ISLAMABAD, March 12: Chairman of the National Kashmir Committee Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan said China should be included in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to balance the association aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Briefing mediamen after the meeting of the Kashmir Committee at the Parliament House here on Tuesday, Sardar Qayyum said the inclusion of China in Saarc would ensure the power balance and end non-cooperative attitude of India for not activating this forum for the progress and stability of the region.

Giving details of the meeting, the chairman said two former foreign ministers Gohar Ayub Khan and Sartaj Aziz briefed the committee about evolving the Kashmir policy. They submitted a number of suggestions which would be considered by the committee during the formulation of the policy, he said.

He said: “By holding such briefings, the committee wants to develop national consensus on Kashmir policy by establishing contact and cooperation of opinion leaders in various parts of the country.”

He said the members of National Kashmir Committee belonging to respective provinces and the AJK would be activated to mobilize support and promote awareness amongst the masses regarding the centrality of the Kashmir issue and for the right of self-determination of the Kashmiris.

The committee also decided to formulate strategy, calendar of events and the theme thereof and streamline the work plan having a comprehensive vision, immediately by the core committee. After getting it approved by the committee, activities as well as implementation would start. The committee will meet the dignitaries and important delegations visiting Pakistan to mobilize the international opinion for the resolution of Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Kashmir Committee called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson here on Tuesday.

Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, while briefing the UN official on the Kashmir issue, said the United Nations should take notice of human rights violations being committed by the security forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

A memorandum on “Facts on Kashmir” was also presented to Mary Robinson.

Talking to this agency, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan said they had apprised the UN high commissioner of the violations of human rights in the Indian occupied Valley in detail and made a request to visit Kashmir aimed at sharing information about brutalities being committed by Indian forces.— APP