ISLAMABAD: The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Monday hosted a seminar, titled “India’s Illegal and Unilateral Actions on August 5, 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The purpose of the seminar was to commemorate struggle and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people, especially in the backdrop of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 in IIOJK. Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director ISC, delivered introductory remarks.
Speakers included Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI; Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG, ISSI; Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson and Additional Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Pakistan; Ambassador Riffat Masood, Pakistan’s Former Ambassador to Iran; Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, Executive Director, CISS, AJK; Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR); and Mahmood Saghar, Leader All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
In her address, chief guest Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
She noted that India’s actions of 5 August 2019 were aimed at further consolidating Indian control over the occupied territory, which the Kashmiris have practically neutralized with their unmatched resistance. Further, India’s concerted campaign to change the demographic realities in the disputed territory is another manifestation of New Delhi’s intransigence and its disregard for international law and Security Council resolutions.
She added that Pakistan demands that for any fruitful dialogue and constructive peace process, India must revoke all illegal steps taken before and on 5 August 2019; immediately stop demographic changes in the area; withdraw military forces; release political prisoners; normalize communication routes; stop sexual oppression; and provide immediate access to the UN High Commission for Human Rights, OIC, and humanitarian groups to occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
