WASHINGTON: Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US on Saturday called for “keeping the Kashmir issue alive” at all fora, including the UN, despite the lack of proper attention given to it by the international community.
In his remarks at a special event commemorating the fourth anniversary of India’s harsh blockade of the disputed territory, he urged people not to lose hope even though Jammu & Kashmir was going through a terrible chapter in its history.
The Pakistani Ambassador told the Pakistani-American diaspora, Kashmiris, members of civil society, and human rights advocates to gather to observe ‘Youm-e-Istehsal.’
He assured Kashmiris that Pakistanis were the guardians of their UN-promised intrinsic right to self-determination. He claimed that the Indian government’s unconstitutional and unilateral action to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was motivated by its fear of the international momentum toward a settlement of the long-running dispute that would be created before August 2019. The Pakistani representative urged youngsters to develop “information ecosystems” to publicize the Kashmir conflict.
“Today, the opposing forces made the current internet ecology less favorable to the Kashmir issue. He said you must have your information ecosystem to emphasize the right to self-determination. Masood Khan noted that Pakistan had requested India to hold serious talks about the problems separating the two nations and added, “There should be some echo of reciprocity from New Delhi as well — It takes two to tango. A monologue is not allowed. Dialogue must happen, he said.
Messages by the Prime Minister and President were read on the occasion.
Afzal Khan, the shadow minister for legal aid in the U.K., stated that Labour M.P.s have been pleading with their government to act and make India responsible. He regretted that the world community had not worked with the same steadfastness towards Kashmir as it had in the case of Ukraine.
Shamim Shawal, a human rights activist, brought attention to the suffering of Kashmiri youth, particularly the girls who endure inhumane treatment. She claimed that with the influx of outsiders in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the locals were being denied suitable jobs, resulting in a severe youth unemployment problem. According to Shawal, 9000 girls have gone missing since 2019, and 181 children have gone missing since 2022. She claimed 20,000 Kashmiris were incarcerated, citing data from the Indian Ministry of Women and Children Development.
According to World Kashmir Freedom Movement President Muzzamil Ayub Thakur, we must learn to adapt and innovate. We must employ every tool to foil India’s cunning schemes. “Today’s remembrance should serve as a catalyst for us to act more quickly and effectively in support of Pakistan, Kashmir, and Islam,” Thakur added. Prof. Wasiullah Khan, Chancellor of East West University in Chicago, stated that India had never intended to hold a referendum. He asserted that Asian nations may follow the European example of cooperation in resolving their conflicts.
Senator Lt. General Abdul Qayyum emphasized the need for a stronger U.N. that stands with all oppressed and repressed nations if Pakistan and all peace-loving nations wanted the United Nations to succeed.
The head of the largest humanitarian organization in the Muslim world, the Islamic Circle of North America, Mohsin Ansari, pledged to continue supporting the people of Kashmir. According to Dr. Imtiaz Khan of George Washington University, the international community must find a solution to the Kashmir problem. He encouraged the Muslim Ummah to act as Kashmiris’ collective voice and support their noble cause.
He urged the more significant role of O.I.C. countries in resolving the Kashmir dispute. —APP
