PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s address at the 74th United Nations General Assembly last month, where he called for the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan to be resolved through peaceful means, should be respected, said the Pakistani High Commission deputy chief of mission.

“Being among the world’s great leaders, (Dr Mahathir) made an important statement, that the world cannot afford another conflict between two nuclear-armed countries… it could be a disaster for the world,” Atif Sharif Mian told Bernama after the Palestine-Kashmir Forum: The Struggle For Freedom and Self-Determination, jointly organised by the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia and Malaysian Islamic Organisations’ Consultative Council (Mapim), in Kuala Lumpur today.

Kashmir has been under a lockdown, with its residents having limited access to food, medicines and the internet. New Delhi, after stripping the contested region of its special status, has detained nearly 4,000 people, including political leaders, lawyers and journalists.

In a joint declaration issued at the end of the forum, the organisers called for international solidarity against the injustices committed against the Kashmiris and Palestinians.

Mapim president Azmi Abdul Hamid said the declaration will be submitted to Dr Mahathir in Putrajaya tomorrow.

Today’s event was also attended by representatives of civil groups from Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. – Bernama, October 14, 2019.