LONDON: British lawmakers have raised serious concerns over grave human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK) calling upon New Delhi to stop the abuses in Occupied Kashmir and comply with UN Resolutions on issue of Kashmir to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their birth right to self-determination. This serious concern was raised by the British parliamentarians and other speakers at All Parties Kashmir Conference, organized by Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Self-Determination Movement.
On the occasion, Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Mohammad Faisal said that the Jammu & Kashmir conflict is an international matter, not a bilateral dispute between Pakistan and India. He highlighted the worsening human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and emphasized that these issues should not be confined to bilateral discussions. Citing reports from Genocide Watch and investigations by the UK law firm Stokes & White, he detailed the severe crimes perpetrated by Indian forces, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Dr. Faisal called for more international pressure on India to end the lockdown, halt human rights violations, release political prisoners, repeal repressive laws, lift media restrictions, and allow unrestricted access to UN missions.
He told the conference that New Delhi is taking systematic steps to illegally change the demography of the Occupied Kashmir through 5th August, 2019 revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
In response, British Parliamentarians collectively supported the right of the IIOJK people to self-determination as outlined by UN Security Council resolutions. They urged the UK government to exert pressure on India to stop human rights abuses and address the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The MPs reaffirmed their commitment to continue raising awareness of the issue both in the UK and on the global stage.
Former Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn MP, former Chairpersons of the APPG on Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan, and various MPs and MEPs, alongside Jammu & Kashmir activists and media representatives also attended the event.
