‘It’s our duty to liberate Kashmiris from shackles of Indian forces’

AJK president refers community as an effective bridge between Kashmiris and international community

MIRPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Sunday said that the Kashmiri-Pakistani diaspora community had played a critical role in creating awareness about the Kashmir issue while acting as a bridge between the people of  the disputed territory and the international community.

He expressed these views while meeting Tehreek-e-Kashmir-UK President Faheem Kiani and Kashmiri leader Altaf Ahmad Bhut, who called on him for a meeting at the Jammu and Kashmir House in Islamabad, according to an official statement.

While discussing the current barbaric situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), especially the conditions prevailing after the imposition of an occupation lockdown and communication blockade since New Delhi repealed Kashmir’s status as a self-autonomous state on August 5, President Masood emphasised that a focused approach is needed by all for the peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions.

“The innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir had been imprisoned in their homeland,” he said, adding that they are being murdered, jailed on false pretences while the women are being dishonoured and young unarmed protesters are shot with pellet guns.

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Praising the efforts of TeK for successfully organising major events in the UK Parliament and in Coventry, President Masood said that the event at the parliament was attended by over 50 MPs and received wide recognition –which had helped raise the profile of the Kashmir dispute and effectively highlighted the human rights violations being committed by the India occupation forces.

Later, Councilor Yaseen Dar, Member Labour Party Executive Committee and Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Self-determination Movement-International also called on the president.

Najabat informed the president of the various activities undertaken by their organisation in order to muster support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris who are being subjected to inhumane conditions under the patronage of the Indian government.

"The diaspora community must synergise their strengths so that we may positively advocate the Kashmir cause in a fruitful manner," the AJK president said.

Reaffirming the widespread of diaspora community all over the world, the AJK president said that the network closely works with their representatives and over the years, their strengths had increased manifold.

Commending the Kashmiri diaspora community for winning respect of the host countries by hard work, professionalism and commitment to the value, he also thanked the Labour Party for including Kashmir as a part of their election manifesto.

While referring to his recent visit to Malaysia, where he received an overwhelming support from the Malaysian leadership for the Kashmir cause, Masood thanked Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian government and its people for their steadfast and principled stance on Kashmir.