Islamabad, (Parliament Times): Speakers at a webinar, while highlighting the significance of the July 19 resolution, have said that Kashmiris have rendered unprecedented sacrifices to materialize the dream that was envisioned by their ancestors much before the creation of Pakistan.
The webinar hosted by the Kashmir Institute of International Relations was addressed by political leaders, academicians, journalists, and civil society representatives hailing from both sides of the line of control (LoC) including Prof Nazir Ahmed Shwal, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Syed Muhammad Ali, Syed Yousaf Naseem, Raja Najabat, Owais Bin Wasi, Engineer Hamza Shahyar, Dr. Raja Sajjad Latif, Dr. Waleed Rasool, Naila Altaf Kaniye, Syed Arif Bihar and webinar was moderated by Altaf Hussain Wani.
Speaking on the occasion, the panelists, while shedding light on different dimensions of the historic resolution, said that the resolution that was adopted during an extraordinary meeting held at the former AJK president Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan’s residence at Abiguzar in Srinagar on July 19, 1947, speaks volumes about the wisdom and political foresightedness of the Kashmiri leadership who decided to link Kashmir’s future with Pakistan.
They said that the 19 July resolution has great significance in the Kashmiris’ resistance struggle. “The historic resolution, while setting a clear direction for the Kashmiris’ movement, made it clear that India was no longer an option for the Kashmiri people”.
Lauding the Kashmiris’ decades-long struggle, the speakers said that the people of Kashmir have rendered matchless sacrifices to achieve the goal which was set about by their forefathers in the shape of a historical resolution that was adopted months before the state of Pakistan emerged as a sovereign state on the world map.
They said that despite using all means of oppression, India has badly failed to eliminate Pakistan’s love from the hearts of the Kashmiri people.
They pointed out that the observance of accession to Pakistan Day on both sides of the line of control (LoC) was a vivid manifestation of Kashmiris’ unconditional love and their faith in the state of Pakistan.
“It is a reflection of an unbreakable bond and kinship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan.
Referring to the partition plan, the speakers said that it was quite unfortunate that India didn’t allow Kashmiri people to determine their political future based on the partition outlined in the Indian Independence Act 1947.
“After invading Kashmir, India was first to lodge a complaint in the United Nations against Pakistan, but it was quite astonishing to note that the Indian leadership later on backtracked from its commitments and promises of holding a referendum in Kashmir and refused to implement the roadmap, the highest forum presented to resolve the Kashmir problem”, they said.
Terming New Delhi’s traditional intransigence and hostile attitude as a stumbling block in the way of a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute, the speakers said that instead of reciprocating to Pakistan’s peace overtures, the Indian rulers remained stubbornly stuck to their position on Kashmir.
Commenting on the post 5th Augustscenario in Kashmir, they said that the Indian government’s unilateral action has pushed the region into lawlessness and uncertainty.
They said that despite the Indian government’s lofty claims, the situation on the ground remains unchanged.
They said that political disempowerment and marginalization of the majority community and attempts to change the region’s demography continued unabetted.
About the ruthless suppression of dissent in the region, they said that besides political leadership, India has launched a massive crackdown on human rights defenders, civil society activists, and journalists who have been critical of India’s policy on Kashmir.
They said that despite the passage of four years, essential fundamental freedoms remain largely suppressed in the region. “Thousands of Kashmiris continue to languish in Indian jails”, they said.
” Under the given circumstances, there is a dire need that the international community, in particular the United Nations must come forward and play their role to settle the lingering dispute that has been the main cause and consequence of bloodshed and violence in the region”, they said.