Modi's move being criticized from inside India as well: FM Qureshi

Qureshi said Indian government led by Narendra Modi has further complicated the Kashmir issue.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that the Indian government led by Narendra Modi has further complicated the Kashmir issue.

Addressing joint session of the parliament on Wednesday, he said that Narendra Modi’s action was being criticized from inside his country, adding that New Delhi has always had tried to put the Kashmir issue on back burner.

The minister went on to say that former Indian minister Chidambaram said that the history will tell that the Indian prime minister’s decision was wrong.

Qureshi said Modi’s move to end special status of Occupied Kashmir has targeted India’s federal structure, adding that the world powers should play its role instead of staying silent.

He said in all international media outlets, concern has been expressed on this development, adding that he had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj but he sacrificed it to express solidarity with people of Kashmir and Pakistan by attending the joint session of Parliament.

The foreign minister said the illegal act by Indian government has been resonating internationally, adding that the act of 5th August by India has been frowned upon, even by conscious people in India and have termed this act of grave mistake.

"Kashmiris have a long history of struggle against Indian subjugation," Qureshi said and added various Kashmir factions have become united on opposing the Indian move. He challenged India to lift the curfew restrictions and see response of Kashmiri population on revocation of Kashmir’s special status.

The minister said: "Kashmiris are looking towards Pakistan and the response of their Parliament. He said for the first time use of cluster ammunition has been used by India on innocent Kashmiris as it violates the international norms and Geneva Convention."

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India stealthily moved the resolution of annexation of Kashmir. He said he, on first of August, sent a letter to UN Secretary General seeking his intervention to stop human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and India’s plans to change the Status of Kashmir. The letter urged the UN Secretary General to distribute this among all members of UNSC. He said we sent a letter to EU on third of this month apprising them of deteriorating situation.

He said in today’s meeting of National Security Committee it has been decided to downgrade diplomatic ties and to suspend bilateral trade relations with India.

The meeting decided to review all bilateral arrangements with India. The meeting decided to take the matter to the United Nations, including the Security Council.

It was further decided that Independence Day this 14 August to be observed in solidarity with brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right of self-determination while 15th August will be observed as Black Day.