India trying to change demographic mix of Kashmir, says Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday accused India of trying to change the demographic mix of Kashmir by settling non-Kashmiris in the Valley. [caption id=“attachment_2079695” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] Ahead of the ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ being observed in Pakistan on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry levelled the charge during a briefing for ambassadors of OIC countries on the status of Kashmir issue and “the plight of the Kashmiri Muslims”. “He (Chaudhry) expressed deep concern over the policies of the present Hindu nationalist BJP Government aimed at changing the demographic makeup of Jammu and Kashmir by settling non-State subjects there and turning Muslim majority into a minority and dividing the population on ethnic, religious and communal lines,” according to an official statement issued after the meeting. Chaudhry also said that “no elections in Kashmir could be a substitute to the plebiscite under the auspices of the UN.” He said the Solidarity Day is commemorated to reiterate Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris in the “struggle for their right to self-determination.” He said peace in the region would remain elusive without the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Referring to the recent visit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary General here, Chaudhry appreciated the consistent support of the OIC and the Secretary General to the Kashmir issue. He noted that the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, consisting of Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, meets regularly and adopts resolutions affirming OIC’s continued support to the Kashmiris. The Foreign Secretary emphasised that OIC, a body of 57 countries with the world’s one-fifth population, could influence India to fulfil its “obligations” under UN resolutions and de-militarise Kashmir. PTI