LAHORE: Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has called upon Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to raise the Kashmir issue at the G20 summit, which he is currently attending in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr Ashrafi said that as Saudi Arabia also headed Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it should put pressure on India to solve the issue in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.

Kashmir and Palestinian issues should be solved with active role of Saudi Arabia as leader of the Muslim Ummah, he said and demanded the world powers to help resolve these issues for a durable peace in the world.

If India is pushed back to Aug 5, 2019, position (when it revoked special status of Kashmir), the region would have a good impact and if it is solved under the United Nations resolutions, as was always pleaded by Pakistan, the region would have lasting peace, Ashrafi said and added that as the head of 56-member OIC, Saudi Arabia can influence world events and deal with flash points like Kashmir and Palestine.

Says world powers should help resolve the issue for durable peace

“Precisely for this reason, we are requesting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to raise a voice for helpless Kashmiris, who are suffering state suppression and fighting for their freedom. His Excellency has already played a role in reducing tension among Iran, Iraq, Russia and Ukraine. He is known for his peace initiatives and festering issues like Kashmir and Palestine beg for his attention,” he said.

Flanked by a number of clerics, Mr Ashrafi said India had put the region in a difficult situation with its policies and it needed to be checked, he demanded.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023