Islamabad
In a major diplomatic break through on Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue two resolutions on the situation in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have been presented to the Swedish Parliament for discussion.
These resolutions urge the Swedish government, in cooperation with the UN, the EU and the rest of the international community, to give its full support to a settlement of the Kashmir conflict, which is of utmost importance to enable a peace process.
Pakistan Ambassador to Sweden Dr Zahoor Ahmed told on phone from Stockholm that the parliament will debate these motions, later in the month. Both the motions have been filed by members of the ruling Social Democrat Party.
One of the motions has been presented by Serkan Kose, who is a Swedish MP of Turkish origin and has been regularly raising the Kashmir issue in the Swedish Parliament in the past as well. The other has been presented by Johan Buser, another Social Democrat MP.
The motion by Serkan Kose refers to the decades long Kashmir dispute and highlights the illegal actions of 5 August 2019 saying that since the change abrogation of the special status of IIOJK, life has been disastrous for 8 million people in the territory.
It also talks about the high number of Indian troops in IIOJK, which is now the most militarized region in the world. It also underscored the restrictions of communications, mobile networks and the Internet and public gatherings.
The motion also states that depriving an entire population of their right to freedom of expression, opinion and movement for an indefinite period is contrary to international human rights conventions.
It calls on the Indian government to end the blockade of Kashmir and the crackdown on human rights. It also urges the Indian government to stop its collective punishment of the people of Kashmir.
The motion terms the situation as grave and critical and calls upon all parties to do their part for a peaceful solution and allowing the people of Kashmir to decide their future.
The other motion by Johan Buser refers to the fact that ‘The protracted conflict between the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, makes Kashmir a dangerous conflict both from a human rights perspective, but also from a security policy perspective.’
It also refers to restrictions on human rights organisations and the international media to enter IIOJK.
It refers to Swedish foreign policy’s support for peace, reconciliation, human rights and the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
It calls upon both the Indian and Pakistani governments to engage in dialogue to create a sustainable peace solution and reconciliation process.
Ambassador Dr Zahoor Ahmed said both the resolutions highlight the human rights violations and Indian atrocities in IIOJK.—KMS
