Solidarity with Kashmiris marked across the World

ISLAMABAD: To condemn India’s illegal and unilateral steps in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the international community and Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad expressed solidarity with Kashmiris.
Special events and rallies were held in various countries to raise a voice against the unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 and those taken afterwards that demonstrated sheer disregard for international law, views of the international community, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The participants highlighted the Indian state-terrorism against Kashmiris through numerous reports and video evidence recorded presented by credible human rights and humanitarian organizations as well as the international media.
A protest camp was held in front of the European External Action Service organized by the Kashmir Council European Union against Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The protestors called upon the international community to urge India to end its gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK, reversal of its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019, repeal of draconian laws, and implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
The Embassy of Pakistan, Berlin organised a webinar to mark Youm-e–Istehsal, against 3 years of an unprecedented military siege, curbs, and gross human rights violations by India in IIOJK. A large number of people from the diaspora, Kashmiris, local Germans, students, civil society members, academicians and journalists attended the moot.
Lord Wajid Khan, Member House of Lords, UK remarked that Kashmiris were facing genocide and the Indian military was involved in grave human rights violations. The international community must not ignore the plight of Kashmiris, in lieu of their economic interests. We must continue to raise our voices until the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The German panellists including Prof. Hans H Dube, an expert analyst for South Asia and Afghanistan, Volker Tschapke, Honorary President, Prussian Society and Ewald Konig, Journalist, International Media Projects, Berlin stressed that the international community should be more sensitive towards ensuring the fundamental rights of the people of IIOJK and play an active role for the swift resolution of this longstanding dispute.
Pakistan’s Embassy in Moscow held a ceremony to commemorate Youm-Istehsal to pay tribute to the indigenous freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and denounce the illegal and unilateral acts of India.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Shafqat Ali Khan has termed the Indian brutal atrocities and illegal and unilateral act of 5th August 2019 as the last futile efforts to suppress the indigenous freedom struggle by the Kashmiri people.
In his address, prominent Moscow-based Kashmiri Ishteaq Ahmed Hamdani called for joint efforts from the forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
A virtual event was also held in Bangladesh to express solidarity with the oppressed people of the IIOJK and pay tribute to the extraordinary services of the Hurriyat Leader, late Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran, in his remarks, reiterated the message of the Pakistani leadership, and conveyed steadfast political, moral and diplomatic support of Pakistan for the Kashmiri people.
At an event held at Pakistan’s embassy in Tokyo, Charge d’ Affaires Ismat Hassan Sial highlighted unprecedented, inhuman military siege and communication blockade since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019.
She said it was a crime against humanity that has destroyed lives, crippled livelihoods, and imperiled the very identity of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Eight million Kashmiris have been made prisoners in their own homes.
A photographic exhibition was also organized by the Embassy to highlight the continuing torture and brutal repression carried out by the Indian Occupied forces in IIOJK.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing held a special seminar, in hybrid format, that was attended by eminent Chinese scholars, namely Dr. Chen Wei, a Senior Research Fellow at China Institute for International Strategic Studies, Dr. Lan Jianxue, the Director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), and Dr. Li Li, the Deputy Director of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Moin ul Haque emphasized that India’s illegal unilateral actions of 05 August 2019, which was in contravention of several UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of international law, have severely impacted the efforts to bring about durable peace and stability in South Asia.
A pictorial exhibition was also arranged at the Embassy on the occasion highlighting the atrocities of the Indian military forces against the people of Kashmir.
At an event held by Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai Consul General Hassan Afzal Khan said numerous reports of the UN, including the two commissioned by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2018 and 2019, have re-confirmed ongoing Indian atrocities against the Kashmiri people.
Kashmiri leaders and members of the community condemned the unilateral and illegal actions of India coupled with gross human rights violations by Indian forces in IIOJK and re-affirmed the resolve of Kashmiris to continue the liberation struggle despite Indian State terrorism till the realization of objective.
A photo exhibition depicting Indian atrocities in IIOJK was also arranged on the sidelines of event. A short documentary on human rights violations being committed by the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK was also screened during the event.
Pakistan Embassy Ankara also observed the third “Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir”, wherein Ambassador Syrus Sajjad Qazi said that in the tortured history of Kashmir since 1947, hardly a day has passed, when the occupying power India has not come up with fresh mischief and malice towards the people of Kashmir.
He said Kashmiri struggle is alive, stronger than it was before August 05, 2019 and Kashmiris are more determined to get their legitimate right to self determination, the right promised to Kashmiris by UN, Pakistan and India.
Pakistan High Commission in Australia held a webinar wherein the speakers reaffirmed solidarity with Kashmiri people in the just struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.
Pakistan Embassy in Kuwait held a webinar on “IIOJK needs global attention” addressed by Ambassador Malik Muhammad Farooq and attended by Kuwaiti dignitaries, prominent community members and representatives of the Kashmiri diaspora.
In his remarks, the ambassador said that India was guilty of fake encounters and so-called cordon and search operations, custodial deaths, use of pellet guns, enforced disappearances and collective punishment.
He said India was also guilty of the incarceration of almost the entire Kashmiri leadership, their true representatives in order to prevent them from raising voice for the peaceful and legitimate Kashmiri struggle for right to self-determination.
Pakistan’s Consulate General in Chicago held a two-day photographic exhibition to observe Youm-e-Istehsal and express solidarity with oppressed people of IIOJK.
A huge number of people from the Pakistani, Kashmir and local community members visited the exhibition and got understanding of the ongoing Indian human rights abuses in the IIOJK.
Pakistan’s Embassy in Egypt organized a Seminar “Kashmir Under Siege” to mark Yaum-e-Istehsal to highlight plight of Kashmiris in IIOJK facing continued military siege since August 5, 2019.
Similarly, Pakistan’s High Commission in Canada held a photographic exhibition to highlight the atrocities perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces against the Kashmiris struggling for their right to self-determination.
The visitors from different walks of life took keen interest in the photographic works depicting the plight of the Kashmiri people including women and children. –Agencies