Kashmiris to continue struggle for right to self-determination: ex-AJK president

MUZZAFARABAD: Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir president Masood Ahmed Khan on Wednesday said the people of Kashmiri will continue to struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.

Speaking at a seminar, organised by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in connection with the Right to Self-Determination Day, Khan highlighted the immense sacrifices made by Kashmiris in pursuit of their freedom.

He said that the United Nations resolution passed on January 5, 1949, remains the foundation of the Kashmiri struggle and criticised India’s deviation from this resolution, which has escalated tensions in the region. “Despite relentless efforts to suppress their spirit, the people of Kashmir remain steadfast in their quest for freedom,” he said.

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to exert greater pressure on India to end its ongoing atrocities in the IIOJ&K.

He underscored the urgent need for the global community to uphold its responsibility to ensure justice and peace. Prominent speakers, including Faizullah Firaq and Farooq Rahmani also addressed the seminar, echoing calls for international intervention. Firaq warned of the potential for a major disaster if the global community remains silent. “The United Nations must act now to protect the fundamental rights of Kashmiris and safeguard regional stability,” he urged.

The seminar marks another milestone in the continued struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination, a cause rooted in the international law and human rights principles. The speakers collectively urged the global community to act decisively to address the humanitarian crisis in the IIOJ&K and honour the commitments made to the Kashmiri people under the United Nations resolution.