Dateline Report
CAIRO: In observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Monday, the Embassy of Pakistan, Cairo, organized a seminar titled “A Tribute to Kashmiris’ Just struggle for Self-Determination”. A large number of intellectuals, members of civil society, media persons, students and Pakistani community members attended the event.
Messages of the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister were read out at the beginning of the event. A documentary highlighting Indian state oppression and plight of the Kashmiris was played during the event. Pictures demonstrating the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were also displayed on this occasion.
The Guest Speakers, representing Egyptian intelligentsia, and academia, in their speeches stressed that IIOJK is a disputed territory, and India has unilaterally changed its disputed status. The speakers noted that Indian state oppression is continuing unabated in IIOJK and Indian security forces are perpetrating grave human rights violations in the occupied territory. The speakers urged that the relevant UN Security Council resolutions must be implemented and Kashmiris should be given the opportunity to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. The Guest Speakers demanded that the Indian government’s fascist, anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim actions should be emphatically condemned by the international community. Grave human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in IIOJK require urgent attention of the world community, the speakers remarked.
Ambassador Sajid Bilal appreciated the guest speakers for highlighting the Kashmir cause and urging the international community to intervene for ending Indian state oppression in IIOJK. He said that remarks expressed by the participants is a manifestation of strong support by the people of Egypt for their muslim brothers in IIOJK. The Ambassador noted that India’s unilateral and illegal action of August 5, 2019 is a malicious attempt to change Kaskmiris into a minority in their own land. The Ambassador stated that Indian Supreme Court’s judgement of 11 December 2023 is yet another manifestation of India’s desire to undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. He paid tributes to the sacrifices of valiant people of IIOJK and Hurriyat leadership for rendering invaluable sacrifices to realize the right to self-determination. The Ambassador reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people at every forum until the people of IIOJK are able to realize their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and according to their wishes and aspirations.
