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Christians of Pakistan endorse the Kashmir cause
Bishop of Lahore says that the issue can only be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions.
Kashmiris protesting in Indian Kashmir. PHOTO: Agencies
LAHORE: “It is India’s turn to ‘show flexibility’ and resolve the Kashmir issue,” said Reverend (R) Dr Alexander John Malik, the Bishop of Lahore in a statement issued on Saturday, as the Christian community of Pakistan endorsed the Kashmiri cause.
The Bishop condemned the continuous violation of human rights of the 13 million Kashmiris in Indian Kashmir by the military, adding that the issue could only be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.
Malik further said that the issue was not just a ‘territorial question’ but the fate of the Kashmiri people depended on it. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s role for maintaining peace in the region with regards to Kashmir.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the Bishop’s Chaplain and the Reverend of Lahore Cathedral, Shahid P Mehraj, said that a special prayer would be offered on Kashmir Day for peace in Kashmir, Palestine and in other parts of the world where people are fighting for their freedom.
The Reverend added that the struggle for independence in Indian Kashmir was legitimate and the Christian community of Pakistan supported it.
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Reader Comments (33)
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yes yes it is pakistan’s turn to ‘show flexibility’ and resolve the baloch issue.
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Kashmir will be free from brutal terrorizing occupation of india. the blood of 100,000 citizens and thousands of woman raped wont simply go in vain.
by burying their head in sand, these bunch of indians think that time will pass away and we will forget their atrocities.
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I have never seen any Pakistani Christian opposing Kashmiris’ right of self determination.
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It is not Muslim, Hindu, Christian… it is about the people.. whoever they are! Let them decide. Kashmiris are free to choose India if they wish. Every Kashmiri, be they Hindu Pandit-Muslim-Sikh etc, should be the master of their fate!!!!
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@Rohit
Kashmir has become an international issue that involves more than one country.While Balochistan is Pakistan’s internal problem, and India does not need to meddle in it
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@Ahmandr: Kashmir is integral part of India and we will never let it go :).
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Last month.. christian missionries were thrown out of valley and their schools were turned into mederssa in Sri Nagar and Kashmir valley…
Oh.. but who cares…?
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@Rohit:
No its not :)
Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and they dont want to be part of your occupation. Its a disputed terroritory and there is UN resolution 1948 and 1957 for you there. Implement free and fair voting.
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@Ahmandr:
“Kashmir has become an international issue that involves more than one country.While Balochistan is Pakistan’s internal problem, and India does not need to meddle in it”
Just think about what you wrote! So, according to you, it is OK to brutalize and deny right to self-determination of “internal” people such as the Baloch, because it is not an “international” issue! So, nations have a right to subjugate, terrorize and butcher people if no one outside the country pays attention! What kind of a logic and human rights statement is that? How can one be selective with regard to human rights violations if one is sincere?
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@Zaidu Chhaliya:
Orissa, Karnataka ring any bells?
It seems many ‘nationalistic’ indians are suffering from collective amnesia
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@Rohit:
Think before you speak Rohit. If these Pakis resolve their internal disputes i.e. Baluchistan they’ll be even more at our throats on the Kashmir front. Don’t egg them on. Let them stay divided and self-destruct.
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So Rev. Malik & Rev. Mehraj support the policies of the Srinagar administration, that forbids Christian pastors from practicing or propagating their religion? In the Bible, Jesus says, A man can support only ONE master; if he should pay homage to two, at some point he will have to betray one or the other.
The question is, How many Masters are Malik & Mehraj propitiating? And to what end?
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The Christians of Pakistan are just paying lip service to the Kashmir cause, with the hope that they would be treated better in Pakistan, if it is seen that the Pakistani Christians are supporting Pakistan on an important issue, on which the patriotism of Pakistan is measured.
Given an option all minorities of Pakistan would rather be with India. Considering the genocide of Shia’s, Christians, Hindu’s, Ahmedi’s, Hazara’s, Baluch.
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sad to see the pak minority communities have to say such things in order to survive in pak.
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@osmond:
Live in India and be thought of as “Pakistani spies” by the Indians and be subjected to their domination, NEVER.
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Yes, yes!! Pakistani Christians fully support their Kashmiri brothers and sisters as part of Pakistan and pray for their freedom from India. God Bless them.
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@Masihi
How many Christians in India are considered to be “Pakistani spies”? Why don’t you write some letters to Batala & find the truth for yourself? Or are you trying to earn brownie points for your ISI masters, like Sue Karima? Did you not read what Christ said about speaking the truth?
Is Christ your Lord, or Kayani? Make up your mind NOW WHAT YOU PROFESS IN PUBLIC, because Christ will say to you one day, I DID NOT KNOW YOU.
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I think this is a good move. It makes not the tiniest difference to anyone in India, so it doesn’t hurt India or India’s case in any way. But it possibly helps Pakistani Christians convince some Pakistani Muslims to safeguard their interests better. So there is a net positive value. Pakistani Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Jews should pass similar resolutions, and making sure to bring these resolutions to the attention of their Muslim brothers and sisters.
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@gt – We Christians believe in human rights of the Kashmiri people and feel for them. India has violated the human rights of the Kashmiris and it is a well known fact. 100,000 Kashmiri crucified and slaughtered, therefore India has no right over Kashmir and they should be held accountable for this and the world should open its eyes. We Christians are loyal Pakistanis and smart enough to understand Indian propaganda and their politics of destruction. You Indians have caused enough problems for the muslims, please spare us Christians of your evil designs and stay away from Pakistan!
Thank you.
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@Kaalchakra:
You are the embodiment of contradiction. If this show of unity is insignificant in that “it makes not the tiniest difference to anyone in India” then why are you and your buddies taking the pains to comment?
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Dearest GT,
Please take a bit of advice and further develop your comprehension abilities before responding to the comments of others, especially mine. My point is not that non-Christian Indians consider Christian Indians to be spies of Pakistan, though the massacre of Indian Christians in Orissa would compel one to believe it is the case. My statement was in response to the comment of Osmond that, “Given an option all minorities of Pakistan would rather be with India…”. As elementary as the concept is, there exists a need to educate you of the fact that religion alone does not constitute the identity of a group of people. The Pakistani-Christians are just that. Pakistani-Christians, and while there is a strong need to empower them within their own country, in the eyes of the Indians, they are simply PAKISTANIS, and this IS the truth. They are NOT Indians, Indians will never consider them as such, and nobody should pretend to the contrary. While there are many countries in the world willing to accept them for who they are, Indians are the most unlikely to do so.
As for your ignorant and baseless notion about me serving the ISI, please note that I serve no one except my own conscience. I speak from experience when I talk about the Indian mindset as it relates to the topic at hand, so once again, please think twice and then some before you start peddling propaganda to me.Recommend
@osmond:
This is because u have no idea about the persecution facing by christians in muslim kashmir from Mullas.
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We Christians in Pakistan are Simply Pakistanis and we fully suppot the freedom of Kashmir from India. Kashmiris have been crucified for so long. And one more note to India . . .the divide and rule Indian politics will not work. We Christians are deep rooted loyal Pakistanis . . . just remember that!!
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@Anthony, I appreciate your love for your country which is noteworthy. I would also point to the fact that I being indian christian would work for the protection of Indian sovereignity which includes kashmir and Indian defence minister is also a christian by the way.
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@antony – It does not matter who India chooses as their defence minister for Kashmir. . .that does not change the inhuman facts. It does not change the fact that the poor Kashmiris need their freedom from India and join hands with their Pakistani brothers.
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India needs to stop meddling around with Pakistani ethnic groups. Christians of Pakistan are patriotic and loyal Pakistanis and very well embedded in the arm forces of Pakistan to protect from india. We pray for the freedom and independence of Kashmir from India andfor them to join their brothers and sisters in Pakistan.
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@Anthony, I think my comment was not fully published earlier . It does not matter what I think or what you think indian kashmir valley is .The only matter is 1.2 billion people this side of the border protecting indian sovereignity and 180 million that side of the border trying to fight with India ..This will not lead to peace which is the message of jesus christ.
I would say give peace a chance and dont support militancy from pakistan and allow a decade to pass by .
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@John Bakhsh
Christians of Pakistan are not an ethnic group. They are followers of a religion, Christianity, and belong to various ethnic groups.
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@Beefeater – You misunderstood my comment. India is a trouble maker with different ethnic groups and those ethnic groups are part of different religions and even Christians of Pakistan have ethnic groups. The bottom line is for India to keep it’s dirty hands off Pakistan! Pakistani Christians are loyal defenders of Pakistan and they are embedded deeply in all facets of Pakistan. Christanity and Islam have common foundation, but regardless we are all Pakistanis and will not let India take advantage of Pakistan and subdue and hijack Kashmiri human rights.
Okay brother?
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@ Paki Christians. Appreciate your love for the country but dont appreciate your support for the Jihadi movement in Kashmir which is nothing but a step towards Islamization of the valley. Your statements are nothing but a feeble effort towards getting a glance from the fanatic mullah brigade. And of course dont come to the world for security crying when they bomb your churches
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@Siper Star – Please take your hatred of Pak Christians else where. It is you Indians bombing churches and mosques to create a false impression. Hindus are the main enemy of Christians and have been persecuting the Christians all along. Cant fool us!
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@issa , you are right mate! You cant fool someone who is already in a fools paradise. Please vote for Difa e pakistan and see the loonies come to power. We are happy to sit and enjoy the destruction of Pak
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@Super Star
The Islamic parties have never come into power in Pakistan. But in India, the extremist right-wing, saffron-terror supporting BJP is the second largest political party and has won general elections several times.
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Western countries need to be educated about the radical extremist Hindus found in politics and as well as in society.
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