Round Table Discussion on Kashmir Solidarity Day

Ktm, 5 jan- Pakistan Embassy organized a Round Table Discussion on “Kashmir Solidarity Day”, today. The event was attended by journalists, writers and analysts as well as human rights activists. Messages of the President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on Kashmir Solidarity Day were read out. In his message, President Arif Alvi paid tribute to the Kashmiris on their resilience in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.

More than a year-and-a-half has passed since 5th August 2019 when India took unilateral and illegal actions to alter the internationally recognized disputed status of IIOJK and change the demographic structure of the occupied territory. President Alvi reiterated Pakistan’s full support and solidarity with its Kashmiri brothers and sisters. The President said that Pakistan will continue to extend all-out support to the Kashmiris till the realization of their unalienable right to self-determination. In his message, Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute support for the Kashmiri brothers and sisters. He reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people until realization of their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

Prime Minister Khan demanded immediate lifting of the military siege and communications blockade as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions in IIOJK. He called for the release of all those arbitrarily arrested and illegally incarcerated. He also called for the immediate repeal of draconian laws providing impunity to Indian occupation forces. He demanded access for international human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as the international media, so as to investigate the grave human rights situation in the occupied territory.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi highlighted that IIOJK had been under continuous Indian military siege for the last 18 months, with Kashmiris virtually caged in their own houses, reeling under communications blockade, and facing severe media restrictions. Kashmiri leadership remained incarcerated. Under the suffocating military siege and in the face of ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, Indian army had continued cordon-and-search operations, staged fake “encounters”, and indulged in a killing spree of Kashmiri youth in IIJOK which had further accentuated the grave humanitarian tragedy there. Mr. Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong and steadfast support to the valiant Kashmiri people in their just struggle for human dignity and their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. Ambassador Syed Haider Shah recalled the genesis of the long-festering dispute and numerous UNSC resolutions which enshrined the promise not just from the United Nation but from the international community to the people of Jammu and Kashmir about their right to self-determination. The non-implementation of these resolutions had subjected several generations of the people of IIOJK to grave injustices, sufferings and jeopardized the peace and stability of the entire region.

Participants at the event expressed serious concern over the worsening human rights situation in Kashmir resulting from more than 18 months clamp down on millions of people in the occupied territory. The event concluded with a Q&A session in which several journalists and analysts asked questions about the history, human rights dimensions and the future of the disputed territory.