No with India: Bilawal Bhutto

Islamabad: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs was held at Parliament House, Islamabad on Friday.

While addressing quire put to the Ministry by members; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Billawal Bhutto Zardari assured the Committee that there was no question of resuming trade activities with India. However, he was of the view that had trade activities not been curbed prior to abrogation of Article 370 on 05 August, 2019; curtailing trade activities as protest would deal a severe blow to the Indian economy. He stressed the for all political leadership in the country to sing from the same hymn book on this issue.

The meeting was chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek. Attendees included Senator Palwasha Muhmmad Zai Khan, Senator Tahir Bizenjo, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Walid Iqbal , Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar and senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice alongwith all concerned. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Billawal Bhutto Zardari was also present along with Ms. Mushaal Mullick, wife of Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front who currently battling severe ill-health due to Indian atrocities in Tihaar Jail.

The Committee was briefed in detail about the current situation in Occupied Kashmir. It paid tribute to the monumental struggle of Yasin Malik for the Kashmiri right of self-determination guaranteed by several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. It also condemned the Indian Courts for slapping fabricated charges and denying fair trial and inhuman incarceration and treatment despite his deteriorating health. It was asserted that this was a mockery of justice and in complete defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. Members of the Committee, while supporting their Kashmiri brethren urged world powers and UN bodies to adopt a clear and unanimous stance to press the Indian regime to ensure the release of Yasin Malik and give the Kashmiri people their denied birth right. The Committee strongly condemned the revocation of the special status granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Lauding the efforts of Ms. Mullick, the Committee stressed the need for the Government to ensure her safety and that of her daughter by providing her security at home and while travelling. It asserted that Ms. Mullick was under severe threat by RAW. In addition the Committee asserted that she must be granted a diplomatic passport so that she is able to advocate the Kashmir cause globally.

Ms. Mullick thanking the Committee for its stance on the Kashmir issue stressed the need for the government to amplify efforts to resolve this issue or else the Kashmiris would cease to be a majority in the occupied Valley. She emphasized the need for rigorously strengthening ‘Lawfare’ to counter Indian measures.

The Committee while discussing whether or not trade is an option with India, the Committee stressed that trade must not be resumed. Doing so would send a wrong message and would be tantamount to appeasement and selling out Kashmiri brethren.

Expressing grave concern regarding the worsening treatment of Muslims in India, the Committee severely condemned statements given by BJP leaders against the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). It emphasized that he UN must designate India ‘A country of particular concern’ for three consecutive years, under the International Religious Freedom Act.

The Committee unanimously passed the Diplomatic Consular Officers (Oath and Fees) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with directions to formulate rules immediately.