Pakistan has expressed strong indignation over India’s decision to hold a meeting of the Group-20 (G20) in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Foreign Office in Pakistan registered its concerns regarding this decision days after the Narendra Modi-led government announced the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting to be held in Srinagar on May 22-24, 2023. The FO further expressed its concern over two other meetings of the consultative forum on youth affairs (Y-20) scheduled to be held in Leh and Srinagar in IIOJK.
According to the Foreign Office, India’s decision is another attempt to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and violation of the UN Charter and international law. Pakistan strongly condemns such moves, which cannot hide the reality of Jammu and Kashmir being an internationally recognized dispute. Such activities could not divert the international community’s attention from India’s brutal suppression of the people of IIOJK, including illegal attempts to change the demographic composition of the occupied territory.
India is exploiting its membership in an important international grouping to advance its self-serving agenda by holding G20 events in IIOJK. Pakistan has sensitized G20 member countries about its reservation regarding India’s design to host a meeting on tourism in Srinagar, which is part of the disputed area. Pakistan reminded the countries that no international gathering could be held in established disputed areas as Indian occupation of certain parts of Kashmir is on the agenda of the UNSC.
India’s decision to host the G20 events in IIOJK is another example of its inability to act as a responsible member of the international community. Despite objections from Pakistan and China, India has announced the schedule for these meetings, and Pakistan is now ascertaining details and will agitate the matter on international forums.
India assumed the year-long presidency of the G20 in December 2022 and is set to host a leaders’ summit in New Delhi in early September. The G20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s 20 major developed and developing economies, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
In conclusion, Pakistan has condemned India’s decision to hold G20 events in IIOJK and reminded the international community that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute. India’s decision to host the G20 events in IIOJK is yet another example of its self-serving agenda, and Pakistan is taking steps to raise the issue on international forums.
