Vienna : (tarkeen e watan) Ambassador Aftab Khokher reaffirms Pakistan’s Diplomatic, Moral and Political Support to the Just Struggle of the People of Kashmir. Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative in Vienna, reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, moral and political support to the just struggle of the people of Kashmir.
He delivered these remarks while addressing a virtual event organized by the International Association of Pakistani Journalists (IAPJ) to express solidarity with people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Other panelists addressing the virtual event included Mr. Ayaz Mahmood Ayaz, President IAPJ; Mr. Manjit Singh, Human Rights Activist; Senior Analyst Mr Ameer Abbas, Senior Anchor Person, Mr Salman Haider, Mr. Javed Rathore, Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Council USA; Mr. Arshad Hussain, President, Kashmir Solidarity Council Canada, Mr. Naeem Chaudhry, ex-Coordinator for Europe to PM Azad Kashmir, President of Pakistan Union of Columnist Rana Ali Zohaib and (IAPJ) Chairman Nadeem Tufail.
He highlighted that, every year, on 05 February, Pakistan marks the Kashmir Solidarity Day which provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the unparalleled commitment of the Kashmiris for the attainment of the legitimate right to self-determination. On this Day, the Government of Pakistan and its people demonstrate to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, and the world-at-large, that we have not forgotten them and their struggle against woeful Indian Occupation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Ambassador Khokher underscored that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains one of the oldest items in the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. He added that it is an internationally recognised dispute which remains unresolved due to India’s refusal to honor its commitments and disrespect for the fundamental human rights and international law.
Calling on all participants in the event, Ambassador Khokher stated that our collective efforts must continue to galvanize support of the international community. We must utilize our platforms effectively to demand an end to India’s gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK; reversal of its unilateral and illegal actions of 05 August 2019; repeal of its draconian laws; allow access to UN supervised investigations into the extrajudicial killings; and implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistani community based in Pakistan, USA, Canada and European Union also actively participated in the virtual event. Many of them also took the floor to call for greater solidarity by the international community on the issue and to heed the call of the Kashmiri community against the inhuman treatment meted out to them. They expressed that people of Pakistan will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kashmiris in their just struggle.