Pakistan National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz has emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir was not a territorial dispute between Pakistan and India but was primarily about the exercise of the right to self-determination by Kashmiri people, as promised to them in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the assurances of the Indian leadership.
"Yet this fundamental right was denied to Kashmiri people despite the passing of more than six decades. During this period, the Indian security forces had unleashed the worst form of torture and oppression, but the valiant people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir had neither abandoned hope nor given up their legitimate struggle for self-determination. The Cathy Scott-Clark report had confirmed over 6,000 unmarked graves in Indian Occupied Kashmir," said Aziz.
"The recent discovery of mass graves at 38 sites in North Kashmir had added new dimension to this gory saga. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and international human rights organizations had, time and again, voiced concern over these gross and systematic human rights violations but the Indian security forces had shown little regard for international opinion," he added.
Aziz, who participated in a sideline meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir at the UN headquarters in New York on September 25, urged the international community to put a meaningful end to the ordeal of the Kashmiri people and to call upon India to stop violations of their fundamental human rights.
He further reiterated that Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution of the dispute in the best interest of peace and stability in the region.
"Pakistan had sincerely embarked on a composite dialogue process with India. India's decision to call-off the 25 August Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan on a flimsy pretext was a setback to the negotiations process," he added.
Speaking of the recent devastating floods in Kashmir, Aziz expressed concern over the reports of selectivity in distribution relief assistance by Indian authorities.
He appealed to the OIC to provide relief assistance to the flood-affected people on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and conveyed Pakistan's readiness to facilitate its delivery among the affectees without discrimination.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who attended the meeting on behalf of his country, in his statement stressed that the Kashmiri's aspirations for self-determination must be addressed in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions.
"The international community had a moral and legal responsibility to resolve this longstanding issue. Turkey wanted a peaceful settlement of Kashmir which should be acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir. Turkey was ready to play its due role in this regard," he said.
Expressing concern over cancellation of talks by India and the rising tensions across the LoC, the Turkish Foreign Minister called on the parties resume the negotiations process without delay and engage in a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
He conveyed his government's heartfelt condolences to the families of flood victims and expressed Turkey's readiness to provide relief assistance to the affectees.
Saudi Permanent Representative to OIC, Mohammad Tayyab, who also attended this meeting that was chaired by OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Manani, stated that Jammu and Kashmir was a longstanding conflict on the agenda of the UNSC which needed resolution by the international community.
"Saudi Arabia strongly supported the realization of the national rights of Kashmiri people through peaceful dialogue, which was the only way out for both India and Pakistan. Any settlement of the conflict must take into account the aspirations of Kashmiri people," Tayyab said.
"Saudi Arabia wanted India and Pakistan to resume negotiations process and the United Nations to invest more efforts in a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It was high time that the Kashmiri people are given their fundamental human rights and a chance to live in peace and dignity," he added.
The President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, and delegation of the True Representatives of Kashmiri people, represented by Ishtuyaq Hameed, also delivered statements in which they highlighted the ground situation arising from the continued Indian occupation, oppressions, and the recent devastating floods in Kashmir.
The Kashmiri delegation also presented a memorandum to the Secretary General, containing proposals for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
