Saudi Arabia wants Kashmir dispute settled through international resolutions: envoy

ISLAMABAD: In an interview with Arab News, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki said Saudi Arabia was concerned about India’s move to abolish special status for Kashmir and wanted the dispute to be settled in accordance with international resolutions.
On August 5th, India blocked the right of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to frame its own laws and permitted non-residents to buy property there. Telephone lines, Internet and television networks have been blocked there since, and there are restrictions on movement and assembly despite reports of large-scale protests.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... has noticed with concern the developments in the current situation in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir resulting from India’s abolition of Article 370 of its Constitution,” Al-Malki told Arab News.
“Saudi Arabia reaffirms the right of all people to freedom, dignity, and self-determination, including the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and considers that the settlement of disputes is through peaceful manners ... in accordance with relevant international resolutions,” Al-Malki said, and called upon all parties to take into account the “interests of the population of the region.”
He said Saudi Arabia had first reacted to the revocation of Kashmir’s special status by hosting an urgent Islamic summit in Jeddah to discuss India’s decision in order to “defuse tension, maintain security, peace, and stability in the region and ensure legitimate rights.”