In comments reported by the Emirati newspaper Gulf News, on Tuesday – the Abu Dhabi’s ambassador to New Delhi, Ahmad Al Banna, said the issue was an “internal matter” but that the revocation of the treaty would lead to peace. He further stated that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance.
The United Nations Human Rights spokesperson has expressed “great concern” over the information blackout in occupied Kashmir after India’s decision to repeal its special status. In a statement shared via a video on Twitter, the spokesperson said that what had already been observed to be a pattern, was taken to a “new level” with the latest restrictions placed by India.
Senior US diplomat Alice Wells has rubbished news claiming Washington was well aware of New Delhi’s move to strip Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) of its special status. In a Tweet, Wells clarified that ‘India did not consult or inform’ US government. Sources inside Indian government had told ThePrint that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had apprised Mike Pompeo of India’s plan.
Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership have decided to suspend bilateral trade in with India in the aftermath of its illegal move of revoking occupied Kashmir’s special status. The meeting also concluded with a decision to expel Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria. Pakistan has also informed Indian government that Pakistan will not be sending its High Commissioner-designate to India.
China has shown serious concern and taken strict stance on the Kashmir issue, saying it opposes India’s decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status. “India’s action is unacceptable and would not have any legal effect,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. China urged India to strictly abide by agreements reached by both countries in order to avoid any boundary issues.
Ruling party in India repeals Article 370 of constitution, stripping Kashmiris of special autonomy they had for seven decades through a rushed presidential order. People from rest of India will now have right to acquire property in occupied Kashmir. Article 370 had also limited power of Indian parliament to impose laws in state, apart from matters of defence, foreign affairs and communications.
After Indian government’s plot to strengthen its hold in occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Office (FO) strongly condemned the move and stated that “Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps”. The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri cause and rejected the move by the Indian government, stressing that IoK was internationally recognised as a disputed territory.
India’s ruling party’s Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced a measure in parliament to revoke the special constitutional status of occupied Kashmir. The move by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to revoke special constitutional status, which allows only residents to buy property and hold state government jobs, is the most far-reaching move on the disputed Himalayan region in nearly seven decades.
Indian government imposed curfew like conditions in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), and placed under house arrest the former chief ministers of IoK Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Internet services on the cellphones were also suspended, in order to prevent any possible anti-India demonstrations from being organised. All educational institutions have been closed in the restive region and public movement has been banned.
Panic grips all over Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) as Indian government has asked tourists and Hindu pilgrims to leave immediately. Additional deployment of 25000 troops and call to stockpile food and fuel has sparked fears in occupied Kashmir that New Delhi is planning to scrap an Indian constitutional provision that disallows Indians to buy land in the Muslim-majority region.