WASHINGTON: Leaders of the Kashmiri diaspora, gathered at a meeting in Washington, expressed deep concern over the Modi-led Indian government’s divisive plan to alter the demographic character of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting, hosted by Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir, focused on the need for strategic planning by Azad Kashmir leadership to address this critical challenge in the region’s history.
Sardar Zarif Khan emphasized the shared commitment of Azad Kashmir’s political parties to the cause of Kashmir and stressed the urgency for strategic planning in the face of Modi’s controversial demographic changes. He highlighted the importance of representing the voiceless people of occupied Kashmir in global corridors of power.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, underscored the significant changes in the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019. He expressed concern over the existential threat faced by the people of the region, emphasizing the need for a coherent and internationally sanctioned narrative. Dr. Fai called for unity among the Kashmiri global diaspora leadership, comparing it to a bouquet of flowers, each contributing to the broader cause.
Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan, upon his return to Azad Kashmir, pledged to engage intellectuals, scholars, journalists, and academics in raising awareness about the Kashmir dispute. He outlined plans to mobilize public opinion among civil society and foreign diplomatic corps in Islamabad.
Sardar Aftab Roshan Khan stressed that the Modi administration, through military force, aims to suppress the peaceful Kashmir freedom movement. He asserted the unwavering determination of Kashmiris to accept no solution other than the right to self-determination.
The participants, drawing attention to the severe human rights situation in occupied Kashmir, urged the Biden Administration to intervene and facilitate a meaningful tripartite dialogue among India, Pakistan, and the genuine leadership of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting concluded with prayers for the martyrs of Kashmir and a call for the release of all Kashmiri political prisoners.
This gathering in Washington reflects the diaspora’s united front against attempts to alter the demographic composition of Jammu and Kashmir, underlining the need for strategic and coordinated efforts to address the evolving challenges in the region.
