Kashmir Dispute: Role Of The Diaspora.

First of all, let me express deep appreciation to the Pakistan Business Forum, Azad Kashmir for inviting the leadership of the Kashmiri Diaspora of the Washington metropolitan area to speak on the subject, 'Kashmir Dispute and the Role of Diaspora.' A lot has happened in the corridors of power in Washington, DC and it would not have been possible without the deep involvement, selfless efforts, and constant struggle of your guests: Sardar Zulfiqar Khan, Sardar Zarif Khan, Sardar Zubair Khan, and Irfan Tasaduq Sahib. These brothers may belong to different political parties of Azad Kashmir but in Washington, they represent no one except the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. The nation of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains thankful for the sincerity and understanding of the diaspora of Azad Kashmir origin, be they in America, Europe, the Middle East, or elsewhere.

It is a fact that the situation in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has dramatically changed, particularly since August 5, 2019, and it will not be an exaggeration to say that the people of occupied land are facing an existential threat. Indian colonialist rulers have put their machinery in motion which is fast moving to accelerate the process of genocide they have systematically put in place through their proxies since October 27, 1947.

It will be grossly unfair to forget that, over the years, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference has shown formidable leadership in representing the people of Kashmir. Now, Syed Ali Geelani, the most towering personality is no more. Yasin Malik is facing a situation of life and death. Shabir Ahmed Shah has been incarcerated for more than half of his life. Masarat Alam has been booked 37 times under Public Safety Act. Aasia Andrabi has been charged under UAPA. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been under house arrest for the last three years. They all, however, remain undeterred and clear in their thought processes that the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir have only one option which is total freedom from the colonial clutches of India.

And the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, despite all the odds, have never lost hope in the right to self-determination. The Kashmiri diaspora does not need to remind them of that. The Kashmiri diaspora needs to simply take the reins, open the doors, pave the road, and take advantage of those opportunities that become available to express that will. The role of our global Kashmiri diaspora becomes much more pertinent and...