Srinagar, Feb 3: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday said the World powers including the United States have the moral obligation to respond to the peaceful resistance initiated by the people of Kashmir for the inalienable right to self-determination.
Addressing the ‘South Asian Hospitality Meeting’ on the eve of the 59th National Prayer Breakfast in United Nations, Mirwaiz emphasized that the settlement of Kashmir dispute will guarantee peace and prosperity not only in Kashmir but also in the whole region of South Asia.
“Granting the right to self-determination to Kashmiris was negotiated with both India and Pakistan and endorsed by the United Nations. Therefore, the world powers including United States have the moral obligation to respond to the peaceful resistance initiated by the people of Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz said the people of different faiths need to build bridges and work together against divisive forces. “We have much more in common in our heritage to celebrate than to differ.
It is and has been God’s intention that we should live in friendship and harmony. We need to unite to bring justice to warfare, war crimes, and gruesome human rights violations, whether in Kashmir, East Timor, or elsewhere. May we dedicate our lives to work in strife-torn communities, building bridges between alienated and traumatized people, being extraordinary agents of peace and reconciliation,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz has been invited to the high profile meeting by Congressman Jeff Miller (Republican) and Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (Democrat). President Barrack Obama will be the keynote speaker in the Co-Chairs of the National Prayer Breakfast meeting tomorrow. The breakfast is attended by some 3,500 guests, including international invitees from over 100 countries.
Bilawal Bhutto, Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party also spoke during this event.
Delegates from South Asia, United States and Europe also participated in the function. The Kashmiri delegation included Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council and Ali S Khan, executive Director, Kashmiri Scandinavian Council, Oslo.
After his speech, Mirwaiz met with scores of parliamentarians, religious leaders, diplomats, businessmen, Members of Congress and leaders of inter-faith community.
Mirwaiz is also scheduled to be a key-note speaker in a seminar ‘The India-Pakistan Relations: Breaking the Deadlock over Kashmir’ at the George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia on February 5.
Mirwaiz will also be the chief guest at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on February 8. Pertinently the World Affairs Council is a non-partisan speakers forum wherein business and community leader’s who share a mutual interest in world affairs gather to hear from an impressive array of world leaders speaking on issues of public importance.
The International Circle is the highest level of membership in the organization. Over 250 heads of state, international policy makers and top government officials have addressed the membership of the Council during our 55-year history.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST