Voices of dissent: Kashmiri leader rejects MFN status for India
Pakistanis should compel their government to withdraw the decision to grant the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, a hardline Kashmiri leader said on Sunday.
Pakistan’s cabinet last week announced that it had approved a proposal for normalising trade relations between the two neighbours and the eventual granting of the MFN status to India.
Leaders in the Indian-administered Kashmir rejected the deal saying it was being done under pressure from the United States.
“Pakistani government is taking dictation from America and this deal is also result of that dictation,” Syed Ali Geelani, chief of the hardline faction of All Parties Hurriayt Conference (APHC) said in a telephonic address to Muzaffarabad Press Club, from Srinagar.
“It is a great source of pain for us to see Pakistan granting MFN status to India when Indian security forces are raping our women and destroying Islamic culture,” said Geelani, who favours the region’s accession to Pakistan.
“I appeal to the Pakistani nation to protest on this development so that the government is compelled to take back its decision,” he said.
Raja Farooq Haider, convener of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi, chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the charity wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, assured support to Geelani.
“The entire nation is ready. We will not step back an inch from our stance because freedom is our destination,” Alvi said.
A 20-year insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir has left tens of thousands dead.
While formal trade between the two most populous and largest economies in South Asia is a paltry $2.7 billion annually, unregulated trade, much of it routed through third countries, is estimated at $10 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
COMMENTS (63)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734857121-0/Untitled-design-(59)1734857121-0-270x192.webp "k p launches kurram peshawar helicopter service amid tensions")
1734867283-0/Untitled-design-(61)1734867283-0-270x192.webp "mohsin naqvi meets sheikh al nahyan to finalise neutral venue for champions trophy")
@SAJJAD SARWAR: A symbol of dignity or a shrewd businessman having business interests in Dubai which would be adversely affected?
A Symbol of Dignity and Independence. Great Old Man.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@asif: Better to be timid and alive than to be bold and blow oneself and kill fellow brothers just to meet 72 hoors.
@SYED: Beleive me we Pakistanis want nothing but peace and prosperity for you guys. If you want an independent Kashmir, we have no objection. You guys have suffered a lot and you deserve it. All i just want you to be realistic. I have nothing against any Kashmiri leader. I know they fight for your cause. The only trouble is your demand is unrealistic. If you don't want to live with India which i understand then tell me can Kashmir exist independently? If it could then go for it. You know very well India will never agree to an independent Kashmir no matter what Kashmiris do. Still i want nothing but a peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute and for that ponder over the realistic options. Hope you will understand.
@SYED: Keep harping. still 936 years to go.
Why every one is getting so serious about Jokes told by some old man? I am an Indian Muslim and not at all in favour of this type of Arguments.
@ SYED: About your comment about the Indian govt jumping to make Mr. Gilani the CM of Kashmir. It is kinda irrelevant what the Indian govt jumps up about or not, since the entire state govt of Kashmir is elected by the people there. That's the whole point of a democratic system - the Indian PM can't just wake up one day and replace the state representative of the people of a state. Are you seriously in the Indian part of Kashmir? I have my doubts.
I find this amusing. Kashmiri muslims chased away their minorities(Hindus/Sikhs) from the state but they expect special treatment for being minorities in India. Isn't that hypocrisy? Kashmir cause is lost when they made it a religious cause. World has enough of this Muslim demand for separation.
@Syed, my dear kashmiri brother, your eloquence and sincerity is inspiring. The people are Pakistan are with you, you should have no doubt about it. Of course we have selfish burger-eaters among us but they are a minute minority without any core convictions. Your struggle is just and kashmiri muslims are an inspiration to us - compare that to the timid indian muslims who are even afraid of their shadows. By the way, ignore the Indian trolls, they are harmless.
Kashmir is an occupied land. The occupier has oppressed the occupied.
Kashmir should be freed immediately.
Occupier = Muslims.
Occupied = Hindus.
So, Kashmiri Muslims are welcome to go to Pakistan or where ever they choose to, as long as they return us the Hindu land.
@Jahanzeb Khan who says, Hindu is no friend of Muslim.
So, who is a friend of Muslim? Not Jews, not Christians, Not atheists, Not even Muslims...because YOU MUSLIMS kill each other MORE THAN anyone else has ever killed anyone else.
@SYED: " If Geelani sahib only gives a nod, believe me, India would jump at the opportunity of bestowing the Prime Ministership of Kashmir dumping the traitor Abdullah family".
You say yuo are born in Srinagar. If that was true you would know that Jammu and Kashmir have a Chief Minister just like all other indian states. It does not have a Prime Minister like the so called 'Azad Kashmir'. The very fact that you do not know this simple fact gives lie to your claim of having been raised in Srinagar.
@Jahanzeb Khan: "I am Glad to see all these Hindu trolls getting so upset by Syed Gelani’s comments. Hindu is no friend of Muslims that should never be forgotten".
150 million Muslims are living with 900 million Hindus quite happily in India.
@Bangladeshi: "@Sitting Duck: Brother for your kind info in islam Muslim can never ever marry any non-muslim. I have no intention to heart your feelings but it is plain not permissible in islam and this is a strong belief not only in PAK but every other muslim states".
You can say what you want but in India many Muslim men have Hindu wives and Hindu men have Muslim wives. Many of these are very well known cases and yet there have been no fatwas against this practice in India.
Some example of Hindu husband and Muslim wife: 1. Sunil Dutt - a Hindu married Nargis a Muslim 2. Kishore Kumar a Hindu married Madhubala - a Muslim 3. Hrithik Roshan a Hindu married Suzanne Khan a Muslim 4. Atul Agnihotri a Hindu married Alvira Khan (Salman Khan's sister) a Muslim.
Some example of Muslim husband and Hindu wife:
Shah Rukh Khan a Muslim married Gauri who was Hindu Amir Khan a Muslim married Kiran Rao who is a Hindu Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi a Muslim married Sharmila Tagore who is a Hindu Mohammed Azharuddin a Muslim married Sangeeta Bijlani a Hindu@goggi: "But my dear you Indians also have something similar like blasphemy law? Some weeks ago a member of Mr. Hazare´s team, Prashant Bhushan, was badly thrashed in the public because he spoke a bitter truth about Kashmir????????"
First of all no-one killed Prashant Bhushan or even threatened to kill him - it was a physical assault where no weapons were involved. Secondly even educated lawyers applauded Qadri's actions and threw rose petals on him. No-one th approved the assilants actions NOT EVEN the people who disagreed with Prashant Bhushan.
"Last year there was a hue and cry against Arundhati Roy as she made a statement, whether Kashmir is an integral part of India, and almost one billion people wanted to kill her for sedition!"
Excuse me 1 billion people wanted to kill her? Where did you get that information from? YEs. people wanted to have her prosecuted for sedition. And guess what? Even in so called 'Azad Kashmir', it is against the law to suggest that it is not part of Pakistan and if someone says that, it will be considered sedition. As it happens though, the courts decided that what she said was covered under fredom of speech and did not prosecute her for sedition either.
Every country has some crazy people. In India though civil society does not support the crazies and throw rose petals on them. That is the difference.
@SYED: What about Kashmiri Pundits mate? Do their wishes not count? Is Kashmir only for Muslims? What about the rights of the tribal people of Ladakh? You people want to create a new country, which will practically never work out. Pakistan has enough problems of its own to deal with and with India's growing superpower status it will be suicidal to get on the wrong side of India. Nobody is denying that Indian army did some unpardonable crimes in Kashmir. India is a growing country, its not perfect. . Join the Indian mainstream . Its time to move on. Indians are one of the most tolerant people in the world, you will be actually be surprised by the diversity of India. There are a billion of us, rich, poor and middle class and by and large we are a healthy,functioning democracy. Think about the larger picture, India is a land of opportunities for those ready to work hard and one of the few nations which has given muslims sustained democracy for over 60 years.
@Freeman: dear my comment with blasphemy was a ironical metaphor to the comment of Donald Duck.................without being religious or national, I just wanted to convey that India too has it´s taboo topics which are intolerable for the public when somebody speaks against them.
@Syed, Comments of Khalid Ahmed and MH should come as an eye opener to you. Both of them are absolutely right. You must understand that Kashmiris are not the only Muslims who live in India, there are millions of other Muslims living peacefully across the country. Indian Muslims are as patriotic as us Hindus, Sikhs, Christians etc.. Just because of being a Muslim majority state, you want to secede from India? If this is ever allowed to happen then that would be the end of secularism in India. Join the mainstream India. I can assure you Kashmiris will reap immense benefits once they accept India as their motherland. Trust me rest of India will stand by Kashmiris, no army man would dare touch a Kashmiri. In fact, there would be no need to keep troops in Kashmir. Sadly, people of India cannot ask Central Government to pull out troops from Kashmir right now, because as long as jihadis keep coming to Kashmir from across the border and making trouble, government would remain justified in keeping security forces there. Peace and prosperity or misery and destruction, choice is with Kashmiris.
@SYED: India did not "occupy" Kashmir, it voluntarily acceded to India on Oct 26, 1947. That amounts to a full and final transfer of territory as per international law. The UN recognizes that and so does the international community. Hence, they do not entertain any petitions on the matter anymore.
Kashmir has been Indian land for 6,000 years. The "muslim" people in Kashmir, who are seperatists, are NOT INDIGENOUS people of Kashmir. They are turkic migrants from Central Asia who followed the Mughals. They do not belong in Kashmir. They are genetically, culturally and linguistically different from people in the Indian subcontinent. Hence, they cannot have any claim over Kashmir. The question of them having a say in the fate of Kashmir does not arise. India has been more than graceful that they did not chase them out of Kashmir after the mughal rule ended and instead offered them citizenship. However, if they continue with their seperatist moves, it may well be time to get rid of them now!!!!
@goggi: blasphemy law was passed first time during British colony time when britain was ruling. blasphemy law is that whoever wants to kill people they can do that. This law is to protect people. The person who killed Governor now facing death sentence and he is now gong through to appeal in court.
@Alok: farmers in India are crying as they do not earn money instead just doing work for pennies. Farmers committing suicides at fastest pace than economy in urban areas of India. Villages in india are getting more backward day by day.
@ Syed
We do feel for Kashmiris but tell me for how long this region will be a hostage of a dispute that will never solve. Atleast not the way Kashmiris want it. How long we Pakistanis should waste our time and energy for something which we can never have? Meanwhile all these 64 years who suffered? Only us. Call us turncoat but Kashmir is a lost cause. The only peaceful solution is to convert LOC into international border or an independent Kashmir if India agrees.
MFN is a trade issue, not a political issue. You should be happy that our Govt has not changed its stance on Kashmir and we will be stuck on this issue for another 64 years. Perhaps this is what you want. In the end everyone wants peace. I am sure you crave it too. We Pakistanis want it as well. That's why we want to normalize our relations with India.
PS. If you don't want to live in Srinagar you can always leave and settle in Pakistan. You are welcome. Accept it that Kashmiris have learned to live on both sides of the border just like Punjabis have. My apologies in the end if i have offended you.
@SYED
I'll try to answer pragmatically.
1) Trying to gain sympathy/support for Kashmir cause by highlighting atrocities done on Kashmiri Muslims does not work anymore since a) The world has largely become Islamophobic b) Many Arab countries including Saudia have recently carried out shooting on their own civilians. c) The Muslim world has never and will never be united for any cause.
2) Unlike old generations of Pakistan the new generation does not see the solution of Kashmir as Pakistan declaring war on India and snatching Kashmir. Today's youth think much more critically and believe more in friendship and cooperation with India than inflated anti-India hatred.
3) If you want to call Mr. Geelani 'principled' just because he wants Kashmir to be separated from India then Indians can be called 'principled' as well since they want Kashmir to be a part of India. Just different perspectives. No one is absolutely good or absolutely evil.
I totally agree with Syed Ali Gilani
@SYED: Then why you trade with "POK."? You buy goods made in India and sell those to POK. Likewise other traders on both side of border want to have economic ties.
This is Id time now. This time Geelani has been sacrificed. He must be allowed to shout. That right he must have.
As a Kashmiri, born and raised in Srinagar, I'm really aghast at this paper, which seems to be a voice of the Indian Hindus. How can you forget that more than one hundred thousand Kashmiris have been murdered in cold blood by the Indian occupation army. How can you not see the atrocities forced upon kashmiris by the Indians and and their lakeys. How can you not see the pain of mothers and fathers whose children have been lifted from homes, tortured, shot and dumped in unmarked graves. And how has this paper the temerity to use the Indian terminology vis a vis Kashmir ( Indian administered and not Indian OCCUPIED Kashmir ) ,or ouse the term Hardliner for Geelani sahib. ( He is a man of principle and that is why Indians hate him ). And why do you aid the enemies of Kashmiris to spread the canard that Geelani sahib takes a pension from India ( sic). If Geelani sahib only gives a nod, believe me, India would jump at the opportunity of bestowing the Prime Ministership of Kashmir dumping the traitor Abdullah family. But he is a man of character, unlike the Pakistani polticians, who have no conscience and or character . Honestly , Kashmiris are saddened by the Pakistani turncoats and their mouthpiece paper.
Just looking at Geelani and the constant lies and venom he pours out against India, is greatest proof of total political freedom of expression and dissent that Indian state gives to all its citizens.
@Ali Tanoli: Thanks for recognizing Kashmir as part of India at last. Hope others misguided souls also see the light and come to their senses.
@Sitting duck.. Spot on... But i would strongly suggest not to waste your time with nutcases like jahanzeb khan...
@Sitting Duck: Brother for your kind info in islam Muslim can never ever marry any non-muslim. I have no intention to heart your feelings but it is plain not permissible in islam and this is a strong belief not only in PAK but every other muslim states. You can live happily with your wife but please don't lecture muslims about their own religion.
@Sitting Duck: In Pakistan we have a a blasphemy law and it is true that one of our Governor was assassinated, because he spoke against this law.
But my dear you Indians also have something similar like blasphemy law? Some weeks ago a member of Mr. Hazare´s team, Prashant Bhushan, was badly thrashed in the public because he spoke a bitter truth about Kashmir???????? Last year there was a hue and cry against Arundhati Roy as she made a statement, whether Kashmir is an integral part of India, and almost one billion people wanted to kill her for sedition!
If Kashmir is not liberated, then you Indians as well will dream another century to live in their country.
@ Kanishk I agreed man very open minded and tue comments i ever noticed thank u sir
@Jahanzeb Khan: I am Hindu and my wife is Muslim and our families are living in peace with each other. Ony in Pakistan there is a strong belief that Hindus and Muslims don't get together. You should move to Kashmir for real and live there to do reality check on what Geelani says. It is very easy to create emotional turmoil on people by making statements like "raping our women and destroying Islam". Seriously ????? Destroying Islam is that easy huh ? You feel so easily intimidated that Indian army will "Destroy" Islam ? Is Islam so weak ? If a region is highly oppresed people flee from the region and settle elsewhere. Like Hindu Pundits had to do when kashmiri militant raped and butchered them. Why did not Geelani speak up then ? Is his allegiance only towards muslims and not towards humanity ? If Kashmiris has been seriously raped since past 20 years why they continue to live there ? To get raped ? So my emotionally fool brother, do reality check before you start boiling your blood. @Ali: You can't win a single war from us when we openly fight with you. What are your chances of existence if we ever attacked you from behind ?? Think about that! This level of sedition and freedom of speech can only happen in India where a man is allowed to continuously fuel dissent between two cultures. Try this is in Pakistan and see how long you survive. Ah let me refresh your memory recently a journalist and a politician were assassinated for speaking freely against your army and blasphemy law. We all know what happened to them.
It is likely that India is also listening America to give the MFN status to Palkistan in 1996 and is not arresting Syed Geelani on the charges of sedition.Long time back, India, at the behest of America, has not banned the AHPC ( All Parties Hurriyat Conference).The AHPC is a giand road block to the rioad of peace between India and Pakista, Religion is a private matter, no one should use it for its political gain as God will not happy to see Pakistan and India kill each other for religion.
Indian national saying no to bussnis with india now what all patriotic indians will say......
He is not Kashmiri leader. He thinks he is not Indian which means he is not also not a Kashmiri. Besides he probably proudly thinks his ancesters are from Gilan province of Iran.
There is deep rooted skepticism, hatred, brainwash and lot of misinformation doing around about Kashmir, about India and about Pakistan in both of countries and Kashmir. Please do read the history objectively or who have at least written objectively.
Never ever Hindus have been enemy of Islam and vice versa. Just like in today' scenario, terrorist do not belong to a particular religion. Identify the people who have victimized other people in the name of religion, sects and castes and segregate them but not on the basis of religion they follows.
What is the meaning of Musalman????.....Musalsal+ Iman....Can a pensioner of Indian government and enjoying the government appointed security personnel around him but still spewing venom against very those people and establishment claim that he is real Musalman.
If he is right then what you say about these people who made India proud.......presidents of India APJ Abul Kalam, Zakir Hussain, Fakharuddin Ahemd, Justice Altmas Kabir of supreme court of India, Chief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi or from entertainment industry, Sharukh, Amir, Salman, Saif ali Khan. Singer Md Rafi, music director.....AR Raheman, Naushad, Nadeem, Sahir Ludhiyanvi, kaifi Azami, Shaqeel Badanuni, Sarod maestro Amazad Ali Khan, Shahnai maestro Bismillah Khan, Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and hundred of thousand others whom I'm forgetting.
This octogenarian only destroying peace of Kashmir, pushing India and Pakistan and its people against each other for "Apana Ullu seedha karne ke liye" But we the foolish people listen him then starts abusing one another and people of one another country. Knowing well what before 1947 we were one, then how come the earth we get so different, if it is true that we were so different then how before 1947 we had coped with one another.
@ Jahanzeb Khan If India started its atrocity in last 25 years, so just ask question why it is in last 25 years and why not in first 40 years???? What happened in those last 25 years that made you came to this conclusion. In the first 40 years..... what are the things which made Kashmir a lively place to visit and who destroyed its beauty in last 25 years, who mixed poison in its atmosphere? Please ask these question to yourself and give answer sincerely, your sincere answer will be my answer.
Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition.......OK. Then solve it. First combined all the parts of Kashmir, then find out the stake holders in Kashmir such as Kashmiri Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists, Jammu people and Laddakhi people, Gilgit and Baltistan people......then redivide Kashmir between those people. Allow those divided parts to choose between India and Pakistan. Once you've divided Punjab and Bengal on those line why not now. What is fuss about it? Just required an honest, sincere, and open heart approach.
Granting status to enemies is very stupid. But at the same time we can do what India has done. Why don't we give them the MFN status and then attack them from behind like India has done all this time...?
Under whose pressure Mr. Gilani is making this statement? Politicians specially the spent one like Musharraf and Gilani have a knack of making statements to remain in news.
He is very right .......... Granting MFN status to those who are blocking are waters ......... to those who never give up any chance in branding us terrorist ........ wakeup Pakistanis
We should ignore him guys. Its the age which is speaking here. He reminds me so much of Bal Thackrey of Mumbai.
Any Trade wrade are temporary and Secondary issues with Endia.... "Primary would remain same....Might be water stolen issue come ahead with main occupied Jammu Kashmir dispute".
Express tribune scks using Endian terms "hardline Kashmiri leader" against real leadership facing armed forces of Endia.....
I am Glad to see all these Hindu trolls getting so upset by Syed Gelani's comments. Hindu is no friend of Muslims that should never be forgotten. Whether, they are Muslims from Subcontinent or anywhere else in the world. Gelani is absolutely right because Pakistani Govt. is doing it on US pressure. Otherwise the Pakistanis Stands with their Kashmiri Brothers and sisters who has been under absolute repression and genocide for the last 25 years. Pakistani Govt. can do whatever it likes on the paper with India, But It will never reach any significant volume until India do not stop killing Kashmiris. People of Pakistan Know the true Intention of Hindu Rule and they are determined not to allow India to anything into or through pakistani Soil Until Kashmiris Suffers under Hindu terrorist Rule.
We are with Balochis, Sindhis, and Pashtoons. =)
Who is he? Is he from Balochistan?? Sindhudesh?? Pakhtunistan?? Balawaristan?? What is his nationality??
Paki govt should take Gilani saab in confidence before such a move.. I support granting India MFn status and peace process but nothing should be done without consent of Kashmiris.. They and us are of same blood! I am ready to do anything for my sisters n bros in kashmir
We are all with Kashmiris, but did they revolt in 1965, sorry they didnt, these leaders have not been able to give back. They are just enjoying luxuries from our money.
He takes pension from the Indian state since he was once an MLA. Now, he should first show courage and refuse the pension. Secondly, his statement that Islam is being suppressed in Indian kashmir is a blatant lie. Thus, this old man is fast becoming a joke.
we are wid kashmiri's..
Expected, he's the same gentalman who had called for a bandh after Laden's death. The economy of India is growing at a rapid pace even without the MFN status, MFN would just be a drop in the ocean please realize that.
Syed Ali Geelani is a considerate man towards the Arabs. He wants to protect Indo-UAE trade. He does not want Dubai to lose out on its status as intermediary in Indo-Pak commerce, being the hub for "unregulated trade routed through third country".
So we need your permission to decide what do now huh? Any resolution to the conflict involving the two countries will greatly diminish your importance and I am sure u wouldn't like that, would you?
The grand old man of Kashmir has the habit of spitting venom every time he speaks and he would rather have perpetual animosity between India and Pakistan. The question that he should be addressing here is: Who gains the most by the recent decision on MFN? Is it US? NO. It is the common man on both sides of the border.
I too have the right to dissent and I hereby reject Earth's status as a planet. Hopefully not for the second time!
I too have the right to dissent and I hereby reject Earth's status as a planet