Chicago,

The Pakistan Consulate General hosted a seminar on “Aggravating Human Rights and Humanitarian Situation in IIOJK”, to observe the Kashmir Black Day, which was attended by a large number of participants. Messages of the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out and a special documentary on IIOJK was also screened.

Speakers at the Webinar discussed various dimensions of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute and expressed concern on the aggravating human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

There was also a Panel Discussion. Panelists included prominent US Human Rights activist Andy Thayer, Javid Rathore, Dr. Wasiullah Khan and community representative Raja Yaqoob. The panelists discussed various ideas to promote the Kashmir cause and urged the international community and the US to play an active role in the settlement of the dispute.

Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Division Abdul Shakoor Shad, Consul General Tariq Karim, Chairman Central Asia Productivity Research Institute Harry Lipinski, President Kashmir Solidarity Council Javid Rathore and Chancellor East-West University Dr. Wasiullah Khan spoke in the webinar.According to Parliamentary Secretary Abdul Shakoor Shad, the Government of Pakistan’s project Kashmir cause on various platforms while reiterating solidarity and support to the people of IIOJK in their struggle for the right to self-determination.

While speaking at the occasion, Consul General Tariq Karim highlighted several Indian atrocities such as October 27 as the darkest day in history of South Asia, 74 years ago Indian security forces illegally landed in Srinagar to occupy the territory and subjugate the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The worsening humanitarian situation continued in IIOJK by the India’s draconian military siege and communication blockade, staged cordon-and-search operations, extra judicial killings, detentions, collective punishment and indiscriminate use of pellet guns.India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, altering the internationally recognized disputed status of the Jammu & Kashmir, which have been rejected by the people of IIOJK, Pakistan and the international community. Consul General also highlighted the aggravating human rights and humanitarian situation in IIOJK since August 5, 2019, including the demographic change of the occupied territory but this brutal repression has not broken the will of Kashmiris to resist and on the contrary has strengthened to continue the struggle for their legitimate right to self-determination

Tariq Karim urges International community, media, human rights organizations and civil society groups that they have been speaking against these atrocities and there was a need of time to do more.

The Consul General reaffirmed Pakistan’s position to seek peaceful resolution of the J&K dispute and reiterated the government and people of Pakistan to continue extending moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri brethren. The international community has a responsibility to act to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Kashmir and settle the J&K dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

Earlier, a 2-day Photographic Exhibition was also held at the Consulate, photographic history of J&K dispute and the aggravating human rights and humanitarian situation in IIOJK were on display.

This post was originally published on VOSA.