The Pakistan High Commission in London on Tuesday commemorated Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir by hosting a seminar/webinar to mark the anniversary of India’s revocation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on August 5, 2019.
The event was attended by British parliamentarians, members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, community leaders, and civil society representatives, who reiterated their support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called for a peaceful resolution of the long-standing dispute.
Among the distinguished guests were Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, Afzal Khan MP, and Adnan Hussain MP. Also in attendance were Councillor Yasmine Dar, Chairman of the UK-Pakistan Kashmiri Councillors Forum Liaqat Ali MBE, Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement International (JKSDMI) Raja Najabat Hussain, and former Deputy Mayor of Peterborough Mohammad Nadeem.
Addressing the gathering, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding position on the Kashmir dispute.
“Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains unwavering and unconditional,” he said.
The High Commissioner urged the international community, particularly the United Kingdom, to play a constructive role in promoting peace and justice by encouraging India to reverse the measures introduced on August 5, 2019, restore the rights and special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and implement the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions recognizing the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
During the seminar, speakers strongly criticized the revocation of Article 370, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional, and expressed concern over the human rights situation in IIOJK. They stressed that lasting peace in South Asia depends on a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Participants also proposed a strategic roadmap to enhance engagement with British policymakers and international stakeholders, aiming to raise awareness of the Kashmir issue and support efforts toward a peaceful and lasting resolution.
Messages from the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar were read during the seminar, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri cause.
The ceremony concluded with participants observing a minute’s silence in tribute to the martyrs of Kashmir, renewing their pledge to continue advocating for the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
