"dialogue only way forward"
Nisar Ahmed Thokar
Islamabad, Feb 03: Terming dialogue as the only way forward to settle long running dispute of Kashmir panelists at a seminar hosted by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) have said that it was in the larger interests of the people of both India and Pakistan to hold a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue to find out an early an amicable solution of K-dispute.
"It is in the best interests of both Pakistan and India to resolve this issue, if not through bilateralism, there are other methods mentioned in the UN charter such as arbitration, mediation and judicial decisions to resolve conflicts", Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors of ISSI made these assertions while addressing the seminar titled “Solving the Kashmir Dispute: Exercise of the Right to Self-Determination” here on Thursday. The seminar was addressed by Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Mushal H Malik and others, whereas Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of National Assembly on Foreign Affairs was key note speaker on the occasion.
Mahmood was of the view that the United Nations did try to organize plebiscite and consequently many representatives visited Kashmir, submitted their reports vis-à-vis holding referendum in the region but they failed. "They failed because India backed out of its commitments", he said adding that United Nations resolutions on Kashmir clearly stated that the future of the Kashmiri people will be decided by an impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN, which he said was accepted by India, Pakistan and the International community.
Notwithstanding these resolutions, ambassador Khalid Mehmood said that Indian repression continues to this date with 700,000 military and paramilitary forces being deployed in the region and countless atrocities being carried out against the innocent civilians in Kashmir.
He said that after the killing of Burhan Wani by Indian forces Kashmiris' struggle entered into a new phase. "It has led to youth uprising, the youth of Kashmir expressed their complete un-acceptability of Indian control that as a matter of fact poses a big question mark over Indian presence in the disputed territory". Highlighting what he described as important aspects of Kashmir issue, the ISSI chairman said, " a). Kashmir is primarily the question of right to self-determination enshrined in the UN charter and other international covenants b). it is not a territorial dispute c). there is no law of limitations applicable to resolutions adopted by world body and therefore validity of the UN resolutions on Kashmir does not lapse with time".
He said that vain attempts were being made to link Kashmiris' struggle with terrorism saying people under foreign domination has right to fight for their inalienable right the right to self-determination.
Regarding international community's indifference towards Kashmir he said that owing to their own economic interests big powers were reluctant to play any role and to put pressure on India.
In his key not speech Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari voiced grave concern over human rights violations in Kashmir. He said that Pakistan has always raised its voice against rights abuses inflicted upon the people of the region. He also appreciated UN high commissioner for human rights for issuing a strong statement on Kashmir.
Highlighting the contradictions within the European and western countries Lagari said that on one hand mature democracies in Europe have shown their aggressive reaction on Trumps' executive order but they remain unmoved and unconcerned over human rights violations taking place in Indian held territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Terming it as hypocrisy of the international community the PML-N legislator questioned why the global community did not take note of the atrocities happening in Kashmir. He stated that global community must show such kind of aggressive reaction towards Kashmir issue as well.
Referring to Indian hostile approach Lagari said that the incumbent regime led by prime minister Nawaz Sharif has demonstrated highest degree of responsibility against threatening and irresponsible statements by Indian leaders. "Pakistan is well on its way to economic prosperity and security stability. Pakistan is playing an important role in Afghanistan", he said adding that India's age-old tactics of blaming Pakistan for all its odds was quite irrational and uncalled for. India he said can't hide its face or conceal atrocities carried out by its forces in Kashmir by resorting to blame game.
About the settlement of K-dispute he said, "There are three stakeholders in the Kashmir dispute (Kashmir, Pakistan and Indian), all the stakeholders need to sit together to find out a solution as there is no way of resolving the issues through an act of war". He maintained that the sooner the dialogue process starts it was better for peace and stability of the entire region.
On CPEC he said that the concept of one road one belt would benefit people of the whole region and many countries were willing to be part of this mega project in future.
During question and answer session, Lagari while replying to a query said that the Standing Committee of National Assembly on Foreign Affairs had proposed the government to engage with India on four key issues that included Kashmir, Water, Trade and culture and communication.
APHC convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi stated that the issue of Jammu & Kashmir has remained unresolved since the past seven decades. Safi said that India refused to implement the road map given by UN in 1948 and 1949 for the resolution of this issue comprised of a ceasefire, withdrawal of troops and holding an impartial plebiscite to ascertain wishes and will of Kashmiri people. He said Kashmiri being principle party to the dispute believes that UN proposed road map is the most feasible solution of Kashmir dispute.
The APHC leader Mohammad Farooq Rehmani said that the rise of ‘Hindutva’ in the shape of Modi was a great threat to peaceful co-existence and the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. We want only freedom and the right of self-determination according to the UNSC resolutions, accepted both by India and Pakistan. Rehamani appealed to Pakistan to draw a result-oriented strategy for the resolution of the issue of Jammu & Kashmir.
Ms. Mushaal Hussein Mullick in her speech stated that the people of Jammu & Kashmir who are larger in number than 123 currently independent nations, having a defined historical identity were engaged in a massive, indigenous and non-violent struggle to win their freedom from the foreign occupation.
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