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Friday March 29, 2024

Kashmir issue for India, Pakistan to resolve, says UK PM

By Murtaza Ali Shah
October 27, 2016

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that India and Pakistan need to resolve the issue of Indian held Kashmir (IHK) through bilateral talks.

The British prime minister was answering questions on the dire situation of human rights in Indian held Kashmir where Indian occupation forces are carrying out a policy of genocide against Kashmiris, and the valley has remained shut down for nearly four months now in protest against Indian brutalities.

During the prime minister’s question time, Yasmin Qureshi, MP, (Bolton South East, Labour) informed parliament in detail about human rights abuses. Sitting across the prime minister in parliament, Yasmim Qureshi told the prime minister that India is involved in systematic killing of Kashmiris.

Yasim Qureshi told the PM and parliament: “In the Indian occupied Kashmir over the last three months, 150 people have died, 600 have been blinded by the use of pellet guns, over 16,000 have been injured, many of the critical, uncountable and unexplained disappearances, food and medicine shortages. Will the prime minister meet me and the cross-party colleagues to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-determination for Kashmiri people as set out in UN Resolution of 1948? Can you please raise this matter with the Indian PM Narendra Modi?”

The prime minister replied that she took the same view on the issue of Kashmir that has been in place for decades in the UK. “I take the same view as this govt has, and since I came into power and previously that the issue of Kashmir is a matter for India and Pakistan to deal with and sort out. She said that the foreign secretary (Boris Johnson) has heard Yasmin Qureshi’s representations and she was sure that he will be taking up these issues with her.

Speaking to Geo News, Yasmin Qureshi said that she ensured that the PM heard about the crimes India is committing, and it was important to raise this issue in parliament in front of the Prime minister. She said that Theresa May will soon be visiting Indian looking for trade deals. “Human rights of Kashmiri people come first, and we will continue to the issue of Kashmir because the UK has a moral obligation to intervene in this matter and resolve in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.”

Separately, President of Azad Jammo & Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan and leader of the opposition in AJK Assembly Chaudhary Yaseen will lead a protest against Indian outside 10 Downing Street and Indian High Commission on Thursday to observe Black Day. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Rasheed Turabi will also take part in the protest. Barrister Sultan Mahmood will lead a protest against Indian occupation in Brussels, outside the European Parliament.