Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed appreciating the role of European Union on various issues concerning Muslim Ummah urged the EU to make a meaningful contribution in facilitating a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute.
He was addressing at dinner reception hosted by him at a local hotel in honour of Baroness Emma Nicholson, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, who is visiting Pakistan to promote EU-Pakistan relations. Baroness Emma Nicholson has been appointed by the European Parliament to write a report on Jammu and Kashmir.
Senator Mushahid said European Union was a flag bearer of freedom and human rights in the world, therefore, it should play its due role in mitigate the sufferings of Kashmiris in the Indian held Kashmir.
He said the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris, through a peaceful manner. The Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the EU, a platform of multi-ethnic, multi- religion and multi-culture societies, was making efforts to promote interfaith harmony.
He said EU played active and pivotal role in 2003 to promote the rights of Iraqi people and there were demonstration in London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and other European countries against Iraq war, which sent positive message to the Muslim countries.
Senator Mushahid said it also proved that terrorism had no religion and added that involvement of any specific religion to terrorism could be countered productive.
Appreciating the efforts of the EU in resolving the nuclear issue of Iran, Mushahid said, the EU could play active role in resolving this issue.
He also appreciated the change in American policy towards Iranian issue and expressed the hope that EU and America together could resolve the issue through dialogue.
Mushahid said Pakistan was however, of the view that sustainable peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without the settlement of Kashmir dispute which must be resolved in keeping with aspirations of Kashmiri people and be acceptable to Pakistan, India and Kashmiris.
Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Chairperson Baroness Emma Nicholson, speaking on the occasion, said the EU had been making sincere efforts to resolve the nuclear issue of Iran through dialogue.
She said European Parliament continued support to Pakistan in all fields of mutual interest. The dinner reception was also attended by Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali, members of the Senate Foreign Relations.