ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (APP): Kashmir Black Day was observed in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday with a seminar jointly organized by Kashmir Solidarity Forum, Jakarta and Dewan Dawah, Indonesia, a prominent socio-religious organization. Attended by over 200 invitees including women participants, scholars, media representatives, students of the educational institutions maintained by Dewan Dawah and prominent socialites, the seminar underscored that granting the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people in the light of UN resolutions was the only way to address the Kashmir issue once and for all.
Charge d’ Affaires, Pakistan Embassy, Syed Sajjad Haider who addressed the seminar as a special guest speaker said Pakistan had all along supported the Kashmiri cause politically and morally and had an unflinching belief in the just struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self determination, according to a message received here on Wednesday.
He said that more than six decades ago India had agreed to the proposal of holding a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people decide their own fate. The UN was a witness to this fact and if someone thought that since six decades had elapsed and the UN resolutions were a forgotten tale, he was sadly mistaken.
He said the international community, specially the Muslim countries, more so, Indonesia must use their influence to facilitate the settlement of Kashmir issue.
He said the people of Kashmir looked to the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia to lend them support in seeking their right to self determination.
Dr. Zahir Khan, Chairman, Kashmir Solidarity Forum dwelt in detail on the historical background of the Kashmir issue saying Indonesia as the largest Muslim country in the world at present was with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle.
He lamented that international community, particularly the US had not accorded the due importance to the issue of Kashmir otherwise it would be easier to reach a worthwhile solution to this burning issue.
Representing Dewan Dawah, Dr. Ali Bajri also called for international support to resolve the issue of Kashmir. He said he had recently been to Pakistan and saw a great deal of sympathy for the Kashmiri brethren.
He said India had always forgotten its own promise for a plebiscite in Kashmir and such a situation could not be allowed to go any further because the number of deaths and destruction in Kashmir had surpassed all records of ill treatment to human beings.
He urged that Pakistan like the past should keep up its support to the Kashmiri cause because that was what mattered the most.
The seminar concluded with a Question and Answer session. Charge d’ Affaires Pakistan Embassy, Syed Sajjad Haider answered queries from the Indonesian guests.
To a question he categorically stated that associating the just cause of the Kashmiris with terrorism was itself criminal thinking and a failed attempt to misguide the international community that supported the Kashmniri struggle.
He said it was a totally indigenous movement and would ultimately reach a successful stage whereby the Kashmiris could achieve their right to self determination.
To another question he said the UN resolutions formed the basis of a true solution of Kashmir issue and this fact could not be ignored no matter what amount of time had elapsed since the UN passed these resolutions.