Diaspora urged to highlight Kashmir dispute internationally

AJK president calls for strengthening Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, economically and politically

ISLAMABAD:

Prominent Kashmiris from around the world have called for greater mobilisation of Pakistani and the Kashmiri diasporas to highlight the Indian atrocities being committed in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Addressing a webinar titled ‘Role of diaspora in seeking peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute’, organised by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Jeddah, they said the OIC could play an important role in raising awareness about the Kashmir dispute.

The webinar was convened in connection with the forthcoming Youm-e-Istehsal, marking the first anniversary of India's illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, according to a press release received here from Pakistan's Permanent Mission to OIC, Jeddah.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan, members of the British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed and Khalid Mahmood, prominent Kashmiris, including Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai (USA), Dr Ghulam Nabi Mir (USA), Barrister Abdul Majid Tramboo (Belgium), Prof Nazir Ahmed Shawl (UK) and Masood Ahmed Puri (Saudi Arabia) addressed the event.

In his keynote address, Sardar Masood presented a six-point programme for effectively raising the Kashmir issue at international level. The programme encompassed leveraging the strengths of Kashmiri diaspora and developing coalitions among various diaspora organisations.

Sardar Masood stressed the need for effective communication with international community, including international media, prominent think tanks and important politicians, focusing on internationalising the Kashmir issue.
He also called for making efforts to strengthen Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, economically and politically and urged the diaspora to engage with local communities – parliamentarians, government officials, media personalities and other notables.

Earlier, in his address of welcome, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said the OIC could help generate a critical mass of support for raising the Kashmir dispute at other international fora.

He stated that the Kashmiri diaspora could play an important role in raising awareness about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at the international level and projecting a unified stance with legal and historical accuracy.
Ambassador Sheikh also highlighted a number of similarities between the Palestine and Kashmir issues, with a special focus on a common genesis premised on the right to self-determination enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.