BALTIMORE, Maryland: World Kashmir Awareness Secretary General Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai has said that the world powers have voiced not a syllable of reproach to India for its human rights violations in Kashmir.
“Their tacit message to India’s leaders: your economic attractiveness and hegemony in South Asia exculpate your human rights atrocities in Kashmir. Does that reflect a profile in courage?” he questioned during the 41st annual convention of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).
Dr Fai was speaking in the panel, entitled, “Muslims around the world Series”, on the subject of Kashmir. Other speakers included Dr Nikibur Rahman, son of Motiur Rahman Nizami who was executed in Bangladesh on May 11, 2016 through a trial procedure that international human rights groups, including Amnesty International have condemned as deeply flawed.
‘The Arab Spring: 6 years later’ was presented by Dr Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, former member of Egyptian parliament. “More trade between Pakistan and India will do nothing to end the indigenous Kashmiri resistance, which is fueled by shocking human rights violations and the denial of self-determination for more than half a century,” Dr Fai said.
“No power on earth can bargain away the rights of Kashmiris; only they can determine their own political destiny,” he warned. He said that the international community should not abandon Kashmir to the whims of Pakistan and India. They should be persuaded to permit outside intervention to resolve the Kashmir conflict, he said.
“They should also be encouraged to permit the leadership of the people of Kashmir to participate as full partners in the negotiating enterprise with both Pakistan and India,” he suggested. “Isn’t the demand of the people of Kashmir legitimate and recognised by the United Nations and international community? If yes, then why should the world powers prefer trade and commerce to moral values and ethical principles?” he questioned.
“Isn’t trade and commerce trampling on principles, democratic values, and human rights in Kashmir? Isn’t it a bad precedence to prefer trade to morality?” Fai asked. He concluded by emphasising the inspirational message given by US President Barack Obama to the South Asian leadership on October 30, 2008 when he pronounced to facilitate an understanding between Pakistan and India to help resolve the Kashmir crisis.
