Kashmir dispute 'should be resolved diplomatically': Iranian president

Dunya News

Hassan Rouhani called on India and Pakistan to prevent tensions and deaths of innocent people.

TEHRAN (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

During the telephonic conversation, the Iranian President said the dispute in Kashmir has no military solution and should be resolved diplomatically.

Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had always tried to prevent tensions in the region and that it believed Muslims in the disputed Kashmir region had to be able to enjoy their legal rights to live peacefully.

He called on India and Pakistan to prevent tensions and deaths of innocent people after New Delhi stripped India-occupied Kashmir of special status by abrogating Article 370 and 35A of the constitution.

On the occasion, PM Imran Khan said Pakistan is deeply concerned about the massacre of innocent people in Kashmir and the escalation of tensions in the region.

He also emphasized that Iran, as an important country in the region and the Muslim world, can play a positive role in resolving the issue of Kashmir. 

Imran Khan underlined that the actions taken by India in a bid to change the internationally recognized disputed status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Furthermore, any change in the demographic structure of Occupied territory would constitute a violation of the international law.

He particularly highlighted the serious risk of massive killings as part of the crackdown by Indian forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and stressed that the international community must act urgently to prevent the impending calamity.

Imran Khan apprised the Iranian leader of Pakistan s repeated calls and efforts, urging India to resolve this seven-decades old dispute through peaceful means, in accordance with the long-standing UNSC Resolutions.

He appreciated Iran s principled stance on the Kashmir issue and Iranian leadership s consistently strong voice in support of the rights and wellbeing of the people of Kashmir. 

The premier stressed that India should be counseled to immediately resolve the issue under the UN resolutions.

Earlier today, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser telephoned Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani to discuss ongoing situation in the occupied Kashmir.

During the conversation, both the sides condemned the Indian serious human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and agreed to adopt joint strategy for highlighting Kashmir cause at international forum.

Asad Qaisar said the curfew imposed by Indian government in Occupied Kashmir to make them hostage is a shameful act. He said Pakistan considers its brother and neighbor, Iran, an important friend of its difficult time.

He said Pakistan is following parliamentary diplomacy to expose India s ulterior motives for abolishing Kashmir s special status in the Indian constitution and making Kashmir its colony.

The Iranian counterpart said the unrest in Kashmir is causing apprehension for all the countries living in the subcontinent. 


PM Imran discusses Kashmir situation with Erdogan, Mahathir


Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan, as part of outreach to world leaders on the recent developments in Indian Occupied Kashmir, telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Bin Mohamad.

In his telephonic conversation with the Turkish president, the prime minister said that India s illegal actions to modify the special status of the Indian Occupied Kashmir would have serious implications for the regional peace and security.

He reiterated that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic, moral and political to the just cause of Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

President Erdogan shared the concerns on the developing situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and assured of Turkey s steadfast support in this regard.

On the other hand, PM Imran, in a telephonic conversation with Malaysian PM Mahathir, said that changing the special status of IoK is a violation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions, and Indian illegal action will affect regional peace and security. “Indian action will further deteriorate relations between the two nuclear neighbors”, he added.

The Malaysian PM expressed that they are closely monitoring the situation in IoK and would remain in contacts with Pakistan. He also expressed that he is looking forward to meet the PM Imran at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.

The 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74) will open on 17 September 2019. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 24 September 2019.

Previously, amid escalating tension in occupied Kashmir following deployment of tens of thousands of additional troops, the Indian government ended special status of the valley while scrapping articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution.

In a malicious attempt to turn Muslim majority into minority in occupied Kashmir, the Indian president has signed a four-point amendment decree in this regard.

According to details, the announcement was made by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah during his address in Rajya Sabha, upper house of Indian parliament. Shah said, “Kashmir will no longer be a state. It will be divided into two union territories – Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will be without a legislature."

He also told that the valley would be re-organized geographically.”

The revocation of the articles has allowed other non-Muslim Indian citizens to buy land in the valley while a separate legislative assembly will be established there for its own laws.