ISLAMABAD: The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Friday organized a seminar titled “October 27, 1947: A Black Day for Humanity,” aimed at shedding light on the Indian brutalities and the historical significance of the day to mobilize global efforts to address the Kashmir issue.
The seminar brought together eminent scholars, legal experts, and diplomats, fostering a comprehensive discussion on the complexities of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
In his introductory remarks, Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director of ISC, emphasized the importance of this day and the necessity of rallying the international community to support the Kashmir cause. Participants included Dr. Maria Saifuddin Effendi, Assistant Professor Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at NDU; Mr. Imran Shafiq, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan and International Law Expert; Ambassador Syed Ishtiaq Hussain Andrabi, former Ambassador of Pakistan; Mr. Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Convener APHC; and Mr. Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, DG South Asia and SAARC at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI, welcomed the guests and discussed the legal, human rights, and peace and security dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He highlighted that on October 27, 1947, a dark chapter in Kashmir’s history began when Indian forces illegally landed in Srinagar based on the disputed ‘instrument of accession,’ proven through meticulous research to be fraudulent. He condemned India’s persistent defiance of the UN charter and United Nations Security Council resolutions, citing torture, extrajudicial killings, and demographic changes in the occupied territory, all in violation of international law and the 4th Geneva Convention.
Black Day for Humanity
Ambassador Mahmood suggested several proactive measures, including sustained diplomatic outreach, legal challenges against India’s illegal actions, documentation of human rights abuses for submission to UN human rights bodies, and continuous engagement with the UN Security Council to inform the international community about the threats to global peace and security. He also underscored the need for recognizing the extensive work of renowned scholar Alastair Lamb on the Kashmir dispute.
Dr. Maria Saifuddin Effendi discussed the historical context of the Kashmir issue, emphasizing that human rights abuses in IIOJK started long before 1947, with Kashmiris facing suppression since the signing of the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. She highlighted the urgent need for international intervention, suggesting focusing on the UN Genocide Convention, structural violence, and the right of self-determination frameworks.
Advocate Imran Shafiq drew parallels between India’s actions and international law violations, calling on the global community to enforce UNSC resolutions, especially Resolution 122 of 1957, nullifying any actions by the so-called constituent assembly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and prohibiting demographic changes.
Ambassador Andrabi provided historical insights into the ‘instrument of accession’ and India’s manipulative tactics during the partition. Mr. Saghar highlighted the often-overlooked Jammu Massacre in 1947, underscoring the importance of robust advocacy for the Kashmir cause across the political spectrum.
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Mr. Nizami emphasized the imperative need to implement UNSC resolutions, urging Pakistan to collaborate with the UN to press India for the release of political prisoners, repeal of draconian laws, safe access for international organizations, and full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman BoG Ambassador Khalid Mahmood reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people until a just resolution is achieved.
