NEW YORK: A large number of American Kashmiris, Pakistanis and Sikhs stageda mammoth anti-India demonstration in front of the United Nations (UN)building in New York on Sunday to protest the ongoing genocide of Kashmirisin the Muslim-majority Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).
They called upon the world body to play its due role in protecting theKashmiri people suffering under the tight Indian military siege. Theprotesters while drawing the attention of world body towards thedeteriorating human rights situation in the IHK urged it to decisively movetowards implementing its resolutions that pledged the right ofself-determination to Kashmiris.
Holding banners and placards in their hands inscribed with pro-freedom andanti-India slogans, the participants raised vociferous slogans againstIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed complete solidarity withthe struggling people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the participants, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khansaid future negotiations on Kashmirshould focus on conflict resolution, notmanagement, in order to end the Indian occupation once and for all.
He said the Indian authorities had turned the occupied part of the stateinto a big prison through the worst ever lockdown and completecommunication blackout. “The United Nations must play its role in resolvingthe longstanding dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiripeople and UNSC resolutions,” he urged.
“Eight million people are stranded in their houses in the occupied valleydue to prolonged curfew, which has caused shortage of medicines, food andother basic necessities of life. Kashmiris are even deprived of theirreligious obligations,” he said.
Raja Farooq Haider said through the large scale genocide of Kashmiris,India wanted to change the demographic composition of the disputed region,which would be resisted at all costs.
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He said Indian forces were also targeting the civilian population residingalong the Line of Control (LoC) through heavy and banned ammunition toshift the focus of international community from its atrocities in the IHK.The premier warned that if India attacked Azad Kashmir, then an unstoppablelarge scale war would break out between Pakistan and India.
He said the people of liberated area will fight shoulder to shoulder withtheir valiant armed forces to foil the nefarious designs of the enemy.Farooq Haider expressed profound gratitude to all overseas Kashmiris,American Pakistanis, and Sikh community for exposing the ugly face of Indiathrough their active participation and expressing solidarity with theoppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Other speakers at the rally, including Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chaudhry AbidSher Ali, Sardar Sawar Khan and Senator Capt (R) Shaheen Butt, called onthe Indian government to immediately reinstate the protected status of thedisputed state, lift the siege and enter into peaceful negotiations todetermine the future of IHK in accordance with the UN resolutions.
A prominent Sikh leader, Sardar Amarjit Singh, also voiced support for thecause of Kashmir and reaffirmed his call for the establishment ofKhalistan. Meanwhile, addressing a reception given in his honor by theoverseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris, the AJK premier said thorough an alreadyevolved strategy after thorough consultation with all political forces inthe state, initially protest demonstrations will be staged all over theworld following a big protest march towards the LoC.
Lauding the professional capability of Pakistan Army, he expressed fullconfidence in the command of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Theprime minister urged overseas Kashmiris and Pakistanis to continue to playtheir effective role in highlighting Kashmir issue in its true perspectiveand exposing the ugly face of India.
