ISLAMABAD, AUG 29 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made a telephone call to New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on Thursday and discussed with him gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and the deteriorating security situation in the region.

The Foreign Minister apprised the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister that India abolished special status of occupied Kashmir through a unilateral step on 5th August 2019 in contravention to the UN Security Council resolutions on the issue.

He said India wants to change demography of occupied Kashmir through repressive tactics.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the unarmed people of occupied Kashmir have been facing curfew, which has caused shortage of food and medicines there.

He said there is complete blockade of communication means so that the world could not know the facts on ground in occupied Kashmir.

The Foreign Minister said the reports of the foreign media and international human rights organizations are pointing out at an emerging humanitarian crisis.

Expressing concern over the situation in occupied Kashmir, the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister said we are closely observing the situation.

He said New Zealand is also receiving information about occupied Kashmir from the Kashmiri community in New Zealand, and his country will continue playing its positive role in this regard.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the international community to play its role to get stopped Indian oppression in occupied Kashmir and for maintenance of regional peace and stability.

He said this during his telephone conversation with his Sri Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana.

The Foreign Minister said human rights violations are increasing in occupied Kashmir with each passing day and situation is so alarming that the people there are faced with shortages of food and medicines.

He warned that such oppressive tactics on the part of India can destroy the regional peace and stability.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said his country gives importance to bilateral relations with Pakistan and awaits the visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to Sri Lanka.