Islamabad: The Senate of Pakistan passed a unanimous resolution on Monday condemning the atrocities and the alteration of the legal and constitutional status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), labeling these actions as unconstitutional and in violation of international law.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Senator Syed Ali Zafar, who introduced the resolution, emphasized that the unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, by India aimed to solidify its control over IIOJK, an action that has been met with international criticism. The Senate expressed its solidarity with the Kashmiri people, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for their struggle for self-determination, as recognized by numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

The resolution highlighted the ongoing human rights violations and the militarization of Kashmir by Indian forces, which have turned the region into one of the most militarized areas globally. It also denounced the demographic and political changes being forced upon the territory and reiterated the invalidity of any political processes that align with the Indian Constitution over the self-determined rights of the Kashmiri people.

Furthermore, the Senate condemned the continuous oppression, torture, and killings in IIOJK and the illegal dispossession of Kashmiris from their land following the repeal of Articles 35A and 370 of the Indian Constitution. The resolution called for the immediate release of Kashmiri political prisoners and the cessation of human rights abuses by Indian forces.

The Senate’s resolution also rejected recent Indian statements concerning Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as threats to regional peace and affirmed Pakistan’s determination to counter any aggressive actions. It urged the international community to ensure that the Kashmir dispute is resolved through a fair and impartial plebiscite under United Nations auspices, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

Leader of the Opposition, Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, also voiced support for the resolution, stressing the importance of resolving the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions and voiced his condemnation of the ongoing Indian atrocities in the region.