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The Print
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Indian students at Harvard protest Pakistani delegates' visit post Pahalgam, ask Rubio to revoke visas
The letter, signed by Harvard Kennedy School students Surabhi Tomar and Abhishek Chaudhari on behalf of concerned students, alleged that the attack—carried out by militants linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—targeted Hindu civilians based on their faith. The students described it as a 'faith-based massacre' as survivors reported being interrogated about their religion before the killings. In a letter addressed to Harvard President Dr Alan Garber, Provost John F. Manning, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein, and the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Indian students urged the academic institution to publicly condemn the 22 April attack and reconsider hosting Pakistani officials at the Pakistan Conference 2025. New Delhi: The aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack has now spilled over to other parts of the world. Indian students at Harvard University in the United States are protesting the upcoming visit of Pakistani delegates to the campus, accusing Pakistan's government of supporting religiously motivated terrorism against Hindus in India. 'These acts of violence were not indiscriminate—they were calculated attacks based solely on religious identity,' the letter read. 'Harvard must ensure its campus does not become a platform for whitewashing state-enabled religious terrorism.' The Indian students expressed particular concern that Pakistani delegates, including the country's finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, are slated to speak at the conference, despite Pakistan's Senate's new resolution reaffirming its support for Kashmir's so-called 'freedom struggle', which they argued is often used to justify violence against Indian civilians. 'Welcoming representatives of a government that not only denies accountability for, but also ideologically supports such religion-based terrorism, risks Harvard being complicit in legitimising those who enable or justify these crimes,' the letter added. The concerned students further asked Garber to issue a public statement condemning the Pahalgam attack, and affirming the university's support for victims of religion-based violence, reconsider the participation of Pakistani officials at the upcoming Pakistan Conference 2025 and provide emotional and institutional support to affected students through the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. In a parallel move, the students also wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the Trump administration to revoke the visas of Pakistani officials travelling for the event. They called on the US government to 'stand with victims and uphold America's moral clarity in the face of terrorism'. 'Welcoming representatives of a government that enables or justifies terrorism risks Harvard being complicit,' the joint letter to Rubio read. 'The United States must not host representatives of a state that protects and promotes organisations targeting civilians based on faith.' (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: In touch with both India & Pakistan, US calls for 'responsible' solution after Pahalgam attack
News18
28-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Take Stance Against Hinduphobia': Indian Students Oppose Pakistani Event At Harvard After Pahalgam Attack
The students expressed grief over the attack and said that the terrorists carried out the assault deliberately on Hindu tourists by verifying their religion and then executed them. Pahalgam terror attack: Indian students studying in US' Harvard University have urged the management to review the participation of Pakistani officials at the Pakistan Conference 2025 in the university in wake of the Pahalgam attack which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists and left several others injured. In a letter addressed to the Harvard management, two Indian students, Surabhi Tomar and Abhishek Chaudhari, expressed grief over the terror attack and said that the terrorists carried out the assault deliberately on Hindu tourists by verifying their religion and then executed them. 'These acts of violence were not indiscriminate— they were calculated attacks based solely on religious identity," they said in the letter. They further emphasised that Pakistan has also issued provocative threats of retaliation to New Delhi over subsequent restrictions imposed on Islamabad after the attack. 'While formally denying involvement, Pakistan's ministers and lawmakers have simultaneously issued aggressive warnings to India and reaffirmed their support for insurgent activity in Kashmir. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has even issued threats of retaliation, should India take any 'kinetic step" in response," the letter read. The Indian students, pursuing Edward S. Mason Program in Public Policy and Management at Harvard Kennedy School, further expressed their opposition to the organisation of Pakistan Conference 2025 which is being scheduled to take place in the university. Pakistani delegates—including Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and other high-ranking figures—are expected to participate in the upcoming event. 'Welcoming representatives of a government that not only denies accountability for but also ideologically supports such religion-based terrorism, risks Harvard being complicit in legitimizing those who enable or justify these crimes," the letter said. The students then urged the Harvard management to issue a public statement condemning the attack; review the participation of Pakistani officials at the upcoming conference; and provide emotional and institutional support to affected students. 'We ask for the clarity, courage, and compassion for Hindu and Indian students grieving the targeted killing of members of their faith. We request you to take a stance against Hinduphobia," it read. 'We respectfully request that Harvard University: 1. Issue a public statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attacks and affirming support for victims of religion-based violence. 2. Review the participation of Pakistani officials at the Pakistan Conference 2025 in light of their government's ideological and rhetorical support for groups like LeT. 3. Provide emotional and institutional support to affected students through the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging," the letter read. 'This is not about political posturing. It is about moral clarity. Harvard must ensure its campus does not become a platform for whitewashing state-enabled religious terrorism, the letter concluded. What Happened In Pahalgam? In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed the responsibility for the attack. Terrorists targeted a group of people, including women and elderly individuals, in the brazen attack afternoon. After the attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength and expulsion of its military attaches. First Published:
