Ambassador H.E. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry attends the Roundtable discussion on Kashmir Issue
A Roundtable discussion on “The Kashmir Issue in the evolving regional situation” was organized by Kashmir Centre Holland on 30th October in the city of The Hague.
Ms Marjan Lucas, Senior Program Officer on Kashmir & Pakistan, at the IKV Pax Christi, was the keynote speaker. The Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, attended the meeting and at the request of the Center acted as moderator of the Roundtable. A cross section of Dutch and Pakistani think tank, media, civil society, students, professionals and Kashmiris settled in Netherlands and Belgium participated in the discussion.
Welcoming the participants to the Roundtable, Mr Zeb Khan, Chief organizer of the Kashmir Center stressed that the aspirations of the Kashmiri people must not be forgotten by the international community.
H.E. Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry presented introductory remarks and outlined the key elements of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. He emphasized the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to seeking a just and peaceful settlement of the issue. He also stressed the need for early resumption of the presently stalled Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan to address the outstanding issues. The Ambassador emphasized the need to continue Kashmir related CBMs in order to reduce the sufferings of the ordinary Kashmiris.
Ms Marjan Lucas dilated upon the regional context, which she said has a bearing on the dynamics of the Kashmir issue. She presented the findings of IKV Pax Christi contained in its Report on Elections of the (Indian occupied) Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly 2008. She said that despite high voter turnout there were questions about the elections being free or fair. She said that an opportunity to address the Kashmir issue was missed by not including it in the “regional” approach adopted by Obama Administration. The West had a simplistic thinking about the issue owing to lack of adequate understanding of people’s feelings. The new approach, the so-called the people-approach, espoused by Mr. Joe Biden needed to be applied to Kashmir as well. She cautiously welcomed Indian Prime Minister’s announcement to hold talks with Pakistan on addressing all issues, including the Kashmir issue.
In the question-answer session, the participants raised thought provoking and pertinent issues, including the humanitarian dimension of the Kashmir issue, the role of the International Community and the Dutch government, and the challenge of mobilizing public opinion in both India and Pakistan for resolving the Kashmir issue.
The Ambassador of Pakistan summed up the discussion and on behalf of all participants thanked the key note speaker and the Kashmir Centre Holland. At the conclusion of the Roundtable, Kashmir Center treated the participants with a sumptuous dinner.
The Hague, 30 October 2009
Ms Marjan Lucas, Senior Program Officer on Kashmir & Pakistan, at the IKV Pax Christi, was the keynote speaker. The Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, attended the meeting and at the request of the Center acted as moderator of the Roundtable. A cross section of Dutch and Pakistani think tank, media, civil society, students, professionals and Kashmiris settled in Netherlands and Belgium participated in the discussion.
Welcoming the participants to the Roundtable, Mr Zeb Khan, Chief organizer of the Kashmir Center stressed that the aspirations of the Kashmiri people must not be forgotten by the international community.
H.E. Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry presented introductory remarks and outlined the key elements of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. He emphasized the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to seeking a just and peaceful settlement of the issue. He also stressed the need for early resumption of the presently stalled Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan to address the outstanding issues. The Ambassador emphasized the need to continue Kashmir related CBMs in order to reduce the sufferings of the ordinary Kashmiris.
Ms Marjan Lucas dilated upon the regional context, which she said has a bearing on the dynamics of the Kashmir issue. She presented the findings of IKV Pax Christi contained in its Report on Elections of the (Indian occupied) Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly 2008. She said that despite high voter turnout there were questions about the elections being free or fair. She said that an opportunity to address the Kashmir issue was missed by not including it in the “regional” approach adopted by Obama Administration. The West had a simplistic thinking about the issue owing to lack of adequate understanding of people’s feelings. The new approach, the so-called the people-approach, espoused by Mr. Joe Biden needed to be applied to Kashmir as well. She cautiously welcomed Indian Prime Minister’s announcement to hold talks with Pakistan on addressing all issues, including the Kashmir issue.
In the question-answer session, the participants raised thought provoking and pertinent issues, including the humanitarian dimension of the Kashmir issue, the role of the International Community and the Dutch government, and the challenge of mobilizing public opinion in both India and Pakistan for resolving the Kashmir issue.
The Ambassador of Pakistan summed up the discussion and on behalf of all participants thanked the key note speaker and the Kashmir Centre Holland. At the conclusion of the Roundtable, Kashmir Center treated the participants with a sumptuous dinner.
The Hague, 30 October 2009
