where the life was
made miserable for an ethnic community by setting up genocide camps and
inflicting upon them economic hardships,” he added.

President Alvi said India was involved in carrying out terrorist
activities inside Pakistan and also waged a continuous fake media war as
recently exposed through the findings of EU DisInfo Lab.

He said the nefarious designs of the incumbent Indian government
pursuing the Hindutva ideology were revealed as it used Pulwama attack
for electoral victory.

He mentioned that India also failed to achieve its target in the
airstrike in Pakistan’s Balakot area and warned that such a belligerent
attitude could lead to a dangerous situation between the two
nuclear-armed states.

“Pakistan has always given peace a chance, however, India is repeatedly
making mistakes through acts of irresponsible aggression,” he said.

Comprised of the ‘artificial unity of different states’, he said, India
“must not take any risk of hostility towards its neighbors”.

The President said Pakistan would continue to extend political,
diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris in their right to
self-determination.

“Pakistan will always stand with Kashmiris and will never let leave them
alone in their fight against oppression,” he said.

President Alvi said India was committing a crime by changing the
demographics of IIOJK as it revoked Article 370 and 35-A of its
Constitution.

The President said Kashmiris would not inch back from their struggle and
would also never forget the horrors committed by Indian security forces
in the shape of killings and gang rape of women.

He said Pakistan would continue to highlight the stories of oppression
and cruelty in IIOJK at international forums, which India was trying to
hide by putting a curb on internet and broadband communication.

“We have to show the visual evidence of Indian atrocities to the world
to wake up their conscience,” he said, calling upon the United Nations
and other watchdogs to take notice of the humanitarian crisis in IIOJK.

President Alvi said India was involved in carrying out terrorist
activities inside Pakistan and also waged a continuous fake media war as
recently exposed through the findings of EU DisInfo Lab.

He said the nefarious designs of the incumbent Indian government
pursuing the Hindutva ideology were revealed as it used Pulwama attack
for electoral victory.

He mentioned that India also failed to achieve its target in the
airstrike in Pakistan’s Balakot area and warned that such a belligerent
attitude could lead to a dangerous situation between the two
nuclear-armed states.

“Pakistan has always given peace a chance, however, India is repeatedly
making mistakes through acts of irresponsible aggression,” he said.

Comprised of the ‘artificial unity of different states’, he said, India
“must not take any risk of hostility towards its neighbors”.

The President said Pakistan would continue to extend political,
diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris in their right to
self-determination.

“Pakistan will always stand with Kashmiris and will never let leave them
alone in their fight against oppression,” he said. DNA

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