Pakistan on Tuesday expressed its “strong indignation” over India’s decision to hold the G20 meetings in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Foreign Office remark came after the Narendra Modi government stated that the G20 Tourism Working Group conference would be held in Srinagar on May 22-24, 2023.
“The scheduling of two other meetings of a consultative forum on youth affairs (Y-20) in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in Leh and Srinagar is equally troubling,” the FO said in a statement.
“India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to maintain its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of UN Charter and international law principles.” Pakistan strongly condemns these actions,” it added.
Such events, according to the FO spokesperson, cannot conceal the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised conflict that has been on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council for over seven decades.
“Nor could such activities divert international attention away from India’s brutal suppression of the people of IIOJK, including illegal attempts to change the demographic composition of the occupied territory,” the FO added.
According to the statement, India is once again abusing its participation in an important international organisation to advance its self-serving goal.