ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that ‘there was no question of resuming trade activities with India’.

According to details, committee’s meeting was held at Parliament House, and was chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, while Foreign Minister and Kashmiri leader Yasin Malick’s wife Mashaal Hussain Malick amongst attendees.

Briefing meeting, FM said however, trade activities not been curbed prior to abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, curtailing trade activities as protest would deal a severe blow to Indian economy. He stressed for all political leadership in country to sing from same hymn book on this issue.   Ms. Malick while thanking Committee for its stance on Kashmir issue, stressed need for government to amplify efforts to resolve this issue or else Kashmiris would cease to be a majority in occupied Valley. She emphasised need for rigorously strengthening ‘Lawfare’ to counter Indian measures. 

Committee while discussing whether or not trade is an option with India, Committee stressed that trade must not be resumed.   In Occupied Kashmir. It paid tribute to monumental struggle of Yasin Malik for Kashmiri right of self-determination guaranteed by several resolutions of United Nations Security Council. It also condemned Indian courts for slapping fabricated charges and denying fair trial and inhuman incarceration and treatment despite his deteriorating health.   It was asserted that this was a mockery of justice and in complete defiance of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 13 2022

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