The people of Jammu and Kashmir, whose population is 90 percent Muslim, continue to resist India's racist and oppressive policies. While Azad Kashmir, which currently constitutes 35 percent of Kashmir's territory, maintains its political existence as an autonomous administration unit under Pakistan, India's brutal occupation continues in Jammu and Kashmir, which constitutes the largest part of Kashmir.
Azad Kashmir Parliament Member Abdul Rashid Turabi, one of the important names of Kashmir's struggle for independence, told Milli Gazete about the developments in Kashmir and the invasion of India.
"The struggle of Kashmiri Muslims is not only a struggle for a homeland, a land, a freedom, but a struggle for the ummah against the enemies of Islam," Turabi said.
"INDIA'S PURPOSE IS TO DESTROY THE RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL IDENTITY OF THE KASHMIRIS"
As one of the actors of Kashmir politics, can we briefly listen to the Kashmir issue from you?
After the separation of India and Pakistan in 1947, the lands of Kashmir remained in the middle. Even though Kashmir, whose population is Muslim, thought to be included in Pakistan, India never consented to this. The decision of the United Nations to determine the political future of the Kashmiri people by holding a referendum was persistently not implemented by the Indian governments. Currently, the part of Kashmir that we call Azad Kashmir is under Pakistan, while Jammu Kashmir, which makes up the majority of Kashmir, is under the occupation of India. India pursues brutal policies to destroy the resistance in Kashmir and the religious and national identity of Muslim Kashmiris.
What is happening in Jammu Kashmir? Can you share the latest developments with us?
After the Indian government abolished the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019, the problems of Kashmiri Muslims, who were already under great pressure, increased even more. With this law, the national and religious identity of Kashmiris was targeted. He wanted to exterminate the Muslim Kashmiri people. Millions of Hindus moved and settled in Kashmir. The people of Kashmir, who have raised their voices against India's oppressive policies, are subjected to heavy oppression. The curfews, which have been continued in the most oppressive way for 2 years, have made the people bored. The occupation administration cuts off electricity and internet, closes schools, and hinders educational activities so that Kashmiris do not have contact with the outside world. It takes away the most basic vital rights of Kashmiris.
“MUSLIM COUNTRIES MUST IMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS TO INDIA”
What are your international expectations on the Kashmir issue?
Of course, as a people seeking their rights, we have expectations from the world. We ask Turkish states, especially Turkey, Arab countries, the United Nations and the whole Islamic world to show more effort for Kashmir. We demand this on behalf of humanity. We want the United Nations to take permanent and powerful steps to stop the Indian occupation of Kashmir. We ask the Gulf countries, which are especially rich and have a very good economy, to impose economic sanctions on India. Because India is a country that can bring economic sanctions to its knees. The economic sanctions to be imposed on India by Islamic countries will certainly have a very important contribution to the reduction of their pressure in Kashmir.
How is the stance and morale of Kashmiri Muslims in the face of India's atrocities?
THIS is a fact; Despite all kinds of cruelty, India failed to break the determination and love of struggle of Kashmiris. India is constantly massing troops on our lands. There is an occupation police or soldier at the head of every 8 Kashmiris. Indian intelligence agents are patrolling all over Kashmir. They unlawfully arrest anyone they want. The number of Kashmiris who were martyred in prisons is increasing day by day. India is doing the worst evil not only to the people of Kashmir, but also to the Indian Muslims who are its citizens. In this respect, I would like to remind you that we are dealing with an anti-Islamic mentality. The struggle of Kashmiri Muslims is not only a struggle for a homeland, a land, a freedom, but a struggle for the ummah against the enemies of Islam.