ISLAMABAD, Nov 2: Lord Mayor of Bradford, United Kingdom, Ch Rangzeb has observed that the time was ripe for the settlement of longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Speaking at a press conference with President Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan Muslim League (JK PML) Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry here Thursday, he said the Kashmiris were making relentless efforts to achieve their inherent right to self-determination and expressed the optimism that their struggle would bear fruit.

He stressed that sustained peace in South Asia would remain a distant dream unless the Kashmir tangle was solved, paving the way for better relations between the two South Asian nuclear countries.

Ch Rangzeb condemned the blatant human rights violations in the held Kashmir and said the international community must take notice of the situation.

“We care about what happens around us and are not oblivious to what was happening in Kashmir,” he remarked.

He said the human rights violations, be it in Iraq, Palestine or Kashmir were a matter of concern for the world community.

About the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India, he said it was leading no where. He, however, said it was an opportunity that must be availed and stressed the need for continuing efforts to persuade the parties concerned to resolve the dispute.

He said there was an immense pressure on the British government to help resolve the Kashmir dispute.

The Lord Mayor who originally hails from Mirpur said the United Kingdom was a multi-cultural society where the people belonging to different faiths live in peace and harmony.

Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry also stressed the need for including Kashmiris in the dialogue process to take it to a logical conclusion.

He urged India to create a conducive atmosphere for talks by pulling out her troops from the major cities of Occupied Kashmir, repealing draconian laws and allowing intra-Kashmir dialogue.

He lauded the role being played by Lord Mayor Ch Rangzeb for creating inter-cultural and inter-faith harmony in the United Kingdom.

He eulogized the role played by the local community of the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which struck Azad Kashmir and NWFP.

He observed that the United Kingdom can play an important role in encouraging Pakistan-India dialogue process and settlement of the lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute.