Senate Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has urged the world community to differentiate between COVID-19 lockdown and political lockdown in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) which had been started by the Modi regime on August 5, 2019.
Senator Mushahid Hussain was addressing the online COVID-19 Kashmir conference organised by All Parties Group on Kashmir – European Parliament (APGK- EP) and Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC). In his keynote address, he said despite the Covid-19 crisis, the Indian government headed by PM Modhi in Dehli has continued divisive, negative agenda both within their own country and in Indian Occupied Kashmir. They are divided the people on the basis of religion which is unacceptable and this has been highlighted by the international media, Senator Hussain stated.
In this regard, he referred to the news story in the Guardian newspaper concerning the arrest of human right activist who spoke on the Kashmir. Senator Mushahid stressed the need for exposing the 255 days old lockdown in Kashmir which he said is a political lockdown not linked to the current Covid issue adding the people of Kashmir are suffering since 5thAugust 2019.
Chairman FAC Mushahid Hussain claimed the United Nation Secretary General (UNSG) visit to Pakistan 8 weeks ago was an important development saying that UNSG was very clear during his stay that the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the UN Security Council resolutions seeking the self determination of the Kashmiri people based on the respect for human rights of the Kashmir’s. Hussain said that UNSG also asked for the release of all political prisoners and ending of the lockdown. There is certain political and legal legitimacy to the Kashmir cause as enunciated by the UNSG in very clear and categorical terms and we highly appreciated that, Senator Mushahid added.
Senator Hussain also emphasised the need for bring the Kashmir issue into the attention of international community and in this regard he said that they have good meetings and discussions in parliament, decided to hold International Kashmir conference, send special envoys abroad and interact with parliamentarian friends all over world but that is on hold till this crisis of coronavirus is over. However, he said at least for time being we can demand the release of political prisoners and he mentioned Yaseen Malik who has been suffering in the New Dehli Jail. Similarly he demanded the restoration of internet and ending of political lockdown in Indian occupied Kashmir which has kept the Kashmiri people out of the loop as for as the world is concerned.
Senator Mushahid remarked that one basic lesson of Covid-19 which is relevant politically and geo-politically is that issues today cannot be divided on the basis of boundaries and there are principles which are paramount and we need to have collective approach to solve these issues. He said Kashmir is among the political issues is paramount because it is inextricably intertwined with something humanity and peace, security and stability for one fifth of mankind which resides in South Asian. Mushahid Hussain thanked Barrister Majeed Tramboo for taking innovative and out of book timely initiate by organising the online conference. He expressed condolence with the President Carles Puigdemont of Catalonia on the 7500 deaths in his country. Senator Mushahid also endorsed the suggestion of Professor Alfred de Zayas to support the immediate release of Julian Assange who he said is a fighter for civil liberties and spoken the truth by exposing the cover up’s of international establishment.
