In 2019, India abolished the special constitutional status of Occupied Kashmir and changed the postion of Kashmir, which has been the eternal right of Kashmiris. Although Pakistan is not a member country of G20, it has also strongly opposed the holding of the G20 working group meeting in occupied Kashmir administered by India.
The motive behind holding the G20 meeting in Indian Occupied Kashmir was to force the world powers to understand that despite being a disputed territory, Kashmir is peaceful and India’s move on August 5, 2019 was correct.It seems that due to the efforts of Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, after China and Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have also refused to come to Srinagar.
We have not had much success in the past with legal and public diplomacy, although this issue could have been resolved through legal, public and traditional diplomacy. In this regard, the international laws are very clear that no country can do important activities in the disputed area and cannot bring people from other areas to settle here and under the same principle, an international event like G20 cannot be organized in the area.If the occupying forces show any kind of constructive or resettlement activity in the disputed territory, it falls under the category of violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention. Article 20 of the War Crimes Act applies to changing the demographic composition of any disputed territory.
The G20 is an important and active forum of the world, which includes countries with about three-fourths of the world’s economy, and the direction of the world’s economy is determined at this forum, and most importantly, the IMF and the World Bank’s representatives also participate in this forum as observers.Britain has never encouraged India’s actions at the Security Council or other forums and many times Britain has made commendable statements on human rights violations but has done nothing in practice, according to the poet:
سرِ محفل وہ خوابوں کے محل تعمیر کرتے ہیں
علاج غم نہیں کرتے فقط تقریر کرتے ہیں
The international community knows how India is violating basic human rights in Kashmir, but unfortunately the world does not seem to stand with the Kashmiris for the solution of this serious humanitarian crisis.Pakistan has taken a clear stand against the meeting in Kashmir and China’s boycott of the G20 is a good gesture, but clear and strong statements from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia should also be come. These statements are expected today.
Apart from the member countries, if Egypt, Oman, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mauritius and other guest countries also refuse to participate in the meeting and issue condemning statements, it may further strengthen the Kashmir issue. Turkey always stands as an iron wall with Pakistan and it is hoped that Turkey will issue a statement soon regarding the G20 meeting.After the Russia-Ukraine war, there are big changes in the world and China is emerging rapidly. Although the focus of the US foreign policy is to reduce China’s influence, however, China’s influence in the region is increasing.
Currently occupied Kashmir has been turned into an international prison and former Chief Minister of Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has also strengthened our position by comparing Kashmir to Guantanamo Bay prison. India will make the delegations of the meeting to visit some controlled areas in Occupied Kashmir and will try to show the world that the people of Kashmir are happy and the peace and order situation is in their favor.
This forum is very important in the world and India is facing criticism by holding the G20 meeting in Srinagar. Not only Pakistan, but the United Nations, human rights organizations and influential countries also consider this action of India as a violation of human rights. Violations of international law are referred to the Security Council and the important thing here is that China, which is boycotting the G20, is a member of the Security Council. India wants to strengthen its position on AUKUS and QUARD platforms, but China has taken an important step by staying in the international legal sphere.
We should try to pass a joint resolution with the OIC and convince the Security Council that India has tried to minimize the importance of the issue by holding the meeting in the disputed area۔China’s support here is very important for us.
The need is that when China and other friendly countries stand by Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan should advance the issue through traditional and public diplomacy so that the Kashmir cause can be sustained and strengthened.
