BALTIMORE, US, June 2 (APP): Kashmiri people fighting for their freedom from India’s repressive regime can determine their own political destiny and the international community must help them realize their right to self-determination, a US-based renowned Kashmiri leader said on Wednesday.
Secretary General of World Kashmir Awareness, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai while addressing the 41st Annual Convention of Islamic Circle of North America, criticized world leaders for ignoring human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
Those who spoke included Dr Nikibur Rahman, son of Motiur Rahman Nizami who was executed in Bangladesh on May 11, 2016 through a trial procedure that international human rights groups, including “Amnesty International” have condemned as deeply flawed.
“More trade between India and Pakistan will do nothing to end the indigenous Kashmiri resistance, which is fueled by shocking human rights violations and the denial of self-determination for more than half a century,” Dr Fai said, according to a statement issued after the Convention.
“He said no power on earth can bargain away the rights of Kashmiris who alone can determine their own political destiny,” Fai warned.
The Kashmiri leader said that the international community should not abandon occupied Kashmir and should stress on third party intervention to resolve the lingering dispute of Kashmir as both Pakistan and India have failed to come to an agreement on the issue.
“They (Pakistan and India) should also be encouraged to permit the leadership of the people of occupied Kashmir to participate as full partners in the negotiating enterprise with both India and Pakistan,” he added.
“Isn’t the demand of the people of occupied Kashmir legitimate and recognized by the United Nations and international community?” he asked and added that if the answer is in affirmative, then why should the world powers prefer trade and commerce to moral values and ethical principles?”.
“Isn’t trade and commerce trampling on principles, democratic values, and human rights in occupied Kashmir? Isn’t it a bad precedence to prefer trade to morality,” Fai asked.
Fai concluded by emphasizing the inspirational message given by President Obama to the leadership of the South Asia on October 30, 2008 when he pronounced to facilitate an understanding between India and Pakistan to help resolve the Kashmir crisis.
“That message needs to be fulfilled for the sake of international peace and security,” he added.
