London, March 13 (KMS): South Asia Centre for Peace and Human Rights (SACFPHR) in coordination with International Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) and Kashmir Youth Assembly (KYA) held a Kashmir roadside show outside the Commonwealth Secretariat in London where 57 High Commissioners attended the annual Commonwealth Day celebrations, presided over by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles.
Under the patronage of SACFPHR Chairman, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, representatives of the Commonwealth countries who were visiting viewed the Roadside show. The exhibition depicted the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.
The High Commissioners and their diplomatic staff were briefed about the critical situation in the occupied territory and were provided literature encouraging them to play a meaningful role in stopping torture, killings, sexual violence and use of excessive force including use pellet guns by Indian troops against the people of occupied Kashmir and to support the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
During interaction with the campaigners, dignitaries were urged to impress upon the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a panel discussion on the UN Report on Kashmir published in June 2018 by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They were informed that South Asia is a nuclear flashpoint risking peace and security of the world.
The Indian delegation members attending were also approached calling their conscience to end Indian state terror and the continued brutalities against innocent civilians in occupied Kashmir and in India. They were advised that recent escalations between Pakistan and India reinforced the fact that settlement of the Kashmir dispute according to the UN resolutions would lead to peace and prosperity of the region and any further escalation would lead the two nuclear powers to the brink of war.
The British Police remained vigilant and provided constant security to the Kashmiri team.