Pak expats call for ending Indian oppression in occupied Kashmir

Pakistani expatriates living in the Kingdom urged the international community on Thursday to play its role to end the Indian oppression and repression in occupied Kashmir and resolve the issue in accordance with the UN resolutions. The call was made by the Pakistani community including the Kashmiris residing in the Kingdom at an event observing the ‘Black Day on Kashmir’ at the Pakistan Embassy here. Another function was held at the residence of the Consul General of Pakistan in Jeddah. In the Riyadh Embassy, Kashmiri and Pakistani community leaders highlighted the importance of Oct. 27, when the Indian forces landed in Srinagar in 1947. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan said that his country believes in peaceful settlement through negotiations with India since no country could afford to go to war at this juncture. He said that Pakistan has resumed the composite dialogue with India and that the most important item on the agenda will be elimination of the black laws in occupied Kashmir and the resolution of the Kashmir issue. “Even India\'s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had pledged to resolve this issue.” He said that Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir. He thanked the Saudi leadership and the OIC for their continuous support for their efforts to peacefully resolve the Kashmir problem. He added that the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir was imperative for peace, prosperity and stability of South Asia region. Referring to the atrocities of the Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir, Khan said that Pakistan strongly condemns the brutality, and the blatant use of force, by Indian security forces. “There is a large concentration of Indian forces in a small territory.” The envoy pointed out that the Kashmir problem is not only the question of territory, but also the issue of human rights. He said that human rights violations and repressions of the people in Occupied Kashmir need to be stopped forthwith. “During the past 22 years, 90,000 Kashmiris have been killed, 10,000 women raped and another 100,000 children were orphaned,” Khan said. He said the killing of innocent Kashmiris and arrests and detention of Kashmiri leaders are unacceptable. “Gross and systematic abuse of human rights, and Indian repression, in Kashmir must end,” he said, adding that Pakistan has called upon India to exercise restraint. Explaining the importance of Oct. 27 as ‘black day,’ the ambassador said the observance of the day aims at highlighting the issue and reminding the world community of their responsibility and the urgent need of resolving the Kashmir problem. “The observance of this day in the Kingdom was postponed to this month as a mark of respect following the demise of Crown Prince Sultan,” he noted. Abdul Malik Mujahid said the observance is aimed at sending a loud and clear message to the international community to take cognizance of the miseries of Kashmiri people, help stop human rights violations in the occupied territory and play its role in bringing about a solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris\' aspirations. In Jeddah, Pakistan Consul General Abdul Salik Khan presided over the ceremony and the OIC Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the OIC on Kashmir, Abdullah A. R. Al-Aalam was the chief guest. Salik Khan said that the persistent use of force by Indian security forces couldn\'t weaken the indomitable will of the Kashmiri people. “Pakistan is committed to give unflinching political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir,” he stressed. Al-Aalam said that OIC has reiterated its commitments to the people of Kashmir and for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir problem according to the UN Resolutions. He added that this commemoration is to keep the efforts of the Kashmiri people alive. He noted that it is the collective responsibility of the international community to support the Kashmiri people in their struggle for achievement of the right of self-determination.