AJK president seeks UK’s proactive role for Kashmir resolution through UNSC

Masood thanks members of UK parliament for supporting Kashmiri peoples’ right to self-determination

ISLAMABAD:

While welcoming debate on Kashmir in the UK parliament, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan said that in spite India's all-out stubbornness, the world is convinced that peace and security cannot be ensured in South Asia without resolving the issue in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Commenting on the debate in the UK parliament on the move of the British Labor Party MP Sarah Owen with the support of cross-party British MPs, the state president said that more than a dozen UK MPs including some ministers while taking part in the debate have expressed grave concern over the fast deteriorating human rights situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

“They (MPs) also conveyed a categorical message to the Indian regime to refrain from its illegal actions in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state, and respect the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people,” Khan said

The AJK president thanked all members of the UK parliament including James Barry Daly, Sarah Owen, Naz Shah, Paul Bristow, and Steve Baker for their support to Kashmiri peoples’ struggle for their right to self-determination and expressing concern over the worsening human rights situation in occupied Kashmir.

He also expressed his gratitude to UK MPs for urging India to take immediate measures to improve the human rights situation in Kashmir under its occupation.

Sardar Masood Khan expressed the hope that the UK parliamentarians, besides taking part in the debate on the Kashmir issue, would urge the UK, being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to hold a debate on the Kashmir issue in the world body, and realising its international obligations play a proactive role in resolving this issue pending for the last more than 70 years.

“It was a matter of great satisfaction that besides All Parties Parliamentary Kashmir Group, groups like Conservative Friends of Kashmir and Labor Friends of Kashmir with whom we are in constant touch, are playing an active role in highlighting Kashmir conflict both within and outside the UK Parliament,” he said.

The AJK president hoped that the UK Government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would also play their role in this regard. He maintained that the vociferous role of UK-based Pakistani and Kashmiri community and the Pakistani-origin MPs in highlighting the Kashmir issue cannot be forgotten.

“UK is an important member of the UN Security Council and home of more than 1.2 Pakistani and Kashmiri people who justifiably expect that the UK will move forward and play a leadership role to get the 72 years old issue resolved,” Masood Khan asserted.

Earlier on Tuesday, Masood unequivocally said that New Delhi's dream of turning the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir into Hindu Rashtra will never materialise as the Kashmiri people are determined to continue their struggle for freedom and the right to self-determination till the last drop of their blood.

He made these remarks while addressing – as a keynote speaker – a webinar on “Marginalization of Kashmiris in the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by Indian Government”, organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

“Despite India’s policy of irredentism and colonialism, Kashmiris have vowed to continue their struggle for freedom and self-determination by giving their blood to keep the flame of liberty burning. I say with conviction that the truth will prevail, evil will be crushed, and the Indian criminals will be brought to justice,” Khan affirmed.