The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organized a launching ceremony of its flagship report entitled “Voices on Kashmir.” The Chief Guest of the event was Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan. The keynote speaker was Mr. Khalid Rahman, Chairman at Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad. Other distinguished speakers included Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman at Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR); and Ahmad Quraishi, a Human Rights and National Security Journalist. The moderator thanked the Chief Guest and other speakers for their presence.
In his introductory remarks, Dr. Arshad Ali, Director ISC thanked the Chief Guest and distinguished speakers for their presence at the event. Dr. Arshad said that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is the core dispute between India and Pakistan. He pointed towards the event of August 5, 2019, when India illegally and unilaterally revoked the special status of Kashmir which was a violation of the International Law including the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, 4th Geneva Convention, and Shimla Accords. Since 1947, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have experienced all forms of violence and atrocities. Nonetheless, it was the determination of the people of occopied Jammu and Kashmir which caught the attention of the international community. Dr. Arshad emphasized that today there is a pressing need for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Dr. Arshad further stated that Pakistan has utilized almost every platform to highlight the humanitarian, legal, peace, and security dimensions of the Kashmir dispute. He highlighted that the report launched by the ISC is an effort to highlight the concerns of the global community expressed in solidarity with the people of Kashmir. He further stated that these are the voices of conscience from all over the world which stretches from Europe to America and encompasses the regional and international organizations to highlight the plight of people from Jammu and Kashmir. The Report is also an urge to India that lasting peace in South Asia depends upon the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Dr. Arshad concluded his address by thanking DG ISSI Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary for his supervision in the preparation of this report. He further thanked the whole team of ISC including Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, Mr. Kasim Masood, Ms. Misbah Mukhtar, and Ms. Mahwish Hafeez for their dedicated efforts.
