London: The Pakistan High Commission in London convened the Youm-e-Istehsal Seminar, emphasizing the need for global backing of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination amidst critiques of India’s actions in the region.
According to High Commission for Pakistan – United Kingdom, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, the High Commissioner, denounced India’s August 5, 2019 measures which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. He detailed India’s attempts to change the demographic and political identity of the region through redrawing electoral boundaries, issuing domiciles to non-Kashmiris, and manipulating voter rolls, all of which he labeled as moves to disenfranchise the Muslim majority.
The seminar, attended by figures such as Adnan Hussain, MP; Shaffaq Mohammad, former European Parliament member; and other leaders from the Kashmiri advocacy and human rights community, focused on the severe impacts of India’s governance in the area, including arbitrary detentions, media censorship, and violations of human rights. The speakers called for the international community’s intervention to ensure peace, justice, and self-determination for the Kashmiri people in alignment with UN Security Council resolutions.
Additionally, a photo exhibition at the High Commission showcased the ongoing suffering faced by Kashmiris under Indian rule, reinforcing the calls for an urgent resolution to the dispute.