Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has called upon European nations to play their role towards warding off the danger posed to peace and security of the region due to the unresolved Kashmir conflict.
In a letter to 16 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), he endorsed the call of MEPs for negotiations between Pakistan, India and representatives of the Kashmiri people to resolve the Kashmir issue, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
“This imperative cannot be blindsided if we sincerely want to end the worst human rights catastrophe in the occupied territory and address threats to peace and security of the region,” he asserted.
Under the cover of draconian laws that empowered the occupation authorities to act with impunity, killing, blinding, arbitrary detentions, torture, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances were the order of the day.
The right to freedom of expression, movement, health, and education – all had also been curbed while putting the lives of human rights defenders and journalists at risk, he added.
Expressing his deep gratitude to the 16 MEPs for writing a letter to the European Commission president, vice president, and other high representatives on July 30, the AJK president said:“At a time when most of the parliaments are silent on the deteriorating human rights situation and deepening humanitarian crisis in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, you have sent a powerful and comprehensive communication to the EU leadership to address the appalling situation in the region.”
Mr Khan asserted that the biggest danger the Kashmiri people were facing at present was demographic change. “The most sinister existential threat to the Kashmiris is the illicit transfer of millions of Hindus from India to the occupied territory designed to change its demographic composition.” These were war crimes and crimes against humanity under customary international law, he said. Web Desk
