NEW YORK: Pakistan will continue to support the people of Kashmir till they are liberated from Indian occupation, said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi.

Speaking at an event to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day at the Pak­istan Mission to the United Nations (UN), Ms Lodhi assured the Kashmiri people of Pakistan’s support .

“While Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed in February, every day is solidarity day with the Kashmiri people and every day is a black day of shame for the Indian occupation forces which have failed to suppress the Kashmiri spirit for 70 years,” she said.

Ambassador Lodhi highlighted the gross and blatant violations of human rights committed by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir in which hundreds of people have been killed and maimed, and since July 2016, many have been blinded by the use of pellet guns.

She also apprised the meeting of the steps taken by the government of Pakistan to highlight the plight of the Kashmiris on the diplomatic front.

Dr Lodhi said that on behalf of the government, she was actively pursuing the Kashmir issue at various forums at the UN.

She said the Kashmir issue was raised during meetings with the UN leadership as well as with the president of the Security Council. The president had thereafter briefed the Security Council on the issue at Pakistan’s request.

Ambassador Lodhi also told the gathering about her meeting with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, to press Pakistan’s demand for the despatch of a UN mission to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir.

She briefed the gathering of the Kashmiri and Pakistani Diaspora about the prime minister’s recent meeting with the new UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in Davos.

“The prime minister reminded him of his responsibilities as secretary general and urged him to play a role in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute,” she said.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017