ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday recommended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to share details of efforts so far made in an in-camera meeting regarding the Kashmir issue and the global stance thereon.
The committee, which met here with its Chairman Senator Prof Sajid Mir in the chair, took a serious notice of the absence of the minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and the members were of the view that the minister’s presence was imperative to discuss policy matters.
The meeting was attended by Senator Falak Naz, Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Senator Muhammad Qasim, Senator Shahdat Awan, Senator Kamran Michael, Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt and senior officers from the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
It was decided that a meeting must be held prior to August 5, 2021 to show solidarity with Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), showing support for the Kashmiri cause. While listening to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the members recommended that details of all efforts made by the MOFA must be shared with the committee in an in-camera meeting and details of international stance on the subject were stressed.
The MoFA spokesperson informed the committee that the government of Pakistan is pursuing a three-pronged policy to highlight the issue internationally that included legal aspects, human rights and peace and security concerns in IIOJ&K.
The committee was informed that two human tights reports were published under the UN umbrella, highlighting the plight of Kashmiris, sparking a call for international dialogue. The members asserted that measures ascertained by the MoFA are not enough and that there is more to be done to ensure that Kashmiris are accorded their rights.
Sajid Mir opined that the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination is the main tenet of the Kashmiri cause, which has been sidelined in the wake of human rights violations in the valley. He asserted that the ministry must not lose focus and ensure that the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination is pursued relentlessly.
He said it is important to understand once the right of self-determination is achieved, human rights violations will end. He stressed that the sacrifices made by Kashmiris in IIOJK must not be forgotten.
Some members volunteered that visits must be arranged on a self-finance basis so that the Kashmir cause is highlighted on every international forum.