Indian diplomatic mission in London put on notice over Kashmir

LONDON – The Indian diplomatic mission in British capital London was put on notice over Kashmir on Monday urging New Delhi to prepare for a plebiscite in the UN-designated disputed territory.

Pro Kashmir demonstrators marched from British prime minister’s Downing Street office to Indian High Commission where Kashmiri diaspora leader Fahim Kayani read out a petition addressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, the Indian diplomatic mission did not receive the petition in person and instead wanted it through post.

The petition and the protest march was held to mark five years of India’s illegal and unilateral decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status under Articles 370 and 35A of Indian Constitution.

Among the participants of the Kashmir protest march were Turkish lyricist Turgay Evren , Mufti Fazal Ahmed Qadari, Raja Sikander Khan , M Ghalib ,Yusuf Naseem Shah, Riaz Butt, Mehrun Nissa ، Shameem Shawl , Rehana Ali Advocate, Ch M Ashraf, Riaz Mehmood, Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, Ch Qurban Hussain ,Amjad Abbasi, Farooq ul Qadari ,Faras Raja , Raja Naveed Khan , Ch M Sharif , Ch Zahid Iqbal, Ch Ikram ul Haq, Babar Raja , Professor Mumtaz Butt, Ch Dil Pazeer and Khawajah Suleman

“This letter serves as a reminder that India continues to illegally occupy the UN-designated disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi has consistently obstructed the conduct of a free and fair plebiscite in the region, as mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 47, 51, 80, and 96,” said Kayani, while addressing the petition to Indian diplomatic mission.

Condemning India for occupying Kashmir through military force, Kayani said: “Such actions warrant sanctions against India. If not today, India will eventually face repercussions for its flagrant human rights violations and breaches of the UN Charter.”

In a joint statement, the participants noted the Indian occupation authorities “have intensified military repression, conducting fake encounters and siege-and-search operations” in Kashmir.

“Youth are killed in fake encounters, and their bodies are buried in remote areas without their families being allowed proper burials, violating the right to a dignified burial, a fundamental human right,” the statement said.

The statement called on New Delhi to alleviate the suffering of the people Kashmir by rescinding orders of settler colonialism.

“Kashmiris are engaged in a genuine, internationally backed movement for liberation from illegal Indian occupation,” the statement said.

The statement said Modi’s regime has imposed graveyard silence in Jammu and Kashmir by arresting and falsely labeling pro-freedom people.

“This must end immediately. India must abolish the draconian laws in Kashmir, such as AFSPA, PSA, and UAPA, which violate numerous international human rights standards,” it said, adding: “Kashmiris are freedom fighters and should be recognized as such, as per the principle of self-determination enshrined in international law. Any other label misleads the international community.”