On Monday, Pakistan vehemently rejected the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court of India regarding the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, and Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, during a subsequent press conference, emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally-recognized dispute under the consideration of the UN Security Council for over seven decades.
The statement clarified that any decision on the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir should align with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and reflect the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan firmly asserted that India lacks the right to unilaterally determine the status of this disputed territory against the wishes of both the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Pakistan maintained its stance of not recognizing the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that any process subservient to the Indian Constitution holds no legal significance. The country argued that India cannot evade its international obligations by citing domestic legislations and judicial rulings, and its attempts to annex IIOJK are destined to fail.
Foreign Minister Jilani criticized the Indian Supreme Court’s endorsement of India’s unilateral and illegal actions on August 5, 2019, deeming it a miscarriage of justice based on distorted historical and legal arguments. The verdict, according to Pakistan, fails to acknowledge the internationally-recognized disputed nature of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and neglects the aspirations of the Kashmiri people who rejected India’s actions in 2019.
The article highlighted that the judgment cannot distract the international community from the ongoing gross and systematic human rights violations in IIOJK. Pakistan expressed deep concern over India’s measures since August 5, 2019, aimed at altering the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK, violating international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
Foreign Minister Jilani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to extending full political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of IIOJK for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. The article emphasized the need for the rescindment of India’s unilateral and illegal measures to pave the way for a peaceful environment conducive to dialogue.
