Kashmiris living in North America recently formed a Political Advocacy Group to work towards resolving the Kashmir issue.
A statement issued by the group said: “The continued and unabated violence perpetrated on the civilian population of Kashmir by forces has been unprecedented. The recent and ongoing brutalities perpetuated on innocent Kashmiris has remained a matter of concern for every Kashmiri living outside Kashmir.”
Statement said the group was formed because of the frustration “with the lack of progress on any diplomatic or political initiative to resolve the issue of Kashmir” in the wake of “continued and unabated violence perpetrated on the civilian population of Kashmir by forces”.
“Some well-known Kashmiris and organizations met on August 13 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to brainstorm options. A path forward emerged in the form of a political advocacy group to facilitate a political solution to the Kashmir imbroglio,” said the statement, adding, different sub-teams were formed to come up with vision, mission and other details for such a political advocacy group.
“As a follow up meeting, participants met in New York on September 24th to ratify the recommendations of sub teams on vision, mission, objectives, and specific ways to form this organization,” statement said.
In order to work cohesively for a comprehensive united struggle, the participants unanimously agreed to frame an organizational structure, statement said.
“The new organization, would work to reinforce the struggle at the international level by way of undertaking political and diplomatic initiatives to supplement the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir for their basic political and human rights,” said the statement of the advocacy group.
Statement added the new organization intends “to reach to all activists and organizations working for the Kashmir cause around the world to adopt a cohesive and united front of diaspora community”.
“The organization will work for political advocacy, human rights awareness and to complement the existing social, cultural and charitable organizations that are doing work for Kashmir,” statement said.
Statement added that participants deliberated on adopting effective ways and means to advocate at the international level and discussed some immediate short-term goals for the organization to work on.
“These goals will help set up a structure and will poise the organization for its long term vision,” statement said.