Project Reports

Welcoming Address

Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali
Chairman MUSLIM Institute

Kashmir is not only issue of South Asia or Muslim world but it is one of the important issues across the globe. The international organizations’ insistence on Pakistan and India to hold dialogue on Kashmir and offer to play role in this regard is commendable but silence of international organizations and world powers over state sponsored persecution in Indian Occupied Kashmir is worrisome. If leading personalities of the international organizations are not going to raise voice against the state sponsored brutalities in Indian Occupied Kashmir, trust of people of this region in efficacy of international organizations may be lost. Like implementation international conventions on human rights in rest of the world, these should be implemented in Indian Occupied Kashmir too. The organizations talking against all forms of discriminations are themselves committing discrimination if they do not express concern on human crisis of Indian Occupied Kashmir.

Humanitarian Crisis & Human Rights Violations in Kashmir

Prof. Dr. Tahir Amin
Director National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University

He commended MUSLIM Institute for organizing the event. He said it is basically the issue of right of self-determination. It is probably the oldest unresolved agenda on UN charter. Ban Ki Moon did not give it much attention during his visit to Pakistan. India is planning to build many dams violating the Indus Water Treaty and thus it will become worst issue for Pakistan. There are reports of thousands of mass graves in Indian Occupied Kashmir and it is ethnic cleansing. Indian army enjoys full powers to torture and kill Kashmiris in fake encounters. Change in Pakistan’s foreign policy has contributed in worsening the Kashmir crisis. Kashmir is fundamental issue between Pakistan and India both have to resolve it for good relations. However, if it is not resolved there may be severe consequences.

Presentation: Discriminatory Approach of International Community in Resolving Kashmir Issue

Brig(R) Asif Haroon Raja
Renowned Defense Analyst

Kashmir issue is unresolved due to violence of India. UN could not implement its own resolutions. India did not accept demilitarization and plebiscite. UN remained ineffective even with 18 resolutions. None including US tried to apply formula of Sudan or East Timor to resolve Kashmir issue. International community ignored Human rights violation in India Occupied Kashmir. No solution can be implemented without Kashmiris’ will.

Silence of International Human Rights Organizations over Kashmir

Mr. Asif Ezdi
Former Ambassador & Renowned Columnist

Kashmir is old issue but it is not being given that attention which it requires. Today’s seminar by Muslim Institute is a good step. Although there is severe human crisis but there is silence from international community. Many organizations and countries are not considering human crisis of Kashmir due to their interests and relations with India. We could not clarify difference between struggle of freedom in Kashmir and terrorism. We should elaborate it on international level that struggle of Kashmiris against Indian forces is not terrorism. There are many Indian origin personnel in US government, who manage tilt of US policy towards India. We should work for implementation of UN resolutions and take stand on it.

Interactive Session

After addresses of distinguished speakers, question & answer session commenced. Answering questions of participants, Ambassador Asif Ezdi said that the new generation of Kashmiris is more determined on their cause. We should take stand based on UN resolutions and mount international pressure on India to hold plebiscite. Answering a question about recent LOC violations by Indian forces, Dr. Tahir Amin said that the situation is not good for both countries and it should be contained. He said that due to elections in India, there are violations on LOC. Indian political parties use the situation for their domestic benefits.

Concluding Remarks by Chair

Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan
Former Prime Minister Azad Jammu & Kashmir

On 15 August 1947 there was flag of Pakistan on government buildings all over Kashmir. Official letters dispatched on 15 August had stamp of Pakistan. Unfortunately we do not have consistent policy on Kashmir. He said that India is making all out efforts to justify its wrong stance but we are not taking required steps despite having rightful stance. We are doing much work on fault finding, while we should work for good will. India is making dams illegally and then releasing water in flood season. He further said that we should take stand on resolutions of UN. European Union took action on mass graves in Kashmir but we did not work to raise the issue at international issue level.