“Kashmir Solidarity Day 2009” Seminar was organized by the High Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with Global Peace Mission Malaysia (GPM), in Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday, 5th February, 2009.

For GPM it is already became a tradition to hold annual observation of the “Kashmir Solidarity Day” to mark the struggle of the Kashmiri people for the legitimate right of self-determination. To discuss human factors in occupied Jammu & Kashmir region GPM, on its part, invited Malaysian intellectuals along with their foreign counterparts.

Among the invited guests were prominent human rights activists Dr. Chandra Muzafar, President of the International movement for a Just World, Dr. Rohanas Harun, of University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof. Dr. Abdullah Ahsan of International Islamic University Malaysia, as well as Dr. Ismail (Christoph) Marcinkowski, of International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies of Malaysia (IAIS). Apart from them, there also were representatives from the local and international NGO’s, teachers, students, businessmen, diplomats, journalists, peace mission activists, NGO volunteers and many others who respect and support the Kashmiri people’s struggle for a just solution on territories occupied by Indian forces on 26th October, 1947.

The forum started with the reading Surah from the Holy Qur’an.

One minute silence was observed to respect the struggle of the Kashmiri people in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir , and to commemorate the heroism of those who sacrificed their lives liberating their country from foreign domination.

The guests received the messages from the President of Pakistan as well as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Texts were read by Pakistani High Commission officials.

Dr. Chandra Muzafar drew the attention of the audience to the power of the International media resources and their importance in the propagation of the Kashmiri tragedy and perspectives for the just final solution for the people of Kashmir .

Dr. Chandra Muzafar touched upon on the Kashmiri history and the present deadlock situation caused by 60 years of Indian occupation. He shared his views, thoughts and ideas about the current situation in Kashmir .

In turn, Dr. Rohanas Harun, gave invaluable feedback on Kashmiri history and its current situation. She admitted that “the viable solution to Kashmiri issue could only be found in faithful implementation of UNO’s resolutions which has stressed holding of a plebiscite to let the people of Kashmir decide their accession to India or Pakistan ”.

Dr. Ismail Marcinkowski made insightful comments on history and religion of the Kashmiri people, concentrating on the Sufi sectarian groups and their role in Kashmiri society. He said that the Kashmiris were peace loving people who were betrayed by British and Indian ruling elites.

Prof. Dr. Abdullah Ahsan admitted that the Kashmiris were abandoned and left alone with no choice than to engage in struggle for self-determination which is still denied to them by world powers. There is no military solution for Kashmir . The answer to the problem can be found in peace and by political means only, – stressed Dr. Abdullah Ahsan.

Instead, India is trying to suppress Kashmiri by force imposing the state of terror on the Kashmiri people.

Kashmir is a territory still controlled by Indian forces but not ruled by India and, God willing, never be,-added Dr. Abdullah Ahsan.

Prof. Abdullah Ahsan presented facts and events in Jammu and Kashmir not only in the context of the of Kashmiri contemporary history but also in the geo-political context indicating that the partition of the sub-continent in August 1947, followed right after the partition of the Palestine in May, 1947.

In his address, Mr. Asri Abdul, Global Peace Mission Chief  Executive Officer, – said that the Muslim World has a special responsibility to support the just struggle of the Kashmiri people through both moral and material help.

His Excellency Lt.Gen. (Retd) Tahir Mahmud Qazi, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Malaysia , in his concluding speech, declared that “ Pakistan has always extended its moral, political and diplomatic support for a just and peaceful resolution of Kashmiri dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiris”.