“On the orders of the Indian government, the Indian army did not even bother to rescue the people of Kashmir,” AJK Finance Minister Latif Akbar told reporters at a news conference in Muzaffarabad.
“This is the worst kind of human rights violation. Not a single religion allows discrimination among those in need during times of disaster,” he said. “Islamabad’s silence over the matter is shocking.”
According to Akbar, Indian troops were only seen rescuing non-locals and tourists from the floods. “The credit goes to the youth and volunteers from Kashmir Valley who came forward and evacuated the local residents to safety.”
The AJK finance minister added that New Delhi’s failure to provide prompt relief to the flood-hit people of Indian Kashmir would widen the gulf between the state’s residents and the rest of India.
Akbar made an appeal to the world community on behalf of AJK to send journalists, rights activists and philanthropists to the areas of Indian Kashmir devastated by the floods. He also urged the Pakistani government to use all its officers to open the Line of Control so that relief goods could be sent to the flood victims living on the other side of LoC.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (9)
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Why we should believe AJK/POK people about situation in IOK/J&K? If India opens the Kashmir border, first people to enter will be a bunch of Pakistan military trained taliban who will try to kill Hindus, Shiites etc. If Pakistan desires an open border, they should seek closer ties with India, why J&K border, we can open the whole India-Pakistan border starting with reintegration of Punjab, eliminate visa regime etc. Let's see Pakistani army serving Pakistan's interests instead of Pakistan serving Pakistani army's interests. As long as Pakistan aspires to become Saudi Arabia instead of the liberal country that their Shiite founder Jinnah wanted, there is no hope for progress in Pakistan. Please learn from your neighbors like Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia etc. how not to become. Learn from countries like Egypt, Kurdistan and UAE what is possible. Please do not tarnish but instead live up to the name of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
@shaikh arif: The first and foremost in solution and problem solving is know the truth and stand by what is right. If your mentality is just propaganda with the "ultimate" aim of Kashmir, no solution will appear to your mind in tackling this devastation.
AJK stooges should first demand why the 2005 earthquake victims haven't been helped yet instead of shedding crocodile tears for people across the border.
The AJK finance minister added that New Delhi’s failure to provide prompt relief to the flood-hit people of Indian Kashmir would widen the gulf between the state’s residents and the rest of India.
Now this should be treated as a good development by the separatists and the 'nominally' elected representatives on the Pakistani side, no? Isn't that what they have been wanting and hoping for all these years? Emotional and national disenchantment of the Kashmiris with rest of India. Why worry or fret over it?
Also, the news splashing all over the national and international media applauding the Indian army efforts in rescuing the residents without discrimination notwithstanding, it must be an alien concept for Pakistani nationals to hear about an army taking orders from the Government.
@Sheikh Arif: Correct your facts. don't spit out poison. Indian armed forces are saving everyone. You all are worried that people of Kashmir will now know true intents of Pakistan that's why having no other option, again trying to mislead people. KASHMIRIS ARE NOW WISE ENOUGH. DO WHATEVER YOU ARE EXPOSED NOW.
For many years after the earthquake the people of POK where complaining that Pakistan government has not done adequate relief effort and same way the flood affected regions of other parts of Pakistan also not provided relief effort even today after many years of the actual flood - now from where the religion came I don't know, because the local administration in Indian Kashmir is in the hand of people of that region I.E Muslims of J&K, now the main reason for the plight of the people is it's there local government inefficacy to do proper relief effort but Indian army is doing a great job which the local J&K government failed to do - by the way even America had great difficulty when it faced such massive natural calamity in hurricane katrina...!!
Pakistan should immediately send $1B as flood relief to their fellow Kashmiri Pakistani citizen in Indian occupied Kashmir.
These ladies are fighting against Islamic terror in Iraq.
Nothing else could have been expected from PMLN. Latif Akbar Sahab is very right. Not a single Kashmiri in occupied territory is now under any illusion about who is his true well-wisher. While real genuine grass root democracy is taking birth in Pakistan, india is coming to the logical conclusion of the oppression of brute majority. Considering the example set by UK and the fact that india has a PM with proven genocidal record, I think this is the perfect time to revive the campaign for international coalition to support kashmiris 65 year long democratic campaign against oppression and rekindle the demand for plebiscite. Not a single vote will go to india if plebiscite is conducted today.