Islamabad (PNI) Asif Luqman Qazi, Director Foreign Affairs, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan has written a letter to all Ambassadors of G-20 countries based in Islamabad. Here is the text:
To: Honorable Ambassadors of G-20 countries based in Islamabad.
From: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.
Subject: Holding of G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
Excellency,
We would like to draw your attention to the holding of G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting to be held in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on 22-24 May 2023. On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we want to convey the following points to your respective governments:
1. The State of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory according to United Nations’ resolutions, and its accession either to Pakistan or India is to be decided by an impartial plebiscite to be held by United Nations Organization.
2. By unilaterally revoking the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, India not only violated UN Resolutions, but also disregarded bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India on one hand, and India’s promises made to Kashmiris on the other hand. One-sided declarations do not change the binding nature of UN resolutions.
3. By holding the Tourism Working Group of G-20 meeting in Srinagar, India wants to give an impression of legitimacy to the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, and the denial of right of self-determination to 18 million Kashmiris. India wants to use the platform of G-20 to normalize the continuous abuse of human rights in the occupied territory.
4. The human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are documented in the reports of UN’s Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The recent statement of UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Fernand de Verennes says, “holding a G20 meeting in occupied Jammu and Kashmir while massive human rights violations are ongoing is lending support to attempts by India to normalize the brutal and repressive denial of democratic and other rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting”.
5. The Independent Expert noted that there have been reports of significant number of Hindus from outside the region moving into the region, so that dramatic demographic changes are under way in Jammu and Kashmir to overwhelm native Kashmiris in their own land.
6. The people of Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, represented by All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), have expressed their resentment over holding of G-20 Tourism Working Group’s meeting in Srinagar. A statement issued by the leadership of APHC says “Jammu and Kashmir is not India’s part but an internationally recognized disputed territory whose future is yet to be decided by its people. The holding of an international event in a disputed territory is also a violation of the UN Charter.” APHC has also called for a General Strike on the day of the G-20 meeting.
7. The people of Pakistan are thankful to the governments and peoples of Peoples Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Republic of Turkiye, Arab Republic of Egypt, and other countries who expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir in support of their unalienable rights.
8. Freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights of all human beings. Let the 18 million inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir enjoy these God-given rights too. Even if the Indian claims of good governance are accepted, no amount of good governance can be an alternative to self-governance, because freedom is the essence of life. International human rights obligations and UN Declaration of Human Rights should be upheld by organizations like G-20.
Best regards,
Yours brotherly,
Asif Luqman Qazi
Director Foreign Affairs,
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.
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