George Galloway leader of the British obscure Respect Party with Jeremy Corbyn of Labour Party

British political leaders have denounced the brutal crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed strong support for the Kashmiri resolution.

Speaking at an international seminar on ‘Human Rights in Kashmir’ in Karachi, organised by the Centre for Peace, Security and Developmental Studies (CPSD), they expressed their serious concerns over the deteriorating human rights conditions in the region.

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi was the chief guest at the event, which was also attended by British politicians, human rights activists, international law experts and scholars, including George Galloway, Lord Duncan McNair, David Ward, Marcus C Thomlinson and others.

Alvi told the seminar that Indian actions since August 5 – the introduction of additional troops and the imposition of lock-down – had resulted in the biggest humanitarian crisis in modern times. “The risk of escalation could lead to much greater humanitarian crisis than ever before,” he warned.

He added that the recent actions of the Indian government were aimed at changing the demographic composition of the region. He stressed that these actions of the Indian government were not only against the Kashmiris but also against other minorities in that country.

“Pakistan is committed to the Kashmir cause morally, ethically, and diplomatically,” he said. He lamented that the United Nations had become an institution of wasted opportunities, where humanity and human rights violation were ignored for the sake of interests of major powers.

“Considering the failure of the UN, we should influence the world through effective media projection of the Kashmiris’ plight and for that, it is essential for global media to get access to the real picture of the Kashmir Valley.”

Noted British politician George Galloway reportedly said that Kashmir was under illegal occupation of Indian forces and its tyranny against the Muslims of Kashmir was due to its own fear of the Kashmiri freedom struggle and vigour for independence from India.

He said that the people of Kashmir had the right to resist the occupation in not only a peaceful manner but also by using arms if they considered it necessary. He added that Kashmir was not a bilateral issue but multilateral as it involved Kashmiri people along with Pakistan and India.

Galloway emphasised that the world had the duty to play its role in the resolution of Kashmir conflict as it involved two nuclear powers. He warned that eruption of any war between Pakistan and India could lead to catastrophic consequences for the global peace.