Foreign Minister’s Telephonic Call with Foreign Minister of Japan

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono today to discuss the current situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Foreign Minister briefed his Japanese counterpart on the illegal and unilateral actions of India to alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was in contravention of the international law and UNSC resolutions. He underlined that the steps taken by India in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir entailed a grave risk for peace and security in the region.

The Foreign Minister apprised the Japanese Foreign Minister of the continuously deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including severe shortage of food and lifesaving medicines, communications blackout and complete lock-down for the last 17 days. He also said that an international organization Genocide Watch had issued a “Genocide Alert” for Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that the situation was extremely alarming. There is a call for defying curfew after today’s Friday prayer which could lead to use of force by the Indian forces and humanitarian catastrophe.

The Japanese Foreign Minister said that Japan was following the situation with concern and urged parties to avoid escalation.

The two leaders agreed to remain in contact and continue to work together for peace and stability in the region.

Islamabad
23 August 2019