Islamabad: Speakers at a seminar condemned Indian state actions in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), highlighting the ongoing human rights violations and calling for international intervention.
Organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chapter and the Kashmir International Institute of Relations, the seminar brought together Hurriyat leaders, politicians, diaspora members, and analysts to discuss the Kashmir issue.
Ghulam Muhammad Safi, the seminar’s presiding official, stressed the importance of granting Kashmiris their right to self-determination as per United Nations resolutions. He emphasized that the Kashmiri choice for accession to Pakistan remains clear, denouncing India’s military presence in the region.
Senator Sherry Rehman, representing the Pakistan People’s Party, underscored the legitimacy of the Kashmiri struggle for freedom. She drew parallels between the situations in Kashmir and Palestine, urging the United Nations to address these disputes marked by human rights abuses.
Former leaders from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Raja Farooq Haider and Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan, insisted on raising the Kashmir issue globally. They described Kashmir as integral to Pakistan and honored the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs.
Participants from the British Muslim community and the UK Labour Party called for a resolution to the Kashmir conflict, urging the international community to address human rights abuses in the territory.
Speakers criticized the Indian government’s demographic changes in IIOJK aimed at weakening Kashmiri demands for self-determination. They condemned the tactics of arbitrary detentions and property seizures used by Indian forces.
Legal experts at the seminar noted India’s prolonged occupation, asserting that Kashmiri resistance would continue despite the oppression. They demanded the release of detained Kashmiri leaders and youth and urged international agencies to protect Kashmiri rights.
Prominent attendees included Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Raja Sajjad, Chaudhry Maqbool, Ambassador Nafees Zakaria, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Imran Butt, and several other notable figures.