Islamabad/Brussels, (Unib Rashid) __ The three-day exhibition of the photobook “Kashmir: Wait and See” by European photojournalist Cedric Gerbehaye concluded on Wednesday in the Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad.

The exhibition, held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, began with an opening ceremony on Monday, followed by a seminar on the second day and a closing ceremony on the third day. The events were attended by numerous prominent political, social, diplomatic, academic, and literary figures, as well as university students. Over the three days, a large number of people from various walks of life also visited the Pakistan National Council of the Arts to view the photographs of the book which was widely praised throughout.

Cedric Gerbehaye, who is from Belgium, spent the last eight years completing this book, which includes detailed photographs from Indian illegally occupied Kashmir, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The book features images of victims of Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir—particularly those injured by pellet guns—as well as residents of Azad Kashmir living near the Line of Control who have been targeted by unprovoked Indian military firing. Additionally, the book reflects the daily life and culture of people from both sides of Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU), an organization active in promoting the Kashmir cause in Europe, played a key role from the initiation to the completion of this book project and in organizing related events.

Among the attendees at the opening ceremony, seminar, and exhibition in Islamabad were former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, former Federal Minister Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Member of the National Assembly Tahira Aurangzeb, Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders Farooq Rehmani and Altaf Hussain Wani, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan, other foreign diplomats, and faculty and students from various universities.

The closing day’s ceremonies were attended by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engr. Ameer Muqam, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and former Federal Minister Mushahid Hussain Sayed and other figures. During the event, European photojournalist Cedric Gerbehaye was commended for his remarkable photographic work on Kashmir and was presented with a special award.

A delegation of European human rights activists and intellectuals, including Marjan Lucas and Andre Barcs, is also present in Pakistan to attend the book’s promotional events.

Participants described the exhibition and related events as an effective effort to highlight the Kashmir issue globally.

Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU)—who is currently in Pakistan for these events—stated that the Council played a major role in the preparation, publication, and promotion of the book in Europe and Pakistan.

He added that this research-based book presents the Kashmir issue in a comprehensive, reasoned, and fact-based manner, using photographs to draw the attention of the international community to the serious human rights issues faced by Kashmiris. The book is also considered a credible reference of situation in Jammu and Kashmir for global human rights organizations.

Participants at the Islamabad events praised the efforts of the Kashmir Council Europe, calling such initiatives a positive and practical step toward raising the voice of the Kashmiri people to the conscience of the world.

Organizers of the exhibition and introductory events of the book, author of Book Cedric Gerbehaye, Chairman KCEU Ali Raza Syed  and European delegation visited Kashmir Institute for International Relations (KIIR) in Islamabad on the invitation of the chairman of the institute Altaf Hussain Wani.

In the coming days, the book’s promotional events and exhibitions will be held in Muzaffarabad (the capital of Azad Kashmir), Mirpur, and Lahore.