Imran Yaqub
New York
Pakistan consulates and Kashmir Solidarity council hosts Kashmir webnar series in United States. Pakistan American and the People of Kashmir, around the world including all major cities such Chicago, New York, Washington DC and many other where Pakistani American live in large population are observing one-year anniversary of India’s abrogation of Article 370 of its constitution for Kashmir.
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago hosted a Webinar to mark one year of India’s illegal actions in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K). The Webinar titled “One Year of Military Siege of India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir”. Consul General Javed Umrani welcomed the distinguished panel of speakers.
Kansas Congressman, Mr. Steve Watkins, in his keynote said that the situation in IIOJ&K was deeply concerning. Reports of detentions, kidnappings, media blackout, ban on social media and suppression of journalism, and most alarmingly, restrictions to fight Covid pandemic were troubling. He said that he would continue to work on Resolution 745 tabled in the US Congress last year urging India to lift the restrictions on communications in Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible and preserve religious freedom for all residents.
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, President of Kashmir Council, said, “The basic human rights of Kashmiris were being trampled by India as they are demanding their right to self-determination which was promised to them by the international community and Indian leaders. He said that the Indian government is forcibly changing the demographics in Kashmir and time was of the essence to stop it from doing so.”
Mr. Javed Rathore, Chairman of Kashmir Solidarity Council, emphasized that the international community needs to look at the Kashmir issue without the lens of economic opportunity offered by India’s one billion people market.
Dr. Saboor Javed, Deputy Chairman of Conservative Party Wolver Hampton stressed that the people of Kashmir are looking towards the US to raise their voice against human rights abuses being committed by India. He also outlined the environmental impact of this conflict on the natural resources of the disputed territory.
Mr. Zahid Awan, president of Greater Kansas City People-to-People Organization, reiterated his resolve to continue working with local leadership in the US to highlight the grave situation in IIOJ&K.
Mr. Asad Majeed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the US, appreciated the activism of Pakistanis-Kashmiris and Pakistani Americans who are passionate about raising their voice for the voiceless Kashmiris. He said that it is due to this that the US Congress held hearings to discuss human rights violations in IIOJ&K. He also said that India is depriving Kashmiris not just of their rights, but also of their identity and the world must put down its moral weight to strop these atrocities against unarmed Kashmiri civilians.
Chairman of Kashmir Solidarity Council Mr. Javed Rathore also hosted a Webinar on Kashmir issue. Speakers at the webinar included President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Senator General retired Abdul Qaum Khan , Senator Akbar Khawaja, chairperson friends of Kashmir Ghazala Habib, Brigadier retired Shafi Ghazi, Retired bureaucrat Sohail Akram, Professor Tahir Maroof.
In his keynote address, Chairman Kashmir solidarity council Javed Rathore said India rapidly changing the demography of the Kashmir. We have not much time so we do the key decisions and take on board Kashmiris.
Consulate General of Pakistan Houston also co-hosted a webinar “Crisis in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)” with Friends of Kashmir, in Dallas.
Speakers at the webinar included President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Dr.Asad Majeed Khan ,Members of US Congress, Texas state assembly and British parliament including
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Congressman Jim Banks In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Abrar H Hashmi thanked the participants and said that Youm-e-Istehsal (05 August 2020) marks one year since India illegal action and it was to express solidarity and highlight the plight of the people of IIoJK.
In his keynote address, President of AJ&K, Sardar Masood Khan gave details of ongoing military siege of monumental gravity wherein IIoJK reached level eight on genocide watch list. He highlighted how people’s liberties and human dignity was ruined. Kashmiris are prisoners within their own lands, homes and hearths. They have no representation and being ruled remotely from New Delhi. He warned the actions of Hindu nationalists rulers in New Delhi could spiral the situation and out of control. As beacon of liberties and democracy and world leader, the President called upon the United States of America to play a lead role in resolving the dispute and stop illegal Indian occupation.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat- Houston, Texas), who is recipient of Hilal e Pakistan and President of US-Pakistan caucus, reiterated her support to the people of Kashmir and said she will continue raising her voice for the rights of oppressed people worldwide. She also mentioned the joint letter and support of her caucus in bringing to the notice of US lawmakers, the disaster in Kashmir. She called on the world conscious to realize the precarious situation.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat – Dallas, Texas) was emphatic in her rejection of undemocratic means used by India in denying the inalienable rights to the people of IIOJK especially right to self-determination, dignity and religious freedom. Congressman Jim Banks (Republican – Indiana) acknowledged that the people of the land must be the master of their own destiny and highlighted bipartisanship on strong Pak-US relationship.
