rki.news

Altaf Hamid Rao.

MIRPUR (AJK): January 25 : The exhibition of the pictorial book “Kashmir: Wait and See” by internationally renowned Belgian photojournalist Cedric Gerbehaye on Jammu and Kashmir will be opened in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital on Monday, 26 January 2026, it was officially announced.

The book’s opening ceremony in auditorium of National Council of Arts, will be attended by former Prime Minister of Pakistan Raja Pervez Ashraf, Former Information Minister Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, members of parliament, Kashmiri and Pakistani intellectuals, diplomats of European and other countries and colleges and universities’ students. The exhibition of the pictorial book will be continued in the galleries of the Arts Council till 28 January, organisers told this Correspondent here late Sunday.

Prominent political and social figures and diplomats to attend the inaugural event, they added.

According to the program about further upcoming events, after the first launch ceremony and exhibition of the book in Pakistan in the capital, Islamabad, other introductory events and exhibitions of the book will be respectively held in Muzaffarabad (capital of Azad Kashmir) on January 29, 30, and 31; in Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) on February 1 and 2; and in Lahore (capital of Punjab) on February 5, 6, 7, and 8.

These events are being organized by “Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU),” the organization active in highlighting the Kashmir issue and the rights of Kashmiris in Europe. Along with the book’s author Cedric Gerbehaye, a seven-member European delegation will also participate in the events.

Chairman of Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) Ali Raza Syed, who is currently visiting Pakistan in connection with these ceremonies, stated that this impactful pictorial book is the result of eight years of dedicated work and efforts by Mr. Cedric Gerbehaye. This book is an important documentary record about the lives, struggles, resilience, and culture of the Kashmiri people. The historic book has previously been exhibited at a major international festival “Visa pour l’Image: Festival international du Photojournalisme” held last year in Perpignan in France, where thousands of people became aware of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the rights and culture of Kashmiris.

The book features convincing photographs and detailed accounts from Indian-Illegal occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The book also includes pictorial narratives ranging from pellet gun victims in the Indian occupied Kashmir to the inhabitants of villages along the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir who frequently become targets of unprovoked gunfire committed by Indian military.

Chairman of Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU) Ali Raza Syed stated that the book is a crucial tool to globally highlight the Kashmir issue, with a particular focus on the fundamental right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people. He said the objective of these launch ceremonies and exhibitions is to bring the human dimension of the Kashmir issue and the human rights of Kashmiris to the forefront to inform and influence international public circles and policymakers.

Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU) has played a pivotal role from the initiation to the completion of this book project over the past eight years. Furthermore, for a long time, KCEU has stood at the forefront of advocacy for the rights of Kashmiris across Europe. The Council consistently engages with European officials, parliamentarians, influential think tanks, and civil society. Through dialogue, discussions, seminars, conferences, and peaceful demonstrations, the Council has worked tirelessly and effectively to keep the Kashmir issue alive in European circles.

Ali Raza Syed stated that the launch of this book is a cornerstone of our ongoing campaign to seek a just and peaceful resolution to the dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.