Peace in South Asia Linked to Kashmir Resolution, Pakistani Ambassador in France

Pakistan’s Ambassador to France, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, emphasized that enduring peace in South Asia depends on a peaceful solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, aligned with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. In a seminar marking Kashmir Black Day, Speaking at the Embassy of Pakistan in France on Monday, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that Kashmiris have endured decades of human rights abuses since October 27, 1947, when India’s military presence began in Jammu and Kashmir.

For generations, he noted, the people of Kashmir have looked to the global community, especially the United Nations, for support in attaining their right to self-determination. “India’s actions since August 5, 2019, have further complicated the situation and alienated the Kashmiri people,” he said, adding that India’s efforts to alter the region’s demographics and its ongoing occupation violate international law. Pakistan, he assured, remains firmly committed to supporting Kashmiris’ rightful cause.

Kausar Taqdees Gillani, AJK’s Minister for Small Industries and Trade, expressed deep concerns over the hardships faced by Kashmiri civilians, particularly women and children, under Indian control. She called on the global community to take definitive steps to uphold UNSC resolutions and protect the basic human rights of Kashmiris.

Prominent speakers condemned human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), urging international accountability and a focus on the humanitarian crisis in the region. The event included a photo exhibition illustrating the severe human rights violations, reinforcing calls for global intervention to support the Kashmiri struggle.