Pak urges for an end to ‘clampdown’ in J-K

Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday urged the global community, especially the UN Security Council, to work towards ending, what he called a “persistent clampdown” imposed by the Indian government in Kashmir.
Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up global support against India for its decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and, therefore, bifurcate the state into two union territories.
In his message on the occasion of the UN Day, which is observed on October 24, Qureshi said the world body has played an active role in the struggle against colonialism and in promoting fundamental human rights.
“People’s right to self-determination lies at the heart of this quest. Yet, such a universal value is being trampled upon in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The situation, Qureshi said, has been “further exacerbated by persistent clampdown imposed” by the Indian government in the region after August 5.
“As we celebrate the UN Day, I call on the international community, and especially the UN Security Council, to work towards ending” the Kashmir crisis, he said.
Following the abrogation of Article 370, the Indian government imposed restrictions, including ban on mobile phones and Internet, in Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order.
“Our longstanding collaboration with the United Nations is manifested, among others, by our contribution to UN peacekeeping…over 200,000 of our Blue Helmets have served in 46 Missions across the world,” he said. (PTI)