Valerie meets with Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry

I met with Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and President of PTI Kashmir, at the Kashmir APPG chaired by Chris Leslie MP in Parliament on Monday 23 October 2017. Above I am pictured with the following MP’s who also attended the APPG (left to right): Kate Hollern MP, Mohammad Yasin MP, Paula Sheriff MP, Liz McInnes MP and Chris Leslie MP.

Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry briefed MP’s on the current security and human rights situation in South Asia, with special reference to Kashmir.

It has been reported for decades that the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir have suffered persistent human rights violations at the hands of the Indian authorities and the Army. According to Kashmir Media Service, the total killings in Kashmir amount to 94,826 from 1989 to 30 September 2017.

A debate on Kashmir was held in Parliament on 19 January 2017 and the Minister set out the Government position: “The long-standing position of the UK is that it can neither prescribe a solution to the situation in Kashmir nor act as a mediator. It is for the Governments of India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. In our discussions with both India and Pakistan, we encourage both sides to maintain positive dialogue, but the pace and scope of that dialogue is for them to determine.”