Islamabad(news pulse)Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the decision had been taken in light of several pre-existing UN resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.
The minister said Pakistan rejected New Delhi’s impression that scrapping Article 370 of the Indian constitution was its “internal matter”, saying the claim was wrong from a historical, legal and moral perspective.
Key points:
- Pakistan to approach UNSC regarding Kashmir
- Pakistan has not closed its airspace
- India’s claim that altering Kashmir status is its ‘internal matter’ rejected
- Samjhota Express service to be discontinued
- Pakistan’s commitment to complete Kartarpur Corridor stands
- Suspension of trade with India will not affect Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan
He also questioned India’s claim that the change in the constitutional status was aimed at taking steps for the welfare of Kashmiris, wondering what had stopped New Delhi from taking such measures since Article 370 was inserted into the Indian constitution seven decades ago.
Noting that as many as 900,000 troops had been deployed in occupied Kashmir, he asked the Indian government whether turning the region into a virtual “jail” was one of its welfare steps.
Challenging India’s claim that the Kashmir move was its internal matter, Qureshi said former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had declared “countless times” making at least 14 solemn promises and commitments that “the future of Kashmir is going to be decided finally by the goodwill and pleasure of her people.”
“The goodwill and pleasure of this (Indian) parliament is of no importance in this matter,” the minister quoted Nehru as further saying.
In an address to the nation in 1947, Nehru had said: “We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. We will not, and cannot, back out of it.”
According to Qureshi, Nehru had told the Indian constituent assembly on one occasion that, “As soon as peace and order have been established, Kashmir should decide of accession by plebiscite or referendum under international auspices such as the United Nations.”
“If however, the people of Kashmir do not wish to remain with us, let them go by all means. We will not keep them against their will however painful it may be to us. I want to stress that it is only the people of Kashmir who can decide the future of Kashmir,” the minister quoted the former Indian premier as saying in one instance.
Citing his conversation today with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Qureshi said it was India, and not Pakistan, that was avoiding to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue.
The minister termed as “fake news” reports that Pakistan had closed its airspace in the wake of recent tensions with India.
Qureshi also clarified that Pakistan’s commitment to build the Kartarpur Corridor, which once completed will connect Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal district to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district, “stands”.
“We respect all religions and do not want to become a hurdle in the way of people-to-people contact,” he said, urging the Indian Sikh community to ask their government whether it is willing to see the project through.
He also rubbished the impression that Pakistan’s suspension of bilateral trade with India would impact its (Pakistan’s) trade with Afghanistan, saying: “We do not want to put our Afghan brothers into any difficulty.”
The foreign minister once again cautioned the international community that India could stage a “new false-flag operation”.
“It is very likely a drama like ‘Pulwama 2’ could be staged to divert the world’s attention from the oppression in [Kashmir],” he said.
The minister also confirmed that the Samjhota Express train service between Pakistan and India would no longer continue.
Answering a question, Qureshi ruled out a military option to deal with the threat emerging from India, saying Pakistan was looking at “political, diplomatic and legal” alternatives.
“[But] we have decided to remain vigilant and take safeguards against any aggression,” he added.
