Abide by UNSC resolutions on Kashmir: Malaysia

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Malaysia on Thursday called on India and Pakistan to remain loyal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

A statement issued by the office of Malaysian premier voiced concern over the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, “in particular, the repeated escalation of tension in the region.”

“Malaysia would like to encourage all stakeholders to abide by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir towards the maintenance of international peace and security,” read the statement posted on the Twitter account of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in a shock move on Aug. 5 removed all provisions under Article 370 and divided the disputed region into two centrally controlled “Union Territories”.

It is the second statement of Malaysia over the last three days concerning the abrogation of special provisions guaranteed to the disputed region under Indian control by Indian government.

The UNSC passed several resolutions which call for the right to self-determination to decide its political future by people of the Muslim-majority region which is partly held by India and Pakistan since 1947.

Insisting on dialogue, Malaysia called on the two nuclear-armed neighbors to exercise “utmost restraint” over the latest developments in Indian-administered Kashmir to avert any action that could be “detrimental to the peace, stability, and prosperity” in the region.

The step was taken after India launched a massive clampdown on the region housing over 12 million people with strict restrictions in place and communication blockade enforced.

Additional 40,000 Indian forces were rushed to the region to quell the possible protests.

The statement also mentioned the phone call between Mahathir and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Aug. 5 after India took the step, with the latter briefing Mahathir about the issue.

Khan also spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, U.K. counterpart Boris Johnson and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to discuss the latest Kashmir issue.