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India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
PoJK activist Jamil Maqsood calls India's Operation Sindoor a 'Bold Message' against Pak-backed terrorism
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): UK-based activist and native of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Jamil Maqsood, called India's Operation Sindoor a 'bold and precise' response to the tragic Pahalgam attack that claimed innocent lives. Maqsood, who has long campaigned for the rights of people in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, while talking to ANI said that the operation sent a clear message, not only to terrorist groups, but to the military establishment in Pakistan that has, in his words, 'spent decades feeding the fire of extremism.' 'Pakistan has been a safe haven for terrorists for far too long, but this operation reminded them that the world is watching, and that India has the means and the will to act,' he said. 'This is a threat to the whole world, this is not just a threat to India. You see, all over the world, the big terrorist organisations, whether in Nigeria, Egypt, Libya or elsewhere, many of their operatives are trained in Pakistan. The training camps, the radical indoctrination, it all starts there. And when that becomes a breeding ground for global terrorism, it threatens international peace and security' Maqsood warned. He further added, 'But what will you do now? When a former Al-Qaeda fighter from Syria, once worth 10 million dollars in bounty, is seen standing with the President of the United States, what message does that send? This changing geopolitical reality becomes an encouragement to terror groups. It emboldens them. It disrupts the efforts of those who value democracy, human rights, peace, and good neighbourly relations. Every step we take toward progress is undercut by the forces that thrive on instability.' Maqsood criticized what he called Pakistan's policy of interventionism and support for extremist ideologies. 'While people like us talk about peace, Pakistan's government takes groups like Hamas to Rawalakot. They support outfits like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Dargadal-e-Ansar, and try to forge a national alliance among them. This harms the policies of democracy, freedom, and human rights.' Speaking about his homeland, Maqsood painted a grim picture of life under Pakistani control in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). 'We've lived under occupation for 80 years,' he said. 'In all that time, we've been denied even the most basic human rights. There are no decent hospitals, people die from treatable illnesses simply because they can't access proper medical care. Our children attend schools that are either grossly underfunded or used as breeding grounds for radical ideology. And as for free speech, there is none. The moment you speak out against the state's policies or question its actions, you're branded a traitor or silenced entirely.' Maqsood accused the Pakistani establishment of systemic neglect, asserting that any development or investment in the region is strategically calculated. 'Islamabad only invests here when it serves their agenda of hate. When they can use our land, our people, as pawns in their propaganda against India,' he said. 'We are not seen as citizens with dreams or rights, but as tools to further a militarized, extremist agenda. The world must understand that the suffering in PoJK is not accidental. It is by design.' He described Operation Sindoor as more than a strike, it was a signal to the international community. 'India stood up. And in doing so, it stood up for us too,' he said. (ANI)
The Print
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
UKPNP condemns Pahalgam terror attack, urges global action against Pakistan-backed extremism
'This despicable act of violence, allegedly claimed by terror groups based in Pakistan like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF), constitutes a grievous crime against humanity and peace. Attacks targeting civilians, particularly peaceful tourists, serve no legitimate purpose and reveal the barbaric mentality of the attackers and their backers,' stated the UKPNP leaders. Brussels [Belgium], April 23 (ANI): The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), through its Central Spokesperson Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan and President of the Foreign Affairs Committee Jamil Maqsood, has strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. 'We reaffirm our long-standing stance that all forms and expressions of terrorism must be distinctly condemned and eliminated. The persistent exploitation of Jammu and Kashmir as a proxy battleground by extremist factions, supported from abroad, not only contravenes international law but also directly undermines the rightful aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for peace, justice, and dignity,' conveyed the UKPNP leaders. The party issued a strong appeal to the global community to take decisive steps against the support system of such violence. 'We call upon the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, and democratic governments, to take serious note of Pakistan's ongoing support for jihadist proxies in the area. We advocate for targeted sanctions against those individuals, institutions, and elements within the state apparatus involved in financing, training, and providing shelter to such terrorist organisations,' stated the UKPNP leaders. 'Pakistan should be held responsible for breaching UN Security Council Resolutions, international standards, and bilateral commitments through its persistent strategy of exporting terrorism to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir and disrupt regional peace,' according to the UKPNP. The party reiterated its broader vision for peace in the region. 'The UKPNP reiterates its steadfast dedication to a peaceful, democratic, and united Jammu and Kashmir, devoid of extremism, foreign intervention, and military occupation. We assert that enduring peace in the region can only be realised through dialogue, demilitarisation, and the thorough dismantling of all terrorist infrastructures,' emphasised the UKPNP. The UKPNP leaders extended their heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack and their families, expressing solidarity with all those who denounce violence and extremism. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
