South Asian communities fear for relatives caught up in Kashmir conflict

RNZ News

07-05-2025

Residents evacuate their homes near the site of a missile strike in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Wednesday.
Photo:
AFP/SAJJAD QAYYUM
New Zealand's South Asian communities have expressed concern for the safety of relatives caught up in rapidly rising hostilities between the two neighbouring nuclear powers in the wake of an Indian offensive on Wednesday.
Residents of Indian and Pakistani descent called on India and Pakistan to halt the worst fighting in more than two decades between the two nations.
India launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday morning in a campaign titled "Operation Sindoor".
Pakistan says at least 26 civilians have been killed and 46 wounded in the sites that were attacked, while India says at least seven have been killed and 48 injured in shelling on its side of the border, according to the BBC.
India's offensive followed an attack by Islamist assailants that killed 26 Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
India said Pakistan-based militants were responsible, but Pakistan has denied involvement.
Narendra Bhana, former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, called upon all communities within New Zealand - regardless of their origin - to remain united, respectful and empathetic.
"Let us be guided not by division, but by our shared humanity and our common aspiration for a more just and peaceful world," Bhana said.
"While we acknowledge the complex historical and geopolitical factors surrounding South Asia, we believe that violence cannot be the path forward," he said.
"We urge all parties involved to pursue diplomatic solutions, engage in constructive dialogue and prioritize the long-term well-being of all citizens in the region."
Veer Khar, Bhana's successor and current president of the association, hoped the conflict would not lead to any tensions between New Zealand's Indian and Pakistani communities.
"If some tensions emerge, we will ensure to diffuse it by having good interactions between the two communities," Khar said.
Naveed Hamid, former president of the Pakistan Association of New Zealand, echoed similar sentiments.
"The Pakistani community here is very concerned for their families back home," Hamid said.
"We are praying both countries de-escalate the current situation," he said.
"[Given] both are nuclear weapon states, the international community should also step in and prevent the conflict from escalating."
Ishtaq Ahmed, who moved to New Zealand from Pakistan 20 years ago and is president of Pakistan Association of Canterbury, expressed shock at Wednesday's developments.
"This doesn't look good for the region, and I don't see any benefit coming out of this," Ahmed said.
"I believe both countries should sort their issues on a table rather than like this."
Jaspreet Kandhari, who comes from the Indian state of Punjab and is general secretary of the New Zealand Indian Business Association, said the Indian community in New Zealand was expecting some military action by the Indian armed forces after last month's attack in India-administered Kashmir.
"[But] we are hoping the conflict doesn't turn into a full-fledged war, as all our relatives live in the border areas," Kandhari said.
"We are obviously very worried about their safety."
Tayyaba Khan, whose family moved from Pakistan to New Zealand when she was an infant, said Wednesday's developments were "devastating".
"We have got two countries who have a very shared history of colonialism, and yet they continue to be at war with each other," she said.
"Times like these require good leadership. It requires leaders who think about people," she said.
"Unfortunately, in situations like this, it's always the innocent civilians who get caught up in the warfare of people with power."