"If I have a quarrel with the UN, I do have the same feeling for OIC. Whenever there is an issue in the Islamic world, Pakistan always comes forward to support putting its security at risk but on the issue of Kashmir, OIC remained silent. It has just become to say Oh, I see," Rabbani said while concluding a 2-day international seminar on Kashmir and role of the world bodies and major powers.
He pointed out that most of the Islamic countries focus on their bilateral relations with India when Pakistan needs their support on Kashmir issue. "We should be true to our case and look into the ground realities while formulating the new Kashmir policy," he added.
He said that India has crossed all limits of brutalities against the innocent Kashmiri people but the Western powers, which give the lecture of human rights, self-determination and democracy, remain silent for their strategic interests.
"As far as the role of UN is concerned, the UN is an institution which has become redundant. It is a body which dances to the tune of Western imperialism and the interests of the United States," he added. He said that the UN has lost its credibility in the third world countries and it only serves interests of the major powers. "We don't have respect and need of the institution which cannot take care of our interest. Any such body needs not to exist if it is unable to guarantee peoples' rights given to them under the international law," he said.
He stated that hundreds of Kashmiris have lost their eyesight due to use of pellet guns but there is pin-drop silence in the West. He said that the rape has become a weapon of war for Indian troops while the forced disappearances in thousands is also not enough to awake the conscious of the UN and the Western countries.
"We have failed to sensitise the world about the real struggle of Kashmiri people as at present, this issue is considered as a dispute between India and Pakistan without presenting a real picture of the movement," he said. Rabbani suggested that the Parliament should take a lead in highlighting the Kashmir cause and sensitise the world though a proactive outreach.
He observed that at present the Kashmir Committee comprises of only members of National Assembly and suggested that for making a true committee of the Parliament, the committee should have the representation from Senate as well. He also proposed that the Kashmiri people should learn from the experiences of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and ensure their participation at international conferences and forums to present their case.
Prime Minister AJK Raja Farooq Haider said that resolution of the issue of Kashmir is imperative for lasting peace in South Asia. He said that Indian government claims that there are only 170 militants active in the IOK. "Let me ask if over 0.6 million Indian troops are not even enough to handle only 170 freedom fighters," he posed a question.
Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said that Pakistan and India should resolve their issues through meaningful and result oriented dialogue process.
He also rejected the impression that Muslim world is not extending support to Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir, adding except for a few Muslim countries which prefer their bilateral ties with India, countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan are supporting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir.
The seminar organised by Young Parliamentarian Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs brought together a number of parliamentarians from British and EU parliaments including Lord Nazir Ahmad, Lord Qurban and Afzal Khan. It also noted the Indian defiance to the calls by UN Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, OIC and elected representatives in the UK and Australia for an independent investigation into HR violations in IOK. It also expressed deep concern over the India's approach to systematically change the demography in IoK to convert Muslim majority Kashmiris into a minority.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017