Kashmir Solidarity Day observed in Chicago

To commemorate the Kashmir Solidarity Day in Chicago, Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago, organized a Webinar today. A distinguished panel of speakers, representing Kashmiri community, think tanks, academia and human rights organizations, spoke on the occasion.

Messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day were read. A documentary on atrocities being committed by the Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir was also screened.

Panelists in their remarks explained the history and current status of the Kashmir dispute, particularly the situation after illegal Indian steps of August 5, 2019. They condemned the atrocities being committed by Indian security forces in IIOJ&K and called for resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with aspirations of its people and as enshrined in UNSC resolutions. They paid tributes to the sacrifices and heroic struggle of the people of Kashmir in pursuit of their right to self-determination. Panelists further said that Indian military siege and other steps aimed at changing the demographic structure of the occupied territory and obliterate the distinct Kashmiri identity in order to affect the outcome of a plebiscite envisaged in the UN Security Council resolutions will not succeed. They also called upon the international community to play its due role in resolving this dispute as grave human rights violations were being committed by Indian security forces against innocent people of Kashmir.

Consul General Mr. Javed Ahmed Umrani, in his remarks highlighted the ongoing state-sponsored terrorism perpetrated by over 900,000 Indian troops in IIOJ&K. He said that entire population of IIOJ&K was under military siege and subjected to grave human rights violations. He further said that with unrelenting efforts of the Government of Pakistan, the Kashmir issue has been considered thrice by the UNSC since August 2019 and international human rights organizations, including OIC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed concern over the human rights situation in IIOJK. He also reiterated Pakistan’s standpoint to continue to support the Kashmiri people till realization of their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.