Today, the Embassy of Pakistan organized a Seminar on “Kashmiris’ Youm-e-Istehsal”. The programme was attended by distinguished writers, media persons, Pakistani diaspora and analysts, as well as representatives of civil society.
Speaking at the Talk Programme, Ambassador Abrar H Hashmi recollected important developments and international global reactions to India’s illegal action of 5 August 2019 and alarming intensification of the human rights violations in that disputed territory. He particularly raised the ‘demographic apartheid’ of the people of IIOJK by refusing a majority of local by sidelining local populous and bringing settlers from outside in IIIOJK. He warned that present Indian dispensation was hoodwinking and following a dangerous path by suppressing the majority by staging ‘false flag operations’ for interalia electoral gains.
Highlighting the centrality of the right of self-determination and the UNSC resolutions, Ambassador Hashmi referred to the various discussions at the UNSC in August 2019 and then in January 2020. He also referred to the statements of the UN Secretary General urging not to take any steps that could affect the status of Jammu & Kashmir, and underlining the importance of UN Security Council resolutions.
The participants at the Seminar underlined the grave human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) forces. Ambassador Hashmi highlighted the gravity and scale of human rights violations by the Indian forces and referred to their widespread international condemnation especially by the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, EU, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
In the open house discussion session that followed, participants urged a resolution of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu Kashmir and UNSC resolutions. They also stressed the urgency to resolve the dispute which had been the biggest challenge to the regional peace and security, now for decades. They said that the international community had an important responsibility to defend and ensure the rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir including their right of self-determination.
A one-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the martyrs of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
