New Delhi : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement on the seventh anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019 constitutional changes relating to Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Pakistan’s position on the issue and criticizing India’s policies in the region. The Offoce of Pakistani PM has shared his statement on its social media Platform ‘X’ today.
In his statement, Sharif said that India’s unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019 in what Pakistan refers to as “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)” have not altered what he described as the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir or the rights of its people under international law and relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
He alleged that a prolonged military presence and stringent laws in the region have enabled India to carry out demographic changes aimed at altering the Muslim-majority character of the territory, while also suppressing the identity and voices of the Kashmiri people.
The Pakistani Prime Minister further stated that claims of development cannot replace what he described as the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their future through a free and impartial plebiscite, as envisaged in Pakistan’s interpretation of relevant UN resolutions.
Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called on India to reverse the measures taken on August 5, 2019, end alleged human rights violations, and work towards a peaceful resolution of the issue in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Note: The above statements reflect the official position expressed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. India has consistently maintained that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India, and that the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, are an internal matter. India also rejects Pakistan’s characterization of the region and has repeatedly called on Pakistan to vacate territories under its illegal occupation.