ISLAMABAD: A delegation from Europe on Tuesday visited the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) and was briefed on the institute’s research, advocacy work, and the prevailing human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation included Cedric Gerbehaye, journalist from Belgium; Marjan Lucas, human rights activist from the Netherlands; Anna Olegovna, journalist from the Netherlands; Ryszard Henryk Czarnecki, former Member of the European Parliament from Poland; Bjorn Anders Hultin, former Member of the European Parliament from Sweden; Carl Hultin from Belgium; Endre Barcs, journalist from Hungary; and Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the EU Kashmir Council.
KIIR Chief Altaf Hussain Wani briefed the visitors on the institute’s research and advocacy initiatives, capacity-building efforts, and its Internship Program. He also presented a detailed overview of recent developments in the region and documented human rights concerns in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The visiting delegation appreciated KIIR’s sustained work and encouraged interns and young scholars associated with the institute to strengthen external linkages with international think tanks, universities, and media organizations in order to amplify Kashmiri voices globally. Addressing the interns, members of the delegation emphasized the importance of local ownership of documentation and storytelling, stressing that Kashmiris themselves should take responsibility for narrating their lived realities to the world.
During the visit, survivor testimonies were shared with the delegation, along with a collection of KIIR’s reports and literature highlighting the human rights situation in the region. Both KIIR and the visiting delegation reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue and expressed interest in exploring avenues for academic and policy collaboration, exchanges, and support for young researchers and interns.
