Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: Highlighting the unending plight of the natives of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, Jamil Masood, representative of NGO at United Nations Human Rights Councils Geneva today urged the Indian Government to liberate areas of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.
“Without liberation of PoJK and Gilgit Baltistan from the yoke of Pakistan, it is impossible to control the menace of terrorism”, Masood said while addressing a Webinar organized by the Centre for Ladakh & Jammu Kashmir Studies (Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Chapter) in connection of Sankalp Diwas.
Topic of today’s Webinar was “Human Rights Violation and Socio-Economic Status in PoJK”.
Centre for Ladakh & Jammu Kashmir Studies (Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Chapter) is organizing a series of lectures on the eve of the Sankalp Diwas. Today was the second lecture of the series.
Jameel Masood and Dr. Yashodhan Agalgoankar International Co-ordinator of Centre for Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir Studies were the main speakers in the Webinar.
Prof Naresh Padha, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu presided over the Webinar.
Speakers were unanimous that Gilgit Baltistan is an integral part of India. They observed that recently India carried out amendments in its Constitution to declare Gilgit Baltistan a part of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. This helped to re-establish Gilgit Baltistan’s historical link with Ladakh since Baltistan was part of Ladakh district before the partition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Masood pointed out that the Pakistani establishment has been brazenly indulged in persecuting natives of Gilgit-Baltistan on one pretext or the other.
“India must exert pressure on China and Pakistan to end the occupation of Gilgit Baltistan so the locals could enjoy equal citizenship rights like the people of Ladakh and other Indians”, he said.
Dr. Yashodhan Agalgoankar International Co-ordinator of Centre recounted historical aspects of how Pakistan has forcefully and illegally occupied PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. He narrated some historical incidents and highlighted the deceitful tactics of Pakistan to annex these areas which are part of India both Constitutionally and legally.
Prof Naresh Padha, in his address, said that both China and Pakistan have joined hands to undertake genocide against the local people of Gilgit-Baltistan and convert them into a minority.
“Given the situation, the entire world should stand with India to help natives of Gilgit and Baltistan and save them from annihilation. The world should not let Gilgit Baltistan turn into another Xinjiang or Tibet”, he said.
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