British premier Starmer reminded of Kashmir pledge
London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was urged to honor his pledge regarding the plight of people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a delegation led by Fahim Kayani, leader of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and chair of the All-Party International Kashmir Coordination Committee, submitted a petition at 10 Downing Street, calling for decisive British action to address the ongoing Indian occupation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation included prominent British lawmakers such as Andrew Pakes MP, Gareth Snell MP, Nadia Whittome and MP David Williams. Other notable participants were Cllr Mohammad Amjid Wazir, Deputy Leader of Stoke-on-Trent Council, Cllr Zanib Raja, Cllr Majid Hussain, and Muhammad Saleem, president of the Pakistan Community Centre in Reading.
The petition reminded Prime Minister Starmer of his 2020 letter to Ms. Ifath Nawaz of the Muslim Council of Britain, in which he had emphasized the importance of addressing the Kashmir issue. It urged the Labour government to take “practical steps” to ensure the implementation of the United Nations-mandated right of plebiscite for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The document condemned the occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India since 1947, enforced through the presence of over one million soldiers, paramilitary forces, and police personnel. It also highlighted the human rights violations committed under the Modi regime’s policies, labeling them as genocidal in nature and aimed at altering the region’s demography.
The petition called on Prime Minister Starmer to advocate for justice, human rights, and self-determination for Kashmiris. It emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution through dialogue with Pakistan and pro-freedom Kashmiri leadership, urging Starmer to initiate talks with New Delhi to resolve the decades-long conflict as per UN resolutions.
