(Tokyo, August 5, 2021): A webinar on 5th August Youm-e-Istehsal was held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo. The event was chaired by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan Mr. Imtiaz Ahmad and was attended by representatives of Japanese media, Kashmiri activists in Japan, Pakistanis living in Japan and the spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Journalists Association from Srinagar.
At the outset, the Ambassador briefed the participants regarding Pakistan’s official position on the unfolding crisis in Indian illegally occupied valley. He said that the present Indian government is treading a very dangerous path not only within India and IIOJK but also with its relations with Pakistan, adding that human rights situation remains grave in the illegally occupied valley. This has been highlighted not only by the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights but also by the international media and the civil society.
The Ambassador said that the Modi administration is trying to engineer a demographic change in Kashmir by issuing around 1 million domiciles certificates, which he said is a grave violation of the UN Charter, UNSC resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention.
Indian Forces, he said, have been continuously targeting the civilian population along the LOC and Working Boundary. During last year alone, India committed more than 2000 ceasefire violations.
Prof. Nawaz Ali, who is an academic and regional expert, spoke about the background and historical significance of 5th August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Rameez Makhdoomi, the spokesperson of Jammu & Kashmir Journalists Association and editor of Kashmir Media Watch joined the webinar from Srinagar. He said that Kashmir is becoming a human tragedy and freedoms have become non-existent. He said that just because of the Internet shut down Kashmir Media Watch had to cut their staff by 75%. He said that Kashmiris have high hopes from Prime Minister Imran Khan that he will keep pressing the Indian government for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Mobarik Virk from Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) said that people in the occupied valley are practically living in a jail. He said that Kashmir has become one of the longest unresolved tragedies in international politics. Everybody is watching Kashmir but, sadly, nobody is choosing to speak about it, he said. Kashmir has become a black spot on world map which the international community is ignoring because of Kashmiris’ muslim faith.
Prominent Kashmiri activist in Japan Mr. Shahid Majeed appreciated the support of Pakistani diplomatic community for Kashmiris and the Kashmir cause. He particularly thanked Ambassador Imtiaz Ahmad and Press Counsellor Farrukh Rafiq for their efforts to highlight Kashmir issue in Japan.
Tokyo, PR#23/2021