Malaysia PM Mahathir expresses concern over occupied Kashmir's situation

Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad expressed concern over the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), said a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Monday, reports Express Tribune.

According to the statement, Mahathir expressed his views over a telephone call with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PM Imran also reiterated his views and said that India’s announcement regarding the status of IOK was in clear violation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The premier highlighted that this would deteriorate the peace and security of the region, and would further undermine the relations between two neighbors.

The Malaysian PM also said that he was looking forward to the UN General Assembly session and a meeting with PM Imran on the sidelines.

Earlier on Monday, Pakistan strongly condemned the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370, scrapping the special status for occupied Kashmir through a presidential decree hours after imposing a major security clampdown in the region.

“The Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory,” the Foreign Office said in a press statement released earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday said that it would "exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps" taken by India regarding Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK).

The comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government introduced plans to weaken the special rights of residents in occupied Kashmir, amid heavy deployment of security forces and suspension of phone and internet services in the valley.