Altaf Hameed Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): British MP Andrew Gwynne and Member European Parliament Wajid Khan, here Monday called for an early settlement of Kashmir dispute in line with wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
The three-member British Delegation, currently on an official visit to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, made these remarks while addressing a reception ceremony hosted by Senior Vice Chairman MSF (N) and PML (N) AJK Malick Sohail Awan here on Monday. Speakers on the occasion said that Kashmir was not a territorial disputed between India and Pakistan – rather it was the issue of human rights involving the future of 20 million people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This birth right of the people of Jammu & Kashmir they said had been acknowledged by the United Nations through various resolutions seeking a free and fair plebiscite in the region under the auspices of the United Nations Organization.
Expressing grave concern over the continued human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir the British MP Andrew Gwynne, belonging to the opposition Labour Party, emphasized for the grant of justice to the people of IHK. He admitted the historic reality that since Britain was also responsible of the creation of Kashmir issue during the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, yet it (Britain) has the moral and global obligation to perform its due role to pave the way for settlement of Kashmir issue. He said that 70-year-old Kashmir issue should be settled through just and principled manner in line with the wishes of the basic stake-holders.
Describing Kashmir as one of the world’s oldest unresolved issues, MP Andrew called for the early peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through peaceful means. He said that since Kashmir dispute was a threat to global peace, should be resolved immediately to ensure permanent and durable peace in South Asia.
Speaking on this occasion MEP Wajid Khan, said that since Kashmiris enjoyed the status of the basic party to this lingering global dispute, their participation in the conflict resolution process could not be brushed aside in any way. “It is imperative that Kashmir issue be solved for the sake of establishment of permanent and durable peace in the sub continent but also necessary to avert any threat to the world peaceâ€, he added.
Addressing the ceremony President of the UK-based Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement Raja Nijabat Hussain said that by acknowledging Kashmir issue as threat to the regional and global peace, the European community including Britain primarily wanted the early and peaceful solution of this much delayed dispute through a composite dialogue between India and Pakistan through the involvement of the recognized leadership of Jammu Kashmir people from both sides of the Line of Control.
Speaking on this occasion, Director General, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Cell Fida Hussain Kiyani said that the British Kashmiris were performing an affective role in the British politics including in both houses of the British Parliament for raising the global issues including Kashmir. He emphasized that the British Kashmiris will have to perform their due role to project the Kashmir freedom movement abroad with special focus to muster the sympathies of the external world for the early peaceful resolution of Kashmir problem.