“Kashmir: Key to Peace in South Asia” – A Call for Global Action: Seminar in Brussels

With the conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbors, the unresolved Kashmir dispute has become a critical global concern, demanding urgent attention from the international community.

A powerful seminar titled “Kashmir: Key to Peace in South Asia” was recently held at the European Press Club in Brussels, organized by the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU). The event drew attention to the long-standing Kashmir conflict and emphasized the crucial need for international intervention—especially from the European Union and global powers.

Marjan Lucas, a respected human rights activist from the Netherlands, led the discussion. She urged the international community to take meaningful steps toward resolving the Kashmir dispute. Lucas warned that with both India and Pakistan being nuclear powers, failing to address this issue could lead to a devastating outcome. She stressed the importance of unity among Kashmiris and encouraged them to amplify their voice on global platforms.

Prominent European figures, including Professor Willa Kennedid from Holland and intellectual Endre Barces, also contributed to the seminar. Barces pledged to advocate for the rights of the Kashmiri people within Europe. He emphasized the urgency of supporting the oppressed population of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their struggle for self-determination.

Multiple speakers echoed the sentiment that the United Nations, the European Union, and influential world powers must no longer remain silent. They called for a proactive approach to resolving the Kashmir conflict based on justice, human rights, and international law.

Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council EU and host of the seminar, thanked participants for their support and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to a peaceful resolution. He pointed out that recent tensions between India and Pakistan have once again highlighted Kashmir as the core issue fueling instability in the region.

Syed strongly criticized India’s continued occupation of Kashmir, stating that it relies on systematic oppression and human rights violations to maintain control. He demanded the release of Kashmiri political prisoners and called for an impartial international investigation into ongoing abuses.

The seminar concluded with a unified appeal to honor the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, in line with United Nations resolutions. The participants stressed that peace in South Asia is not possible without a fair and lasting solution to the Kashmir conflict.