Washington rally urges Biden, world leaders to prioritize Kashmir issue
Washington: Kashmiri and Pakistani Americans, along with supporters, gathered in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington on the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the event drew attention to the prolonged Kashmir dispute in the South Asian region and condemned human rights abuses by Indian occupation forces. Among the passionate speakers, Dr. Imtiaz Khan, a Professor at George Washington University Medical Center, commemorated the sacrifices made by the people of Indian-administered Kashmir in their struggle for freedom. He highlighted the continuing atrocities faced by the Kashmiri population, emphasizing the resilience of their quest for self-determination.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, pointed to the simplicity of the Kashmir case – India, a large nation, suppressing a smaller, people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, against their right to self- determination and international agreements. Dr. Fai called for an end to violence and a fair plebiscite under UN auspices, blaming India for choosing a path of death and destruction.
Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir, warned that the denial of self-determination in Kashmir could lead both India and Pakistan to disaster, jeopardizing regional peace. Other speakers, including Sardar Zubair Khan and Sardar Shoaib Irshad Khan, highlighted the scale of human rights violations perpetrated by Indian military forces. Malik Hamid, a community leader, urged the Biden administration to prioritize the Kashmir issue, recognizing its potential as the most dangerous place on the planet due to its position between nuclear-capable India and Pakistan.
Dr. Maqsood Choudhary, an interfaith scholar, appealed to world powers to intervene in Kashmir, emphasizing the positive impact on international security by averting regional conflicts. Raja Liaqat Kayani, the President of Kashmir House, stressed the urgency of settling the Kashmir conflict peacefully, fearing a catastrophic outcome similar to those witnessed in Kosovo and Bosnia.
Asif Manghat, Yamin Khan, Waseem Zahid, and others echoed the sentiment that the world community must recognize and address the alleged double standards in dealing with human rights situations globally. Sardar Zeeshan Zarif Khan, representing the youth, called for intensified activities for peace and justice, emphasizing the collective responsibility to work towards a lasting and durable settlement to the Kashmir dispute.
The rally concluded with a resolute commitment from participants, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for self-determination in Kashmir, amidst the hope for international attention and intervention.