FM Qureshi discusses IOK situation with New Zealand Deputy PM, Azerbaijan counterpart

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday phoned New Zealand Deputy New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov Maharram Oglu to apprise them of gross human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and the deteriorating security situation in the region. The foreign minister told the New Zealand deputy prime minister that India had abolished special status of Occupied Kashmir through a unilateral step on August 5 in contravention to the UN Security Council resolutions on the issue. He said that India wanted to change demography of Occupied Kashmir through repressive tactics. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the unarmed people of Occupied Kashmir have been facing curfew for 25th day, which has caused shortage of food and medicines there. “There is a complete blockade of communication means so that the world could not know the facts on ground in Occupied Kashmir.” He asked the New Zealand deputy prime minister to force India to lift the curfew immediately. The foreign minister said that the reports of the foreign media and international human rights organizations are pointing out at an emerging humanitarian crisis. Expressing concern over the situation in Occupied Kashmir, the New Zealand deputy prime minister said they are closely observing the situation. He said that New Zealand is also receiving information about Occupied Kashmir from the Kashmiri community in New Zealand, and his country will continue playing its positive role in this regard. The foreign minister told Azerbaijan counterpart that India is subjecting unarmed Kahsmiris to cruelties. He said that Indian atrocities are giving birth to a new humanitarian crisis in Occupied Kashmir. He underlined that a complete lockdown of millions of Kashmiris had continued, with unabated curfew, the entire Kashmiri leadership incarcerated, all channels of communication including landline telephone, cellular networks and the internet being blocked, and food and medicine shortages being faced by the people. He underlined the importance of the international community raising its voice to call for the immediate lifting of the curfew and other restrictions and safeguarding the rights of the Kashmiri people. While appreciating Azerbaijan’s continued support to the Kashmir cause, the foreign minister also appreciated Azerbaijan’s role in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The Azerbaijan foreign minister reiterated Azerbaijan’s consistent position regarding peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to the norms and principles of international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.