'A wall of 100,000 graves stands between us and Hindustan'

There is a wall of 100,000 graves between us and Hindustan, former director-general ISPR Athar Abbas said, quoting a Kashmiri child he met.

Speaking at a session titled "Kashmir: The Paradise Lost" at the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) 2020, the former head of the military's media wing said: “I met a Kashmiri boy who said that there is a wall of 100,000 graves between us [Kashmiris] and Hindustan.”

Explaining the change he felt in Indian diplomats after Modi came into power, he said that the country's leadership was in a state of self-denial.

“After Indian Prime Minister Modi’s government [was formed], their diplomats have gotten aggressive. They and their government are in a state of self-denial and are not taking into account ground realities,” he said.

“Modi’s party is in majority and he does not care about the international community as long as the United States does not openly criticise its actions,” he said. “He has gotten away with murder in Gujarat and now believes he can get away with the same in occupied Kashmir with the Trump administration backing him.

“The revocation of occupied Kashmir's status has always been on the agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi took his time for Trump to take charge, he did not attempt to do such an act while Barrack Obama was the president of the US,” he added.

Air Commodore (R) Khalid Banuri moderated the session while Abbas, author and historian Victoria Schofield, wife of Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik, Mushaal Hussein Mullick and President of Azad Kashmir Masood Khan spoke as members of the panel.

Quoting a Modi administration minister, Abbas said: “Even his minister said that the land of occupied Kashmir is yours but not its people.”

The youth of Kashmir is resilient and it has refused to bow down before India, Abbas added.

Taking the discussion further, Mullick said: “We have given 50 years to bilateralism since Shimla, now we have to focus on multilateralism.” The issue of Kashmir “falls under international law.”

Replying to a question on whether the youth of Kashmir are ready to lead the resistance as their senior leaders are put behind bars, she said: “It's not about who is going lead the Kashmiris. If they won't survive who will be left to lead. An entire nation is at risk of becoming extinct.”

Praising her husband, Mullick said that it was a matter of pride for her that she married Yasin Malik. My husband left the path of violence and transitioned to peaceful methods. We need to project and tell people that the Kashmiris are peaceful.”

Keeping in mind that Kashmiris are peaceful, she lamented that there can be no peace if the top Kashmiri leadership is incarcerated.

On the other hand, Schofield said: “In 2020, Kashmir has gotten worse and a new generation who are fighting — against Indian oppression — their lives should've been in a better state. I am concerned about the lives of the young Kashmiris.”

“I have brought my friend along with me, in case, the Indian army takes me then at least my friend will be able to tell my family where I am,” she said, quoting a young Kashmiri boy whom she interviewed.

The author said that in the past nine months the international media has severely criticised the Indian administration for human rights violations.

“There are a lot of well-wishers out there, the world actually cares about Kashmir. Two human rights report on Kashmir so far and a Congress report on human rights abuse in South Asia have been published,” she explained.

“Once the lockdown is lifted they [Kashmiris] are going to be angry and they are going to come out on the streets,” she said.

AJK President Khan said: “Kashmir is not lost, it is a paradise that is burning right now and it is our job to save it.”

“After August 5, a new window has opened. This window is about communication. International media has started writing about Kashmir,” he said.

“It may be the US, Europeans, the French or the UK. Everyone is calling out India and siding with Kashmiris. Before, Pakistan received blame but now the narrative has changed,” he said.

“Many media organisations have now given space to young Kashmiri writers.”

“We have to use the strengths of our diaspora community, saving Kashmiris is our responsibility. But at the same time it is also the duty of the international community as war will not only be bad for the both but will also have adverse effects on the region,” he said.

“Don't give up, don't lose heart. What happens there affects Pakistanis as well,” he said, adding that “Make your contribution individually and collectively. It is our responsibility, not someone else's,” he said.