Washington, August 9: All delegated from India, Pakistan and both the sides of Jammu and Kashmir who had arrived in Washington in connection with participation in 9th international peace conference organized by Kashmir American Council/Kashmir Center and Association of Humanitarian Lawyers left to their respective countries.

The Conference was seen as step forward as it looked beyond the traditional contours of the Kashmir problem to find out a peaceful solution of this dispute that continues to pose threat to peace in South Asian region. The participants to the conference cautioned India and Pakistan not to engage in blame game instead pursue focused peace process with more sincerity for finding out solution to sixty-one years old Kashmir problem that is the stumbling block in the relations of the two countries. Endorsing right to self-determination as the birth right of people of Jammu and Kashmir the participants in the conference opined that there was need for finding out a negotiated settlement of the dispute in keeping with basic tenets of this right. The conference also adopted a seven-point declaration.

Amongst those who participated in the conference included Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice of New Delhi, Bharat Bushan, eminent Journalist, Mr.Ved Bhasin, Chairman Kashmir Times Group of Newspapers, Pandit Jatinder Bakshi, Prof. Kulbushan Kacharoo, Mr. Ashan Iqbal, Pakistan Muslim League, Ms. Farzana Raja, Pakistan Peoples Party, Ms. Aneesa Zeb Tahirkali, Prof. Muhammad Said (senator), Dr. Waleed Rasool, Ajk University, Prof. Taqdees Geelani, AJK University, Dr. Hamida Naim Kashmir, Z.G. Muhammad, columnist. Ambassador Muhammad Yusuf Buch, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, President World Kashmir Freedom Movement, Prof. Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Executive Director, Justice Foundation and Kashmir Centre, Mr. Altaf Qadari Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mr. Raja Muzzafar Khan, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Besides guests from outside many US Opinion Makers, academicians and representatives from think tanks participated in the conference.

Posted on 10 Aug 2008 by Webmaster