Sardar Masood Khan, President, Azad Jammu & Kashmir briefed media on human rights violations in Kashmir. He said that India was committing gross human rights violations in Kashmir and the entire population was living under extended curfew for over a month now. He appealed to the international community to play its role to end the rights abuses and resolve the issue according to the UN resolutions on Kashmir.
He categorically refuted Indian claims that Kashmir was its integral part. He said that the Kashmiris never accepted Indian rule and are continuing their freedom struggle despite worse atrocities and state operation. Similarly, the
President contradicted Indian propaganda that there was terrorism in IOK instead of freedom struggle. He said that the Kashmir people are engaged in freedom struggle and are unarmed, therefore, cannot be termed terrorists. He said India was trying to divert the world attention from its atrocities in IOK by blaming Pakistan and the Kashmiris for terrorism.
He termed his United Kingdom visit quite useful as it raised awareness about human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. However, he expected that United Kingdom would not only condemn human rights violations in IOK but the British Prime Minister would raise this issue with her Indian counterpart during her upcoming visit to India.
The President emphasized on the Kashmiri community in UK to get united and raise awareness about the issue of Kashmir in an effective and forceful manner. He also congratulated Kashmiri community on their achievements in the United Kingdom.
H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas was also present on the occasion. He informed the media that he has already sent letters to various British parliamentarians asking them to send a cross-party parliamentary delegation to both sides of Kashmir so that facts on the ground could be ascertained. A few days ago, the British parliamentarians in various Kashmir related meeting had agreed to work towards sending such delegation to both sides of Kashmir.
