Sunday Times 2
Peace, stability and imperative prosperity in South Asia
View(s):The Pakistan High Commission organised a seminar titled “Peace and Stability – An Imperative to Prosperity in South Asia” at BMICH Colombo on February 5. Various impediments towards regional peace and prosperity were highlighted.
Panelists from left High Commissioner Muhammad Saad Khattak, journalist Medha de Alwis, former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan and former British Parliamentarian Graham Jones addressing the seminar
The panel comprised Graham Jones, ex-member of the United Kingdom Parliament, Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan, ex-Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Medha de Alwis, Sri Lankan Journalist, and Pakistan High Commissioner Major General (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak.
Noting that West was not playing its due role for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, Mr. Jones said, “it is our collective responsibility to highlight and play our part for the resolution of this issue. He added that the situation in Kashmir threatened international peace and security with acts of state brutality within Indian controlled Jammu & Kashmir.
Mr. Khan said the Kashmir dispute which began in 1947 in the most sensitive region of South Asia and the disputed land is nestled among three nuclear powers of today – Pakistan, China and India.
“Unfortunately, India, despite making local, regional and international commitments on Kashmir, is not forthcoming to click the peace call. The past 72 years are a history of arrogance, bigotry, hate, chauvinism, expansionism and troubles for her neighbors,” he said.
He charged that India has caged nine million Kashmiris with one million military and para-military troops besieging the whole valley of Kashmir since august 5,2019.
Flouting all promises and pledges, India’s leadership has made to the world, standing in the witness box of the United Nations Security Council, India has bifurcated Kashmir into parts and declared them as Union Territories, he said, adding that as per the UN charter no physical change can be made in any disputed region or territory.
Ms. de Alwis highlighted that all regional countries should play their part to resolve regional issues to strengthen SAARC.
In his concluding remarks, High Commissioner Khattak emphasised that despite tremendous potential, 16.1% of South Asian population is below poverty line mainly due to the chronic dispute between two major powers; India and Pakistan. In the same context SAARC could not take off as per its goals and potential.
He said that with the revocation of articles 370 and abolition of 35A, India has blatantly violated UNSC resolutions and its own constitution. Subsequently, it followed with draconian and repressive measures by imprisoning the entire nine million people, denying them all rights recognised by international bodies and human rights organizations.
The seminar was attended by diplomats, journalists, participants from think tanks, members of Civil Society and the Pakistani community.