The Embassy of Pakistan in Stockholm organized a webinar tilted “From Kashmir to Palestine: Occupation is the Crime “ to commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day. The event was attended by distinguished people from all walks of life including politicians, human rights activists, MPs and members of Pakistani and Kashmiri community.

Speakers of the event included Sardar Taimoor (President Kashmir Council), Zubair Hussain, Dr Mujahid Gilani (President Kashmir Youth Alliance), leading Kashmiri activist Ghulam Nabi Fai, founder of Organization Kashmiri American Council, Mr. Amjad Malik (prominent Human Rights Lawyer from UK), Member of British Parliament Mr. Afzal Khan and Ms. Sara Kuka Salam, Mayor Solna Municipality.

In his introductory remarks Ambassador Zahoor Ahmed highlighted the importance of Kashmir Solidarity Day. He reiterated Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan advocates the settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution which call for holding free and fair plebiscite for Kashmiri people to decide their future . On the ongoing war in Gaza and Palestinian question, he underscored the hypocrisy of some states who have conveniently ignored the plight and destruction of Palestinian lives and property under the pretext that Israel has the right to self defence. This policy of collective punishment being meted out by the Israel and the massive humanitarian disaster in Gaza is simply un-acceptable. Pakistan calls for resolution of all international disputes including Palestine and Kashmir under the relevant UNSC resolutions.

Dr. Mujahid Gilani, in his statement emphasized the need to make our younger generation aware of the importance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day and what is entails. They should know the sacrifices in life and liberty that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir have been paying in the pursuit of their right to self-determination. The younger generation should know what is the reason that the funeral of a ninety-year-old Syed Ali Gilani was not allowed to be held in a manner befitting to the politician of his stature. Our people should know that tomorrow will mark 30 years since the incarceration of Dr. Qasim Fatoo who has spent all his adult life in jail. He has been condemned to life imprisonment till death for a crime of being of oppressed Kashmiri people.

Barrister Amjad Malik stated that the plight of Kashmiris is still alive due to the atrocities of Indian occupied forces. Unless international community pays attention to sufferings of Kashmiris which they have been made to suffer, their moral credentials will remain doubtful .

Addressing the webinar, Ghulam Nabi Fai stated that both Kashmiris and Palestinians are being punished unjustly by their respective subjugators i.e. India and Israel. The Right to self-determination is one of the fundamental principles of International Law which is incorporated in the UN Charter as well as in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights as well as relevant Security Council resolutions on Palestine and Kashmir. India is perpetrating genocide in the Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Indian claim of the so-called normalcy in the valley has been aptly busted by sensible Indian authors like Arundhati Roy who question the stationing of 900,000 army personnel in the valley making it the most militarized region in the world. India has been harassing and imprisoning genuine and internationally acclaimed human rights activists like Khurram Pervaiz. He urged international community to take a moral stance on both Kashmir and Palestine and end the sufferings of both people by making b the implementation of UNSC resolutions a reality.

Ms. Sara Kuka Salam, the Mayor of Solna Municipality in the outskirts of Stockholm called for a just and peaceful future for the Kashmiri people and demanded the end to human rights violations being perpetrated by the occupying forces. She underscored the necessity of continuing collective efforts for advocating the rights of Kashmiris.
MP Afzal Khan from UK lamented that even after seven decades, Kashmiris are facing persecution by the self-proclaimed largest democracy of the world. He also highlighted both the occupying countries i.e. India and Israel are increasingly getting closer and forming a sort of nexus. He urged that the defenders of human rights and the proponents of right to self determination also need to pool their political and diplomatic resources to deal with the growing Indian and Israeli impunity.

Sardar Taimoor (President Kashmir Council, Sweden ) in his statement highlighted that the people of IIOJK has a deep association with the people of Pakistan and they look towards Pakistan for continued political and diplomatic and moral support. Zubair Hussain, journalist from Malmo stated that Swedes have been protesting the atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation forces. He highlighted the need of creating awareness of the plight of both Kashmiris and Palestinians in the Swedish Parliament as well as in the European Parliament in Brussels. Only, through raising awareness of the excesses committed by Indian and Israeli forces in Swedish society, we can expect some realization in Swedish circles.
Malik Shahzad in his comments condemned the Indian and Israeli atrocities.

Mr. Saeed Sheikh, in his statement maintained that after the lapse of over 70 years the question rightfully raises in the mind that why both Kashmir and Palestinian question could not get resolved. He questioned the apathy of international community towards the simmering Kashmir and Palestinian disputes where lives and future of almost two billion people is at stake. Zafar Chaudhary underscored the excesses committed by the Indian Government through demographic engineering and administrative and political manipulation stressed on the need to resolve both the Kashmir and Palestinian dispute in a fair manner in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

A special documentary was also played to pay homage to the sufferings of Kashmiris on the occasion.