India expansionist power aims to engulf entire South Asia: Speakers.

ISLAMABAD -- India is an expansionist power which has designs not only for Pakistan but the entire South Asian region. The current Indian draconian actions have made Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK) the largest prison for over eight million people.

Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Coordinator Kashmir Cell, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this during his address as keynote speaker at a seminar on 'Hindu Nationalism and the Kashmir Dispute' organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) here on Thursday, a press release said.

Ambassador Tirmizi said as policy makers, it is important to understand how the idea of Hindutva has gained traction in India.

He expressed about the creation of the Kashmir cell in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate an inter-ministerial process.

He said he believed that 'only a powerful idea can compete with a powerful idea.' Hence, in this regard he encouraged the public to give more suggestions on how to solve the Kashmir issue.

Other speakers at the seminar included: Professor Dr Mujeeb Afzal at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University, Former Secretary Defence Lt Gen Asif Yasin Malik (R) and Ambassador Muhammad Saeed Khalid. The working session was chaired by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI.

While discussing Hindu nationalism and the myth of secular India, the speakers discussed how liberty, equality and neutrality is essential for any state to function.

Contrary to this notion, by marginalising the minorities, through cultural support and with the backing of the political power, a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu polity) is being created in India.

The future of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) was also discussed, during which, the fascist predispositions of the BJP leaders were highlighted.

It...