Sunday Oct 06, 2024
Sunday Oct 06, 2024
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The High Commission of Pakistan organised a seminar titled ‘Peace and Stability – An Imperative to Prosperity in South Asia’ at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo on 5 February.
At the event, various impediments towards regional peace and prosperity were highlighted.
Eminent panellist and former Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Graham Jones, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ex-Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan, Sri Lankan journalist Medha de Alwis and High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Saad Khattak addressed the seminar.
Jones noted that the West was not playing its due role in the resolution of the Kashmir issue and therefore it was people’s collective responsibility to highlight this and play its part in the resolution of this issue. He added that the situation in Kashmir threatened international peace and security with acts of State brutality within Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir.
Khan stated that the Kashmir dispute was born in 1947 in the most sensitive region of South Asia - the disputed land of Jammu and Kashmir, nestled among three of today’s nuclear powers – Pakistan, China and India. Unfortunately, India, despite making local, regional and international commitments on Kashmir, was not forthcoming in issuing calls for peace. As a result, the past 72 years have been rich in arrogance, bigotry, hate, chauvinism, expansionism and troubles for the country’s neighbours.
He further stated that India had caged nine million Kashmiris, with one million military and paramilitary troops besieging the whole valley of Kashmir since 5 August 2019. Flouting all promises and pledges the Indian leadership made to the world while standing in the witness box of the United Nations Security Council, it has militarily bifurcated Kashmir into parts and usurped them with what they call Union Territories. As per the UN Charter, no physical change can be made in any disputed region or territory.
De Alwis highlighted that all regional countries should play their part in resolving all regional issues for strengthening SAARC.
In his concluding remarks, High Commissioner Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Saad Khattak emphasised that despite tremendous potential, 16.1% of the South Asian population was below the poverty line mainly due to the chronic dispute between two major powers - India and Pakistan. In the same context, SAARC could not take off in accordance with its goals and potential.
He added that with the revocation of Article 370 and the abolition of 35A, India has blatantly violated UNSC resolutions and its own Constitution. Subsequently, it followed draconian and repressive measures by imprisoning the entire nine million people, denying them their rights, which was duly noticed and highlighted by international bodies and human rights organisations.
The seminar was largely attended by people from different walks of life including diplomats, journalists, think-tank participants, members of civil society and the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka.
