ISLAMABAD, AUG 05 (DNA) – After India’s illegal abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, Pakistan employed aggressive diplomacy to raise the issue of Kashmir on all international forums.

On August 5, 2019, India trampled on its own constitution and ended the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan raised its voice for the voiceless Kashmiris all over the world, including in the United Nations, the OIC and the World Economic Forum.

In protest, Pakistan deported the Indian High Commissioner, ended trade with India and barred its own High Commissioner from going to India. Prime Minister Imran Khan contacted the heads of every country, including China, Germany and the United States, informing them of India’s unconstitutional move.

At the direction of the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi not only made telephone calls but also wrote letters to several leaders all across the globe. The President of the UN Security Council was also requested to review Indian actions in occupied Kashmir.

It was after decades that the Kashmir dispute became part of the Security Council’s agenda. Five months later, at the second meeting of the Security Council, the situation in Kashmir was again reviewed.

On September 27, 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan fought the case of Kashmiris with full force in the UN General Assembly. Due to Pakistan’s tireless efforts, US President Donald Trump made repeated offers to mediate on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and later in the World Economic Forum in January.

At the request of Pakistan, several OIC meetings were convened and the Kashmir issue was discussed. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supported the internationally recognized status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the resolutions of the Security Council.

Kashmir Day was celebrated every Friday by Pakistanis both nationally and internationally. A highway from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad was renamed from Kashmir Highway to “Srinagar Highway”. In the new political map, Pakistan declared Occupied Kashmir as a disputed territory while the UN Secretary General also passionately raised the issue of Kashmir during his visit to Pakistan. =DNA

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