Washington, October 27, 2023: Bright-lit and flashing, “From Kashmir to Palestine: Occupation is the crime” “India: Stop Land Grabbing in Kashmir” “India: Stop Killing of Political Prisoners in Kashmir” “Kashmiris Reject Indian Occupation: UN Resolution only Solution,” digital trucks drove down the central locations in Washington, DC, including The Capitol Hill, The White House, The Department of State, The Washington Monument, most of the embassies, including the Embassy of India, various museums, etc. This digital truck advertising proved most effective way to get our message out to our audience, that include diplomats of foreign embassies, all spectators, observers and common Americans.
Rented by Washington-based, ‘World Kashmir Awareness Forum,’ (WKAF), the other messages beamed on the electronic screens were: “Stop: India’s Demographic Change in Kashmir,” “Indian Army Out of Kashmir,” “Hold India Accountable for War Crimes in Kashmir,” “End Indian Colonization of Kashmir,” “Kashmir for Kashmiris”; ”
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, President, WKAF and Chairman, Kashmir Diaspora Coalition said that Kashmiri people all over the world observe October 27 as the Black Day. On that day, India invaded the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, under the pretext of a fake Instrument of Accession with Maharaja Hari Singh who was in the process of being overthrown by the rebellious Azad Kashmiri freedom fighters. Kashmir being a majority Muslim country, ruled by a much-hated minority tyrannical king, had also launched a Quit Kashmir movement in 1931 in Kashmir valley. They wanted him gone, but they hated India for its pogroms against Muslims of India during the post-independence bloodshed.
Dr. Mir added that India, however had expansionist designs against all minorities and neighboring states, including the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pandit Nehru and his confidant Vallabhbhai Patel plotted to invade and occupy Kashmir no matter what the human cost to the region then or thereafter. Around the same time Poonch massacre and the deadly Jammu Genocide of 1947 happened. Historians have documented a quarter million Muslims were murdered in the pogroms and over half a million fled for life into neighboring Pakistan, never to be allowed to return home for all these 76 years. This catastrophe parallels the unfortunate Nakba of Palestine 1948. Both tragedies have the potential of local, regional and global instability, including a third world war and worse still a nuclear catastrophe.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice said, “I fail to understand who prevents the world leaders, including President Biden to use their moral authority to persuade the violators of the international laws to abide by the democratic values and universal principles. Perhaps international arms sales and the general military industrial complex that seems to have a firm grip on foreign policy priorities might offer a clue. Observing democratic process and civility in international affairs seems too great a request for people who lack both the will to act responsibly and the maturity to understand the proper role of civil servants of society. “
Dr. Fai added that peace in the region of South Asia would benefit not only those who are directly impacted by this conflict – Kashmiris – but India as well. Sounder minds must prevail. More rational methods of dealing with differences must be sought. Seventy-six years should demonstrate a need for a change in policy, a policy that acknowledges the need for coming together in a process that accepts the right of all people to determine their own destiny.
Dr Imtiaz khan, Professor at George Washington University Medical Center stated that atrocities committed by Indian occupation forces in Kashmir are similar in nature to Palestine. Killing of innocent civilians, ethnic cleansing and land grab operation is proceeding at a rapid pace. There is a planned design to wean away school children from Islam as Hindu religious mantras are being narrated in educational institutions. World community especially UN and OIC should take serious notice of these nefarious activities by Indian government and dissuade them from these human right violations.
Dr Khan added that credibility of UN is at stake as India is disregarding the resolutions and thumping the nose of world community by exhibiting hubris and openly negating the commitments made to the people of Kashmir. In an appeal to international community, he said that time for issuing empty statements has passed as India has refused to budge from her immoral stand. It is high time India is made to understand the consequences of reneging on her promise in terms of sanctions and censure by the world community. Anything short of this will result in the snowballing of this protracted problem to major conflagration that will be disastrous for the region or even have global repercussions.
Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir said that October 27th is observed all over the world as the day of occupation. It is also observed as a day of grief and day of sorrow, because it was on October 27 in 1947 that India sent its army to occupy our land.
Sardar Zarif Khan added that the Indian occupied Kashmir has been converted into a concentration camp. Any voice of dissent is met by long-term imprisonment or even death. Otherwise, what is the crime of Khurram Parvez, except that he documented atrocities committed by Indian army? And what is the crime of Yasin Malik, except that he does not want to compromise on Aazadi.
Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan said that the people of Kashmir demand what India and Pakistan have promised to them at the United Nations. The promise was that the future status of Jammu & Kashmir shall be decided by the people through a referendum which will be conducted by the United Nations. That promise was never fulfilled.
Sardar Zubair Khan said that the people of Kashmir, like most people, are by their nature peaceful. History testifies to that fact. They do not seek war, and do not want to see their children die in a bloody conflict. They seek and would welcome a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the crisis for the sake of peace and stability in the region of South Asia.
Raja Liaqat Kiyani, President, Kashmir House, that the presence of nine hundred thousand Indian occupation forces has made Kashmir the largest army concentration in the world. The purpose of so many Indian soldiers is to suppress the civilian population of Kashmir into submission. But the people of Kashmir will continue their struggle till the date when Kashmir will be liberated from the occupation of government of India.
Sardar Aftab Roshan Khan delivered the passionate message by saying that we want the people of Indian occupied Kashmir to know that the people of Azad Kashmir are with them. They will do whatever they can to help them on diplomatic and political front to be the voice of the voiceless people of Kashmir.
Shoaib Irshad emphasized that the rational approach to set a stage for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute is to include the accredited leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in all future negotiations with India and Pakistan. Any Kashmir solution that fails to command the consensus of the 23 million people of the State of Jammu & Kashmir is doomed to shipwreck moments after its launch.
Shafiq Shah said, “it is a fact that today the nation of Kashmir is facing an existential threat. More than 3.7 million Indians have been given Domicile certificates. You do not need to be an Einstein to know why India is doing it. India is doing it to change the demography of Kashmir and to change the Muslim majority character of Kashmir into minority.”
Khalid Faheem said that we pray for the safety and security of our brethren both in Palestine and Kashmir. Both Palestine and Kashmir are the oldest issues pending on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.
Tahseen Hussain deplored the silence of the world powers. He said the inaction of the world powers is the cause of the pain and suffering of the people of Kashmir and Palestine.
Dr. Fai can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435. gnfai2003@yahoo.com
