- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Keerthi Mohan
A BIRMINGHAM MP has urged prime minister Boris Johnson to intervene in the Kashmir crisis, pointing out that the more than one million British citizens of Kashmiri descent were anxiously awaiting the prime minister’s response.
Khalid Mahmood said the UK helped create the current situation and only a decisive intervention would help end the crisis.
“The UK, having been the architect of the geo-political arrangements at the time of Partition, has a particular responsibility to the Kashmiri people to act,” Mahmood was quoted as saying by the Birmingham Mail.
“Moreover, more than 1 million British citizens of Kashmiri descent anxiously await our Prime Minister’s response.
“The choice is simple: whether he offers his support to the voiceless, subjugated people of Kashmir or instead stays silent about the illegal, inhumane and undemocratic actions of the current Indian Government.
“Without co-ordinated and decisive intervention, I fear that the situation will have far reaching implications for the region and beyond.”
Earlier this month, the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status, causing uproar in the country as well as in neighbouring Pakistan.
On Sunday (18), Pakistan’s foreign minister SM Qureshi challenged prime minister Narendra Modi to hold a public referendum in Jammu and Kashmir to see how Kashmiri people feel about scrapping Article 370.
Qureshi said: “I challenge Narendra Modi to lift the curfew and call the entire Kashmiri leadership including those who have been in government with you such as former CMs Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and the Hurriyat leadership: Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Ali Gilani, Yasin Malik there are numerous individuals.
“You haven’t fulfilled the United Nations promise but if you wish to check the popularity of your decision, hold the referendum and everything will be clear,” Qureshi.
Meanwhile, India has said that Kashmir was its internal matter and it will have no impact on ties with other countries.
