7 DECADES RESISTANCE; UN KASHMIR REPORT AND THE WAY FORWARD
7 DECADES RESISTANCE; UN KASHMIR REPORT AND THE WAY FORWARD
Posted on 10/26/2018
A one-day national seminar on “7 Decades Resistance; UN Kashmir Report and The Way Forward” was organized by Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) on 26th October, 2018. The seminar aimed at deliberating on 7 decades of resistance by the people of Kashmir and a new document released by United Nation High Commission of Human Rights (UNHCHR) on Kashmir. The seminar had one thematic session titled “UN Kashmir Report and The Way Forward.”
In the opening session, Director Program at KIIR Altaf Hussain Wani emphasized on the importance of UNHCHR report on Kashmir, which is a major breakthrough on Kashmir conflict. He highlighted the internal human right violations, India’s state sponsored terrorism and ongoing atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir. He further talked about the response options and responsibilities of the government of Pakistan and Azaad Jammu & Kashmir, activists, and civil society. In order to bring peace and prosperity in the region there is a call for policy recommendations.
The seminar included discussions from the representatives of AJK including President AJK Sardar Masood Khan and other guest speakers i.e. Ghulam Muhammad Saffi, Ahmed Qureshi, Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Ambassador Ashraf Jhangir Qazi, Muhammad Rafique Dar, Ch. Latif Akbar PPP Representative, Senator Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq, Senator BehrmandTangi and Dr. Muhammad Faisal DG South Asia.
The main agenda of the panel discussion was that how Kashmiri rights are being violated and what are the way forward after decades of heart wrenching atrocities committed against humanity in Kashmir and all this needs to be stopped immediately. The issue of self-determination needs to be addressed. The point highlight by the speakers was that there is a need for trilateral or multilateral dialogues and track II diplomacy should be encouraged. Self-defeating approach should be abolished and long run optimistic policy should be adopted. India is not interested to end the violations as in the maiden speech ofPrime Minister Imran Khan, he invited India for talks, but despite many efforts no positive response has been received from India rather increase in atrocities in Kashmir has been reported. It is important to note that resolutions passed on Kashmir are UN sanctioned and it should be implemented.
While addressing the panel Chief Guest President AJK Sardar Masood Khan paid tribute to all the martyrs and the people who did not stop their efforts and raised slogan in Geneva against the atrocities in Kashmir. He further added that now we have to play our cards wisely. He emphasized that “We want stronger Pakistan because it is the only sovereign window through which we can put our case on table in front of the international community.”
In the closing remarks Executive Director, KIIR Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan thanked all the speakers for their participation in the seminar and said that it is imperative to confront these challenges together both by the government of AJK and Pakistan.
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