Speaks At National Defense University Islamabad
NISAR AHMED THOKAR
Islamabad, Dec 21: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said the international community must shun its policy of indifference and play its much-needed role for peaceful and permanent settlement of long-running Kashmir dispute.
Mirwaiz made these remarks while addressing a function organized by the National Defense University (NDU) here on Friday. The function was attended by eminent scholars, professors, staff members and university students hailing from different countries of the world. Highlighting the different dimensions of Kashmir struggle, Mirwaiz said Hurriyat believes in mutual co-existence. “We are not against any particular community, people or against any State”, he said adding that Kashmiris were fighting for their rights.
In the India-Pakistan context, Mirwaiz said the two countries strive for peace, prosperity and well-being of their people and “we feel that Kashmiris should also be given equal opportunity to prosper and progress.” However, he made it clear that peace, prosperity and development were closely interlinked to each other. He observed that there can be no progress without peace and peace in the region was impossible without justice.
“Development is linked to peace and peace is linked to justice”, he said adding, “We can’t move forward until justice is done and the people of Kashmir are given their rights.”
Referring to the volatile situation in the subcontinent, Mirwaiz said, “It is being said that deterrence is the sole purpose of nuclear weaponization but the fact remains that one small spark can disrupt and derail the entire peace and trust-building process and we will be back to square one.”
Highlighting the need for early resolution of Kashmir dispute, he said for a durable and lasting peace in the subcontinent, resolution of Kashmir is essentially. He said that both the countries should evolve a mechanism to address the issue peacefully, adding that India talks about political settlement of Kashmir but its attitude is non-political and contrary to its claims.
About Indo-Pak dialogue, Mirwaiz reiterated the Hurriyat (M) stance, saying the association of Kashmiri leadership with dialogue process was must to find a durable solution of Kashmir dispute. Mirwaiz expressed satisfaction on Pakistan’s role and its continued support to Kashmir cause.
Regarding the European and western countries’ apathy and indifference towards the sufferings of Kashmiri people, Mirwaiz said the international community must shun its ‘double-standards’ and play its much-needed role to settle the issue of Kashmir in line with the aspirations of people. “The European and western countries on one hand recognize the legitimate voice of Kosovo and East Timor and they talk about the aspirations of the people of South Sudan, but it is very unfortunate that they do not talk about Kashmir issue and the sufferings of Kashmiris,” he said adding this was ‘sheer dichotomy’ on their part.
Replying to queries by some students of the varsity, Mirwaiz said that Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle was purely peaceful and indigenous in nature. He also talked about the sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir, expressed concern over the human rights violations, forced disappearance and ‘killings of civilians by Indian forces.’
Regarding the revocation of “draconian laws” enforced in the territory, Mirwaiz said that India needs to do more to stop rights violations. He said, “This is not the feeling of Hurriyat (M) only but Indian mainstream parties also concede the fact that elections or administration is not going to have any impact on the resolution of Kashmir issue.” He said that this actually vindicates APHC’s stance that no elections can be substitute to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Responding to a query regarding the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan, Mirwaiz said that it remains an inseparable part of the ‘disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir.’
Welcoming the international community’s recent move of recognizing Palestine as a Non-member Observer State, he said that Palestine and Kashmir were the two oldest disputes on the UN agenda. He said that this was a welcome change as after so many years of struggle the international community had recognized their voice and “we believe Kashmir should be next on the UN agenda”. He said that the United Nations must now shun its duplicity and recognize the voices and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Referring to the changing world scenario, Mirwaiz said, “We have been witnessing some promising changes at the global level as the world has recognized the Arab uprising and the Palestinians were granted observer status in the UN. We look at these changes positively and hope the world community would recognize the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
Mirwaiz said that these changes amply demonstrate the fact that genuine movements can’t be suppressed by the use of force.
Later, the visiting Hurriyat delegation visited the picturesque Faisal Masjid and offered Friday prayers there. Thereafter, the Hurriyat team left for Lahore to hold talks with former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharief.
Mirwaiz made these remarks while addressing a function organized by the National Defense University (NDU) here on Friday. The function was attended by eminent scholars, professors, staff members and university students hailing from different countries of the world. Highlighting the different dimensions of Kashmir struggle, Mirwaiz said Hurriyat believes in mutual co-existence. “We are not against any particular community, people or against any State”, he said adding that Kashmiris were fighting for their rights.
In the India-Pakistan context, Mirwaiz said the two countries strive for peace, prosperity and well-being of their people and “we feel that Kashmiris should also be given equal opportunity to prosper and progress.” However, he made it clear that peace, prosperity and development were closely interlinked to each other. He observed that there can be no progress without peace and peace in the region was impossible without justice.
“Development is linked to peace and peace is linked to justice”, he said adding, “We can’t move forward until justice is done and the people of Kashmir are given their rights.”
Referring to the volatile situation in the subcontinent, Mirwaiz said, “It is being said that deterrence is the sole purpose of nuclear weaponization but the fact remains that one small spark can disrupt and derail the entire peace and trust-building process and we will be back to square one.”
Highlighting the need for early resolution of Kashmir dispute, he said for a durable and lasting peace in the subcontinent, resolution of Kashmir is essentially. He said that both the countries should evolve a mechanism to address the issue peacefully, adding that India talks about political settlement of Kashmir but its attitude is non-political and contrary to its claims.
About Indo-Pak dialogue, Mirwaiz reiterated the Hurriyat (M) stance, saying the association of Kashmiri leadership with dialogue process was must to find a durable solution of Kashmir dispute. Mirwaiz expressed satisfaction on Pakistan’s role and its continued support to Kashmir cause.
Regarding the European and western countries’ apathy and indifference towards the sufferings of Kashmiri people, Mirwaiz said the international community must shun its ‘double-standards’ and play its much-needed role to settle the issue of Kashmir in line with the aspirations of people. “The European and western countries on one hand recognize the legitimate voice of Kosovo and East Timor and they talk about the aspirations of the people of South Sudan, but it is very unfortunate that they do not talk about Kashmir issue and the sufferings of Kashmiris,” he said adding this was ‘sheer dichotomy’ on their part.
Replying to queries by some students of the varsity, Mirwaiz said that Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle was purely peaceful and indigenous in nature. He also talked about the sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir, expressed concern over the human rights violations, forced disappearance and ‘killings of civilians by Indian forces.’
Regarding the revocation of “draconian laws” enforced in the territory, Mirwaiz said that India needs to do more to stop rights violations. He said, “This is not the feeling of Hurriyat (M) only but Indian mainstream parties also concede the fact that elections or administration is not going to have any impact on the resolution of Kashmir issue.” He said that this actually vindicates APHC’s stance that no elections can be substitute to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Responding to a query regarding the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan, Mirwaiz said that it remains an inseparable part of the ‘disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir.’
Welcoming the international community’s recent move of recognizing Palestine as a Non-member Observer State, he said that Palestine and Kashmir were the two oldest disputes on the UN agenda. He said that this was a welcome change as after so many years of struggle the international community had recognized their voice and “we believe Kashmir should be next on the UN agenda”. He said that the United Nations must now shun its duplicity and recognize the voices and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Referring to the changing world scenario, Mirwaiz said, “We have been witnessing some promising changes at the global level as the world has recognized the Arab uprising and the Palestinians were granted observer status in the UN. We look at these changes positively and hope the world community would recognize the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
Mirwaiz said that these changes amply demonstrate the fact that genuine movements can’t be suppressed by the use of force.
Later, the visiting Hurriyat delegation visited the picturesque Faisal Masjid and offered Friday prayers there. Thereafter, the Hurriyat team left for Lahore to hold talks with former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharief.
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