Fahim Kayani calls on Norway to take lead on Kashmir

OSLO – Recalling “significant” role played by Oslo by intervening into conflict zones, a prominent Kashmiri diaspora leader called on Norway to use its “good offices” to end illegal occupation of the UN-designated disputed region by India.

Addressing a conference to mark 76th Kashmir “Black Day” hosted by the Pakistani embassy in Oslo, Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK President Fahim Kayani said: “justice and freedom-loving people like Norwegians cannot afford to remain silent on Kashmir.”

“Oslo is known for its generous interventions in conflict-hit regions which show Norway values freedom,” he said.

Oct. 27 is marked as black day in Kashmir history as on this day in 1947, Indian sent its forces to Srinagar to illegally occupying Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan Ambassador Sadia Altaf Qazi to Norway chaired the conference which was addressed by Pakistan Minister of Human Rights Mushaal Hussein Mullick.

Former  Norwegian parliamentarians , Lars Rise and Khalid Mehmood ; Attiya Mehmood, Oslo City Councillor; and others  expressed their views at the conference and condemned India’s forced military occupation of Kashmir and demanded an end to human rights violations. The conference was moderated by Asif Hameed

“This is the time European allies stand up for their self-created standards of human rights and freedom,” Kayani told the conference, addressing the European nation.

By giving India an easy pass, he told the European Union, “you are complicit in crimes which New Delhi is perpetrating in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

“But Norway has a name for itself in supporting just and genuine causes like Kashmir, thus it is incumbent upon Oslo to take lead in calling on India to release Kashmiri political prisoners, allow independent humanitarian groups to visit the UN-designated territory,” Kayani said.