Consulate General of Pakistan Chicago hosted a Webinar on Kashmir

Pakistan American and the People of Kashmir, around the world including all major cities such Chicago, New York, Washington DC and many other where Pakistani American live in large population are observing one-year anniversary of India's abrogation of Article 370 of its constitution for Kashmir, which led to an attempt to illegally annex occupied Kashmir and divide it into two union territories.
On Monday, August 5th, 2019, India had revoked the special status or limited autonomy granted to Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian constitution.
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago hosted a Webinar on August 7th, 2020 at 11 a.m. to mark one year of India’s illegal actions in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K). The Webinar titled “One Year of Military Siege of India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir”. Consul General Javed Umrani welcomed the distinguished panel of speakers.

Kansas Congressman, Mr. Steve Watkins, in his keynote said that the situation in IIOJ&K was deeply concerning. Reports of detentions, kidnappings, media blackout, ban on social media and suppression of journalism, and most alarmingly, restrictions to fight Covid pandemic were troubling. He said that he would continue to work on Resolution 745 tabled in the US Congress last year urging India to lift the restrictions on communications in Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible and preserve religious freedom for all residents.

Dr. Imtiaz Khan, President of Kashmir Council, said, “The basic human rights of Kashmiris were being trampled by India as they are demanding their right to self-determination which was promised to them by the international community and Indian leaders. He said that the Indian government is forcibly changing the demographics in Kashmir and time was of the essence to stop it from doing so.”

Mr. Javed Rathore, Chairman of Kashmir Solidarity Council, emphasized that the international community needs to look at the Kashmir issue without the lens of economic opportunity offered by India’s one billion people market.

Dr. Saboor Javed, Deputy Chairman of Conservative Party Wolver Hampton stressed that the people of Kashmir are looking towards the US to raise their voice against human rights abuses being committed by India. He also outlined the environmental impact of this conflict on the natural resources of the disputed territory.

Mr. Zahid Awan, president of Greater Kansas City People-to-People Organization, reiterated his resolve to continue working with local leadership in the US to highlight the grave situation in IIOJ&K.

Mr. Asad Majeed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the US, appreciated the activism of Pakistanis-Kashmiris and Pakistani Americans who are passionate about raising their voice for the voiceless Kashmiris. He said that it is due to this that the US Congress held hearings to discuss human rights violations in IIOJ&K. He also said that India is depriving Kashmiris not just of their rights, but also of their identity and the world must put down its moral weight to strop these atrocities against unarmed Kashmiri civilians.