ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Tuesday saidAzerbaijan being an important country in Asia could play its role in theOrganization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other regional forums toraise the plight of people of Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir.

The Kashmir issue was the flash point of South Asia and might triggerescalation if not peacefully settled as per aspirations of the Kashmiripeople, he said during a meeting with Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizadahere at the Parliament House.

The NA Speaker said the Indian government had stripped Kashmir of itsautonomy and unique regional identity through the revocation of Article 370and 35-A of its constitution. The decision to rescind the statute wasfollowed by an organized brutal crackdown against innocent civilians,including women and children and crippling any sign of life in theillegally occupied Valley and other parts of the region, he added

Asad Qaisar said Pakistan and Azerbaijan had an enduring diplomaticrelationship. The two countries not only had a similar cultural, religious,and geopolitical outlook but also similar views on regional andinternational issues.

The NA speaker underlined the need for closer inter-parliamentary relationsbetween Pakistan and Azerbaijan. The Pak-Azerbaijan ParliamentaryFriendship Group could be an apt forum to enhance those relations, he added.