British MPs endorse Kashmir Conference call

London––A number of British Parliamentarians have endorsed the suggestions of former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry to hold a moot on Kashmir similar to Afghanistan Conference for bringing peace and stability in South Asia.

The parliamentarians were taking part in a discussion organised by the Chair of All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir Lord Nazir Ahmed at the House of Lords on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Barrister Chaudhry apprised the British members of Parliament of the current situation prevailing in the Indian held Kashmir and said there could be no region in the region without first resolving the Kashmir issue.

He remarked that the road to stability and peace in Afghanistan lay via Kashmir and it was important for the world community to realise the gravity of the situation in the valley where the human rights of the people of Kashmir continues to be violated with impunity. He also spoke of the threat by the Indian Army chief of waging war simultaneously with Pakistan and China and said the world must take notice of his bellicosity.

“Any small incident on the Indo-Pakistan border or the Line of Control could trigger a nuclear war as both the countries are nuclear powers,” he said. The former premier of Azad Kashmir called for intra Kashmir dialogue to be followed by an international conference on the disputed Himalayan State for resolving the issue that has been hanging fire for the past 62 years between Pakistan and India.

Barrister Chaudhry pointed out that US President Barack Obama on the occasion of his election had spoken of the importance of resolving the Kashmir dispute and had suggested appointing former President Bill Clinton as his special envoy on Kashmir. “It was unfortunate that due to strong pressure exerted by the Indian lobby, Obama could not appoint anyone as his representative on Kashmir,” he said.

Furthermore, Barrister Chaudhry who is the head of the People’s Muslim League, said even though Richard Holbrooke has been made special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan but his writ does not extend to Kashmir.—AFP