Islamabad (Khyber Mail): The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM), led by its President, Mr. Mohd Azmi Bin Abd Hamid. The roundtable discussed the global movement for Jammu & Kashmir and strategies to highlight India’s illegal occupation and continued aggression against Kashmiris.
Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Centre at ISSI, welcomed the participants and introduced the visiting delegation.
In his remarks, Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood applauded MAPIM’s work under Mr. Azmi’s leadership in advocating for the Muslim Ummah, particularly Palestine and Kashmir. He emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be examined through legal, human rights, and peace and security perspectives. He highlighted India’s attempts to misrepresent the Kashmiri freedom struggle and accelerate demographic changes post-August 5, 2019. He also noted widespread human rights abuses, such as prolonged curfews, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the occupied territory. Mahmood lauded Malaysia’s principled stance on the Kashmir cause and stressed the need for greater collaboration among like-minded countries, including within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Mr. Mohd Azmi Abd Hamid emphasized the importance of action-oriented research and innovative solutions to create an enabling environment for resolving the Kashmir dispute. He reiterated Malaysia’s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause at both governmental and non-governmental levels and suggested prioritizing informal, people-centric approaches to sustain international attention on Kashmir.
Participants highlighted the need for a community-oriented approach, alongside active diplomatic efforts, to counter India’s misleading narrative and present the legal and historical realities of the dispute to the international community. They also emphasized the importance of systematic efforts to counter India’s attempts to alter Kashmir’s demography and erase its Muslim identity.
The leadership of ISSI and MAPIM agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration and work closely on areas of mutual interest, particularly the Jammu & Kashmir issue. The roundtable concluded with a vote of thanks by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the BoG, ISSI.