Supreme Leader Voices Deep Concern about Muslims' Situation in Kashmir

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei expressed grave concern about the situation of the Muslim people in Kashmir, calling on India to adopt a fair policy towards them.

News ID: 446707

Date: 23 August 2019 - 21:46

RNA - Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet members in Tehran on Wednesday on the occasion of the Government Week.

He expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflicts in Kashmir, and said, "We have good relations with the government of India. However, the government of India is expected to adopt a just policy with regard to the noble people of Kashmir, and prevent the oppression and bullying the people of this region."

Ayatollah Khamenei slammed Britain’s colonialist policies in the Indian subcontinent, and asserted, "The present situation in Kashmir and the disputes between Pakistan and India regarding it is the result of the vicious British government’s measures while retreating from the Indian subcontinent."

"To give rise to an enduring conflict in Kashmir, the British deliberately left this wound open in the region," he added.

Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei said that over the past years, the enemies have consistently conducted any hostile measure against Iran but have failed, stressing that they will never achieve their goal to block the nation's path towards development.

“The US, Europe and even the former Soviet Union have tried every means in the past 40 years (to hit a blow at Iran) but they have failed,” he said.

The Leader pointed to the country's developments in the past years in political, defensive and economic spheres, saying, “The enemy cannot do a damn thing, and the next 40 years will be better for us, and worse for the enemies.”

Earlier this month, the Iranian foreign ministry had called on New Delhi and Islamabad to practice self-restraint and try to resolve their dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.

“Iran expects India and Pakistan, as two of its regional partners, to use a peaceful approach and dialogue to settle the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Moussavi said in a statement and in reaction to the current developments concerning the disputed Jammu and Kashmir regions.

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is closely following the recent decision by the Indian government regarding Jammu and Kashmir, and will take into careful consideration the explanations presented by both Indian and Pakistani officials about the recent developments.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran expects India and Pakistan, as its friends and regional partners, to take effective steps in line with the interests of the people of the region by using dialogue and adopting peaceful means,” he added.

On August 5, India, through a presidential decree, revoked the special autonomy status of disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir to fully integrate its only Muslim-majority state with the rest of the country. The move has erupted protests all over Pakistan, while the Indian-controlled Kashmir region is under lockdown. Pakistan and India both have a claim over Kashmir in its entirety and had three wars over the disputed territory.

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