Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said that the government has not yet taken a final decision to completely close the airspace for India in response to its August 5 illegal steps, as consultations are still underway in this regard. "I've also seen the media reports and to my information, no such decision has been taken yet. Obviously, if any decision is to be taken, it will be after thorough deliberations," Qureshi said during media talk when asked to confirm whether or not the decision has been taken on the proposal of 'a complete closure' of airspace to India and a complete ban on use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan.
"Any decision to this effect will be taken after thorough consultations and all aspects will be looked into. The Prime Minister himself will take any such decision," he said, adding that the reports at this stage are of speculative in nature. Qureshi also responded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in which he had described the Kashmir dispute a bilateral issue between the two countries while showing reluctance to accept mediation by any other.
He said that India has undermined the spirit of Simla agreement which bonds the two countries to discuss Kashmir dispute bilaterally, indicating an end of bilateralism with the neighbouring country. "Yes, under Shimla agreement, both Pakistan and India are bound to bilaterally resolve Kashmir dispute. But Modi needs to tell to the world community whether his August 5 steps were bilateral or unilateral in nature. If the actions were unilaterally taken by the Modi government then it is the Indian government which undermined the bilateralism," the foreign minister said.
He also asserted that it is not Pakistan endangering the regional peace through, but it is the Indian government which has undermined the peace and stability in the region through its unilateral steps of August 5. He said that the unilateral steps in Occupied Kashmir are in total breach of UN Security Council resolutions and the international laws. He said that the entire world knows that India has made huge additional deployments in the occupied valley.
Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will forcefully present aspirations of the Kashmiri people before the international community during his address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next month. He said that the programme of the Prime Minister has been finalised and sent to the Prime Minister by Foreign Office on Wednesday, adding that the Prime Minister will address the UNGA on September 27. He said that the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings and attend other events in New York on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session, besides attending other events.
To a question, he said that international boxer Amir Khan visited Pakistan's side of the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday and urged India also to facilitate his visit on its side of the LoC. "Those [Indian authorities] who claim that the situations in occupied valley are normal...would they allow Amir Khan, who is a British national, to visit its side of the LoC via New Delhi. Let them [Indians] check... [and] would they allow the UN independent observers if their claims are true," Qureshi added.
He said that Pakistan has invited the UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit Pakistan, adding, "We will welcome her and will facilitate her visit wherever she wants to go in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. We will facilitate her in meetings who she wants to meet. And it is also my request that she may also visit the occupied Kashmir and meet its people and submit her report to the UN. Will India allow the UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit the IoK?" To a question about any possibility of contact between him and his Indian counterpart Jaishankar, Qureshi said that at this stage his India counterpart will not dare contact him. "We have been asking them to engage from the day one. At this stage, do you think he has the courage to contact me?" he added.
He said that 14 petitions have been filed in the Indian Supreme Court against these illegal steps. He said it is the test of the Indian apex court whether it gives the judgement independently or succumb to Modi's pressure.
Qureshi expressed serious concern over situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the people are faced with shortages of essential commodities including food items and life-saving drugs. He said that the Kashmiri people are not being allowed to offer their Friday prayers.
He said that police in occupied Kashmir, which also comprises many Muslims, are perturbed over the situation and they are avoiding taking actions against the innocent Kashmiris. "This is the reason that they [Indian authorities] decided to disarm the police to avoid armed clashes between the police and paramilitary troops," he added.
He said that the world community is not oblivious to the situation in occupied valley, adding that the public opinion on Kashmir dispute is now changing at the international level. He said that Pakistani and Kashmiri community abroad is holding protest demonstrations against the Indian atrocities and persecution. He said that Pakistani community in London will stage a big protest in the coming days.
Responding to a question, the foreign minister said Pakistan is grateful to Iran for coming up with a strong stance in support of the oppressed Kashmiri people. Earlier, the foreign minister held a meeting with Chairman NADRA Usman Yousaf Mobin and discussed a proposal to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis. He said that chairman NADRA has suggested a proposal to facilitate overseas Pakistan in simplifying the procedure of making and renewing their CNICs which is being studied by taking input from Law Ministry before signing an agreement between the NADRA and the Foreign Office.
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