ISLAMABAD: On the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday met the leaders of Turkey, Italy and New Zealand to raise Kashmir issue and, addressing a summit on climate change, presented a visionary agenda to fight the menace.

Warning about a looming crisis, the PM called upon the international community to act urgently to ward off threats to peace and security and facilitate peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute.

During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, PM Khan updated him on the latest situation since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of Aug 5 to alter the disputed status of Occupied Kashmir, a statement issued by the PM Office said.

The prime minister said India’s efforts to change Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s demographic structure contravened numerous UNSC resolutions, international law as well as Delhi’s own prior commitments.

He emphasised that the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in held Kashmir posed grave risks for peace and security in the region.

In this context, he called for immediate lifting of curfew and other restrictions in the held Valley, an end to gross violations of human rights and allowing the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UNSC resolutions.

The prime minister thanked President Erdogan for Turkey’s consistent support to Pakistan on issues of core national interest and reaffirmed Islamabad’s stea­dfast support to Ankara on issues of its national interest.

Prime Minister Khan met his Italian counterpart Gius­eppe Conte and briefed him on legal, humanitarian and peace and security dimensions of the Kashmir situation. He called for immediate lifting of all restrictions including the curfew, release of all prisoners, halt to the use of pellet guns and respect for the human rights of the Kashmiri people.

Mr Khan also met Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and briefed her on the plight of the Kashmiris.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2019