BRUSSELS: Speakers at a conference in Brussels have reaffirmed their commitment to continue raising the Kashmir issue before the international community and supporting the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), while reiterating calls for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The conference, organised by the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU) at the European Press Club to mark Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, brought together diplomats, academics, experts and representatives of the Kashmiri diaspora.
Calls for International Attention
Addressing the gathering, KCEU Chairman Ali Raza Syed said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan remained committed to supporting Kashmiris despite internal challenges.
He described India’s August 5, 2019, constitutional changes concerning Jammu and Kashmir as a unilateral move that, he said, could not alter the internationally recognised disputed status of the territory.
Syed said the Kashmir dispute remained on the agenda of the United Nations under the Security Council resolutions and should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
He said a politically stable and socially united Azad Jammu and Kashmir would help present the Kashmir issue more effectively at the international level.
Pakistan Reiterates Support
Pakistan’s Deputy Head of Mission to Belgium, Faisal Fayyaz, said the participants had gathered not only to commemorate Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir but also to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
He said Pakistan would continue extending its political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris while highlighting what it described as human rights violations in IIOJK.
During the conference, messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were read out by officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Belgium, while a video message from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also presented.
Diaspora Renews Commitment
World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance Europe President Chaudhry Khalid Joshi said peace, political stability and unity in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were essential for strengthening the Kashmir cause internationally.
He urged political leaders and institutions to prioritise dialogue, responsibility and national unity while reaffirming continued support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
The speakers collectively pledged to continue raising the Kashmir issue globally and promoting peace, justice and human dignity.
A documentary highlighting the situation in IIOJK, including allegations of human rights violations, was also screened during the event.
