Kashmiris denied self-determination, face human rights abuses: Dr. Fai
Washington: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, has deplored that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied their right to self-determination by India and they are facing human rights violations, including restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and travel in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said this in a statement issued on the 76th anniversary of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution of August 13, 1948. The resolution proposed a plebiscite to determine the future status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Fai noted that while both India and Pakistan accepted the resolution, India has since failed to implement it, citing various excuses. He
Dr. Fai also highlighted statements made by US diplomats in the past, including Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and Ambassador Warren Austin, who emphasized the need for a plebiscite to determine the will of the people of Kashmir.
He criticized India’s recent actions, such as the enactment of the Domicile Law and the issuance of Domicile Certificates, as a violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Dr. Fai urged the US to lead efforts to achieve a fair and lasting settlement of the dispute, citing the principles of democracy and human rights. He also referenced statements made by Mahatma Gandhi and Indian delegates to the UN, emphasizing the need for the people of Kashmir to decide their own future.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the need for a just and peaceful resolution to the 77-year-old issue, which would benefit both India and Pakistan, as well as the United States’ foreign policy.
