Brussels, (Unib Rashid) __ Ali Reza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU), has stated that India is attempting to divert global attention from the Kashmir issue by falsely accusing Pakistan of terrorism. Commenting on Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent interview with Politico in Brussels, Ali Raza Syed emphasized that India’s recent attacks on Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, along with threats of further aggression, constitute blatant violations of international law.
Ali Raza Syed asserted that the real issue is human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir and the decades-long unresolved Kashmir dispute. Dismissing India’s terrorism allegations against Pakistan, Ali Raza Syed said, “India is repeating its old rhetoric, which is baseless. The actual question is Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir—the oppression, the denial of the right to self-determination.”
The Chairman of KCEU clarified that the Kashmir issue is not a bilateral matter, nor a regional issue but an international one. India had promised Kashmiris the right to self-determination, a promise it has yet to fulfill. Raza Syed demanded that India honor its commitments to the Kashmiri people.
Ali Raza Syed highlighted the severe situation in occupied Kashmir, where many of political leaders and activists remain imprisoned, human rights activists and journalists face restrictions, number of them are in jail, and Indian forces continue extrajudicial killings of Kashmiris with impunity. “India is lying about the situation in occupied Kashmir. If the European Union wants to know the truth, it should send fact-finding missions. Human rights organizations and international media must be granted unrestricted access to the Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir,” he said.
Regarding India’s recent threats of escalation, Ali Raza Syed warned, “India must refrain from warmongering, as any conflict would have devastating consequences.” He asked International Community to press India to engage in dialogue with Pakistan and resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar was recently on a European tour where he met with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in Brussels. Chairman Kashmir Council EU reiterated that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
“The Kashmiri people stand for truth and justice, and their struggle will undoubtedly succeed,” he concluded.