India to carry out ethnic cleansing of Kashmiris, warns PM Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan will never accept the Indian attempt to annex the state of Kashmir.

Giving a policy statement in the joint session of the parliament in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the revocation of articles 370 and 35A by Indian government will only intensify the freedom struggle of Kashmiris.

“The Indian step contravenes all relevant UN resolutions, India’s own Supreme Court courts’ decisions and the public opinion,” he said.

Khan feared that India will now do ethnic cleansing of Kashmiris in order to alter the demography of the occupied territory.

Imran Khan said the current BJP government propagates the RSS mindset that believes in racist ideology against all the minorities.

He said the father of nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had recognized this much earlier and supported the two-nation theory to give the Muslims of India a separate homeland that is free from bigotry and racism.

The Prime Minister warned that if the two nuclear armed neighbors fail to resolve their issues, including Kashmir, a Pulwama like trigger could drag them into a war which would not remain limited to conventional conflict.

Imran Khan said after coming to power he sought to improve relations with all the neighbors, including India, as he had a vision to rid the country of poverty.

He said after winning election, he offered India that if it takes one step, Pakistan will respond with two. However, his hand of friendship was not reciprocated by its counterparts in India.

He said after the Pulwama attack in Occupied Kashmir, he told India that Pakistan had nothing to do with it as it was a local reaction. But, Indians blamed Pakistan for this incident without any proof and launched a provocative action on 26th February this year against us which was befittingly responded to by our valiant armed forces. He said Pakistan even returned the captured Indian pilot as we believe in humanity and resolving of issues through talks.

The Prime Minister said the attitude of Indian government after elections in their country revealed that they were not serious in holding dialogue and resolving the bilateral issues peacefully.

The Prime Minister said during his meeting with the President Trump, he sought his mediation in resolution of Kashmir issue as it has made the people of the region hostage for decades. However, the Modi government took this step to further deteriorate the situation. Even in their domestic politics, BJP government has cornered the opposition parties and tarnished the image of a secular state.

The Prime Minister urged the international community to play its due role in resolution of Kashmir issue for regional peace and security as the issue has the potential to harm the world peace efforts. He said this period in history will be remembered as a dark chapter. He said the appeasement of India will not work, as it did not do in 1930s to Hitler.

He said the success of this visit can be gauged from the fact that the United States is also endorsing Pakistan’s point of view that there is no military solution to Afghan conflict. This convergence of views will help a great deal in resolving the Afghan impasse.

The Prime Minister said he raised the issue of Kashmir with President Trump as he truly believes that its resolution could lead to peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia region. Prime Minister said in the wake of recent developments in Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan is approaching all relevant international forums to raise the sensitivity and gravity of this issue.