ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (EPI): The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a high-level delegation from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM), led by its President,\u00a0 Mohd Azmi Bin Abd Hamid.<\/p>\n
A roundtable discussion was organized to evaluate the current status of the global movement for Jammu & Kashmir and explore strategies to highlight India\u2019s illegal occupation, its continued aggression against Kashmiris, and its denial of the right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. The event was attended by academics, researchers, diplomats, human rights activists, and youth mobilizers working on the issue.<\/p>\n
Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Centre at ISSI, welcomed the participants and introduced the visiting delegation.<\/p>\n
In his remarks on the occasion, Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood applauded MAPIM\u2019s commendable work under\u00a0 Azmi\u2019s leadership in advocating for the causes of the Muslim Ummah, particularly Palestine and Kashmir.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged MAPIM\u2019s efforts in drawing international attention to the plight of the Kashmiris and emphasized that the delegation\u2019s visit to ISSI provided an opportunity to share insights as well as exchange views on the evolving global dynamics with reference to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be examined through legal, human rights, and peace and security perspectives. Legally, he asserted that the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination is enshrined in international law and UN resolutions, which India has historically evaded while now openly violating these obligations by claiming the territory as its \u2018integral part.\u2019<\/p>\n
He also highlighted India\u2019s attempts to misrepresent the Kashmiri freedom struggle as \u2018terrorism\u2019 and accelerate demographic changes post-August 5, 2019. On human rights, he highlighted widespread abuses, including prolonged curfews, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the persecution of activists, journalists, and youth as part of its agenda to silence dissent and quell resistance in the occupied territory. From a security standpoint, he warned that this unresolved dispute remained the main obstacle in the way of sustainable peace in South Asia.<\/p>\n
He lauded Malaysia\u2019s principled stance on the Kashmir cause and emphasized the need for greater collaboration among like-minded countries, including with in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).<\/p>\n
In his remarks,\u00a0 Mohd Azmi Abd Hamid highlighted that the MAPIM delegation\u2019s visit was part of its broader efforts to mobilize resources and advocacy for the Kashmir issue. He noted that colonial powers had deliberately left behind unresolved disputes to internally weaken post-colonial societies. While the establishment of the United Nations had initially raised hopes for justice, its failure to resolve disputes like Kashmir and Palestine has raised serious concerns about its effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Azmi reiterated Malaysia\u2019s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause at both governmental and non-governmental levels. He suggested that, given shifting global dynamics, informal, people-centric approaches should be prioritized to sustain international attention on Kashmir.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the importance of action-oriented research and innovative solutions to create an enabling environment for resolving the dispute.<\/p>\n
The discussion that followed reinforced the need for a community-oriented approach to the Kashmir issue, alongside active diplomatic efforts. Participants also stressed the importance of countering India’s misleading narrative and presenting the legal and historical realities of the dispute to the international community.<\/p>\n
Additionally, they highlighted India\u2019s desire to alter Kashmir\u2019s demography and erase its Muslim identity through acts of ethnocide and forced Hinduization and stressed the need for systematic efforts to effectively counter these Indian attempts.<\/p>\n
The leadership of ISSI and MAPIM agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration and work closely on areas of mutual interest, particularly the Jammu & Kashmir issue. The roundtable concluded with a vote of thanks by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the BoG, ISSI.<\/p>\n
Ends-Exact Press International-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"