Press Release
“Commemorating Solidarity with Kashmiris”
February 4, 2022
To express its firm support to the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad organised an event on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity day titled ” Commemorating Solidarity with Kashmiris” on February 4, 2022.
While welcoming the guests, Director India Study Centre Dr. Saif Malik said that Kashmir is not only Jugular vein of Pakistan but also geographical pivot of history. He paid tribute to the heroism and dedication of the Kashmiri people whose third generation is keeping the resistance alive.
Speaking at the occasion, Director General ISSI Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that Pakistan has been observing Kashmir solidarity day since 1990 when Kashmiris rose against the illegal occupation of their land by India. Pakistan is linked to Jammu and Kashmir geographically, ethnically and religiously . He said that India is looking at a military solution to the issue of Kashmir as it has not learned a lesson from US experience in Afghanistan.
In a video message, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir said that the significance of observing Kashmir solidarity day has multiplied manifold since August 5, 2019 when India revoked Article 370 and illegally re- annexed Kashmir. He highlighted the Indian designs of bringing about a demographic change in IIOJ&K to turn Muslim majority into minority. He also spoke about Indian plans to impose a Hindu Chief Minister once the delimitation process is completed. He urged the Kashmiris across the world to come forward and actively participate in events organised to mark this very important day to convey a strong message to the world community.
Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan , former Chief Justice of Gambia and elected international judge of the United Nations shared his views on “understanding Kashmir conflict from the prism of international law”. While dismissing the option of war, Justice Chowhan suggested the use of the principle of Universal Jurisdiction in taking the issue to a court where universal jurisdiction is accepted. He also suggested to invoke United Nations principle of Responsibility to Protect that was adopted in the World Summit of 2005.
Mr. Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN also participated in the event through a video message. He said that “K” in “Pakistan” stands for Kashmir. The very idea of Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir. Because of strong diplomacy of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the issue of Kashmir has been at the centre stage. He expressed his resolve that the permanent mission of Pakistan at the united Nations will continue to promote the Kashmir cause.
Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to New Delhi ambassador Aziz Ahmad spoke on ” Role of international organizations in resolving the Kashmir issue”. He said that it was India itself that took the matter to the United Nations but once the resolution of holding a plebiscite was passed, unfortunately, India came up with one or the other excuse to evade the promises it made to the international community and later declared Kashmir as its integral part. Today, with 900,000 troops stationed, Kashmir has become the most militerized part of the world.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General , World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Washington DC in his video message highlighted the importance of the event and said that such events give a very clear message to India that Kashmir issue is still alive. He said that it is the duty of the friends of Kashmir to become the voice of Kashmiris. He also stressed that only kashmiris have the right to determine their future.
Mr. Ershad Mahmud, Director General Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell, Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir shared his views on ” Impact of rising Hindutva on Kashmir Conflict”. He said that the ruling BJP uses Kashmir to achieve its ideological and political objectives. BJP’s Kashmir policy has no component of political engagement with Kashmiri leadership. It only seeks military solution through repression. BJP considers revocation of Article 370 as its ideological victory. He said that the world too is increasingly realising the fact that India is sliding towards becoming a fascist state. There is a need to tell the world community that the issue of Kashmir will not settle in the way India is trying to settle and if it remains unsettled, it may open new disputes.
Ms. Urooj Raza Sayyami, Electronic and Print media journalist and analyst to BBC focused on “Role of media in promoting Kashmir cause”. She said that every disaster, war and tragedy brings opportunity. Following 2019, there is a lot of opportunity to highlight the issue of Kashmir across the globe. She highlighted the difficult conditions in which Kashmiri journalists and media houses have been working in IIOJ&K. She also lamented the fact that Pakistani media does not give the issue of Kashmir its due importance. Since media can play a vital role in promoting the Kashmir cause, therefore, media in Pakistan need to focus more on the ongoing human rights violations in IIOJ&K.
Towards the end, Chairman BoG, ISSI Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said issue of Kashmir is still alive because the case of Kashmir is based on solid legal and moral grounds. He stressed the need to urge the OIC member states to implement their resolutions. He also suggested that perhaps UN should also appoint special representative on Kashmir. With this the event came to its end. Director ISC Dr. Saif Malik thanked the speakers and the participants for joining the event and expressing their support for the people of Kashmir.
