SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Kashmir is divided between neighboring India and Pakistan, and pro-Pakistan slogans are nothing new within the mostly Muslim region, where most people mistrust Indian rule. Since an insurgency erupted in 1989, several militant groups in Kashmir have been demanding the region be given full independence or merged with Pakistan. An estimated 68,000 people have died in the fighting and ensuing crackdown by Indian forces. With the insurgency largely suppressed, anti-India sentiment is now mostly expressed through street demonstrations. In recent protests Demonstrators set fire to an Indian flag and hurled rocks at riot police in Srinagar on Friday, as protests over the arrest of the separatist leader turned violent. Indian government and Indian media went bananas when Pakistani flags were waved and slogans in favour of Islamabad and against New Delhi were chanted at a rally taken out in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) on Wednesday. The rally was taken out as a show of solidarity with Pakistan and show of strength vis-à-vis resistance against Indian occupation. In fact, rally was organized to welcome Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani on his return from New Delhi. Musarrat Alam, a Hurriyat leader, waved the flag of Pakistan, as he cheered for his leader Syed Ali Gilani. A number of participants including Musarrat Alam were rounded up for chanting slogans in Pakistan’s favour and waving its flag in the air. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Ali Gilani said Kashmir issue is an internationally recognized dispute and termed it a tripartite issue.
Last month, an FIR had been filed against Asiya Andrabi, who faced arrest after being named for unlawful activities in a police complaint, as she and her supporters celebrated Pakistan Day in the Kashmir Valley. Andrabi, head of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, has been jailed several times in the past for, what Indian government says, anti-India activities. Still, she continues with her cause – Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan and secession from India.
Kashmir is a Muslim majority state. So, one might simplistically argue that India should vacate the place and give it away to Pakistan. But, it is not so simple. India has illegally occupied Kashmir since 1947 and World alongwith UN has failed to resolve this issue. Both Pakistan and India should start a conceived dialogue process to resolve this issue, which has kept both India and Pakistan away since independence and if this issue is not resolved it may one day lead to a full scale war between both the countries.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
