Peace seminar: India protects its soldiers against their crimes in IHK

ISLAMABAD: Speakers in a seminar on “Revisiting Kashmir issue to explore new strategies for peace” have maintained that India has a record to protect its soldiers against their crimes in held Kashmir under the umbrella of black laws like AFSPA. They can shoot to kill anyone without any restriction under this law.

“The Indian army has now accepted in front of their government that the conflict can only be resolved by dialogues not by force.” The department of media & communication studies, International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), in collaboration with the YFK, International Kashmir lobby group (Youth Forum for Kashmir) held the seminar at Quaid-i-Azam Auditorium, Old Campus IIUI, Faisal Mosque, here on Sunday.

Keynote speakers included Syed Yousuf Naseem, Convener APHC; Abdullah Hamid Gul, Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan Pakistan; Ahmed Quraishi, TV Anchor/Executive Director YFK; Dr Zafar Iqbal, Chairman Media Department, IIUI; Hamoon Rasheed Chauhan, host/actor and others.

Syed Yousuf Naseem said that there is no element of fear in Indian held Kashmir (IHK). India has a record to protect their soldiers against their crimes in occupied Kashmir under the umbrella of black laws like AFSPA; they can shoot to kill anyone without any restriction under this law. He further said that Indian army has now accepted in front of their government that the conflict can only be resolved by dialogues not by force.

Abdullah Gul said that Jammu & Kashmir is not a bilateral issue between Pakistan & India, but it’s on the global agenda of United Nations as an international conflict. He further said that Indian army has been stuck in its own trap in held Kashmir and they know very well that it’s impossible to resolve the conflict by force.

Ahmed Quraishi said that the United Nations has ended its half-century of silence on Kashmir, giving diplomats, activists and rights defenders a new hope to push for conflict resolution, which is stalled due to Indian intransigence. And, he further said that in coming June the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is going to unveil a report on the situation in Indian held Kashmir.

Hamoon Rasheed Chauhan said that there is no military solution but the talks are the only hope for the resolution of this longest standing conflict. Kashmiris are sacrificing their lives for freedom, so we should support them in their just cause.

Dr Zafar Iqbal said that the world used to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, but, in held Jammu & Kashmir, there is no freedom of expression allowed by the Indian government. He further said that Pakistani film and drama industries should play its role to highlight the Kashmir conflict through this soft medium. The YFK is a non-partisan, international non-governmental organisation, working for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir conflict in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.