Foreign news
Pakistan’s Mission in Nigeria Voices Concern Over IIOJK, Renews Call for Kashmiri Self-Determination
Joel Ajayi
The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Abuja has strongly condemned India’s continued illegal occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmiri people in their quest for self-determination.
In a statement issued on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal observed annually on August 5 — the Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria on Teusday in Abuja, described India’s 2019 abrogation of Article 370 as a blatant violation of international law and a direct assault on the rights and identity of the Kashmiri people.
“August 5 marks a dark chapter in Kashmir’s history,” the High Commissioner said, recalling India’s unilateral move to revoke the region’s special constitutional status and bifurcate it into two so-called Union Territories.
“These unconstitutional measures were taken to forcibly integrate a disputed territory and alter its demography, in clear contravention of United Nations Security Council resolutions and India’s own prior commitments.”
The statement emphasized that Article 370 had granted Jammu and Kashmir a special autonomous status — allowing it to make laws independently in most matters and restricting land ownership to residents. Its revocation, the High Commission noted, has led to increased repression, daily human rights violations, and a loss of identity for the region’s inhabitants.
“Since the illegal move of 2019, Kashmiris have endured relentless crackdowns, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on movement and expression, and widespread abuses at the hands of Indian security forces,” the High Commissioner added. “India’s narrative of restoring normalcy and development stands hollow in the face of these grim realities.”
Highlighting the broader context of the Kashmir dispute, the statement recalled that Jammu and Kashmir remains an unresolved issue from the partition of the subcontinent. It noted that India’s founding leadership, including Mahatma Gandhi, had pledged a plebiscite — a commitment further endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 47.
The High Commission criticized the current Indian administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pursuing a politically motivated agenda aligned with the right-wing RSS ideology, aimed at altering the region’s demographic and political fabric.
The High Commission further noted that this year’s Youm-e-Istehsal carries added importance in light of India’s recent provocations against Pakistan. It praised the successful response of Pakistan’s armed forces in Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos, describing it as a demonstration of the country’s unity and resolve in the face of aggression.
Reiterating Pakistan’s steadfast position, the High Commissioner concluded:“Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people. We remain committed to supporting their just struggle through all possible political, diplomatic, and moral means, until they achieve their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in international law and the collective conscience of humanity
Foreign news
Court of Arbitration Declares Indus Waters Treaty Fully Operational Rejects India’s ‘Abeyance’
Cyril Ogar
The Court of Arbitration has unanimously reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains fully in force, ruling that India cannot unilaterally place the 1960 agreement in “abeyance” or suspend its obligations under the treaty.
The decision represents a significant legal development in the longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan over the management and use of the Indus river system.
The Court’s finding addresses a fundamental issue at the heart of the dispute: whether either party can unilaterally suspend the treaty outside the legal framework agreed by both countries.
In its unanimous determination, the Court made clear that the IWT continues to bind both India and Pakistan and that its obligations cannot be set aside through a unilateral political declaration.
The ruling means India remains subject to the treaty provisions governing the use of the Western Rivers, including requirements relating to the design and operation of hydroelectric projects, as well as the dispute-resolution mechanisms established under the agreement.
The Court has also ordered interim measures concerning the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant, restricting specified construction activities while the broader dispute remains under consideration.
The measures are aimed at preserving the effectiveness of the arbitration process and preventing developments that could prejudice the outcome of the proceedings.
For Pakistan, the decision represents significant legal validation of its longstanding position that the IWT is a binding international agreement and contains no provision allowing either party to unilaterally place it in abeyance.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that disagreements over the treaty should be addressed through the institutional mechanisms established by the agreement, rather than through unilateral action.
The IWT provides a structured framework for resolving disputes through mechanisms including the Permanent Indus Commission, Neutral Expert and Court of Arbitration processes.
The latest ruling therefore reinforces the principle that treaty obligations cannot simply be disregarded because of deteriorating political relations between signatories.
The significance of the decision extends beyond the India-Pakistan dispute. It underscores the broader international-law principle that agreements governing shared rivers and other transboundary resources must be respected and disputes resolved through established legal and institutional channels.
The Indus river system supports agriculture, livelihoods, food security and communities across the region, making the stability of the treaty particularly important.
The ruling also highlights the distinction between seeking to amend an international agreement through mutually agreed procedures and attempting to alter its obligations unilaterally.
The IWT has endured wars, prolonged diplomatic tensions and periods of limited bilateral engagement. Its continued operation demonstrates the importance of rules-based mechanisms in managing shared resources when relations between neighbouring states become strained.
For Pakistan, the outcome provides an opportunity to frame the decision not merely as a bilateral legal victory, but as an affirmation of international law, treaty compliance and peaceful dispute resolution.
The central message from the ruling is clear: the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force, its obligations continue to bind both parties, and disputes concerning shared waters must be addressed through the legal mechanisms agreed by India and Pakistan.
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