Daily Times

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday said Kashmir was the unfinished agenda of the partition plan of the subcontinent, and urged Britain to assert its role for resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspiration of people of Kashmir and UN resolutions.

The speaker was talking to a delegation of British parliamentarians led by Khalid Mahmood, MP, in the Parliament House. The delegation is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of the National Assembly speaker.

The speaker while talking to the British MPs said that leaving the Kashmir dispute unresolved had brought the peace of the region at stake. He said that continued denial of the due right to Kashmiri people for decades and recent unilateral succession of state of Jammu and Kashmir with Indian mainland had exposed the democratic outlook of India. He said that recent unilateral decision of the Indian government without involving Kashmiri people was utter contravention of its international commitments. The speaker stressed upon the British MPs to raise the issue in British Parliament and other international forums for its resolution.

The speaker said that Kashmir issue was a flashpoint and constant threat to the peace in the south Asia. He said that International community, United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Commission should take notice of the situation. He said that Kashmir Valley had turned into a heavy militarised zone and killing, kidnapping and use of pallet guns was a routine in Kashmir under the auspicious of State Forces.

Khalid Mahmood said that Kashmir issue was a human catastrophe, which warranted immediate attention of the international community. He said that British people were aware of the plight of Kashmir people and would extend their outmost support for resolution of Kashmir issue. He said that atrocities being committed by Indian forces were highly condemnable. He along with his colleagues was on an informative visit about Kashmir issue and would apprise the British Parliament about the real situation on ground.

MPs Imran Hussain and Stephen Timms also spoke about the situation in Kashmir. They said that Britain believes in civil liberties and human rights, therefore, it would push the case of Kashmir people on appropriate forums. They said that no one in the civilised world could support such cruelty against innocent civilians just to crush the just right.

Earlier, both sides discussed matters of bilateral interest and ways and means to further strengthen relations between two parliaments. The speaker said that cooperation between both the parliaments in legislation and staff exchange needed to be enhanced for taking advantage of each other’s experiences. The British parliamentarians thanked the speaker for kind hospitality extended to them besides giving them an opportunity to interact with Pakistan authorities to know about the real situation in Kashmir.