Denial of the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir

Washington, D.C. May 19: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmir Center has emphasized that the denial of the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir has brought two nuclear countries – India and Pakistan- to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.

Therefore, OIC must persuade the United Nations to bring the human rights atrocities to an end by fulfilling its promises of self-determination.

Dr. Fai believes that the changes in the global community in general and the United States after November 2008 election in particular are creating a surge of expectations among the people of Kashmir for fulfilling the international promise of self-determination.  He said that hundreds of petitions have been circulated and presented to the United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) in Srinagar (the capitol city of Kashmir) during the unprecedented non-violent processions in 2008. He asserted that this approach demonstrates the peaceful and indigenous nature of our sentiments and our trust in justice under international law.

Dr. Fai said that the global community has the opportunity to focus its attention in setting a stage for a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute.  An appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir, said Dr. Fai, as suggested by then candidate Barak Obama would go a long way to hasten the progress of peace and reconciliation in the region of South Asia.