Faceoff: Kashmiri Muslim challenges Pakistan PM Sharif for equating Kashmir with Palestine / Greater Jammu/ Rashmi Talwar

Part –II

Faceoff: Kashmiri Muslim challenges Pakistan PM Sharif for equating Kashmir with Palestine

Rashmi Talwar

Toronto (Canada) 26^th April 2024—–

India’s chutzpah against powerful Western interference emboldened a Kashmiri Muslim against Pakistan’s attempt to label Kashmiris and Palestinians as clubbed victimhood.

India’s newfound boldness to stand up to aggressor nations inspired its citizens, to take a courageous stance for themselves, and their communities on the grand chessboard of world diplomacy and relations.  A Kashmiri Muslim thus daringly shouted foul on social networking site ‘X’ formerly Twitter to a Tweet by Pakistan’s sitting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing him of shedding  ‘crocodile tears’ for Kashmiris, while covertly being the root cause of all ills that Kashmiris faced.

Pakistan has continuously thrust a false propaganda worldover, against India, despite being a key player, a gainer, and a stakeholder in creating bloodbath, madness, and mayhem in India’s Kashmir valley. Pak’s powerful rulers and army have grown immensely by stoking the fires of terrorism in Kashmir in the name of supporting ‘Kashmiri brethren’ to win elections, funds, and favors from other countries, on the dead bodies of Kashmiris.

By openly and often equating Kashmiris’ plight with that of Palestine, Pak added multiple dimensions to make Kashmir a battleground. It continued its stated stand of Kashmiris equation with Palestinians; more so after the recent October 7^th events that led to war between Israel and Palestine-Hamas (Hamas- the armed wing of Palestine). Refreshingly, this time, it was a Kashmiri Muslim who shouted down, the false propaganda by Pakistan coming from its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Firing a salvo on the ‘X’ Post on the virtual worldwide net from a remote area of Beerwah- on the Indian side of Kashmir,  Javed Beigh, a Kashmiri Muslim lambasted a Tweet by Pakistan PM Sharif–“KASHMIR VALLEY is NOT Palestine and Kashur speaking Kashmiris are NOT Palestinians!”

It sent a twin message to the neighboring country, a key player in creating turmoil in Kashmir for decades. Firstly, an Indian Kashmiri Muslim is speedily emerging as a bold voice to reckon with. Indian Kashmiri is no more quivering, scared, and gullible sacrificial goat waiting to be slaughtered at the altar to clinch political thrones for successive rulers of Pakistan. He could stand for himself without fear of Religion or Rant, groomed by Pakistan for nearly 30 years.

Secondly, India’s remote areas also enjoy internet facilities with power supply.

In a counter tweet, he wrote –“As an ethnic Kashur speaking Kashmiri Muslim from India’s Kashmir Valley, I, Javed Ahmad Beigh, an Indian Kashmiri Muslim take strong objection to your hyphenating ethnic Kashur Kashmiris with Palestinians.”

Drawing attention to the history of Kashmir, he wrote- “Kashmir Valley has always had historical, religious and cultural ties with Bharat (India), even thousands of years before the existence of your country called Pakistan!”

And further explained –“Kashmir Valley was the seat of Kashmiri Hindu Shaivism that was part of the wider Shaivite Hindu tradition prevalent all over the Indian subcontinent including what is today so-called Pakistan. It was also through Kashmir Valley that Buddhism was introduced to Ladakh and Tibet from where it traveled to China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.

Even Sufi Islam of Kashmir Valley, known as RISHIISM or “Sufi order of Rishis” was heavily influenced by the philosophy and practices of Kashmiri Hindu Shaivism.

Drawing attention to his syncretic sacred land of amalgamation and goodwill between various faiths, Beigh wrote –“Kashmir is the sacred land of Kashmiri Hindu sages and Kashmiri Muslim Sufis called “Rishis”.

 Kashmir’s ties with the Indian cultural, social, and political mainstream were never colonial. Kashmir, was and is part of Indian socio-cultural identity from time immemorial, when even your so-called Pakistan was part of Bharat.”

And sought an explanation –“Also, may I ask why as an ethnic Punjabi Pakistani Muslim, are you only hyphenating Kashmir with Palestine and not clubbing/ connecting the following:

1. Pakistani Balochi Muslims of Balochistan with Palestinians;

2. Pakistani Shia Muslim minority with Palestinians;

3. Pakistani Pashtun Muslims; Pakistani Sindhi Muslims; Pakistani Urdu speaking; &Mohajir Muslims; with the Palestinians?”

Beigh reiterated –“We, Indian Kashmiri Muslims are integral part and parcel of the wider Indian society, which promotes unity in diversity, unlike Pakistan, where Punjabi Sunni Muslim is the ruling elite who has colonized other Muslim communities like the Baloch, the Pashtuns, the Sindhis, the Mohajirs who came from Indian side during Indo Pak Partition of 1947 and even people of Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Gilgit & Baltistan”.

And added –“We, Indian Kashmiri Muslims enjoy constitutional, legal and other benefits equally, and at par and without any discrimination, like any other Indian citizen of other Indian states and Union Territories.”

“Furthermore, unlike Pakistan, where ordinary people don’t have access to even the very basic amenities like food, water, medicines, we Indian Kashmiri Muslims are extremely fortunate to be part of a diverse and flourishing India”.

“Also unlike Uyghur Muslims of China, whose religious freedom the Chinese government severely oppresses and suppresses, we Indian Kashmiri Muslims enjoy full religious freedom.”

“The only time Kashmir faced trauma was when Punjabi Pakistani Muslims controlling Pakistani Army & ISI funded, armed and backed three-decade-long insurgency starting 1989 that tore apart the social fabric of Kashmir and destroyed its syncretic culture, completely.”

“Today, we Kashmiri Muslims are very well aware of the destructive role that you Punjabi Muslims played in supporting deadly terrorism in our much loved Kashmir Valley.”

“Lastly, I suggest you and other Pakistanis, especially Punjabi Muslims of Pakistan not to hyphenate Kashmir Valley with Palestine”.

Javed Ahmad Beigh, the writer, is an author from Kashmir who has represented India at the 54^th and 55^th Sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, (UNHRC) in Geneva and put across the views of Kashmiri Muslims succinctly before the world body.  

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BOX

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif posted on his ‘X’ Wall

On the joyous occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I would like to express my felicitations to my fellow countrymen at home and abroad, as well as to the entire Muslim community.

As we revel in the festivities of this auspicious event, let us not forget the importance of spreading joy and sharing our blessings with those less fortunate.

I also urge Muslims around the world to remember their Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are facing the worst kind of atrocities of the occupation forces and they will be constrained to enjoy the joys of Eid. We all pray to Almighty Allah to ease their difficulties.

May this blessed time bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to the people of our nation, the region, and the world.

#EidMubarak

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·        Sanjay Pataskar a blue tick marked account wrote “You have won my heart Javed by your knowledgeable post. I pray that hundreds of thousands of Javeds in Kashmir will show Pakistan the mirror.”

·        Vishal writes –“Shehbaz is probably referring to POK.. [Pakistan occupied Kashmir]. Muslims in POK are indeed going through the worst kind of genocide by the Pak Army.

I stand in solidarity with the Muslims of POK.”

·        Kashir writes – “You will be surprised to know that there is no Kashmiri-speaking person in PoK. I have met many and all are Punjabis. Nothing ethnic”.

·        A Kashmiri Pandit Vimal Wakhlu wrote – “Hats off! You are a true Kashmiri!

Even the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson could not have given such a brilliant rebuttal to hypocrites who have destroyed the lives of ordinary Kashmiris, through their proxies in Kashmir. God bless you with more &more strength & a bright future!”

·        Muhammed Ashraf posted – “No words Javed Bhai, you had hit them really hard, and that too with facts. I wish the so-called big heads of Pakistan and their supporting heads of various nations & organizations get this into their heads”.

·        Guardsman – “Punjabi Pakistani should also compare Ahmadia with Palestinian”

·        Dr Manish Bhatnagar lauded the reply in a response –“What a thunderous response. They would shake them to the bottom.”

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Kashmiri woman activist busts Pakistan’s malicious propaganda at United Nations / Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

‘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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