Envoy reiterates call for global efforts to restore peace in Kashmir
NAN-H-129
Peace
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Agha Umer Farook has urged the international community to put hands together to bring peace to Kashmir.
Farook, who made the call at a reception to mark 69 years of India’s occupation of Kashmir on Thursday in Abuja, noted that the crisis in Kashmir was a core issue between India and Pakistan.
According to him, the resolution of the crisis will ensure durable peace in that region.
“Pakistan is requesting and demanding the UN military observer group be allowed to visit the area of conflict and be able to report back to mutual impartial outlook.
“We demand for immediate ceasefire and the conditions set by the international community at the UN, Pakistan is willing to abide by all those regulations and actions required.
“We are looking forward to a better and peaceful world, we have seen enough of conflicts and suffering; we all have an obligation, let us play our part,” he said.
He also recalled the agreements made by the international community through the UN which he said, was a global commitment to restore peace in that region.
“The issue was taken to the UN Security Council and General Assembly and both agreed on a ceasefire with three conditions binding both countries, India and Pakistan:
“First off all acknowledging and recognising the right to choose, the right of self-determination through plebiscite.
“Both countries will take out their forces and a commission will be formed to ascertain the conditions to set the impetus of the right to choose.
“India will ensure the smooth transition, and these were the three conditions agreed by every nation part of the UN.
“Those people are not only asking for independence, they are questioning world conscience, legality, honesty of the world at large and those who signed the resolution and pledged to practice it.”
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Dauda Danladi, however, noted that bringing peace to Kashmir and Southeast Asia would contribute to global peace.
Danladi reiterated that more than 60,00 people had lost their lives as a result of the conflict in the region and added that the figures would rise if the issue remained unresolved.
“The dispute has the tendency to lead to a nuclear war and I do not think the world can afford another Hiroshima.
“When people’s rights have been taken, the next alternative is the eruption of insurgency and insurgency has many dimensions and because we live in a global village it can resonate anywhere.
“In order to contain the rise of insurgency in the world, disputes like that of Kashmir should be resolved.
“This therefore calls for concerted efforts, vigorous diplomacy to sort out the issue of Kashmir because it is one of the oldest human struggles that has been unresolved,” he said.
He also noted that Nigeria could play a vital role in the resolution of the crisis in Kashmir, adding that “through the AU, Nigeria can impress on the international community to sort out the issue”. (NAN)
TOP/SYC
=========
Edited by Ismaila Chafe