LONDON: Prime Minister’s Special Envoys on Kashmir Senator Lt. Gen (R), Abdul Qayyum, and Mr Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, MNA briefed the Pakistan origin Mayors, Councillors and community on the latest situation in Kashmir and Line of Control (LOC), between Pakistan and India, at the Pakistan High Commission London on 20 October 2016.

The envoys also addressed a Press Conference on situation in Kashmir and updated the media on Pakistan’s efforts to resolve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue.

The community and the media were updated on the meetings and interaction of the Envoys with the British parliamentarians, UK authorities and human rights organizations. The envoys stated that status quo in Kashmir is not an option as it has only served to prolong the suffering of the Kashmiris. They pointed out that bilateral talks had not produced any results so far and it was right time for the third party mediation and facilitation, especially by the UK.

Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK who was also present on the occasion, termed the visit successful as it raised awareness in the UK about the plight of Kashmiris.

The envoys specifically called upon the Mayors, Councillors and community members to lobby with their respective MPs to gain their support on the issue of Kashmir. Similarly, the community was asked to keep their elected representatives informed about the atrocities being committed in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The envoys appreciated British parliamentarians for assuring to work towards sending their delegation to the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), and also calling upon the UN to send a fact finding mission to the IOK. They informed the audience that they have invited a British parliamentary delegation to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir to get the first hand information of the situation on ground.

The envoys said that in order to divert the world attention, India was accusing Pakistan of Uri attack. They urged the international community to take notice of the human rights abuses of the Kashmiris by the Indian security forces.

Both the envoys underlined that peace was the need of the hour in the region so that the heavy defence budgets could be spent on progress and development of the people of two countries. They also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful resolution of the issue.