On May 21, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his opposition towards India’s decision to host a meeting for G20 in Indian-Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IOJK).
FM Bilawal made the remarks during his ongoing 3-day visit to Azaad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). While talking to the media, he stated: “Indian cannot silence the oppressed by hosting a conference. It doesn’t hold that power since its has been violating UN resolutions.” As India hosts the third meeting for G20 in the disputed region, FM Bilawal has been invited to address the AJK assembly. He also plans to mark his attendance at a protest in Bagh district to show his support for Kashmiris.
Other counties boycott G20:
Other than Pakistan, China has also boycotted the G20 summit. Its foreign ministry expressed severe opposition to holding meetings in the dispute territory. Turkiye and Saudi Arabia both are G20 members but still haven’t confirmed if they are attending or not. Whereas, Egypt, which is not a part of the coalition, had been invited but still hasn’t registered for the summit.
India currently hold the presidency for the G20. It is a summit comprised of 19 countries and the European Union. This was supposed to be the country’s first international event since 2019 after India’s BJP government slacked Article 370; the section which used to give the Muslim-majority area autonomy.
Significance of G20:
Annually, the G20 Summit is conducted with a rotating Presidency in charge. The G20’s agenda has now been expanded to cover topics including trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption. The G20 initially concentrated mostly on broad macroeconomic issues.
Also Read: ‘Hum Dekhenge’ Belongs to Pakistan, Internet Gives ‘The Kashmir Files’ Creator a Reality Check
Leave a Reply