Jamil Maqsood, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), has emphasized that India and Pakistan are pursuing a covert understanding to permanently divide the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir stand as a formidable obstacle to these divisive plans and are striving for the re-establishment of a united, independent, and sovereign State of Jammu and Kashmir to end the prevailing atmosphere of fear, militarization, and instability in the south Asian region.
The delegation was led by Jamil Maqsood, head of the delegation, who had briefed the respected MEP on the overall political and human rights situation in all regions of the divided State.l of Jammu Kashmir.
During the comprehensive briefing, Mr. Maqsood underlined the urgent need for effective follow-up on the European Parliament’s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the unanimous 2007 resolution. Jamil Maqsood called upon the European Parliament to dispatch a fact-finding mission to all parts of the former princely state so that the mission could engage directly with the local population, understand their aspirations and grievances, and make recommendations for addressing their legitimate demands.
Jamil Maqsood stated that India’s unilateral decision in 2019 to alter the constitutional and territorial status of Jammu and Kashmir was a gross violation of historical commitments and international law.
He further urged that this European Parliament fact-finding mission should also evaluate the implementation of the Parliament’s resolutions and the 2018 and 2019 reports and recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by the respective administrations in the divided regions.
In his discussion he reiterated that no government or state has the right to unilaterally annex or further divide the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Respect for the wishes and aspirations of the people remains paramount.
The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), also organized peaceful demonstrations outside the European Parliament to draw attention to the devastated human rights situation, especially the suppression of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and targeting Awami Action Committee leaders in Gilgit- Baltistan.
A memorandum was handed over to Ms. Bonte, urging her to take serious notice of the ongoing situation in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir and to play a meaningful role in promoting peace, justice, and democracy. The delegation emphasized the historical responsibility of the European Parliament in this regard.
Mr. Maqsood further explained that the State of Jammu and Kashmir was established on March 16, 1846, under the Treaty of Amritsar between the British East India Company and Maharaja Gulab Singh. The State remained united for one hundred and one year, but was forcibly divided in 1947 during the partition of the Indian subcontinent, leading to decades of suffering for its people.
Since 1947, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied basic freedoms, including freedom of expression, movement, assembly, and association. He pointed out that five powerful officers appointed from Islamabad continue to rule the region, undermining local autonomy and fundamental rights.
He highlighted that nearly 2.5 million people of Jammu Kashmir under territory under Pakistani control have been forced to migrate from their homeland due to political persecution, economic deprivation, and social injustice. United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), leaders and activists have faced harassment and retaliatory actions for their peaceful political beliefs.
He recounted that United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP ), Chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri was abducted twice by Pakistani intelligence agencies in 1994 and 1998, and has lived in forced exile since 1999 and myself was blacklisted by the Pakistani embassy in Brussels in 2017. Jamil MAQSOOD stressed that Pakistan’s security establishment continues to oppress the people of both regions under its control — so-called “Azad Jammu & Kashmir” and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The head of the delegation demanded:
•The dismantling of terrorist and extremist infrastructures in Pakistan-administered territories.
•The establishment of a truly representative local government in line with UN resolutions.
•The abolition of discriminatory clauses in the 1974 Interim Constitution, especially the provision that bans individuals or political parties from engaging in any activity “contrary to the ideology of accession to Pakistan.”
Ms. Barbara Bonte, MEP, expressed her deep concern and full solidarity with the delegation and termed their concerns as legitimate and worthy of attention.
Mr. Maqsood also condemned the arrest of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, calling it a grave violation of human rights, and demanded his honourable and unconditional release. He further expressed deep sorrow over the enforced disappearances of Kashmiri children — Saad Haroon, Tabish Zafar, and Arsalan Zubair — from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, holding law enforcement agencies accountable and urging implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He voiced serious concern over environmental degradation and the plundering of mineral and natural resources in Pakistan-administered regions, urging European parliamentary intervention to protect local ecology and public interests.
The delegation members thanked Ms. Bonte for providing an opportunity for this in-depth briefing inside the European Parliament and appreciated her commitment to human rights and peace.
Delegation Members:
Aqeel Ahmad – President, UKPNP Belgium
Sajid Hussain – Secretary Information, UKPNP Europe Zone
Waleed Siddique – UKPNP Belgium
Riaz Hanif – Member, UKPNP Belgium
Raja Mudasir – Member, UKPNP Belgium
Siyan Basharat – Member, UKPNP Belgium
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