Dr Alvi urges UN to play role in solving Kashmir, Palestine issues

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi said Kashmir and Palestine issues seek attention of the world community, emphasising the United Nations must play its role towards their resolution for global peace.

Addressing the two-day International Conference on Kashmir history, culture and heritage here, he made it clear freedom struggles could not be suppressed by use of brute force and it had been proved time and again.

The president noted that the history of Kashmir spanned over five thousand years and added the Islamic art and calligraphy was the beauty of the region. He said art could not be separated from people.

Dr Arif Alvi said holding of this conference would give the participants a glimpse of the beautiful and peaceful culture and civilisation of Kashmir. He expressed satisfaction that the Muslim Ummah stood together on the Kashmir dispute.

The president said Pakistan sought peace and Prime Minister Imran Khan repeatedly gave the message of peace to India and also released the Indian pilot as a peace gesture.

The president, however, regretted that the Indian side had been taken over by war hysteria after the Pulwama incident. He said Pakistan had moral victory in relation to the recent stand-off with India. He said, “Pakistan has successfully pushed itself out of extremism but our neighboring country India is now engulfed by it”.

On the cultural heritage, the president said, “We must continue to preserve and promote our rich heritage including languages and music instruments.”

Speaking on the occasion, President Azad Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan said Azad Kashmir was the most peaceful region of Pakistan, whereas the Indian occupied Kashmir was in deep pain where women and children were being killed. He pointed out that India had intensified atrocities in the occupied valley following the Pulwama incident. He said the shrines and temples in occupied Kashmir were being plundered and destroyed.

He said despite Indian atrocities, the Kashmiri people in every street and square were raising pro-Pakistan slogans. He called on the world community to boycott India for its gross human rights violations in the occupied territory. “In the Kashmir region under Indian occupation, there are massive threats to Islamic traditions, culture and cultural heritage, owing to India’s typical mindset,” he noted.

He continued that Kashmiris, who believed in brotherhood, co-existence and peace, were being projected as militants and terrorists. Azad Kashmir government, he noted, was actively working to revive and showcase its cultural heritage to the outside world. For this purpose, exhibitions were also being organised.

Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood pointed out that there were deep cultural linkages between Pakistan and Kashmir and that mapping of cultural heritage sites was under way with the aim to preserve and promote them.

On the occasion, the message of OIC secretary general was also read out. He strongly condemned the Indian oppression in occupied Kashmir. He said the violence in occupied Kashmir is also taking a heavy toll on cultural sites. He said the international community should exert utmost pressure on India for the protection of fundamental and religious rights of Kashmiri people. He said durable peace in South Asia can only be achieved through resolution of Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Security Council resolutions.