Kashmiris struggle for their right to self-determination: Foreign Office

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal has said listing of Maulana Masood Azhar on UN sanctions Committee has been agreed after all political references, including removing of attempts to link it with Pulwama incident and maligning Kashmiris struggle for their right to self-determination.

At a media briefing in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said UN Security Council's Sanction Committee listed Maulana Masood Azhar today, which entails a ban on foreign travel, asset freeze, and arms embargo.

The Spokesperson said listing of Maulana Masood Azhar has been under consideration in the Sanction Committee since 2009.

He said Azhar has been proscribed under Pakistan's anti terrorism act for some time even before taking up his case by the Sanctions committee.

He said UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee listing is governed by clear rules and is based on strict technical criteria and it takes all decisions through consensus.

He said Pakistan has always advocated the need for respecting these technical rules and regulations and has opposed the politicization of the Sanctions Committee.

The spokesperson said over the last few years, many states, including Pakistan have been concerned at an increasing trend of politicization of this Committee, including attempts to include matters that are unrelated to the technical criteria.

The spokesman said Pakistan maintained that terrorism was a menace to the world. This included the Indian state sponsored terrorism against innocent Kashmiris in IOK, including the inhuman use of pellet guns and human shields which found no parallel in the civilized world.

“Indian occupation forces continue to massacre Kashmiris enjoying judicial immunity with impunity through draconian laws. We will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to our Kashmiri brethren,” he said

The Indian media’s attempts to build a narrative claiming it as a ‘victory’ for India and validation of its stance were thus absolutely false and baseless, he said.

“Our position is in line with the statements of Prime Minister Khan who clearly stated that there is no space for any proscribed organization or its affiliates to operate from Pakistani territory, our resolve for countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and our National Action Plan,” he said.

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