Pakistan Foreign minister “Accidentally”admits J&K as an Indian state

Ambuj Tripathi

ambuj.tripathi@thelucknowjournal.com

Geneva (Switzerland) /New Delhi, 10 Sept: In another major embarrassing gesture for Pakistan at the United Nations, Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi while addressing the UN Human Rights Council session at Geneva, Switzerland finally admitted the truth by referring to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) an “Indian state”. Till date, Pakistan had officially communicated calling Jammu and Kashmir as “India-Occupied Kashmir”.

Qureshi had raised the matter of alleged violations of Human rights in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday at the UNHRC meeting and urged the world body to take action in this regard. 

Later, while speaking to the media, Pakistan Foreign minister said India was trying to give a false impression to the world that life had returned to normalcy, then ”Why India is not allowing foreign media, international organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations to go into the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and see for themselves what the reality is”. 

Qureshi further said the basic amenities and means of communication were not accessible to the people of Kashmir. However, India had repeatedly refuted claims made by Pakistan over the “false propaganda” spread by several cabinet ministers in the Imran Khan-led government on the people of Kashmir being deprived of basic state facilities.    

 Leading the Pakistan delegation, Pakistan foreign minister said in the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council that the global institutions cannot remain “indifferent” to the tragedy happening in Kashmir. Pakistan is knocking on the door of the Human Rights Council as institutions such as the UN guarantees the protection of human rights in the world. It cannot remain indifferent to the situation in Kashmir after India revoked Jammu & Kashmir’s special status.

Qureshi said that he is pleading for justice and respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As a founding member of the UN Human Rights Council, it is the moral and ethical responsibility of Pakistan to raise the voice of the people of Kashmir before the world stage. 

It is noteworthy that, this statement by Pakistan’s foreign minister comes a day after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed ‘deep concern’ over the impact of security restrictions in Kashmir and asked India to ease the current lockdown ensuring people’s access to basic services. 

Pakistan had been running from post to pillar while New Delhi has repeatedly maintained its stand that J&K is strictly an ‘internal matter’.