ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (APP):Former Secretary of Information of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mushtaq Ahmed Butt has called on the international community to take practical steps to resolve the Kashmir issue and ensure the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, ahead of Kashmir Black Day on October 27, Butt said the day marked the landing of Indian forces in Srinagar in 1947 and reminded the world that the Kashmir dispute remained unresolved.
He said Kashmiris observe the day every year to highlight their demand for the right to decide their political future in line with United Nations resolutions.
Butt said the prolonged conflict had caused immense suffering, including enforced disappearances, killings, arrests and displacement. He said the families of missing persons, particularly women known as “half-widows,” continued to face uncertainty and hardship.
He added that widows and their children also faced serious economic and social challenges following the loss of their loved ones.
Referring to India’s decision on August 5, 2019, to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status, Butt said subsequent changes to domicile laws had increased concerns among Kashmiris about their identity, land and political future.
He urged the international community to move beyond statements of concern and make effective diplomatic efforts for a peaceful and fair settlement of the dispute.
Butt also called on Pakistan to strengthen its diplomatic efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue at international forums and advocate the rights of the Kashmiri people.
He stressed the need for unity among Kashmiri leaders and the diaspora, saying a coordinated approach was necessary to present their position more effectively before the international community.
He further called for transparent investigations into allegations of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and restrictions on political activities, and urged that justice be provided to affected families.
Butt said a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue was also important for reducing tensions between Pakistan and India and ensuring stability in South Asia.
He said the international community should view the Kashmir issue in terms of human rights, dignity and the right to self-determination.
“The Kashmir issue remains unresolved, the struggle for self-determination is incomplete, and lasting peace is impossible without justice,” Butt said, urging the world to take practical steps towards a fair and lasting settlement.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
