Asad Qaiser seeks Netherlands support in Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has asked for the support of the Netherland at the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspiration of people of Kashmir.

The National Assembly Speaker expressed these views during a meeting with the ambassador of Netherlands Willem Wouter Plomp here in Parliament House.

Qaiser said that the Netherlands had always been a staunch believer of civil liberties and human rights, adding that Netherlands support would be powerful for putting pressure on India for resolution of Kashmir matter.

He said the silence of the international community on grave human rights violations and gross abuses was incomprehensible. He said several days of lockdown in India occupied Kashmir had increased the miseries of the Kashmiris people.

Paying tribute to the steadfastness and resilience of Kashmiris, the Speaker said that atrocities by Indian forces were increasing with the passage of time; however, the commitment of Kashmiris had not lessened.

Asad Qaiser said Pakistan deeply values its relations and wants to further cement them through enhancing parliamentary and economic cooperation. He mentioned the requirement to establish a linkage between parliamentary committees.

He suggested that the Netherlands had expertise in floriculture, potato-seed production and dairy, thereof, National Assembly Special Committee on Agriculture could have a meaningful discourse to explore avenues of cooperation in aforesaid sectors.

He also called for participation in the economic opportunities arising out of CPEC. He said CPEC was a game-changer for not only Pakistan but the whole region. He said CPEC had the potential to change the economic outlook of the regional countries.

Ambassador of Netherlands Willem Wouter Plomp agreed that the Kashmir issue was a flashpoint for the regional peace and the issue needed to be resolved in line with the aspiration of people and UN commitments.

He said his country was appreciative of the efforts of the Government of Pakistan for taking stringent measures for cutting financial blood supply to terrorism. He assured that

The ambassador admired Pakistan for hosting and supporting Afghan refugees. Then he emphasized for attractive parliamentary interaction between both the countries.

He said the Netherlands had a long history of cooperation with Pakistan in the agriculture sector, however, suggested for enhancing cooperation in Dairy, fisheries, and floriculture sectors. He suggested intensifying intellectual property rights regimes to protect the rights of plant breeders.