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26 January 2017•Update: 27 January 2017
By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan has welcomed the debate on the Kashmir dispute in the House of Commons, in the U.K. last week, which highlighted alleged violations of human rights and an escalation in violence in the Indian-occupied part of the Himalayan valley.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nafees Zakaria during a weekly briefing on Thursday observed that the House of Commons had concluded the debate calling on the U.K. government to discuss the issue at the United Nations.
“It is pertinent to mention that the House of Commons further called on its government to encourage Pakistan and India to begin peaceful negotiations to establish a long-term solution on the future governance of Kashmir based on the opinion of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future in accordance with the laws and regulations of the UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.
He added that the debate and its outcome were reflective of Pakistan's diplomatic successes.
"Civil society members have held many more events across Pakistan, Europe and North America on the human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir,” he added.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full.
The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.
Since 1989, Kashmiri resistance groups in IHK have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict so far, most of them by the Indian Armed forces. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.
