Indian forces killing Kashmiris in Indian held Kashmir: Lord Nazir
India wants to exclude Kashmiri leadership from Peace dialogue between India, Pakistan, says Nazir
LONDON: (Dunya News, Web Desk) – Lord Nazir Ahmed has on Friday said that Indian forces have been killing Kashmiris in Indian Held Kashmir. He said that just this week there were further tragedies due to curfews. He said that while “India wanted Pakistan to invite the Kashmiri speaker of Assembly to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Meeting, which was proposed in Islamabad. Yet, on the other hand, they wanted to exclude the Kashmiri leadership from an important dialogue for Peace between the two countries”.
Talking at Universal Peace Federation (UPF) meeting, Lord Nazir added that Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had a dossier to share with the Indian authorities which would have helped prove Indian intelligence agency RAW’s hand in promoting terrorism in Pakistan but the Indian government not only postponed the talks for an indefinite period but also refused to allow Sartaj Aziz to meet the Kashmiri leaders.
Moreover, Lord Nazir also discussed the atrocities committed by the Israeli armed forces against the Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza.
The text of Lord Nazir’s speech at the UPF meeting can be read here:
"Chairman, Your Excellency’s, distinguished Ladies and gentlemen
Thank you to Universal Peace Federation for working so hard for Peace and Development in the World, from the Korean Peninsula to Middle East and from South Asia to Africa.
Since it’s founding the UPF has been deeply committed to building a world of peace, with the help of everyone involved with the organisation worldwide. The presence and impact of the UPF has continued to grow and develop.
The World Summit’s were built as a global governance system which would aim to ensure justice and equality around the world. We have all gathered together to achieve the same goal and we will only achieve this as one, collectively. This platform permits world leaders to bring together their individual and collective experience in hope of contributing towards a world of peace and prosperity for everyone around the globe. Using our insight and wisdom, we may hope to achieve this.
It feels like it was only yesterday when I was holding the hands of brothers and sisters from UPF on the streets of Jerusalem. We united for a common cause as that is what it means to be human, to come together and solve the issue as one. I remember visiting the holy sites, which gave me a feeling of peace, and meeting with the chairman of the Israeli Knesset and the Late Palestinian leader Chairman Yasser Arafat. The situation then was critical as today, Yasser Arafat’s Office buildings had been bombed and he was still working from the same buildings, where we held his hands and took photographs,also we had the chance to visit Gaza. Today after 3 Israeli Wars sadly 100% Gazans are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
The European Union calls on the government of Israel to commit unequivocally to the two- state solution and welcomes the initial step, following the Israeli policy review, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of commitment to a peace that would include a Palestinian state. It urges both parties to take immediate steps to resume peace negotiations, respecting previous agreements and understandings. To that effect, the Council also calls on both parties to implement their obligations under the Roadmap.
The EU and UK remains deeply concerned by settlement activities, house demolitions and evictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including in East Jerusalem. The Council urges the government of Israel to immediately end settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem and including natural growth, and to dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001.
This World Summit has arrived at an important time as not only the Middle East, but Africa too is in need of an urgent peace initiative.The tension spreads from Gaza, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Iraq,and Yemento Somalia Sudan and Central African Republic.
It is also timely because we can set the Agenda for the forthcoming UN General Assembly,from the appointment of the New Secretary General to reform of the Security Council. And from a long term resolution of the Palestinian issue to the resolution of the Kashmir problem.
Here, I express my deepest concern regarding the postponement of talks between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan. Mr Sertaj Aziz, the Pakistan Foreign Advisor, who recently produced a dossier relating to the Indian intelligence services (RAW), which allegedly promoted and supports terrorism in Pakistan. The Indian Foreign Minister also refused to allow the meeting between the Kashmiri leadership and Sertaj Aziz, to go through in Delhi.
On one hand, India wanted Pakistan to invite the Kashmiri speaker of Assembly to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Meeting, which was proposed in Islamabad. Yet, on the other hand, they wanted to exclude the Kashmiri leadership from an important dialogue for Peace between the two countries. Surely this will increase tension.
More and more Kashmiris are being killed in the Indian Administered Kashmir, just this week there were further tragedies due to curfews.
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Even though we gather time and time again through various events, trying to help cure the world of its many flaws, the human race is still so hopelessly divided. If we look at the Middle East, we see the tragedy of Gaza, the blockade and the suffering of Palestinian children; we also recognise the occasional rockets being fired from Gaza that cause concern to the civilians in Israel.
The only answer to the current turmoil in the region that is endangering international peace and security is to resolve the Middle East Conflict and end the prolonged Israeli military occupation of Palestine. This is indispensable for the future stability of the region and the world at large.
A just, peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will open the door for a new era in the region. It could bring stability and cooperation within the Middle East, and it may help other countries in the region seek a similar solution.
The civil war in Syria, Iraq and Yemen needs Iran and Saudi Arabia to put their differences on one side and stop the bloodshed. This is not a Shia – Sunni war of religious ideology but twooil rich countries seeking to be recognised as regional powers.
Your Excellency’s, there is a potential for this conflict to become an opportunity for the region for peace and development if we can encourage trade and business relations; If we can encourage dialogue with tone down rhetoric from hard liners and speaking about shared values and beliefs...
All over the world we see strong ministries of defence throughout countries. In most of these countries, world leaders spend billions, if not trillions of dollars on their defence systems. If these countries were to think about ministries of peace instead, it would not even cost them a quarter of what they are spending on defence. In my opinion the ministries of peace would be more effective, as the difference in direction would produce opposite results. Instead of conflict and violence, we may find peace, security and development.
The arms race has created a gridlock within the system of peace. It is a competition revolved around weapons, bigger armies and military technology. It encourages governments and multinational companies to increase their production and enhance their armies, rather than looking towards human development, which then causes their opponent governments and multinational companies to do the same. Overall, this creates a system where the idea of peace and development are put to the side due to too much conflict.
I want see free distribution of pens and computers, not guns and grenades. Today, money is wasted more than ever, on nuclear weapons and long range missiles.
In North Korea, money would be much better spent feeding mal-nourished children and providing peace and prosperity to its people. People cannot eat long range missiles or nuclear bombs. They need food. You have to be at peace with yourself first to be at peace with your neighbours, so let s do it together, let’s achieve a common ground where we can work alongside each other and create a better world today.
In the Middle East, in Africa, in India and in Pakistan, it would be better to spend the money on education, on health, on environment and on clean water, rather than bombs and rocket launchers. This is what a Ministry of Peace can achieve; it can reach out to people and build peace beyond borders.
Dr Moon’s vision for the UN assembly of interfaith leaders is still significant and should be incorporated into the UN. Dr Walsh made a powerful point after his meeting with the Pope . I was inspired by this vision and many years ago, I established an All Party Parliamentary Group on Interfaith at the House of Lords.
I believe that reforming the UN to make it more representative would be a step forward for the international organisation. The Security Council should be more representative of the modern world we live in. With relationships forming across borders and nations, and between various faiths and religions, it is only right and fair that they are reflected through one of the world’s most prominent international organisations.
As a final remark, I hope that after this summit has ended, we can all go home and re-lay the intellect we have gathered onto our Governments and/or Parliaments. I hope that we are able to achieve significant peace, security and development for the world. We may all think that we have little influence individually, but together as a united force we hold significant life changing power."