‘We will snatch our Kashmir from Pakistan that rightfully belongs to us’: Tasleema
Kashmiri woman activist busts Pakistan’s malicious propaganda at United
‘We will snatch our Kashmir from Pakistan that rightfully belongs to us’: Tasleema
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 29 SEPT 2023—– A Kashmiri woman Tasleema Akhtar, bust the balloon of Pak Propaganda at the 54th Session of the United Nations in Geneva in its current session. Tasleema Akhtar, a socio-political activist, unmasked the concocted propaganda by Pakistan about Kashmir and Kashmiris during the of UN’s Human Rights Council Session.
In her intervention, Tasleema who wore a black and white Hijab over beige colored Kashmiri ‘Phiren’ or long cloak, put forward stark developmental and other differences between the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK)
A native of JandK Tasleema compared the two regions under India and Pakistan- “UT of Jammu and Kashmir on our Indian side is bringing widespread transformational changes for the betterment of people. While Kashmiris living in Pak-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are living at the mercy of the Pakistan government who have utter disregard for them, their basic human rights or any responsibilities towards providing any fundamental amenities for them.” She read out.
And further added- “While the Indian government is investing in projects and bringing peace and prosperity to the region, Pakistan is struggling to meet its basic financial obligations, at the same time it is shielding terrorist outfits to wage a proxy war in India. PoJK lacks even basic infrastructure amenities and has negligible resources and if at all it has, it is by misappropriation of the meager funds of Pakistan. Education and literacy rates in J&K are far ahead of PoJK. The Government of India spends ‘nine’ times more in UT compared to its counterpart of Kashmir occupied by Pak.”
And continued-“PoJK, is facing a major crisis in the education sector, it lacks basic infrastructure including building structures, providing clean toilets, drinking water index, causing acute hardships to our Kashmiri students on the other sides, resulting in high dropout rate of students there.
In the health sector, PoJK is poor while JK here is availing full health benefits even in remote areas and under various health schemes which is a far-off dream for the people of PoJK.
On the sidelines, Tasleema said to a TV channel- “I am here to raise the voice on behalf of my Kashmiri community, which has been a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. A mother was deprived of a son, a brother snatched as also snatching both parents from the child using deadly bullets. I’m here to put across their pain, death, and depth of suffering. I have come here to the UN to put a voice to their wounds and concerns. In the last 30 years, Pak-sponsored terrorists have not given us a single night to sleep peacefully. It is only in the last two or three years, we have seen a bit of calm in our Kashmir, but Pakistan terrorists do not let us have any peace anywhere. “She cited the recent example of the recent Anantnag Encounter killing Humayun Butt SP Police and Col Manpreet Singh Maj Ashish Dhanauk. They rape Kashmiris, they hunt us !”
“I ask on what basis they come to Kashmir, with whose permission like “Chors”, they enter our country as thieves. No country is going to tolerate this. They bring their baggage infiltrate into India and then kill the locals. I have come to the UN to ask for justice for those victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and their families. ‘They ask us to provide food and break open our doors to enter houses and premises. They have for long terrorized in such an inhuman manner that the victim’s voices are muzzled badly. The victims cannot share the ignoble atrocities committed on them or acts done onto them, with anyone. Due to fear and shame, they become mute about these instances. Even now, they feel they cannot open their mouths about what happened to them. ‘They’ (Pak Sponsored Terrorists) commit rape and untold atrocities.’
And further states- “When we heard stories of victim’s suffering for the first time it was Earth-shattering and heartbreaking for us. Those orphaned children, victims of terrorism roam around aimlessly in deep trauma and grief. They go from pillar to post not knowing where their lives were leading them. Pakistani terrorists have snatched their lives, and their education; they have snatched their shelter, the canopy of love, security, and protection from parents who have been killed. I am here to ask for justice for these victims. I’m hopeful and God willing if justice and hearing start about them here it could trigger a wave against terrorism, otherwise, this Pak-sponsored terrorism will destroy the world.
On a query -“But Pakistan says in UN that they are talking about the rights of Kashmiri!” To which she says “Which rights of Kashmiris are they talking about? Tasleema lashes out. Adding “Pakistani terrorists are agents of death and are into the business of death and destruction through terrorism. They have blood on the hands of innocent Kashmiris who have been sent into the Graves. Which right of Kashmiri do Pakistan terrorists talk about? She boomed.
“I am from the grassroots level of Kashmir I am not one of those Kashmiris who make noise about Kashmir sitting in the UK, Germany Italy, US. Those ones only parrot the words of Pakistan, which sponsors terrorism in Kashmir.
Show me anyone of them who lives at the grassroots level in Kashmir, and then they can claim to talk on behalf of Kashmiris!
I stay in Kashmir and I know each day, every minute, and second about happenings in Kashmir because I, stay there. After addressing the UN here I shall again go back to my Kashmir. The number and kind of atrocities committed in Kashmir is limitless. Now we will expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. And we will continue to expose them always.
Pakistan is radicalizing and misguiding the Kashmiri youth by using ‘Jihad’. Which ‘Jihad’? That which kills humanity?
In a full-blown response, Tasleema retorted – Pakistan needs to introspect that as a Muslim country why Shias are banned, and why Ahmedis are persecuted in Pakistan. “Look at our India it is a multi-religious country, look at our brotherhood!”
If as a Muslim country, Pakistan cannot tolerate their own religious sects and coexist peacefully, what will they do with Kashmiris? Are they not bloodthirsty about Kashmiris? They want only Kashmiri’s land they don’t want any Kashmiri ‘Quam’ or people of Kashmir. But Pakistan is sadly mistaken about Po JK.
“PoJK is a part of Indian Kashmir and we will snatch that from Pakistan. It is our land!”
Kashmir occupied by Pakistan has no authentic documents to buttress their claim. They are committing atrocities on Kashmiris in Pakistan with no electricity, which facilities were given in all of these years, tell us? When they claim they facilitate the public of PoJK with self-rule (calling it Azad-‘Free’ Kashmir) it is the Pakistan army that rules them. Compare this to the development works and projects in Jammu and Kashmir in India every single day, there is progress! There are good roads, hospitals, and good colleges, and the Tourism &hospitality infrastructure is also being enlarged and expanded.
The PM has granted a five lakh cover for any person who is hospitalized via a gold health card scheme. We are living a better life and we desire to intervene in the affairs of PoJK affairs more actively because it is our Kashmiris who are facing atrocities and we cannot tolerate these atrocities on our brethren in PoJK.
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Junaid Qureshi talks from Geneva
Kashmiri Junaid Qureshi (Director European Foundation for South Asian Studies EFSAS) while talking to this Writer from Geneva over the Phone, shared about his presentation/intervention at the 54th UN during the General Debate Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
He relates -“In the worst migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean Sea, a boat carrying 750, people capsized in June this year (2023). At least 300 people from Pakistan, including 135 from Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir, died. Names as the ‘Greece Tragedy’ such tragedies have become a recurring feature for Pakistanis, who see no end to the devastating economic, political, and climate crises that compel them to flee. However, the inordinately large number of youth from Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir to undertake such dangerous journeys is because of poor living conditions and a stifling environment created by an oppressive regime.”
He further underlines – “The Jammu Kashmir issue is complex, but Islamabad has no locus standee there, as the former princely State had legally acceded to India. The primary question, then is, should an occupying power be allowed to hold on to territory without legal title, and call it ‘Azad’ or ‘Free’ but treat it like a colony to be exploited and ceded. Moreover, it impoverishes its people through exploitative policies and culpable inattention. Thereby forcing them to leave in large numbers just to ensure survival.”
He further added at UNGA (HR Session) “Human trafficking remains a thriving ‘industry’ in Pakistan surviving on patronage of unscrupulous politicians and officials. This was underlined by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which asked the State to take responsibility “for its part” in the Greece tragedy.” and urged the presiding President, -“Perhaps, such an assertion by this august Council is also in order”, before placing his mike down and taking his seat.
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Junaid Qureshi
Junaid Qureshi holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the VU University Amsterdam and is the Director of the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS based in the Netherlands.
Qureshi is a columnist for Kashmiri and other world-renowned periodicals, as well as for the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA- the advisory organization on foreign affairs to NATO).
As a political commentator, Qureshi’s expertise ranges from cultural history, religions, and socio-political conditions of the subcontinent, with a particular focus on Jammu & Kashmir, and Indo-Pak relations. Has appeared in European and South Asian media (Radio, TV, Newspapers). In addition, he has been a regular speaker on issues about extremism, and youth radicalization, at the international fora of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and the European Parliament in Brussels where he has placed his intervention in more than 25 sessions.
Hailing from Srinagar, JK, his family still lives there. He also has family living in Pakistan Administered Jammu & Kashmir.
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Rashmi Talwar Saanjh-Togetherness 
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