"Just yesterday, we have sent to the Security Council two documents: one; which outlines the legal case of the Kashmir, and other on massive human rights violations in IIOJ&K" Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram was speaking at the webinar titled "Kashmir: A year under Siege" on August 4th, 2020, as a keynote speaker. “These papers will be circulated as an official document of the Security Council and will become part of the record": he further informed, says a press release received here today from Pakistan Mission to the UN New York.
We have a strategy to defeat the forces of oppression in IIOJ&K. The first stage of this strategy has ‘information and exposure’ to inform the world about what is happening in Kashmir. The Ambassador said: the second stage of our campaign is to seek the endorsement for the legitimacy of Kashmiris’ cause from the peoples, officials, and decision-makers around the world for their inalienable right to self-determination. The third stage of our campaign will be to convince the Governments around the world to actively support the rights of Kashmiris and their legitimate cause.
"This is a comprehensive campaign to condemn the atrocities that are taking place in Kashmir and will serve to inform the Governments of the world and the peoples of the world of the reality that the Kashmiri people are facing in the world: said the Ambassador.
Ambassador Munir Akram while highlighting the prominence of the Kashmir issue on international level said that "For fifty years, Kashmir issue had remained in a cold storage. Pakistan took the matter to the Security Council on 16th of August last year after 40 years. The Prime Minister of Pakistan came to the UN General Assembly and spoke on behalf of Kashmiri people. We raised this issue in the Human Rights Council which adopted a joint statement by over 50 countries expressing support for the cause of Kashmir".
While discussing the major impediments, the Ambassador mentioned that “Many governments are reticent to speak on Kashmir for three reasons. The first is geopolitics; second is economics; and third is Indian influence on smaller countries. We need to change these reasons”.
“This change will happen from the strength of the Kashmiri struggle against Indian oppression. It will also come when India will see the damage done by its illegal actions in IIOJ&K to its own economic and strategic interests, as well as to its reputation: he said.
He further shared that: “The balance of forces is changing in favour of the Kashmiri people for several reasons, Firstly: the Kashmiri resistance remains robust despite the suffering that have been imposed on them; Secondly, Pakistan remains steadfast in supporting the people of Kashmir, and will not desert the Kashmiri struggle regardless of the pressure we may face from various sources; Thirdly, the mismanagement of Modi Government on domestic and international front is reducing India’s attraction as an investment destination and a rising economic power”.
The Ambassador stated that “History in Kashmir will eventually bend towards justice. There has never been a legitimate freedom struggle in the history of the world which has not achieved its objectives”.
Other notable speakers include President of Azad Kashmir, Mr. Masood Khan; the Convener, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Ghulam Muhammad Safi; Dr. Zahid Bukhari,Chairman ICNA Council of Social Justice, Ms Victoria Schofield from UK, Professor Sami Alarian, Director, Centre for Islamic and Glibal Affairs, Senator Mohammad Nur Manuty from Malaysia, Dr. Cikga Azmi, President, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic organizations, Professor Dr. Ssekamanya Sireje Abdullah, from Kenya, Justice Adama Nana, Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission Jeddah, Dr. Ibrahim Bulusg, from Kenya, Mrs Lars Rise, from Norway. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum moderated the webinar.
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