…As India receives knocks
By AIDOGHIE PAULINUS
the plight of the people of Kashmir formed the bulwark of discussions at the Pakistan High Commission in Abuja on Sunday, February 5, 2017.
The Pakistan High Commission had gathered friends and nationals to observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day, to express support for their brethren.
The evening witnessed a display of the atrocities allegedly committed by Indians in the territory of the Kashmiris.
The yearly event was in accordance with the Pakistanis’ and Kashmiris’ practise that such events be organised in world capitals to draw the attention of the international community to the plight of the people of Kashmir.
The Defence Advisor, Pakistan High Commission in Abuja, Col. Julian James, who addressed the audience during the event, said every year, on February 5, Pakistanis and Kashmiris around the world arrange special events in world capitals to remind the international community that the resolution of the lingering dispute was imperative for enduring peace and stability in South Asia.
James said: “Right from day one, the people of Jammu and Kashmir never accepted India’s illegal occupation of their motherland and they have been struggling to liberate it from Indian subjugation.
“Their liberation struggle forced India to seek the help of United Nations to settle the Kashmir dispute. The United Nations, in its successive resolutions, promised that a free and impartial plebiscite would be conducted under its supervision and the people of Kashmir would be given the opportunity to decide their future themselves.
“These UN resolutions and the pledges made by Indian leadership remain unimplemented even after the passing of several decades. Ironically, India is using every undemocratic method to continue its illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir.”
James went further to state that, on one hand, India wants to compel Pakistan to give up its support to the Kashmiri people, while, on the other, “it has been resorting to the worst kind of state terrorism in occupied Kashmir to intimidate the Kashmiris into submission.”
According to James, “This resulted in the killing of nearly 100,000 innocent Kashmiris and disappearance of thousands in custody.
“This vicious cycle of killing has rendered over 25,000 women widowed and around 110,000 children orphaned. The extrajudicial killing of popular youth leader, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, by Indian troops on July 8, 2016, triggered massive anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations.
“Indian troops responded with brute force, killing more than 200 innocent civilians, injuring over 16,000 and blinding hundreds others by firing bullets, pellets and teargas shells on peaceful protesters.
“Despite using all kinds of brutal tactics, it has failed to suppress the freedom sentiment of the people of Kashmir and they are determined to carry forward their ongoing freedom movement to its logical conclusion at all costs.
“Given the fact that the Kashmir dispute involves two nuclear powers and a small incident can prove disastrous for the entire South Asia, it is time for the world community to take steps towards addressing this contentious problem,” James said.
For the Pakistanis, according to James, the world needed to understand that, due to the unrealistic and intransigent approach of India, the peace of the entire region was at stake.
“February 5th is a reminder to the world powers that they should use their influence on New Delhi to settle the conflict over Kashmir. At the same time, the supreme sacrifices of Kashmiri people must be acknowledged and India should be censured for disrespecting the UN resolutions and continued human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
“February 5th reminds the world about the urgency involved in an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute for global peace, security and prosperity. All the peace and justice-loving nations of the world must come together to express practical solidarity with the oppressed people of occupied Kashmir,” James said.