Friends of Kashmir conference in Dallas calls for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute and greater international support for Kashmiri rights.
DALLAS, US — WEB DESK: A conference organised by Friends of Kashmir in Dallas, Texas, has called for a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.
The conference was held to mark the anniversary of India’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A, which had provided special constitutional provisions for Jammu and Kashmir.
The event brought together members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, representatives of Sikhs for Justice and community leaders. Pakistan’s Consul General in Houston, Aftab Chaudhry, attended the gathering as chief guest, while Friends of Kashmir Chairperson Ghazala Habib presided over the conference.
Calls for international attention
Speakers at the conference expressed solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and raised concerns about the situation in the disputed region following India’s 2019 constitutional changes.
Addressing the participants, Aftab Chaudhry said Pakistan would continue providing diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of IIOJK.
He said India’s revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A had further complicated the situation in the disputed territory.
Ghazala Habib called for greater international attention to the concerns of the Kashmiri people. She also highlighted cooperation between Kashmiri and Sikh communities in their advocacy for justice and human rights.
Conference adopts resolution
Other speakers, including Aftab Siddiqui, Syed Fayaz Hasan, Ghulam Jahangra and Dr Fareeha Qazi, urged the international community to play a more active role in efforts aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute peacefully.
Gurvinder Singh, representing the Sikh community, called for greater involvement of younger generations in initiatives promoting justice and human rights.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted a resolution calling on the international community to support a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
The resolution also called for efforts to safeguard the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.
Kashmir remains a longstanding international dispute
Pakistan has consistently maintained that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and has called for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan reiterated this position at the UN in June, describing Jammu and Kashmir as an internationally recognised dispute on the Security Council’s agenda.
The United Nations has also previously stated that its position on Jammu and Kashmir is governed by the UN Charter and applicable Security Council resolutions.
The Dallas conference comes as Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts to keep the Kashmir dispute on the international agenda and call for a peaceful settlement.
