Jamil Maqsood Opposes ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Jamil Maqsood, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), has voiced strong opposition to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plans to host international cricket events in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This includes areas like Hunza, Skardu, and Muzaffarabad. Maqsood criticized these plans as “irresponsible,” warning that they could increase political tensions and undermine the rights of the Kashmiri people.
Maqsood emphasized that PoJK, which includes Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan and ‘Azad Kashmir,’ is recognized internationally as a disputed territory. He stated that Pakistan’s military presence and political control in the region violate international law, leading to the suppression of local rights. He accused Pakistan of trying to politicize sports to legitimize its occupation.
Maqsood supported India’s objections to the PCB’s proposal and urged the international community and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider the political implications of hosting events in PoJK. He warned that such actions could normalize Pakistan’s occupation and ignore calls for justice and reunification with Jammu and Kashmir.
He appealed to Pakistan to respect international law and the will of the Kashmiri people by withdrawing its military and political presence from PoJK. Maqsood reiterated the UKPNP’s commitment to peaceful reunification of Jammu and Kashmir as a democratic and self-governing region.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also protested the PCB’s plans, with Secretary Jay Shah condemning the decision and urging the ICC to act. The ICC responded by suspending the tour and revising the schedule to exclude PoK cities.
Doubts Revealed
Jamil Maqsood -: Jamil Maqsood is a person who is part of the UKPNP, which is a political group. He is speaking out against a cricket tournament being held in a certain area.
UKPNP -: UKPNP stands for United Kashmir People’s National Party. It is a political party that focuses on issues related to the region of Kashmir.
ICC Champions Trophy -: The ICC Champions Trophy is a big cricket tournament where teams from different countries compete. ICC stands for International Cricket Council, which is the organization that manages international cricket.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir -: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a region that is controlled by Pakistan but is also claimed by India. It is a part of the larger Kashmir conflict between the two countries.
Hunza, Skardu, Muzaffarabad -: These are places in the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. They are known for their beautiful landscapes and are part of the area where the cricket tournament was planned to be held.
BCCI -: BCCI stands for Board of Control for Cricket in India. It is the organization that manages cricket in India and they also opposed the tournament being held in the disputed region.
International law -: International law is a set of rules that countries agree to follow in their interactions with each other. Jamil Maqsood believes hosting the tournament in this region breaks these rules.
