Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Meets in Islamabad to Strengthen National Support and Promote Education

Islamabad: A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir was held today at the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Federal Minister and Chairman of the Committee, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon.The session was attended by the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore; Acting President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly, Chaudhry Latif Akbar; along with federal ministers, senators, members of the National Assembly, and vice chancellors of universities from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.At the outset of the meeting, Fateha was offered for the eternal peace of the departed soul of the mother of Chairman Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon.Addressing the participants, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon stated that the Kashmir dispute remains the unfinished agenda of the partition of the subcontinent and stressed that its resolution in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions is imperative. He noted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied their right to self-determination for over seven decades.The Chairman emphasized the need for a unified national narrative involving youth, intellectuals, and the media to effectively project the Kashmir cause at the international level. He underlined the importance of promoting research, quality education, and academic excellence in universities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and called for the inclusion of Kashmir Studies, Kashmiri culture, and the freedom movement of Jammu and Kashmir in the national curriculum. He also stressed the urgent need for establishing technical and vocational institutions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to empower youth and help shape global public opinion on the Kashmir issue.Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, lauded the performance of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir and stated that the Kashmiri people are fully aware of the challenges confronting them. He said that universities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are playing an effective role in providing quality education, while priority-based initiatives are being undertaken to accelerate the region’s development. He strongly condemned the grave human rights violations being committed by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.Speaking on the occasion, Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, reaffirmed that Pakistan has consistently raised its voice at international forums in support of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. He condemned the continued bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris by Indian occupying forces and reiterated that Kashmir remains a central pillar of Pakistan’s national and foreign policy. He also emphasized the inclusion of Kashmiri language, culture, and heritage in the education curriculum.The Acting President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir highlighted the importance of sustained federal government support to ensure the financial sustainability of universities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.