MIRPUR (AJK) – Welcoming the European Parliament’s (EP) decision ofholding a debate on the ugly situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK)at Strasbourg plenary session on September 17, Azad Jammu and KashmirPresident Sardar Masood Khan has said that the decision reflects growingconcern in Europe over the deteriorating human rights situation in theoccupied valley.
He was addressing a conference on Kashmir, jointly organised by Friends ofKashmir Group and the Jammu Kashmir Self-Determination Movement inBrussels, city of Belgium, according to an official statement released tothe media on Friday.
Masood said all developments in the Indian occupied territory met thecriterion of genocide and called for swift action by the internationalcommunity. He briefed the audience about the implications of India’sunilateral decision to revoke articles 370 and 35-A.
The AJK president called upon the international community to take firmsteps to check the human rights violations at the hands of Indian forces inthe held territory.
He stressed the need for linking trade relations with India to the humanrights situation in occupied Kashmir.
Masood thanked the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee forholding an in-camera meeting on Kashmir on the 2nd of this month, andexpressed his gratitude to the sub-committee of the Human Rights Committeefor holding an open hearing on the report on human rights situation inJammu and Kashmir released by the Office of High Commissioner for HumanRights in February this year.
He also thanked the European Parliament for taking proactive initiatives onthe Kashmir issue and creating awareness about the deteriorating humanrights situation in the held territory.
He informed the audience that people in the held valley were running out offood stocks as India was showing no signs of relaxing the curfew imposedafter August 5.
The Co-Chair Friends of Kashmir Group Richard Corbett called for utilisingall possible means to mount pressure on India.
He proposed the imposition of trade sanctions on India and restrictions onthe travel of those found involved in committing human rights violationsand acts of terrorism in IoK.
The Friends of Kashmir also proposed a resolution on Kashmir.
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Members of Friends of Kashmir Group in the European Parliament briefedparticipants of the conference about their visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmirlast month where they had a chance to meet victims of unprovoked firing byIndian forces from across the Line of Control (LoC) and relatives of thosewho had lost their lives in these attacks.
Members of Friends of Kashmir Group during their visit to AJK were able tomeet a wide range of people, including journalists, representatives ofcivil society, physicians, teachers, students and lawyers.
They called upon the Indian government to provide a similar kind of accessin its part of Kashmir.
Those who spoke on the occasion included members of the European ParliamentAnthea McIntyre, Shaffaq Mohammed, John Howarth, Irena Von Weise, TheresaGriffin and Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman Jammu and KashmirSelf-Determination Movement. A message from MEP Baroness Nosheena Mobarikwas also read out on the occasion.
Earlier, Azad Jammu and Kashmir president met with several members of theEuropean Parliament and briefed them on the current situation in Kashmir.
He held separate meetings with members of European Parliament (MEP)belonging to UK Nosheena Mobarik, Shaffaq Mohammed, John Howarth and alsomet with German MEP Michael Gahler, Swedish MEP Jyette Guteland and SpanishMEP Javier Nart.
During the meetings, Masood informed members of the European Parliamentabout the ongoing human rights violations in Kashmir and the impact ofIndia’s aggression on the peace and security of the region.
The AJK president is currently visiting Brussels on the invitation ofFriends of Kashmir Group in the European Parliament in connection with theconference on Kashmir.
