High Commission for Pakistan Canberra
PRESS RELEASE
Seminar titled “Voices from Kashmir: Perspectives and Reflections“
To commemorate Youm-e-Istehsal a Seminar titled “Voices from Kashmir: Perspectives and Reflections” was held at the High Commission for Pakistan, Canberra on 4 August 2023.
The Seminar was aimed at sharing first-hand accounts of prominent Kashmiri individuals about the humanitarian crisis in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), especially in the wake of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019. The keynote speakers included Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Dr. Nazir Gilani, Mr. Abdul Hameed Lone, Professor Samina Yasmeen, and High Commissioner H.E Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri.
Condemning India’s unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi provided a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian situation in IIOJK before and after 5 August 2019. He criticized Indian attempts to bring about a demographic change in IIOJK that was against UNSC resolutions, the 4th Geneva Convention and international law. He stated that India was trying to make Kashmiri people aliens in their own land by confiscating their land and distributing it to Indian citizens. He urged the international community to call upon India to stop its oppression of the Kashmiri people.
Highlighting the legal and human rights dimensions of the IIOJK dispute, Professor Samina Yasmeen drew parallels between the IIOJK and the Palestinian conflict. She stated that India’s polarizing policies would have long-term implications not only for IIOJK but also for India. She urged Australia to play its role in a fair and just resolution of the IIOJK dispute.
Dr. Nazir Gilani condemned India’s nefarious designs to create schisms between the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Kashmiri pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. He underscored that it was not only the Kashmiri Muslims but the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir that was fighting for the right to self-determination.
Abdul Hameed Lone described Indian illegal actions of 5 August as a conspiracy to further deprive the people of IIOJK of their right to self-determination and to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised that the people of IIOJK were resilient and would never surrender.
High Commissioner H.E. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri in his concluding remarks thanked all the Speakers. He highlighted the important role played by Australia in the IIOJK dispute and informed that Australia was a founding member of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and Sir Owen Dixon, the 6th Chief Justice of Australia was the first UN mediator between India and Pakistan. He stated that Australia as a member of the UN was obliged to seek a resolution of the IIOJK dispute as per the UNSC resolutions.
The High Commissioner also briefed on the humanitarian crisis in IIOJK and stated that for more than seven decades Kashmiri people had been suffering due to India’s illegal occupation. He informed that thousands of Kashmiris had been martyred; the Kashmiri leadership had been incarcerated; Kashmiri women had been sexually molested, and Indian Security Forces continued to inflict collective punishments on people of IIOJK with impunity. The High Commissioner added that Pakistan would continue to stand shoulder-by-shoulder with its Kashmiri brothers and sisters till the resolution of the IIOJK dispute.
A documentary ‘In the Shade of Fallen Chinar’ was also screened at the event. The event was broadcasted live on the Facebook account of the High Commission.
Canberra
04 August 2023