The Saadet Party Chairman, Temel Karamollaoğlu, welcomed a distinguished delegation from Kashmir at the party’s headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye.
The delegation, led by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Lateef Akbar, echoed the urgency of addressing the dire situation in the territory and garnering international support.
The delegation included eminent figures from both sides of Jammu and Kashmir such as AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Lateef Akbar, Con-vener of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar; Altaf Ahmed Butt, Abdur Rasheed Turabi and Dr Mubeen Shah.
During the meeting, the Chairman, Karamol-laoğlu, voiced deep concern over the escalating human rights violations in occupied Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, while reaffirming his strong support for the Kashmiri cause.
In his address to the Kashmiri delegation, Karamollaoğlu emphasized, “The plight of Kashmir is a grave concern. The issue of Kashmir should be raised on the international stage alongside the Palestine question. The unfolding events in Kashmir resonate as a pressing concern, akin to global humanitarian crises.”
The delegates effectively threw light on the in-tensified plight faced by Kashmiris in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, a move that has significantly escalated their challenges. They emphasized the critical importance of recognizing and acknowledging the Muslim majority of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir, which must be supported by the broader Muslim Ummah.
They said the punitive measures imposed by Prime Minister Modi’s government seemingly target Kashmiris for their religious identity, as they steadfastly advocate for their rightful freedom.
Stressing the urgency of collective responsibil-ity, the members of the delegation echoed that the Kashmir dispute must transcend regional boundaries and resonate as a pivotal concern for the entire Muslim Ummah.
In this context, Turkish parliamentarians and lawmakers were urged to leverage their influence by compelling the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to exert pressure on India to reverse the unilateral actions of August 5th, 2019. The process of conducting a plebiscite, a fundamental democratic right, was also emphasized as a means to resolve the long-standing issue and ensure the self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
Karamollaoğlu expressed satisfaction with the in-depth discourse, which spanned approximately two hours. He re-emphasized his commitment for advocating rights of the Kashmiris.
The meeting between Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu and the Kashmiri delegation signals the escalating international concern for the Kashmiri situation. It underscores the critical need for unified endeavors to address the humanitarian crisis and strive for a peaceful resolution that re-spects the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.—KMS