On Monday, Pakistan officially rejected the Indian Supreme Court's unanimous verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, declared that the decision had "no legal value" under international law and emphasized the right of Kashmiris to self-determination as per relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
According to Jilani, India's move to unilaterally abrogate Article 370 on August 5, 2019, is considered illegal under international law. He argued that the status of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory, and India lacks the authority to make decisions without the consent of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan. The Foreign Minister firmly asserted that the Supreme Court's endorsement of India's actions was a "travesty of justice."
Jalil Abbas Jilani reiterated Pakistan's stance that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognized dispute that has been on the UN Security Council agenda for over seven decades. He underscored that the final resolution of the conflict should adhere to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and reflect the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. This position emphasizes the significance of international law in determining the fate of the region.
Pakistan categorically rejected the judgment on the status of Jammu and Kashmir, expressing its refusal to acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over the disputed territory. Jilani argued that any process aligned with the Indian Constitution holds no legal significance, emphasizing that India cannot evade its international obligations based on domestic legislations and judicial verdicts.
The strained relations between India and Pakistan, particularly concerning the Kashmir issue, have been further exacerbated by the recent Supreme Court verdict. Jilani's press conference highlighted Pakistan's dissatisfaction with India's actions, as demonstrated by the expulsion of the Indian envoy and the downgrading of trade ties following the abrogation of Article 370.
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