Islamabad: Pakistan remains not only a direct party to the Kashmir conflict but also a steadfast advocate for the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination, Zaffar Ahmad Quraishi, Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global, UK said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a reception hosted by United Kashmir Journalists Association (UKJA), Quraishi emphasized Pakistan's longstanding role in raising the Kashmir issue on international platforms and urged the global Kashmiri diaspora to take up their responsibility in further internationalizing the movement with unity and clarity of objectives.
'The Kashmir diaspora has a vital role to play. They must unite to bring the Kashmir issue to the forefront of global political discourse,' he said, noting that disunity and lack of strategic communication have often hampered progress.
He highlighted the power of media as a strategic tool, stating that during periods of heightened Pakistan-India tensions, particularly around the events of 2019, and recent Indian aggression, both Pakistani and Kashmiri media successfully exposed India and human rights violations it has been committing in the region.
Media is one of the most powerful tools in today's information war. The impact was seen in 2019 when all Kashmir was shut, and media helped uncover the truth. He urged Kashmiri journalists to strengthen collaborations with Western media outlets, to build international support for the Kashmir cause. 'Our journalists must proactively engage with the western media to project the voices of the oppressed and challenge the false narratives being pushed by India,' he added.
Reflecting on recent geopolitical developments, Quraishi said India suffered diplomatic and strategic setbacks that have shifted the global conversation in favor of the Kashmir freedom movement. 'India is on the back foot, and the freedom movement has once again gained global attention. This momentum must not be wasted,' he stressed.
He called on Kashmiri leadership to reassess and realign its direction, insisting that internal unity and strategic vision were essential to advancing the cause. 'Now is the time for renewed commitment and our leadership must rise to the occasion,' Quraishi concluded.
Among others, the event was attended by UKJA representatives including by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Wani, Shabbir Ahmed Dar; Naeem-ul-Asad; Ch. Asif Mahmood; Bilal Ahmed Wani; Javed Ahmed; Arshad Mir, Hilal Ahmad, Abdul Aziz, Zahoor Ahmad and Muhammad Umar.