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Islamabad: To observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day 2012, Pakistan High Commission in London organized a seminar on 7th February, 2012 at the Pakistan High Commission. Kashmir Solidarity Day is solemnly observed every year by the Government and people of Pakistan to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people for their courage and continued struggle for their rights against all odds for the past six decades. As a matter of policy, Government of Pakistan extends diplomatic, political and moral support to their legitimate struggle against foreign occupation.
Lord Qurban Hussain, Sir Gerald Kauffman MP and Mr. Steve Baker MP were the speakers of the seminar whereas Lord Nazir Ahmad moderated the seminar.
In his welcome address, Pakistan High Commissioner Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan said, “We have gathered here to show our Solidarity with the people of Kashmir for their right of self-determination.”
He declared that Kashmir dispute was the core issue keeping successive Governments of India and Pakistan hostage to it. Mr. Hasan reminded the audiences of the efforts of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in reviving the Kashmir issue at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as at the international level.
Mr Hasan made it clear that Pakistan strongly considered Kashmiris the key stakeholders and ultimate architects of their own destiny. He expressed his deep concern over the disclosure of thousands of unmarked mass graves in Indian held Kashmir and condemned the human rights violations there.
The speakers highlighted three key aspects of the Kashmir dispute: tracing the root cause of the dispute; understanding the serious implications of the non-implementation of successive UNSC Resolutions; and failure of the International community to fulfil its obligations.
Sir Gerald Kauffman, MP presented the genesis of Kashmir issue. He said that the Maharaja of Kashmir announced the accession of Kashmir to India in 1947 against the wills of the people of Kashmir. According to him in the last 65 years, the United Nations Security Council had presented several possible solutions to Kashmir issue.
Pakistan always accepted those solutions but India obstructed all of them. In fact India since 1947 never wanted solution to this issue. Lord Kauffman said that Indian obstinacy forced Pakistan to enter the arms race in the region.
He also urged President Obama to understand the fragile nature of the issue and come forward with a peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute. Lord Kauffman deplored the fact that the Kashmir cause was under reported in the British media.
Lord Qurban Hussain expressed his deep concern over the adverse impact of the dispute on life across the Sub-Continent but more so on the lives of the Kashmiris. Therefore, in his address he dwelt upon the socio-economic impact of the Kashmir issue on the region.
He maintained that Kashmir dispute was mainly responsible for the poor economic and social conditions of India and Pakistan. He further said that the Kashmir issue was constantly increasing the level of poverty in both the countries.
While highlighting the double standard of the British Government, Lord Qurban said that the British Prime Minster invariably raises the human rights issue with his Chinese counterpart but remains silent on gross human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir while meeting with his Indian counterpart. Lord Qurban said the neglect of Kashmir issue in the international media was unfortunate.
Mr. Steve Baker MP looked into the UN Role, its failure in resolving the dispute and what needed to be done now. He also mentioned human rights abuses by Indian Military and paramilitary forces in held Kashmir.
He said that the Amnesty International’s Human Rights report on Kashmir was shocking. Mr. Baker emphasised on the need of a UN led plebiscite in Kashmir. He said it was in the interest of the British Government to work for the peaceful plebiscite in Kashmir. Finally he said that if UN could not mediate on Kashmir, it would have to justify its existence.
Lord Nazir Ahmed stated that Indian government was spending $ 100 billion extra on defence budget in the next five years. Under these circumstances Pakistan has no choice but to spend on arms. He urged both the countries to divert the money spent on arms purchase to the socio-economic uplift of their people. He regretted the indifference of the Western media to the plight of the Kashmiris.
The seminar ended at the vote of thanks by the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Nafees Zakaria. He said he was overwhelmed by the presence of such a large number of people from various walks of life. He especially thanked the speakers for their efforts to highlight the dispute of Kashmir at the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
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