Tag Archives: Kashmir

BLOGS, BLOGS, ISLAMABAD, LATEST

“Kashmir Day: A Global Perspective on People’s Reactions to the Events Unfolding.”

On 5 February each year, Pakistan comes together to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day or Kashmir Day. This national holiday pays tribute to the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri separatists who strive for independence from India, as well as honoring those who have lost their lives in the long-standing conflict. Across the country, solidarity rallies are held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and by Mirpuri Kashmiris in the United Kingdom, This important day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1990 and was then supported by Nawaz Sharif in 2004.

Kashmir Solidarity Day is an important national holiday celebrated in Pakistan on 5 February each year to demonstrate the country’s support for the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri separatists’ efforts to secede from India. It is also a day to pay homage to the Kashmiris who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom.

At Kashmir Day Pakistan express its support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and to make sure their voices are heard around the world. It is important to recognize that Kashmir is an unresolved political issue and that a peaceful resolution is the only way forward. Through the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan shows its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The world views Kashmiris with a shared sentiment of needing an immediate solution to the long-standing conflict. Under Modi’s rule, India’s increasing adoption of Hindutva ideology has been highlighted by the human rights violations perpetrated against Kashmiris. As a result, Kashmir has been transformed into an international prison, trapping its people in a cycle of suffering.

“Kashmir: An International Prison in the Modi Era – Seeking A Solution.”

On the 5th of February, Tony Lloyd, a Member of Parliament, reminds us of the Kashmir crisis. “We remember the immense suffering of those in Jammu and Kashmir—those who have died, been imprisoned, and had their human rights disregarded by the authorities in New Delhi. We urge India to respect and restore the human rights of the Kashmiri people.

It has been many years since the United Nations called for the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. This year, we implore the United Nations and the world community to put an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people and reunite Kashmir as one”Tony Lloyd said.

Tony Lloyd, Member of Parliament

 "This is Tony Lloyd Member of Parliament on the 5th of February Kashmir is everywhere. Remember the division of Kashmir, and this year in particular, I think we do remember the suffering of those in Jammu and Kashmir those who died those imprisoned, and those whose basic human rights have been torn Away by the authorities in New Delhi. And we say, to India, it's time now for India to respect those basic human rights to restore a proper sense of Lauren order and to the people of Jammu, and Kashmir, but we also remember that it's many years. Now, since the United Nations said that the solution to the issue of Kashmir was the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. Let's this year, say to the United Nations, say to the world Community. Now is the time to bring the suffering of the Kashmiri people to an end. Now is the time to bring Kashmir together as one. Thank you."

This year, let us send a strong message to the United Nations and the World Community: it is time to put an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people and to recognize and uphold their right to self-determination. Now is the time to bring Kashmir together as one.

Andrew Gwynne MP Labour MP for Denton and Reddish
Chairman, Labour Friends of Kashmir, sends his best wishes to the Kashmiri community in the UK and across the world, including Kashmir, on Solidarity Day (5th February). He said, they remember the suffering of Kashmir over the past 70 years and acknowledge that the problems in Kashmir are present today, particularly in Indian-administered Kashmir, which has been facing a brutal lockdown since August 1990. On 5th February, I will host my Chairman’s Conversation webinar with the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, Debbie Abrahams MP. It’s a great way to get involved and understand the issues around Kashmir.

Andrew Gwynne (MP Labour MP for Denton and Reddish
Chairman, Labour Friends of Kashmir)

 Hi. I'm Andrew Gwynne. I'm the chair of Labour Friends of Kashmir, and I want to send my best wishes to the Kashmiri community here in the United Kingdom and across the world, and especially in Kashmir on solidarity day for the 5th of February. It's a day. When we remember the suffering of Kashmir is the story of Kashmir over the past 70 years, or more, and particularly remember that the problems in Kashmir. Are not just parts of history, but they're part of the present too, and particularly those in Indian-administered Kashmir who have been facing a brutal lockdown since August 20 1990 on the 5th of February, I have my latest Chairman's conversation webinar with the brilliant chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Kashmir, in the British Parliament, dead. Abraham's MP and it's a great way to get involved to understand the issues around Kashmir. So please do log onto the labor friends of Kashmir Facebook or YouTube accounts on the 5th of February because we all need to raise awareness of the situation. We need to campaign to stop human rights violations. And we need to ensure that the voice of Kashmir is there are huge herd. So so that the Kashmiri people will have ultimately that basic right of self-determination. So I'm sending my best wishes and solidarity to you all for the 5th of February.

Remembering the suffering of Kashmiris over the past 70 years, we must not forget that the problems in Kashmir are not merely part of history, but remain a pressing reality today. In particular, those in Indian-administered Kashmir have been subjected to a brutal lockdown since August 20, 1990, and, most recently, the 5th of February.

His name is John. What comes to mind when one thinks of India and Kashmir?. John replies, Sadly, the first thing that comes to mind is genocide and brutality. The Indian government has caused the Army to commit atrocities against innocent people. If the Kashmiris want independence, I would urge the Indians to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the Kashmiris and give them back their land. Move on and move forward.

John.

Hi, my name is John. What India is doing to Kashmir? Yeah, what comes in your mind first genocide?, genocide. Yes. And what else is brutality? The government's causing the Army to kill the people. The innocent Kashmiri is innocent, Kashmiri. do You have any message for the Indians, Leave the Kashmiri alone if they want independence. Yeah, nothing to you and you give them back their land, just move back, move on, thank you so much, John.

Daud, a Bangladeshi Muslim, who resides in London, calls upon India to end the digital discriminatory practices against Kashmir.

Daud (Bangoli Muslim)

My name is Daud. I'm a Bangoli Muslim. I live in London and I demand that India. Stop the digital apartheid on Kashmir.

In conclusion, Kashmir Solidarity Day is an important day for both Pakistan and the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. By observing this day, Pakistan shows support and unity with the Kashmiri people in their fight for self-determination. This day also serves as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict and pays homage to the Kashmiris who have lost their lives. The current commemoration of Kashmir Day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad in 1990 and has been observed since 2004.

The world is aware that the atrocities in Kashmir must cease immediately. India continues to distract global attention with its antics.
The right of Kashmiris to determine their own destiny has been blocked.
Kashmiris now seek freedom and the autonomy to choose their path. The international community must support this cause and take concrete action to ensure it is enforced.

TAUQEER RIAZ KHAN

Blogger/Writer/Digital Journalist. He is a blogger, writer, and digital journalist. He specializes in creating engaging content for the web.

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ENTERTAINMENT, ISLAMABAD, LATEST

The Kashmir Files were rejected by the International Film Festival Of India. Jury Head Nadav Lapid called it a ‘propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for the film festival’.

Filmmaker Nadav Lapid, head of the jury at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), slammed the controversial film The Kashmir Files – an official entry at the event – calling it a “propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival”.

The controversial Kashmir Files, laced heavily with the anti-Muslim sentiment, has warranted attention from critics and politicians as they voice their condemnation and air their concerns in the wake of the film’s plot, which is thick with right-wing radical patriotism.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event in Goa, in the presence of top government ministers, Lapid said, “All of them [jury members]” were “disturbed and shocked” to see the film screened at the festival. The annual film festival is organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals, which is part of the Union ministry of information and broadcasting.

“I’d like to thank the head of the festival and the director of the programming for the cinematic richness of the program, for its diversity, for its complexity. It was intense. We saw seven films in the debutant competition, and 15 films in the international competition — the front window of the festival. 14 out of them had cinematic qualities, defaults and evoked vivid discussions,” said Lapid.

“All of us were disturbed and shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files. That felt like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival. I feel totally comfortable openly sharing these feelings here with you at this stage. In the spirit of this festival, can surely also accept a critical discussion, which is essential for art and life,” Lapid added in his remarks at the event.

‘Personal opinion’

After massive backlash, another IFFI jury member Sudipto Sen took to Twitter to clarify a few things. He said that Nadav Lapid’s comments on The Kashmir Files are his personal opinion. He further added that, as a juror, he refrained from making any political comments. One of the jury members and filmmaker Sudipto Sen took to Twitter to clear the air surrounding the controversy.

He wrote, “Whatever has been said by IFFI 2022 Jury Chairman Mr Nadav Lapid about the film, The Kashmir Files, from the stage of the closing ceremony of 53-rd IFFI was completely his personal opinion. In the official presentation of the Jury Board to the Festival Director and in the official Press Conference, where we 4 juries (the fifth jury had to leave for her personal emergency) were present and interacted with the press, we never mentioned anything about our likes or dislikes. Both were our official collective opinion (sic).”

He further added, “As jurors, we are assigned to judge the technical, aesthetic quality, and socio-cultural relevance of a film. We don’t indulge in any kind of political comments on any film and if it is done, it is completely in a personal capacity – nothing to do with the esteemed Jury Board (sic).”

The Ruckus

The director of the film, Vivek Agnihotri, since then posted a cryptic tweet hours after his film was termed ‘vulgar propaganda’ by the jury head at the ongoing 53rd International Film Festival of India. Without mentioning the film or the incident, Vivek tweeted about how ‘truth can make people lie’.

Actor Anupam Kher, who played the lead in The Kashmir Files, has responded on jury head’s claims. On Tuesday morning, while speaking to the media, he referred to Lapid and said, “It seems pre-planned as immediately after that the toolkit gang became active.”

He added, “It’s shameful for him to make a statement like this. Jews have suffered Holocaust and he comes from that community. For him to make such a statement, he has also pained those people who have been victims of this tragedy many years ago. May God give him wisdom so that he does not further his agenda on stage using the sufferings of thousands.”

In the late hours of Monday, Ranvir took to Twitter and wrote, “The singling out of a film and the language used to describe it is completely unbecoming of a film jury or critic. It reeks of politics. Cinema has always been the harbinger of truth and change, not an agent to stifle or snuff it. Shameful display of political opportunism at IFFI.”

About The Kashmir Files

The problematic film was released in March of this year and is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The story is concocted from the interviews conducted by Agnihotri that form the basis of this fictional drama. The interviews are of first-generation victims of the alleged Kashmir Genocide of the Pandit Community of 1990.

It is important to note that the ethnic cleansing that took place indeed saw lives lost in the region; however, it is vital to point out that the numbers pale in comparison to the 1947 Jammu massacre that tallied at over 200,000 Muslims murdered in cold blood.