I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers for inviting me here, and for allowing me to speak on an extremely important issue – Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Jammu & Kashmir is a human tragedy and a travesty of justice that needs no introduction.
The denial of the right to self-determination to the Kashmiris remains at the very heart of this bitter dispute for over seven decades now.
The UN Charter as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir recognize the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.
In fact, this right was recognized by India’s own founding fathers.
However, today the entire South Asia stands on the brink of conflict owing to India’s blatant disregard for its obligations under the international laws as well as its own promises.
On 5 August 2019 through an illegal “Presidential Order”, the Indian government unilaterally scrapped Articles 35-A and 370 of Indian Constitution, which ensured the “special status” of the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOK); defined the residents of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir; and limited subjects like property ownership and state citizenship to the current residents of the area till the final settlement of the dispute.
These steps are in direct contravention of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir, which clearly state that India cannot bring about any material changes in the status quo in the disputed territory.
Through this illegal action, India has sent several worrying signals to the Kashmiris and to the rest of the world.
Firstly, that it has never been and will never be serious about resolving the Jammu & Kashmir dispute peacefully.
Secondly, it intends to take Kashmiri people’s land away by changing the demographic composition of the region.
Last but not the least, it will use every conceivable ploy to undermine the inalienable right of the Kashmiris to self-determination.
This highly provocative path chosen by India will only further strengthen the legitimate Kashmiri struggle against the Indian occupation.
This will also further destabilize a region, which has already seen several conflicts as a result of non-resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
What makes the situation all the more concerning is that since 5 August 2019, the egregious violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms in the Occupied territory have increased exponentially.
Before taking these illegal measures, India placed the entire Occupied territory under a lock-down by deploying another 180,000 troops in addition to the over 700,000 troops already deployed in the most militarized region in the world.
For over two months now, Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir remains under a total lock-down.
Millions of Kashmiri men, women and children remain prisoners in their very own homes, on their own land.
Armed Indian soldiers stand before every house; check-points and barbed wires block every street; and military vehicles patrol the empty roads.
Farmers have been cut-off from their orchards and fields; children from their schools; faithful from the mosques; patients from the hospitals; and above all, mothers and fathers from their sons and daughters.
Hospitals are short of medicines, and markets of food and daily essentials.
Kashmiri political leaders, including those India once claimed to be its supporters, remain under detention.
Those who dare to step out, are forced back by “pellet guns” – an inhuman weapon being used to inflict maximum pain and misery.
The international media outcry and strong criticism of the human rights organizations has failed to deter India to restore the fundamental rights of the Kashmiris.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sadly, the ideology that guides the leadership in New Delhi today is least concerned about the threat of a conflict looming-large over the region.
This ideology, know as Hindutva, on the contrary, aims to provoke more conflicts.
Hate, coercion, fear-mongering, and intimidation have tools in the hands of this ideology – both within and outside India.
The increasing incidents of cow-vigilantism; public lynching; Islamophobia; as well as religious discrimination against Muslims in India are its manifestations.
It is the ideology that was behind the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992 as well as the killing of hundreds of Muslims in Gujrat under the supervision of the current Indian Prime Minister who was then the chief minister of the region.
The Indian actions of 5 August are not only an attempt to complete the physical occupation of the Kashmiris, but also to ensure their mental subjugation to this hate-filled ideology.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is imperative for the international community to step in and discharge its moral, ethical and legal responsibility by bringing an end to the on-going Indian gross violations of human rights and collective punishments against the Kashmiris; call on India to immediately lift the blockade of the Occupied Jammu & Kashmir; allow international human rights organizations and observers to access the region to assess the situation on ground; end impunity; and conduct an independent inquiry under the UN auspices to hold those responsible for decades of systematic, and gross violations of fundamental rights of Kashmiris.
Above all, the inalienable right of the Kashmiris to self-determination must be upheld.
Today, South Asia, which is home to one-fifths of the entire humanity, stands on the brink of another conflict.
Indian leaders are threatening to use nuclear weapons against Pakistan.
Violations of the Line of Control, targeting Pakistani civilians have increased in the recent days.
Inaction on this issue is no longer an option.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Turkey is an important member of the international community, and has a history for standing up for the cause of truth and justice globally.
The people of Pakistan and Turkey are bound together in an unparalleled and fraternal relationship that is embedded in the very hearts of the peoples of the two countries.
The two nations have always stood by one another under the most difficult and challenging circumstances.
The people and the Government of Pakistan as well as those suffering in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir are thankful to Turkish government and the people for their strong support on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir.
Turkey has indeed once again proved that it has always been and will Inshallah continue to stand by the Kashmiris.
Ladies and gentlemen,
While we must keep on pricking the conscience of the world on issues like Palestine and Jammu & Kashmir, the reality is that the Muslim Ummah is facing these challenges because of our own weaknesses and divisions.
We need to rise above our internal differences; overcome our economic and political dependence on others; and revive the great intellectual traditions of our civilization.
It is only through building our own internal strengths that we can overcome the daunting challenges of the present day.
I thank you.
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