Yasin Malik is the symbol of freedom for Kashmir. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Mr. Munir Akram addressed the Open Debate of the UN Security Council on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. He said, “Like other colonialists, India has sought to portray the Kashmiri freedom struggle as terrorism. It is India’s suppression of this legitimate struggle which violates international law and constitutes war crimes.
He added that the conviction and sentencing by an Indian Kangaroo Court of the Kashmiri leader, Mr. Yasin Malik, is the latest illustration of Indian oppression. As Prime Minister Sharif has declared: “India can imprison Yasin Malik but it can never imprison the idea of freedom he symbolizes”.
This is the case when foreign occupation forces resort to the forcible denial of the right of peoples to self-determination and seek to perpetuate their illegal occupation. This is vividly illustrated in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) where the objective of the 900,000 Indian troops is to suppress the demand of the Kashmiri people for freedom (Azadi) and their legitimate right to self-determination, promised to them in the resolutions of the Security Council.
Illegal Indian Occupation of Kashmir
Since 5 August 2019, Indian troops are stationed in every city, town, village and neighborhood of occupied Kashmir to impose what India’s leaders have themselves ominously called a “final solution” for Jammu and Kashmir. They have resorted to “cordon and search” operations, extra judicial killing of innocent Kashmiris; collective punishments, destroying entire Kashmiri neighborhoods and villages; violence against peaceful protestors, including the use of “pellet guns” that have blinded hundreds of Kashmiri children’s, and arbitrary detention of 13,000 young Kashmiri boys and the entire Kashmiri political leadership.
The government, military and the civil society in Pakistan has widely condemned the decision of an Indian court against Mr. Malik. Pakistan’s Prime Minister termed the sentencing of Mr. Malik as a black day for Indian democracy and justice system.
Today is a black day for Indian democracy & its justice system. India can imprison Yasin Malik physically but it can never imprison idea of freedom he symbolises. Life imprisonment for valiant freedom fighter will provide fresh impetus to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 25, 2022
Pakistan’s Army had separately condemned the decision. Director General Inter Services Public Relations issued the public condemnation while calling out the illegal Indian occupation forces and resolved determination to stand with Kashmiris.
Pakistan strongly condemns life sentence awarded to Yasin Malik on fabricated charges. Such oppressive tactics cannot dampen the spirit of people of Kashmir in their just struggle against illegal Indian occupation. We stand with them in quest for self-determination as per UNSCRs
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 25, 2022
Changing Demographics of Kashmir
Mr. Akram further said that India is also embarked of transforming occupied Jammu and Kashmir from a Muslim majority State to a Hindu majority territory, in a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law, to consolidate its occupation. Indian authorities are issuing millions of fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris, seizing and selling off their land, gerrymandering electoral constituencies, through its so-called “Delimitation Commission”, to reduce Muslim representation and install a BJP-RSS puppet government in Srinagar.
He also said that the danger of another conflict between Pakistan and India will remain ever present until the dispute over Jammu & Kashmir is resolved.
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Pakistan, therefore, urges the Secretary General and the Security Council not to neglect the Kashmir dispute; to deploy diplomacy and mobilize the political will to promote a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
