Pakistan reiterates to denounce violent attacks on religious sites

The United Nations (UN) has adopted a resolution by consensus on the protection of religious sites. The resolution was sponsored by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and other OIC countries. The resolution condemns all acts of threats of violence, destruction and damage directed against religious sites that have continued to occur across the world especially in India.

The resolution denounces any move to obliterate or forcibly convert any religious sites.

It also expresses concerns on the rise of racial and religious intolerance and negative stereotyping of religions and condemns any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that promotes discrimination, hostility or violence.

In his tweet, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said Pakistan will continue to play a leading role in denouncing violent attacks on religious sites.

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I am happy that the @UN General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution – sponsored by 🇵🇰 🇸🇦 🇪🇬 🇸🇩🇵🇭 🇦🇪 🇲🇾 🇰🇼 🇻🇪 & other OIC countries – on the protection of religious sites. Pakistan will continue to play a leading role in denouncing violent attacks on religious sites.

— Pakistan Permanent Representative to UN (@PakistanPR_UN) January 22, 2021

The ambassador earlier tweeted that

On the 31st Anniversary of the Gawkadal Massacre, I would like to pay homage to the brave sons & daughters of #Kashmir who were martyred on 21st January 1990 in the cowardly & barbaric attack by India’s occupying forces in IIOJK.

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On the 31st Anniversary of the #GawKadalMassacre, I would like to pay homage to the brave sons & daughters of #Kashmir who were martyred on 21st January 1990 in the cowardly & barbaric attack by India’s occupying forces in #IIOJK. 1/2

— Pakistan Permanent Representative to UN (@PakistanPR_UN) January 21, 2021

He added that:

Our hearts go out to the families of the martyrs of Gawkadal and all other martyrs of the epic Kashmiri freedom struggle. In this struggle & sacrifice the people of Flag of Pakistan will continue to stand firmly & fully in solidarity, unity & brotherhood with the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

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Our hearts go out to the families of the martyrs of #GawKadal & all other martyrs of the epic Kashmiri freedom struggle. In this struggle & sacrifice the people of 🇵🇰 will continue to stand firmly & fully in solidarity, unity & brotherhood with the people of Jammu & Kashmir.2/2

— Pakistan Permanent Representative to UN (@PakistanPR_UN) January 21, 2021

On the other hand, in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Hurriyat leaders and organizations continue to pay tributes to the victims of Gaw Kadal massacre on their 31st martyrdom anniversary.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat forum in a statement in Srinagar termed the indifference exhibited by the international community and human rights organizations over the numerous massacres including the massacre of Gaw Kadal witnessed in the territory against Kashmiris as distressing and unfortunate.

It said, as a consequence of the unbridled powers bestowed upon the Indian troops under the draconian laws, more than one lakh Kashmiri civilians have been killed during massacres, enforced disappearances, civil protests, cordon and search operations and fake encounters.

The forum said, none of the perpetrators has ever been brought to book or punished. “Indian forces’ personnel involved in the massacres were never brought to justice,” it added.

Gawkadal massacre

The Gawkadal massacre was named after the Gawkadal bridge in Srinagar, Kashmir, where, on 21 January 1990, the Indian paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on a group of Kashmiri protesters in what has been described by some authors as “the worst massacre in Kashmiri history”.