Resolution Of Conflicts In Kashmir, Other Muslim Areas,

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Feb, 2017 ) : Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that if the United States and the world leaders truly want to fight ISIS forces and terrorism, they must address the concerns of Muslims in areas like Kashmir.

"If we want to create an environment which is conducive for peace and ensures harmony, then we have to address the causes of injustices," the Minister said at a seminar organized by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington to observe the Kashmir Solidary Day and to express solidarity and support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister said that if a referendum can be held in East Timor and South Sudan to get people their fundamental rights, there was no justification to not let the referendum held in Kashmir, where people were subjected to worst kind of violence.

"If a referendum is not held in Kashmir, people there will be justified to think that the international community has double standard," Ahsan said, adding that the countries and powers which have stakes in global peace and security must address the sufferings of people in Kashmir as they addressed the sufferings of people in East Timor and South Sudan.

The Minister urged the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora to approach the US Congressmen and Senators and convince them that if the United States, which as a world leader has a responsibility for global peace, truly wants to fight the ISIS, they must also discharge its responsibilities of addressing concerns of Muslims in areas like Kashmir.

"This will help to deny the extremists and the ISIS forces the narrative which they throw towards people who are suffering, narrative through which they are able to mislead some of the youth," he added.

Ahsan said that he met " a number of Congressmen and had useful discussion as to how we can fight terrorism and extremism." He said President Trump at a function also made a very powerful speech in which he said that fighting ISIS and terrorism was his number one priority.

"We all agree that the terrorism and extremism are the greatest challenge facing the humanity, that terrorism and extremism are the enemies of mankind," he added.

The Minister said that one of the causes that fuel terrorism and extremisms was the conflicts in Muslim societies which are being ignored by the international community and the sufferings of the Muslims societies are paid no attention, which provide space to these extremist groups.

These groups, he said, then are able to exploit and mislead people and offer them radical alternatives of extremis and terrorism and some people are misled by such slogans. "If we want to fight extremism, we will have to make sure that the international community is sensitive and do something to end the sufferings of people subjected to violence," he added.

He said that if the countries are punished and sanctioned for violating Security Council Resolutions, the same rule was also applicable to those countries which are not meeting the requirement of the Security Council resolutions.

The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was fully committed to the cause of Kashmir and the government will continue to provide full moral support to the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir fighting for their right to self-determination.

Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani in his comments pointed out the new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against India's illegal occupation and they are not deterred by Indian brutalities.

He hoped that the sacrifices of Kashmiris for their right of self-determination will bear fruit. The international community must demand that India deliver on the commitments on plebiscite to the UN and the World.

Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad, President, Kashmir American Council and another Kashmiri leader Dr. Akram also addressed the gathering and lauded the moral support and efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for highlighting the Kashmir issue on world forums including United Nations.

Prominent members of Pakistani American and Kashmiri-American communities participated in the seminar. Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform was the Chief Guest on the occasion.