Aftab Khokhar, Consul General of Pakistan (center); and Imran Raza Khan, Acting Principal of PISJ (ES); pose with students who presented peremptory talk show during the Kashmir Solidarity Day events in Jeddah, recently. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Kashmiris should have the right to decide about their fate according to the relevant United Nations resolutions, a senior Pakistani diplomat here said. Aftab Khokher, Consul General of Pakistan, said Kashmir is not only a political issue. "It's an international issue and there is no question of seeking independence from India because it's not part of India," he said. Khokher was the chief guest at the Kashmir Solidarity Day observed by the Pakistan International School Jeddah (English Section) at the school premises here recently. Khokher said Kashmiris should be given the right of freedom of speech to express their wish to ally with either Pakistan or India. The consul general encouraged the students to write articles and letters highlighting the issue of Kashmir in the newspapers and be "confident on their approach.” Imran Raza Khan, acting principal of the school, said empowering the Kashmiris from both sides of the Indo-Pak border to participate in the plebiscite would resolve the core issue of Kashmir and once for all. "Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and we cannot manifestly abandon it under any condition. We will continue showing our unity with Kashmir until the day Kashmir is freed from the brutal and malicious Indian forces,” Khan said. PISJ-ES student observed the Kashmir Solidarity Day as a commitment to extend their profound moral support to the Kashmiri brethren in their fundamental right to self-determination as envisaged in the UN resolutions. Students of PISJ-ES presented a peremptory talk show, ‘Voice of Time' to enlighten the audience on the Kashmir issue. The students, Abdul Rafay Awan, Saadia Shafqat and Minahil Saifullah remarkably put forward the stances of India, Pakistan and Kashmir on this grave issue as journalists of their respective nations whereas Sohaib Khalid performed the role of an anchor and presented his analysis in a very dynamic manner. They discussed every aspect of the issue and concluded that the issue should be resolved forthwith either through bilateral dialogue between Pakistan and India or free and fair plebiscite. During the event, different international documentaries encompassing the predicament of the Kashmiris were also put on display. The heart-rending scenes in the documentaries made almost all eyes wet.
