Pakistan has called for the release of all Kashmiri prisoners, human rights defenders, and civil society activists detained in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to a question during his weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan is deeply concerned by the continued politically motivated and questionable cases against the leadership of Kashmiris, Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, and others.
He said by suppressing legitimate Kashmiri political voices through arbitrary detentions and sham trials, harsh laws, India continues to misuse its judiciary to pursue a political vendetta against the Kashmiri leadership.
The Spokesperson called upon the international community, including the United States, to play a constructive role, urging India to stop human rights abuses and release all political prisoners. He said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains an internationally recognised issue on the United Nations agenda.
Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan, on its part, will continue to raise its voice and uphold the human rights cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir at all international fora, including the United Nations, OIC, and other human rights bodies. He further urged the international bodies to uphold the principle that Kashmiris should not be punished for seeking their right to self-determination.
Responding to a question regarding the house demolitions of the indigenous people in IIOJK, Tahir Andrabi said there have been a series of violations, particularly against the Bakarwal community that has been living in the area for generations. He said violations of the Bakarwal community’s rights, their displacement and occupation of their land are aimed at ensuring demographic change and having control over the natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir to further the economic exploitation of that territory.
The Spokesperson said Pakistan will raise this matter at the appropriate forums.
Replying to another question, the Spokesperson said Pakistan notes with satisfaction the supplemental award by the court of arbitration last week concerning the maximum pondage in the Indus waters treaty disputes relating to Ratle and Kishanganga projects. He said this award reaffirms Pakistan’s long-standing position that the treaty imposes substantive limits on India’s water-control capabilities over the western rivers. It clarifies that the pondage for run-of-river projects must be justified on the basis of genuine operational needs, hydroelectric and hydraulic conditions, power system requirements, and treaty-mandated information. He said the award also strengthens Pakistan’s review rights by affirming India’s obligations to promote sufficient information and explanation to establish treaty compliance. He said Pakistan also notes the court’s earlier determination that its awards are final, binding and authoritative for subsequent treaty processes.
Tahair Andrabi said Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Indus water treaty, its dispute resolution mechanisms and the procedural resolution of water related issues. He said Pakistan will continue to safeguard its rights under the treaty and ensure that projects on the western river remain fully consistent with the treaty obligation. He added that India’s claim to hold the treaty in abeyance is equally without legal basis. The Indus Water Treaty remains in force and Pakistan will continue to protect its rights through lawful, diplomatic and treaty-based mechanisms and processes.
He made it clear that Pakistan will not compromise on a single drop of water that is due for it under the treaty.
Regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the Spokesperson said Afghan territory is being used to plan, foment, engineer and execute terrorist operations in Pakistan. He said the Afghan Taliban regime is either an accomplice to terrorist attacks inside Pakistan or is turning its eyes towards the other side to let these attacks happen. In view of this, Pakistan has taken certain actions since last October.
He said Islamabad has a single one-point demand that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorist incidents. He said the relations with Afghanistan will continue to remain at a standstill unless Pakistan receives written assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime that their territory will not be used against it.
