MUZAFFARABAD: Kashmiri leaders on Friday urged both the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to evolve a joint strategy for effective projection at the international level and subsequent success of the freedom struggle in India-held Kashmir.

The demand came at a seminar on ‘Human rights violations in India-held Kashmir and world community’s responsibility’ jointly organised by Tehreek-i-Kashmir (TeK) United Kingdom (UK) and Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM).

TeK UK president Raja Fahim Kiyani was the ‘guest of honour’ at the seminar while other speakers included former Jamaat-i-Islami AJK emir Abdul Rashid Turabi, PTI leaders Khawaja Farooq Ahmed and Abdul Majid Khan MLA, Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) chairman Altaf Ahmad Bhat, PML-N Youth Wing leader Shahid Mahmood Wani, Kashmiri migrant leader Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, Shaikh Aqeelur Rehman and Qazi Shahid Hameed.

Govts in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad need to rise above their political affiliations and devise a policy on Kashmir issue, speakers say

Mr Turabi, who is also chairman Public Accounts Committee in the AJK Legislative Assembly, said the AJK government had been created for the sole purpose of promotion of Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination and it should dedicate its entire resources to carry out its responsibilities in this regard on scientific lines.

“In fact, both the governments in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad need to rise above their political affiliations and ideologies and devise a national policy in consensus with all stakeholders to extend the much-needed help to the struggling Kashmiris,” he said.

He was of the view that the Foreign Office should exploit to the core the UN High Commissioner’s report on Kashmir of last year and Amnesty International’s report in the ongoing year to bring India to a defensive position in the comity of nations.

PTI leader and former AJK minister Khawaja Farooq Ahmed said Prime Minister Imran Khan had always been outspoken on Kashmir issue and his government would never compromise on the genuine political struggle of Kashmiri people at any stage.

“The central leadership of our party has assured us that the federal government will very soon vehemently raise Kashmir cause at diplomatic level to expose India’s worst human rights record in held Kashmir.”

Mr Kayani said the UK-based diaspora was ready to welcome every leader from Pakistan and AJK for the sake of the Kashmir cause.

“But I have one humble request… Our leaders should come with one slogan and one mission - exposing Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir with logic and evidence. We will volunteer ourselves to make their visits successful,” he said.

He said people in UK and Europe were all out to contribute for the noble cause of struggling Kashmiris.

Mr Bhat of JKSM said time had come to approach the world powers and brief them about the human rights situation prevailing in held Kashmir due to the refusal of Kashmiris to accept India’s illegal occupation.

“We have to make them realise that under the Narendra Modi-led Hindu extremist government Kashmiri people will suffer more losses at the hands of brute Indian army.”

Mr Majid Khan, who is also PTI parliamentary leader in AJK assembly, said Kashmir was being seriously discussed at the international level “because of the matchless sacrifices of the people on the other side of the divide.”

He said it was good to see both the political government and the armed forces of Pakistan on one page on all national and international issues, and that will help us have a joint strategy to move forward towards the ultimate settlement of Kashmir dispute.

PML-N leader Wani said Pakistani and Kashmiri leaders should spotlight the UN resolutions and avoid floating new ideas and formulas.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2019