The Embassy of Pakistan organized a seminar at the Chancery on 4 February 2022 to observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day in Norway. Independently, seminars and webinars were organized by Pakistani community organizations, the Pothwar Welfare Society Norway, Jammu and Kashmir Solidarity Movement, Norway and Pak-Norway News forum, in which the Ambassador participated as keynote speaker. The Kashmiri and Pakistani organizations also announced to hold peaceful demonstrations in front of the Norwegian Parliament building in Oslo on 5 February, in which they intend to present letters to the President of the Storting and Chair of Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee calling for an immediate end to ongoing human rights abuses in IIOJK and holding of a plebiscite for ensuring their right to self-determination in accordance to the UN Security Council resolutions. The Seminar titled ‘Ensuring Human Rights in Kashmir’ was attended by prominent Norwegian political and religious figures, scholars and representatives of the local media and members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri Communities in Norway. The speakers included Mr. Frode Jacobsen, Member of Parliament from the Labour Party, Mr. Geir Lippestad, Chairman Sentrum Party, Mr. Khalid Mahmood, former Parliamentarian from the Labour Party, Mr. Mahmood Ahmed City Councillor from Socialist Left Party and Ms. Mushaal Mullick, Chairperson Peace & Culture Organization who virtually joined the seminar. A documentary showcasing the atrocities committed in IIOJK was shown to the audience and messages of President and Prime Minister were also read out. A large number of community members residing outside Oslo joined the seminar through Zoom platform from all across Norway. The Seminar was live-streamed on the official Facebook page of the Mission, and received wide projection through the social media platform. Mr. Frode Jacobsen, Member of the Parliament from the Labour Party underlined the importance of creating an atmosphere of peace and security for sustainable solution to the dispute. He called for a free and impartial plebiscite in Kashmir under the relevant Security Council resolutions to allow the Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination. Mr. Geir Lippestad, Chairman Sentrum Party stated that his party would urge the Norwegian Government to raise and pursue the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council during its membership. It should send strong message to the Indian Government to respect the human rights of Kashmiris and allow the people of Kashmir their right to self determination. He added that the Kashmir dispute and the human rights violations has been placed as one of the main points in its party’s program. Mr. Khalid Mehmood former Parliamentarian from the Labour Party condemned the draconian policies of the RSS-BJP regime to alter the demographic structure of the disputed territory of Kashmir and continued spree of egregious human rights violations. He added that lack of will of international community to address the dispute has caused incalculable human loss and had turned Srinagar into a military fortress under the fascist extremist regime. He mentioned that the solution to the dispute is embodied in the UN binding resolutions on Kashmir, calling for a free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices. Expressing his views Mr. Mahmod Ahmad, City Counsellor from the Socialist Party noted that he will raise the issue within his party and urge the government to take notice of the human rights violations in Kashmir. He added that the issue has relevance to Norwegian policy of peace, reconciliation and protection of human rights. In her remarks, Ms. Mushaal Mallick, wife of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik and Chairperson of Peace and Culture Organization highlighted the plight of Kashmiri people and urged the international community to play its role in the resolution of Kashmir dispute as per the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions. Mr. Akhtar Chaudhry, former Deputy Speaker of the Storting from the Socialist Left Party virtually joined to call upon the participating Members of Parliament to urge the government to play a meaningful role to stop the gross human rights violations in Kashmir and take a principled position for holding a plebiscite, in accordance to the UN Security Council Resolutions. Ambassador thanked the guests and speakers who raised their voices in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He elaborated the historical, overview of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He stated that the Indian has illegally occupied large territory of Jammu and Kashmir and deprived Kashmiris the opportunity to exercise their will to decide their own destiny. While highlighting the illegal actions of Indian government taken on August 5, 2019, Ambassador said that a siege was laid by Indian occupied forces, as it announced revocation of special status of Kashmir and introduced several draconian Acts to further degrade Kashmiri's right to life, dignity and honour. A reign of terror was unleashed to crush any dissent, political leaders, activists, human rights defenders and Kashmir from all walks of life. It has made demographic changes to IIOJK granting Jammu and Kashmir domicile close to 5 million Indian citizens. He added that the global community is increasingly becoming aware of India’s atrocities to keep the people of Jammu and Kashmir illegally subjugated and international human rights organizations such as Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Rafto Foundation as well as prominent global personalities are now raising their voice for Kashmiris. The Ambassador urged Norway to keep its high moral ground and preeminent as a global protector of human rights by standing with the people of Kashmir when their human rights were being trampled in violation of international values and norms. He also called upon the participates of the Seminar to outreach the civil society, think tanks, media and political parties to garner greater support for Kashmir cause.
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