Mirpur: Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi has called for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, urging European parliamentarians to highlight their right to self-determination and the human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of European Parliamentarians that called on him in the State metropolis on Friday, the AJK President’s Office said on Saturday.
The president described the Kashmir dispute as an internationally recognised issue rather than merely a regional matter, adding that the Kashmiri people had been struggling for their political, human and democratic rights for decades. He said durable peace in South Asia was closely linked to a just resolution of the dispute and stressed that international human rights institutions and parliamentary forums should comprehensively examine the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Najeeb Naqi urged the European Union to play its due role in promoting human rights, democracy, the rule of law and sustainable peace and to help raise international awareness about the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He also highlighted Pakistan’s stated efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and thanked the visiting parliamentarians for their interest in understanding the situation in the region.
Later, the delegation visited stalls showcasing Azad Kashmir’s tourism potential, cultural heritage and mineral resources and attended cultural performances and a documentary screening. Dr Najeeb Naqi also presented a commemorative shield to Member of the European Parliament Mary Khan.