Kashmir Black Day, 27 October 2015

A seminar was organized at the Embassy on 27 October 2015 to observe the Kashmir Black Day. It was attended by University Professors, Students, Media Personnel, members of Pakistan-Egypt Friendship Association and Pakistani Community. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif also sent his representative Ambassador Abdel RehmanMousa, Consultant for Foreign Relations.

The ceremony begun with Recitation from the Holy Quran followed by screening of the documentary received from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (External Publicity Wing). Speakers at the seminar included Scholars, Academicians and Journalist.

Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim, Head of Urdu Department, Al-Azhar University in his speech underlined the need to educate and sensitize the Muslims of Middle East and they ultimately would mount pressure through public campaigning on the international community for the fulfillment of its commitment regarding Kashmir. He emphasized the need for unity among Muslim countries to project cause of Islamic Ummah.

Mr. Samir Hussain, a Freelance Journalist and the Chief Editor of the website asyanews.com underscored the importance of media to highlight the plight of the Kashmiri people and to generate support for the just right of Kashmiri people for self-determination.

Ambassador Fathi Yousef, President Pakistan-Egypt Friendship Association reiterated the support of Association for the just cause of self-determination of Kashmiri people and called upon the Indian Government to engage with Pakistan for meaningful dialogue for resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Dr. Hanna Abdel Fattah, Professor of Al-Azhar University appealed to the Islamic world to play its role towards resolution of longstanding issues of Kashmir and Palestine.

Ambassador Mushtaq Ali Shah in his remarks said that it was India that had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council.However, despite international commitments and pledges made by their political leadership to the Kashmiri people it has kept denying the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people. He highlighted how the Kashmir dispute had bedeviled the relations between Pakistan and India and had been a stumbling block in promoting regional cooperation. Kashmir, he saidheld key to peace, security and cooperation in the South Asian region. Cognizant of this fact,the Government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has made

many sincere attempts to improve relations with India. Unfortunately the Indian response however, in this regard has been frustrating. It has not only refused to hold meaningful dialogue on the issue but has raised tensions by escalating ceasefire violations along with Line of Control and openly admitting to have aided, abetted, trained and funded terrorist activities in Pakistan through disgruntled elements.

He termed the issues of Kashmir and Palestine as festering wounds in the body of humankind and called upon the international community for cure by implementing the UN Security Council Resolutions. The early Resolution would promote peace, security, cooperation and social harmony not only in our respective regions but in the world at large.

On this occasion, Ambassador Mushtaq Ali Shah also gave exclusive interviews to the official Egyptian news agency MENA, the Daily Al-Gamhouria and the Daily Al-Ahram.