London, January 11, 2023 (PPI-OT):Ending illegal occupation of Kashmir by India dominated a debate at Foreign Affairs Committee at the British parliament with participants questioning double standards on human rights and rule of law. The debate on “Implementing the Integrated Review: Tilt to the Indo-Pacific” was attended by diplomats and other experts as well. Prominent Pakistani public policy expert and journalist Musharraf Zaidi speaking on the occasion told the panellists that there is a “bleeding soar” in South Asia and “its name is Kashmir.”
Zaidi brought to fore the significance of non-resolution of Kashmir and how it affects any bigger problem in South and Central Asian regions. “Indian occupation of Kashmir is source of that set of multiple problems and what risks it portends for the tilt to the Indo-Pacific,” Zaidi explained, adding non-resolution of Kashmir was a huge disadvantage to the bilateral relations between India and any other country, particularly the UK.
He urged the UK government and British parliamentarians to engage on the Kashmir issue. Lauding Zaidi and MP Liam Byrne, leader of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK Fahim Kayani in a statement in London said, “The participants became voice of the suppressed and oppressed people of Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during the important debate in the parliament.”
“The participants at the Foreign Affairs Committee debate rose to the occasion for bringing to fore illegal occupation of Kashmir and the dire need to let Kashmiris exercise their democratic right of self-determination,” he added. The British parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee hosted the panel discussion “Implementing the Integrated Review: Tilt to the Indo-Pacific” on Tuesday. Kayani said the participants rightly pointed out the double standards of the western capitals.
“Rule of law applies to all comity of nations members and no mind in right senses will accept pick and choose policy to fulfil ones desired interests as is in case of India which has been given a free pass over its illegal military occupation of Kashmir,” Kayani said. “The British lawmaker Liam Byrne and Mr Zaidi has spoken transcending national interests and bloc-led politics… if Kashmir, which is an international dispute, does not get desired support from the same powers that call of rule of law and support to international liberal order, then this is all façade with no real intention of respect for basic universal rights including right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Charter,” said the Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK president.
Kayani called on the British government to pay heed to the recommendations made during the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee debate. “It is in the national interest of the UK to confront India and hold it accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity by its forces in IIOJK,” Kayani said.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org