EU

Pakistan embassy in Brussels expects European support for self-determination of Kashmiris

Published

11 years ago

February 10, 2015

By: Mass Mboup

On February 5^th,the Kashmiri diaspora in Brussels, thirty students and other invited guests gathered at the Pakistan Embassy in Brussels - the day 25 years ago when 80,000 lost their lives during an armed uprising and demonstrations against Indian occupation of Kashmir.

Speeches at the event repeatedly called for the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people, as first recognised by a United Nations resolution of 1948.

In Pakistan, 5 February is ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ - government offices, banks, schools and colleges are closed. Across the country, it is the day when special prayers are held at mosques for the freedom of Kashmiri people and their emancipation from India. In the Pakistan part of Kashmir, a five minutes silence allows remembrance of those killed during the uprising.

On 27 October 1947, India sent troops to Srinagar, leading to the illegal occupation of a part of Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources at the embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, some 700,000 Indian troops have been deployed on the territory since 1989, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Kashmiris and the disappearance of thousands more held in custody.

In her speech to invitees, H.E. Naghmana A. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to the EU, Belgium, and Luxembourg said: ”Pakistan has a genuine interest in a peaceful region to ensure progress, prosperity, and the socio-economic improvement of people’s lives.” The Ambassador added that fundamental pillar of Pakistan PM, Nawaz Sharif’s political thinking is the building of a “peaceful neighbourhood”.

Guests included media representatives and others personalities such as Colin Stevens, owner and publisher of ‘EU Reporter’ and Endre Barcs, a Brussels-based Hungarian correspondent. In a speech, Mr Barcs drew attention to the fact that the international community and the United States continue to deprive Kashmiris of their right to self- determination.

The Kashmir issue cannot be solved by arms and soldiers, stressed one participant after another, but by dialogue and diplomacy that reflect the will of the people of Kashmir.

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