Daily Times

The visiting parliamentarians from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on Thursday announced establishment of ASEAN Kashmir Advocacy Group for highlighting the issue at the international level.

In a meeting with President Dr Arif Alvi here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the 18-member delegation comprising ASEAN parliamentarians led by Haji Mohammad Azmi Hamid, President of Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM), condemned the Indian oppression against Kashmiris and violation of their human rights and identity.

The ASEAN Parliamentary delegation is on a four-day visit to Pakistan since Tuesday. The delegation comprises parliamentarians and civil society members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Thailand.

President Alvi informed the MPs that the political map recently issued by Indian Home Ministry incorrectly shows Jammu and Kashmir region and parts of Gilgit Baltistan as its territory, which is in complete violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The president stressed that Pakistan has rejected the incorrect, legally untenable and void maps, which are incompatible with the United Nations’ maps. He said India is blatantly violating the human rights of the people of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) through its illegal clampdown since August 5, which led to a humanitarian crisis marked by shortage of food and lifesaving medicines and communication blackout. He said Pakistan consistently raised the issue of increased human rights violations by India in Kashmir at all international forums. He stressed that international community had the responsibility to take urgent steps to address this unacceptable situation in the occupied valley.

The MAPIM president termed the Indian actions of August 5 and November 2 highly condemnable and assured that ASEAN countries are fully supportive of highlighting Indian human rights violations before the world. He said various plans of action have been devised under which media from ASEAN countries would visit to assess the human rights situation in the valley. Additionally, the platform of mosques across ASEAN countries would be utilized to highlight and disseminate information about the Indian brutalities in Kashmir, he added.

The visit has been arranged by Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) for evaluation of situation in the region after Indian government’s recent unilateral and illegal decision to change the status of Kashmir. The delegation will also hold meetings with the leadership and people of Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has expressed the hope that the Southeast Asian nations will come forward to help the oppressed Kashmiri people and will extend support to them in their just struggle towards their tight to self-determination.

Talking to the parliamentary delegation on Thursday, he said that the Kashmiri people had attached great expectations with the ASEAN states particularly the Malaysian parliament. While expressing disappointment over the role of the UN Security Council, the AJK president regretted that the world body had failed to raise an effective voice against genocide and the trampling of human rights of the Kashmiri people. He lamented that the UN Security Council is not concerned over the happenings in occupied Kashmir, as its President Karen Pierce has denied debating on Kashmir this month.

Speaking on the occasion, head of the delegation Haji Azmi Abdul Hamid said that this was the second time he has led a delegation to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to assess the on the ground the situation of occupied Kashmir.

Datuk Tahir Khan condemned the criminal negligence of the UN Security Council on the Kashmir issue, and said on return to their respective countries; members of the delegation would launch effective campaigns to project the Kashmir cause.

Hasanuddin Bin Mohd Yunus declared ill-treatment by Indian forces toward the Kashmiri children, which are a violation of Convention on the Rights of the Child by detaining children in such large number. Thai member of the delegation Mohammad Faisal stressed the need for a peaceful political solution to the Kashmir issue in the light of UN resolutions. He said that the right to self-determination is a basic right of all humans and the Kashmiris must decide their political future according to their free will.