ISSI seminar reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination
ISLAMABAD: The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a seminar titled “5 August 2019: The Continuing Struggle for Self-Determination” to commemorate the 7th anniversary of Youm-e-Istehsal.
Former Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman, representing the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, attended the event as chief guest. Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, was the guest of honour.
The seminar was also addressed by Chairman Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) Altaf Hussain Wani and lawyer and human rights activist Barrister Nida Salam. ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin Ul Haque and Chairman Board of Governors Ambassador Khalid Mahmood also spoke on the occasion.
In her keynote address, Senator Sherry Rehman expressed serious concern over the denial of basic human dignities to the Kashmiri people living under Indian occupation. She said every sphere of human life, including identity, culture, religion and property ownership, had become a victim of Indian oppressive rule.
She stressed that the Kashmir issue was not about land or territory, but about the people of Kashmir and their right to self-determination.
Ambassador Tahir Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the Kashmir cause and for the rights and dignities of the Kashmiri people. Referring to the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a peaceful resolution of the dispute through a plebiscite, he termed India’s actions of August 5, 2019, illegal and unilateral.
Ambassador Andrabi also highlighted Pakistan’s sustained efforts to raise the Kashmir cause at every available global and regional forum.
The speakers said New Delhi’s unilateral constitutional steps aimed at altering the status of Jammu and Kashmir were against international law and the relevant UNSC resolutions. They noted that India, through continued suppression, new draconian laws and demographic changes, might seek to prolong its illegal occupation of the land, but would not be able to win the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people.
They reiterated that Pakistan and its people would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters and extend political, diplomatic and moral support to their just cause and struggle.
