– This post is being updated with information about events across the world to mark a day of solidarity with Kashmiris-
ISLAMABAD, Aug 6 (APP): 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.
Protest Outside EU
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.
WEBINAR IN US
The embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC has hosted a webinar to mark 3rd ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’ the day when the Indian government in 2019 took unilateral and illegal actions over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) to alter its special status and change the demographic character by converting Muslim majority into a minority.
The panelist included former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons UK MP Afzal Khan, Shamim Shawl, Lord Wajid Khan and Kashmiri American Rizwan Kadir.
Former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik stressed upon the need for resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
He recalled his mediatory efforts in 2019 which included his visit to India, Srinagar, Muzzafarabad and Islamabad and said it was a rare visit by an international statesman to Srinagar.
He believed that such diplomatic efforts must be sustained to explore a formula acceptable to all and said that he would send an appeal to the UN Secretary General in this regard.
“It is high time and urgent to initiate new political efforts which can pave the way for peace. The United Nations should feel a responsibility, and I also will appeal to my friend, Secretary General Antonio Guterres to take such an initiative,” Bondevik added.
He appealed to the Indian government to release Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik.
Addressing the webinar, Pakistan Ambassador to the US Masood Khan said that the developments that took place on August 5, 2019 continued to cast their shadow over the fate of the Kashmiris and peace and security in South Asia.
He emphasized that India should revisit and retract its unilateral and illegal steps, Kashmiris’ right to self-determination be respected by all and space be created for multilateral diplomacy and tripartite dialogue.
“The United Nations should take a fresh initiative, engage on the subject and the permanent members of the Security Council should take cognizance of the situation lest this dispute should become a blind spot for international security of international community,” the ambassador further stressed.
The ambassador also underscored the need for consensus building among the powerful P-5 countries over the Kashmir issue.
Masood Khan also demanded immediate release of political prisoners including Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Asiya Andrabi, Qasim Faktoo and Mussarrat Alam, and others.
Senator Mushahid Hussain highlighted that 15,000 political prisoners had been incarcerated since August 5, 2019.
Pointing out a loss of $5.3 billion to the economy and half of a million jobs lost, senator Mushahid said that 4 million outsiders had been given domiciles in IIoJK and 1.2 million people had been added to the voters’ list.
“There is insidious design to transform the demographic balance of Indian occupied Kashmir and make the Muslim majority into a minority,” he added.
He said that Modi government had ideological agenda of Muslims’ bashing at home and Pakistan’s bashing abroad which, he said, was a threat to the regional peace and security.
Afzal Khan, Deputy Leader in the House of Commons UK, pointed out that discrimination against minorities and hate speech had become normalized and institutionalized in India.
He also expressed his serious concerns over the recent actions by the Indian government to close trusts and incarceration of political activists and stressed upon the need for implementation of UN resolutions and holding plebiscite in the area.
Shamim Shawl and Kashmiri American leader Rizwan Kadir also shared their thoughts about the situation in J&K post August 2019.
Kashmir Webinar in Berlin
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.
Youm-e-Istehsal in Moscow
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).
Demonstration in France
Pakistani & Kashmiri communities in France hold a demonstration at Trocadero, Eiffel Tower to mark Youm-e-Istehsaal. Protestors carrying banners & placards called for revocation of India’s unilateral & illegal actions of August 5, 2019.
Event in Denmark
The Embassy of Pakistan in Denmark organized an event on ‘Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir’, attended by Pakistani community members. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Mariam Aftab highlighted the ongoing Indian atrocities in IIOJK.
Virtual Seminar in Bangladesh
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.
Photo Exhibition in Tokyo
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.
Kashmir Seminar, Exhibition in Beijing
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.
Indian HR Abuses highlighted in Dubai
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.
Kashmir Photo Exhibition in Ankara
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.
Yuam-e-Istehsal in Kathmandu
Kashmir Webinar in Australia
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.
Webinar in Kuwait: India guilty of fake encounters
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.
Two-day Photo Exhibition in Chicago
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.
Plights of Kashmiris highlighted in Egypt
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.
IIOJK Photo Exhibition in Canada, Vietnam
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.
Pakistan’s Embassy in Vietnam hosted an event to express solidarity with the people of IIOJK. A photographic exhibition was also held to apprise the participants of atrocities by Indian occupation forces in IIOJK. One minute of silence was also observed.
During her remarks, the ambassador reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to highlight Jammu and Kashmir dispute until Kashmiris get their inalienable right to self-determination.
Int’l Kashmir Seminar in Indonesia
Pakistan’s Embassy in Indonesia held a seminar in collaboration with Syarif Hidayatullah State University, Jakarta in a hybrid format.
The speakers included Ambassador Muhammad Hassan, Dr. Siti Khadijah, Syarif Hidayatullah University, Prof. Ahmad Alfajri, Syarif Hidayatullah University and Dr. Ari Darmastuti, Lampung University.
A large number of academics, intellectuals, faculty members from various universities and think tanks in Jakarta, and people from different walks of life participated the event.
Indian violated Int’l commitment, principles: Asad
Pakistan Embassy in Brussels hosted a webinar wherein Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan said through its unilateral actions, India had not only violated its own international commitments to the UN Security Council and its bilateral understandings and agreements with Pakistan but also its principles to the people of Kashmir.
He said India had tried to create a false sense of normalcy in Kashmir in which it has clearly failed because Kashmiris are now more determined than ever before to oppose the Indian occupation.
Azerbaijani citizens, media representatives and think tanks joined the Embassy of Pakistan in Azerbaijan to observe Youm-e-Istehsal and support the just cause of Kashmiri people. A photo exhibition was also arranged.
In his address Ambassador Bilal Hayee said since August 5, 2019, India had introduced further measures to affect the demographic changes in IIOJK in a bid to further marginalzie the Kashmiri people in their own homeland and bring in non-Kashmiris to settle to diminish and destroy the distinct Kashmiri identity.
Pakistan’s embassy in Republic of Korea and High Commission in Malaysia also held seminars to observe Kashmir Youm-e-Istehsaal to highlight the Indian human rights abuses in IIOJK.
The virtual seminar by embassy in Korea was addressed by Mushaal Mullick, Ambassador Asif Durrani and Moon, President of IIDA from South Koreabesides Pakistani and Korean notables.
Pakistan High Commission London organized a Seminar and a Photo Exhibition to mark Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir.
British Parliamentarians who participated in the Seminar in person, or virtually, included Andrew Gwynne MP, Lord Qurban Hussain, Lord Wajid Khan, Paul Bristow MP, Yasmin Qureshi MP, Imran Hussain MP, Khalid Mahmood MP, Afzal Khan MP, Anas Sarwar MSP.
Kashmiri leader Abdur Rashid Turabi, renowned historian Victoria Schofield, Muhammad Shaffaq, former MEP, Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman JKSDMI, Dr. Nazir Gilani, President JKCHR and Kashmiri youth representative Muzammil Ayub Thakur also spoke on the occasion.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Moazzam Ahmad Khan said the beleaguered people of IIOJK deserved support and solidarity from the international community more than ever before because Indian atrocities had not only continued unabated but worsened with time.
He cautioned the Hindutva inspired BJP government of India continued to seek to completely obliterate the Kashmiris’ demography, cultural identity and political distinctiveness. The sinister project that began some three years ago, on 5th August 2019, to turn Kashmiris into a minority in their own land, was proceeding at full pace, he added.
Protest Rally and Seminar in Paris
The Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir was also observed in Paris where Pakistan’s embassy held a seminar where the speakers criticized the Indian government for its illegal actions of August 5, 2019 and showed support and solidarity for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination.
Charge d’Affaires Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi said Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the international community have vehemently rejected the steps taken by India to alter the demographic structure of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he added.
On this occasion, a photographic exhibition was also held at the chancery, in which photographs of the Kashmir struggle against Indian military siege and Indian atrocities in IIOJK were put on display.
Later, members of Pakistani and Kashmiri communities held a protest rally near the Eiffel Tower, in which speakers criticized Indian government’s illegal actions of 2019 and a call was made for their reversal.
Virtual Seminar in Dublin
To observe Youm -e -Istehsaal Kashmir, the Embassy of Pakistan, Dublin hosted a virtual meeting where the participants paid rich tribute to the sacrifices made by brave Kashmiri people for their relentless struggle spanning over seven decades to realize their right to self-determination.
They strongly condemned India’s unilateral and illegal and illegal actions of 5 August 2019 for revocation of Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Yaum-e-Istehsal in South Africa
Pakistan High Commission in South Africa held multiple activities to mark Yaum-e-Istehsal where digital boards displayed in New Castle, Umtata, Pretoria and Brits.
Another demonstration was arranged in Kawamhalanga, Johanesburg. African National Congress Counsellor of Municipality of Tembisa addressed the event.
Similarly, a seminar was arranged on “ Right to Self determination for Jammu and Kashmir. A Challenge for the civilised world” at Pretoria. The people mostly Indian origin South African Muslims and local politicians including seven MPs of ruling party ANC, Democratic Alliance participated.
A social media campaign was organized through video messages by prominent South African Muslims and South African Indian origin politician supporting Kashmir cause.
The Embassy of Pakistan organized a seminar to mark the unilateral and illegal abrogation of special autonomous status of the IIOJK. Senior Norwegian politicians, Parliamentarians, social activists, journalists as well as prominent members of Pakistani and Kashmiri communities in Norway attended the seminar.
In his remarks the former Prime Minister of Norway, Mr Kjell Magne Bondevick recalled his visit to both sides of the LOC in Kashmir. He shared his personal observation of the lost opportunities and human sufferings. He mentioned that India was hindering implementation of UN Resolutions demanding referendum for the future status of Kashmir.
The ambassador informed the audience of the Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Norwegian RAFTO Foundation that had expressed grave concern over the massive human rights violations in IIOJK following India’s illegal actions of August 5, 2019.
The ambassador suggested that Norway may demand the following from its Indian interlocutors to respect the human rights, Implement UN resolutions, withdraw the illegal legislation and completely lift the inhuman lockdown.
Event in Bulgaria
The Embassy of Pakistan in Sofia organized an event on ‘Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir’, attended by Pakistani community members.
