The world’s largest bloc of Muslim countries expressed concern on Saturday over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, which has seen weeks of deadly clashes between protesters and police.
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Ignoring India’s offer to hold talks on cross-border terrorism, Pakistan on Friday invited Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss Kashmir dispute “as per the UN Security Council Resolutions”. However days later Pakistan said it was open to the team visiting saying that Pakistan-controlled Kashmir “is an area open to everyone and is frequented by foreign tourists and members of the diplomatic community in Pakistan, including representatives of the United Nations”.
He also said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India and violation of human rights must stop in Balochistan.
A curfew continues to be enforced in Indian-administered Kashmir for the 43rd day, as clashes between security forces and protestors rumbled on. So far, Pakistan had pitched up its campaign of accusing India of indulging in human rights violations in Kashmir. “The situation is getting worse rather than better and this can not continue”, he said.
He also pointed out that no media was allowed to visit Kashmir, but said that snapping diplomatic relations with a sovereign country was not a suitable option.
“Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan and China should be immensely concerned about Daesh in Afghanistan”, Karzai said in New Delhi. The situation in Kashmir had never been so severe.
“The worldwide community has the role to play in this regard”, he said, adding the world must realise that human rights violations should be addressed promptly. “We hope that a referendum is held in Kashmir”.
Aziz also welcomed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s statement offering his good offices to initiate a dialogue between Pakistan and India.
The Secretary-General expressed the desire to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting. Sartaj accused the Indian forces of using lethal force against Kashmiris protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, saying 80 people had lost their lives while another 6,000 injured by the use of pellet guns by the Indian forces. Kashmir valley has been witnessing unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. Stoppage of armed struggle by the Kashmiris in 2003 provided India with an opportunity to fence the entire LoC and Working Boundary, which gave a new dimension to this otherwise illegal Indian occupation and no serious note was taken on this development.
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Iyad Ameen Madani was also told about Pakistan’s desire of lasting peace in Afghanistan and the important role of OIC in support of peace efforts in Afghanistan.
