British MP demands implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir

Afzal Khan, UK Member of Parliament and the shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons, has assured that despite disassociation with the European Parliament following Brexit, British lawmakers would continue to use their good offices to raise the Kashmir issue in the European Parliament with the help of their friends.

He gave this assurance during a meeting with AJK President Sardar Masood Khan here at the Kashmir House on Sunday. The two leaders discussed in detail the matters of mutual interest including the latest situation of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and efforts to project Kashmir issue at international forums.

While expressing grave concern over the fast deteriorating situation in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the two leaders demanded immediate implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions in which the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people was recognised, and a plebiscite was proposed for a final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, the AJK president called for an immediate cessation of the plan of demographic change by India in IIOJK. New Delhi, he said, had introduced new domicile laws, and consistently taking actions under which ground was paved for the purchase of lands of Kashmiris by non-Kashmiri Indian citizens and the acquisition of land in the disputed territory for commercial and industrial use.

The AJK president maintained that domicile of Occupied Kashmir has been granted to more or less two million non-state subjects during the last few months, and if this exercise is not stopped, the Muslims majority would turn into a minority in their own motherland in the next two to three years.

He said that the people of Occupied Kashmir were undergoing the worst phase of the history; innocent people are being maimed and killed, the youth are being rendered blind and detained in prisons and detention cells, and freehand has been given to the Indian occupation, Army to commit every kind of crime under black laws in the occupied territory.

Saying that Kashmiris had no role in running the affairs of the state because their genuine leadership is languishing in jails, Masood regretted that non-Kashmiris, a lieutenant governor and the chief secretary, are implementing New Delhi’s directives.

Sardar Masood Khan while expressing deep gratitude to the members of all parties parliamentary Kashmir group of the UK parliament for creating awareness about Kashmir and releasing a comprehensive report on the Indian actions said that we are particularly thankful to the Labour Party MPs who had helped us holding a debate on Kashmir issue in both the houses of the UK parliament.

However, he regretted that the UK government and the Foreign and Common Wealth Office had done nothing except lip service, and tried to avoid resolving this issue by declaring it a bilateral dispute between Pakistan and India.

While describing the violations of human rights taking place in IIOJK as massive and unparalleled, MP Afzal Khan said that the UK has a historical key role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

He also acknowledged the role of the diaspora community in raising the Kashmir issue and said that political parties along with the British citizenry would strive to further strengthen advocacy on Kashmir in the UK.