‘India trying to create sense of fear among Kashmiris’

AJK leaders criticise new tactics by security forces in IoK, urge international organisations to take notice

MUZAFFARABAD: Parliamentary leaders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have slammed incidents of ‘braid chopping’, noting that such measures would not dissuade Kashmiris who have seen new life breathed into the freedom struggle thanks to Burhan Wani.

On Monday, the Opposition Leader in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen said that incidents of ‘braid chopping’ — where miscreants have grabbed the hair of at least 40 women in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) and forcibly chopped their hair off —seem to be occurring with the sole purpose of harassing the people and force them  off the streets and away from the ongoing  freedom struggle.



“This time, the Indian military establishment has very smartly chalked out a plan to create a sense of fear among the people of IoK,” Yaseen said.

“The rogues — backed by Indian occupational troops in Kashmir — are on a mission to cut the hair of women and beards of religious scholars which shows how India is working to gain fast-losing ground in Kashmir which she has lost in the 1990s,” Yaseen added.

The opposition leader urged the world community and human rights organisations to take notice of the braid-choppers assisted by Indian troops in IoK saying such acts are shameful and unfortunate.

“The culprits suddenly appear and chop the braids off women and schoolgoing girls in IoK. When locals chase them, suddenly occupational forces come to their rescue and provide them transport to help escape the scene which reflects how the so-called largest democracy in the world treats the people in the Kashmir Valley,” he said.

Yaseen called on the European Union (EU), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Muslim countries to come forward to pressurise India to stop the harassment of women in IoK.

“India should keep in mind that adopting such tactics would not break the will of Kashmiris who are striving for their right to self-determination which New Delhi has denied for the last 70 years,” the AJKLA member said.

Sacrifices of Kashmiris will never go in vain

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan on Monday said that the martyrdom of Burhan Wani had given the freedom struggle a new momentum will continue till the liberation of Kashmir.

“The people of Kashmir have been selflessly sacrificing their blood since 1947 in their struggle,” Masood said. He was speaking to AJK Food Minister Syed Shaukat Shah, who had called on the AJK president at a camp office in Islamabad. The two discussed political matters and ongoing development initiatives in AJK.



According to a statement released by his office, Masood said that even before the creation of Pakistan, Kashmir’s residents and leaders had made a conscious decision to join Pakistan and till this date, they stand by this commitment.

The AJK president assured that the people and the government of Pakistan will continue to extend their moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM NEWSDESK

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2017.