Peaceful protest of Kashmiri Americans at the Iconic Times Square

Kashmiri Americans, along with friends of Kashmir, including women and children, gathered at historic Times Square, New York, to reject India’s settler colonialism and show solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The rally was jointly organised by the Kashmiri American Community of the New York Metropolitan Area. The protestors held up placards and banners which read:

“Abrogation of Article 370 is a joke: Kashmir needs to be set free from the Indian yoke;” “Ceasefire Without Addressing Kashmir Problem Cannot Sustain: Pressure on India for Negotiations Should Remain;” “End Indian Colonisation of Kashmir;” “End the Occupation: Free Kashmir;”

“Ethnic cleansing and demographic changes are shame: Indian government should accept the blame;” “Freedom of Kashmir only Solution: Enslavement Not an Option;” “India - Release all political prisoners unconditionally;” “India Involved in Genocide: Kashmiris Demand Plebiscite;” “India Stop Land Grabbing in Kashmir;” “India: Decolonize Kashmir.”

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace and Justice, said it is a fact that the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A was an act of aggression and assault on the rights of the people of the State.  Such attempts are in open contravention of UN resolution #91 of 1951; #122 adopted on January 24, 1957. These resolutions clearly prohibit any unilateral action to change the disputed nature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Fai added that it is the deference shown by the West to India’s military and economic power that reinforces India’s obduracy. It also weakens the liberal section of Indian opinion, like Professor Sumatra Bose, Arundhati Roy, Swaminathan Aiyar, Vir Sanghvi, P. Chidambaram, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Yashwant Sinha and many others who would prefer a sensible and human policy with respect to Kashmir.

“Since August 5, 2019, the Indian government, in order to crush any resistance to its illegal occupation, has instituted new draconian measures. In a ruthless campaign, they imprisoned politicians, journalists, and civil society members, like Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam, Aasia Andrabi and others to intimidate and suppress any form of dissent”, Dr. Fai maintained.

Raja Mukhtar, Spokesperson of JKLF and main organiser of the rally, spoke about the human rights tragedy in Indian occupied Kashmir. Killings of youth and molestation of women continue without letup. Since August 5, 2019, India has been pursuing a policy to change the demography of Kashmir. The ultimate objective is to deprive people of their livelihood, convert the Muslim majority to the Hindu Majority and restrict the local population to ghettos. Raja Mukhtar demanded the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners, including Mohammad Yasin Malik.

Sardar Taj Khan, Senior Vice Chairman, Kashmir Mission, USA and Co-organiser of the rally, said that the Kashmir issue is by no definition a terrorist movement. It is a movement for self-determination, inspired by a spirit of freedom, and it has its legitimacy in the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The struggle in Kashmir remains alive and vibrant because the people of Kashmir want to chart their own destiny.

Rt. Major Arif Naveed said that the people of Indian occupied Kashmir are sacrificing their lives for the cause of freedom. That challenge needs to be embraced by the Kashmiri diaspora by doing everything they can by highlighting the pain and suffering of our people.

Chowdhary Maqbool Ahmed Gujjar, member, Azad Kashmir Assembly said that it is to be noted that the United Nations Security Council Resolution # 122 “declares that the convening of a constituent assembly as recommended by the General Counsel of the ‘All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’ and any action that assembly may have taken or might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof, or any action by the parties concerned in support of any such action by the assembly, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle.”

Ms. Safura Wasim, a well-known social worker, said that India, being the so-called ‘largest democracy’, is an illusion and delusion. It is a mirage. One can call it the modern form of settler colonialism.

Advocate Sardar Imtiaz Khan Garalevi, General Secretary, Kashmir Mission, USA, said the Kashmir issue is a clear wound on the body of Ummah. There needs to be a collective effort on the part of the American Muslim community to join hands with the Kashmiri American community to bring Kashmir to the front burner.

Sardar Sajid Sawar, a young human rights activist, said the cries of the innocent women and children coming from the streets of Kashmir cannot and should not go unheard in the corridors of power. Sajid Sawar added that we are asking nothing more than what was achieved through the intervention of the United Nations in East Timor, South Sudan, Namibia and else, that is right to self-determination.

Raja Bashir Sahib said that the Kashmir conflict is one of the oldest issues pending on the agenda of the Security Council for the last 78 years. He added that the people of Pakistan will never let the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir go in vain.

Ataul Zafar, a young Kashmiri American human rights advocate, said that never underestimate the significance of these protests. It sends a clear message to our hapless brothers and sisters in occupied Kashmir that they are not alone. To be free in Azad Kashmir is also a test of how far we are willing to leave our comfort zone in easing the grief of our brothers in occupied Kashmir. 

Saghir Khan, President, Kashmiri American Alliance, expressed his dissatisfaction about the apathy and passivity of the world powers toward the Kashmir issue that has brought both India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.

Shahid Comrade, Secretary General, Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum, urged the Kashmiri American community to educate the policy-making personalities and agencies of the United States about the suffering of the people of Kashmir.

Faiz Khalid Quraishi said that press freedom in Kashmir is being muzzled and silenced so that the world community does not know what is going on there. He added that the bystanders at Times Square feel amazed while seeing the human rights violations depicted on the placards and banners.

Sister Amna Habib made a passionate appeal to the peace-loving people and nations of the world to pay attention to the pain and suffering of the people of occupied Kashmir. She also demanded the unconditional release of all political leaders in Kashmir.