A significant Kashmir Solidarity Conference was held in the British Parliament on Wednesday, in observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day.  According to Kashmir Media Service, the event brought together British lawmakers, human rights advocates, and international supporters, all united in urging immediate global intervention to address the ongoing human rights crisis in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The conference was chaired by Andrew Pakes, Member of Parliament, and hosted by Fahim Kayani, President of the All Parties International Kashmir Coordination Committee (APIKCC).  

Prominent British Parliamentarians in attendance included Paul Waugh MP, Emma Reynolds MP, Afzal Khan MP, Ayoub Khan MP, Tan Desi MP, and Adnan Hussain MP. These parliamentarians reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, a cause upheld by numerous United Nations resolutions. Andrew Pakes MP stated, “The plight of the Kashmiri people has been ignored for too long. We must act now to uphold human rights and UN resolutions.” 

The conference highlighted the alarming human rights violations taking place in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK), particularly following India’s re-annexation of the region in August 2019. The resolution presented at the conference condemned India’s actions, which are seen as an attempt to change the demographic makeup of the disputed region through settler colonialism, backed by military force. In a statement of solidarity with the Kashmiri people, Fahim Kayani, representing the All Parties International Kashmir Coordination Committee, emphasized that the international community must urgently act to stop these violations.

The resolution further highlighted the continued suppression of local media in IOJK, with Kashmiri journalists facing harassment and imprisonment for exposing the ongoing atrocities. Raja Sikander Khan Vice President of APIKCC , Inamul Haq , Cllr Majid Hussain, Cllr Zanib Raja, Sheni Hamid, Rehana Ali, Shahid Raja, Dr Yousaf Ramzay and others  addressed the failure of the international community to act on previous UN reports that documented widespread human rights abuses in the region.  

Speakers at the conference called for an immediate UN-supervised referendum to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination. The resolution demanded the repeal of draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The assembly also called for an end to the “Cordon and Search Operations” that have led to the extrajudicial killings of innocent civilians, especially youth.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)