Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard along fencing near the India-Pakistan border outpost. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
A protest rally was held here on Sunday against the Indian plan of construction of a concrete wall along the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary in Sialkot sector.
The rally was jointly organised by the Kashmiri refugees of 1989 and the Pasban-e-Hurriyat- a local organisation working in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for the Kashmir cause.
The construction is part of a plan India is working on to construct 41-metre-long and 10-metre high concrete wall along the LoC and 197-kilometre-long wall along the working boundary in Sialkot sector.
The protesters carrying banners and placards marched from the Central Press Club to Gharipan Chowk shouting anti-India slogans like “We want freedom” and “go India go”.
While addressing the rally, Chairman Pasban-e-Hurriyat Uzair Ghazali said that India was following the footprints of Israel to divide Kashmiris permanently as the latter did with Palestinians.
“The construction along the LoC is not only violation of international laws but also a direct attack on the United Nations that has declared the region a disputed territory,” said Ghazali.
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference leader Mushtaqul Islam said that India has occupied the state of Jammu and Kashmir at gunpoint and now it was constructing another “Berlin wall” to divide the Kashmiris straddle the region. “This illegal construction is unacceptable for the Kashmiris living across the LoC,” he said.
Islam urged Kashmiri and Pakistani leaders to protest against the illegal construction of the wall.
Meanwhile, AJK Finance Minister Chaudhry Latif Akbar addressing at a press conference slammed the Indian move saying the AJK government after consultation with the federal government will raise the issue at international forums to put pressure on India to halt the construction.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Javelin Is there any doubt that Kashmir is a disputed territory? Not at all. Kashmir is still shown as a disputed territory as per UNO Resolutions. A referendum is still to be held in Kashmir to know the wishes of Kashmiri people whether they want to join Pakistan or India? India cannot suppress the voice of Kashmiris and cannot keep it occupied for a long period now.Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir. Those who are dreaming that this problem can be solved by negotions are living in fools paradise as India is lingering this problem for last 66 years. India is well aware that Kashmiris will vote in favour of Pakistan due to which it is avoiding to hold referendum in Kashmir.
@saad: The whole world means the Islamic world?, our military forces are superior to Muslims, so nobody cares what the "Islamic" world thinks. Do what you can, if you have the guts to be humiliated again.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri: No not on the lines of Israel but on the lines of Iran. Please think why Iran is building a wall on their boundary. truth is no one around Pakistan including China and Russia trust Pakistan because of it's open policy of exporting terror as a state protected policy.
If India is allowed to build a wall alongwith LOC which is a disputed territory it will be a severe violation of international law as well as contradiction of UN Resolutions on Kashmir under which a referendum is still to be held whether Kashmiris want to join Pakistan or India. At no cost India should be allowed to build a wall alongwith LOC. If India starts its building it is incumbent upon our forces and government to protect the interests of Pakistan and demolish it immediately. India should be forced to hold a referendum on Kashmir without further delay as more than 67 years have already passed when UN resolutions were passed. The matter should also be taken up with UNO immediately to stop India from this illegal construction of wall. A government which cannot protect interests of the country has no right to remain in power even for a single day.This is the question of life and death for Pakistan. India has already stopped water of our rivers and is bent upon making our lands barrer. Unfortunately our present and past government are not protecting our national interests fully and are keen to make friendship with our worst enemy.
@Kashmir_well wisher:
Interesting story. Says is all. Pakistanis forget that all of Kashmir was Hindu/Buddhist land for 5000 years. As a matter of fact, all of present day Pakistan was Hindu/Buddhist land for over 5000 years.
In the United Nations Assembly, A representative from India began:
"Before begining my speech I want to tell you a very very old story about Rishi kashyap of kashmir, after whom kashmir is named.
When he found a beautiful lake, he thought-"What a good opportunity to have a bath",
He removed his clothes,put them aside on d rock and entered d water.
When he got out and wantd to dress, his clothes had vanished.
A Pakistani had stolen them!
'The Pakistani representative in Assembly jumped up furiously n shouted "what r u talking about? The Pakistanis weren't there then."
Indian representative smiled and said,
"And now that we have made that clear, i'll begin my speech.
"And they say Kashmir belongs to them". Everybody laughed.
@amanat ali: "Kashmir is a disputed territory.." If so why did you give or present a large portion of it to your higher than mountain friend - China?
Those who are trying to compare this wall with Berlin wall are forgetting the fact that Berlin wall came into existence due to philosophical difference between east and west Germany . The day west Germany became a democratic contry the wall vanished . In contast to it our division is basless it is not even done on religious ground . We have more muslims than they are in Pakistan . Our claim kashmir on religious ground is more solid than that of Pakistan . Now we have to follow Israeli way to deal with the issue .
Israel built it's wall when it determined that isolation/separation was preferable to relying on hope and negotiation. You can always remove a wall later - in the interim it may save lives.
It is unlikely that Pakistan-India relations shall ever be put at a sound level because in Pakistan there is no constituency for good relations with India. Perhaps India should build a regular China Wall all along the IB from the Arab Sea to Kashmir. Kashmir itself should belong to Kashmiris - all who have lived there for generations. The future of Kashmir should be determined by Kashmiris. They should have the option to choose between merger with Pakistan, merger with India, and sovereign independence outside both India and Pakistan. The problem is that governments of India and Pakistan shall not agree with this. Personally, I am a mere old, retired Indian teacher. Nobody listens to me. I urge my views from time to time. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 26 Nov 2013, 1715 IST
why there is no such objection from the kashmiris living in the India administered Kashmir? probably they are not concerned and eager to be on the other side of LOC. The wall , if any is being mooted is a move to protect their interest / to stop infiltration/ stop illegal movement of goods and people. . Pakistanis if do not object (to any Indian move ) will be unpatriotic Rvrty body wants to display patriotism.
Good one from India....u never no about non-state actors....although they dont know acting....
If we could send all the antinationalists to the other side of the wall and repatriate the native Pandit community, everyone will be happy. Complete partition.
Allies had also constructed Berlin Wall to divide Germany but it was destined to fall one day and at the end of the day it did. U can divide the land but can't divide the hearts.
This is the new Indian policy, taken from their Israeli allies, to humiliate, suppress, vilify, isolate, and completely subdue the Kashmiris by any means. This wall will fall as it will push Kashmiris to adopt an even more defiant resistance. The Kashmiri people will never separate from our Pakistani brothers. Every Kashmiri will fight for his dignity and honor as a soldier in the cause of Kashmir and Islam.
Not to forget the lines of 20 ft containers that often secure Pindi from the agitating masses. Walls are for isolation just as vaccines are for protection.
Shut up !!! Do whatever you can .
Iran is building a 3 ft (91.4 cm) thick and 10 ft (3.05 m) high concrete wall, fortified with steel rods on its border with Pakistan. India is building a wall on the Eastern side. Pakistan is now officially the most walled in country