ISTANBUL: World Kashmir Awareness Forum Secretary General Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai Monday said on the occasion of International Non-Governmental Organisations Fair in Istanbul, Turkey, that the United Nations (UN) and the world powers should exercise their influence to bring Pakistan, India and Kashmiris (all three parties to the Kashmir dispute) and immediately set up a credible peace process in motion.
On the occasion, Dr Fai said that, “Every day of delay means many innocent lives lost. We ask for no partiality, but we do expect that the United Nations will uphold the principles proclaimed in its Charter for a world order, governed by the rule of law. We also expect that it will not turn a deaf ear to the cries of anguish coming from the streets of Kashmir.”
More than 4,000 participants from 65 countries attended the fair. The international conflicts that were discussed and deliberated upon during the fair included, Rohingya problem, issue of Al-Quds, Kashmir dispute, Syrian crisis, human rights situation in Egypt, current circumstances in Iraq, update on Bosnia and Yemen war.
Dr Fai said, “The people of Kashmir are dismayed by the policy of the UN towards the Kashmir dispute. While making occasional remarks about ‘the abuse of human rights’ – an understatement – committed by India in Kashmir and elsewhere, the United Nations refuses to exert its influence in order to persuade the Indian government to turn to a saner course. Indeed, whether so designed or not, current policy of the United Nations has encouraged the Indian government to believe that all it needs is some political maneuvering to dissipate foreign concern over the appalling situation in Kashmir.”
He further said, “Kashmir is not just another border region between India and Pakistan which could be demarcated through a bilateral agreement between the two. It is inhabited by a people with their own history, their own language, their own culture and their own individuality. The people of Kashmir cannot understand how and why the Simla Agreement should be regarded as superseding the pledge made to them under the authority of the United Nations, with the firm support of the United States, that they will be enabled to decide the disposition of their state by their own will.”
Finally, Dr Fai said that they have been informed of the deep gratitude felt by the tortured people of Kashmir at the forthright and noble stand taken by Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their release from savage Indian occupation. President Erdogan’s offer to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue was a positive step in that direction, Fai added.