Latest news with #Kashmiris
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
If Pakistan causes trouble, something needs to be done: Errol Musk
Errol Musk, father of the world's richest man and American billionaire Elon Musk, on Monday called for an end to the miseries of Kashmiris living under the spectre of terrorism, saying 'if it is Pakistan causing the trouble, something needs to be done about it'. In an interaction with IANS, the 79-year-old South African patriarch of the Musk family sympathised with Kashmiris living in a hostile environment and said, 'You cannot make ordinary people suffer like this… you've got to make a plan and put an end to it.' Talking about the Kashmir issue, he said he has always been inclined to be on India's side on this matter. 'I have spoken friends who have been on bus trips to Srinagar from Delhi, and you never know how an RPG is coming your way,' he said. Referring to the tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, he said, 'It makes no sense to me at all… for two matured nations to be going on like this.' 'You've got to make a plan and put an end to this. You can't make the lives of ordinary people so miserable,' he said. 'It's not right.' 'If it's Pakistan which is causing trouble, something has to be done about it,' said Musk senior, in a veiled endorsement for India's Operation Sindoor. Errol Musk's remarks about the need to give Kashmiris a better life come close to Operation Sindoor and the subsequent global diplomatic outreach to present India's anti-terror stand. As part of the diplomatic push to consolidate global support against cross-border terrorism, an all-party Parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Monday interacted with the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), an organisation in Spain that was established in 1981 to support those affected by terrorist barbarity.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmir dispute must be settled for lasting regional stability: CJCSC
Listen to article General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) has called for the urgent resolution of the Kashmir dispute, warning that continued tensions with India threaten regional peace and security. General Mirza, made the remarks while representing Pakistan at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 in Singapore, a key Asian security summit. 'The resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions is essential for lasting peace in South Asia,' Gen. Mirza said, describing the conflict as the 'root cause' of enduring hostility between Islamabad and New Delhi. READ MORE: Pakistan's victory inspires unity among Kashmiris He stressed the need for active and effective dialogue frameworks—bilateral, regional, and global—to prevent conflicts rather than respond to them after escalation. Mirza also criticised India's recent actions regarding water flow management, accusing New Delhi of attempting to weaponise shared water resources. 'India's use of water as a weapon of war is a clear violation of international law,' he said. 'Any attempt to block or divert Pakistan's waters will be considered an act of war, in accordance with the Pakistan National Security Committee's policy.' General Mirza reaffirmed that Pakistan is open to durable peace with India, but such a peace must be based on dignity, equality, and mutual respect. He also expressed concern over the absence of reliable crisis management structures, noting that the failure to act early often prevents the international community from intervening before tensions spiral. READ MORE: Modi trying to turn Kashmir into Gaza: Irfan Siddiqui 'The situation since the Pahalgam incident is endangering regional development. We need mutual restraint, recognition of red lines, and equilibrium to ensure durable peace,' he said. Tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India reached a boiling boint in the aftermath of the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India blamed Pakistan-linked elements without offering any evidence while Islamabad rejected New Delhi's claims and called for an independent probe. India subseuqnetly undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other's embassies. Pakistan strongly rejected the accusation, calling it unsubstantiated, but took reciprocal measures through its National Security Committee (NSC). These included halting trade with India, closing Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft, and other countersteps. India's later use of force was met with a calibrated military response under Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, which targeted Indian air assets, ammunition depots, and missile bases along the Line of Control and beyond. The operation formed part of a broader campaign, Marka-e-Haq, which ran from May 7 to May 10. Last month, following four days of intense clashes between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump took to social media to announce that both countries had agreed to a 'full and immediate ceasefire,' brokered by the United States. He had also offered to mediate a solution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Mirza called on world powers to help restore a formal dialogue mechanism between Pakistan and India, warning that the current vacuum increases the risk of miscalculation and escalation. Pakistan's participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue comes at a time of heightened friction with India and growing concern over resource and territorial disputes across South Asia. The country used the platform to reiterate its long-standing stance on Kashmir and to advocate for stronger diplomatic channels to address unresolved conflicts. READ MORE: Trump to work with Pakistan, India to resolve Kashmir dispute Earlier, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said Pakistan would never accept Indian hegemony in South Asia, expressing firm opposition to New Delhi's regional posture and ongoing disputes. In remarks shared by the military's media wing, ISPR, the Chief of Army Staff conveyed a strong sense of resolve over what he described as India's attempts to assert dominance. He reiterated Pakistan's unwavering stance on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and raised concerns about India's approach to transboundary water sharing.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Time for Kashmiris to say a decisive no to Pakistan's agenda
The April 22 Pahalgam massacre wasn't just an act of terrorism -- it was a calculated punishment. Pakistan struck back at Kashmiris for choosing peace, prosperity, and stability after the abrogation of Article 370. Pakistan believes that it has avenged Kashmiris for making a conscious choice after the abrogation of Article 370 -- choosing the path of prosperity and stability. The April 22 Pahalgam massacre was not only an attempt to stoke religious tensions in the country but also a punishment for Kashmiris who have rejected the path Pakistan tried to chart for them in furthering the two-nation theory. For over three decades, Pakistan has played a deadly game in the Valley. Initially, it succeeded. The wave of terrorism unleashed a reign of tyranny. Kashmiri society -- once known for its secular, harmonious, and conservative values with Sufism at its core -- was torn apart and divided into Hindus and Muslims, pro- and anti-India, hardline and religiously radicalised. Cloaked in religious rhetoric, the assertion of a unique Kashmiri identity was converted into a so-called movement for 'Azadi'. The real plot was clear -- the radicalisation of the Valley was designed to align Kashmir with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which has always regarded it as its "jugular vein." Pakistan's agents in this 'mission' were the Hurriyat Conference and various terrorist outfits. At one point, nearly a dozen terrorist groups were operating in the Valley, with Pakistan encouraging competition among them to be the most extreme. Over the years, thousands of Kashmiris have lost their lives to terror, most killed by terrorists. Hundreds of schools and educational institutions were burned down. The Hurriyat, working under Pakistan's directives, ran a parallel system. They issued calendars for protests, enforced diktats, and maintained a vast network of stone pelters ready to act on command. Tourism, the backbone of Kashmir's economy, collapsed. Even during periods of elected government, the situation remained unstable. Elections were boycotted, and most political leaders refrained from criticising the Hurriyat or the terrorist outfits. Massacres and killings continued unabated. Meanwhile, Pakistan-backed groups ensured that fear reigned in the Valley. Another weapon in its arsenal was narco-terrorism -- pushing drugs into Kashmir and ruining thousands of young lives. Then came August 5, 2019. The Modi-led government at the Centre abrogated Article 370, dividing the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Pakistan was shaken. It had expected chaos. It had hoped its proxies would light fires across the Valley. But nothing happened. Strong action followed. Hurriyat leaders were jailed. Terrorists were neutralised. Ordinary Kashmiris -- long subjugated by the fear of guns -- began to believe that peace was possible. Diktats stopped. Protest calendars vanished. Stone pelting ceased. Youth turned to education, sports, and employment. Tourism flourished again. Filmmakers returned. Over the past few years, the Valley has welcomed more than a crore of tourists, including foreigners. Locals have opened businesses and taken loans to expand in response to the tourism boom and growing handicraft demand. Education is flourishing. Many Kashmiris are now cracking the country's toughest exams. Sports culture is taking root. A new sense of opportunity has emerged. But as Kashmiris embrace peace and progress, Pakistan is desperately trying to reignite its failed agenda. Trained terrorists still infiltrate through treacherous terrain and find support among a small group of overground and underground workers. However, the widespread support for 'Azadi' that existed in the 1980s and 1990s has largely evaporated. People now understand Pakistan's real motive -- to destabilise Kashmir through terror and drugs. This growing awareness has unnerved Pakistan. In April, Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir -- now elevated to Field Marshal -- delivered a frustrated speech at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He emphasised the two-nation theory, claiming that "Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one" and that Muslims differ in religion, customs, traditions, thinking, and aspirations. A few days later, the Pahalgam massacre took place. India has retaliated diplomatically and militarily. But in Kashmir, the damage was immediate. Tourists disappeared, and the tourism season, which had the potential to generate hundreds of crores in revenue, collapsed. This was exactly what Pakistan wanted -- to snatch away the livelihoods of ordinary Kashmiris. The Pakistani establishment, perhaps jealous of Kashmir's booming tourism industry and rapid infrastructure growth, decided to strike at the heart of its progress. Pakistan may feel it has derailed Kashmir's momentum. But this disruption can be overcome by Kashmiris themselves. The people have experienced the horrors of terrorism. They have also tasted the fruits of peace. Now is the time to make a firm decision. Pakistan is a failed state. Its Army is more interested in profiting from chaos than serving its people. Every region under its control is in turmoil. It is high time for Kashmiris to rise and say two powerful words -- No means no. Let the Pakistani establishment feel the wrath of the Kashmiris who have chosen peace.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We don't believe in dialogue with a gun pointed towards our forehead": Tharoor clears India's stance against Pakistan
Bogota [Colombia], May 31 (ANI): Stressing that there cannot be any dialogue with Pakistan till it decides to dismantle terror operators constructed in its country, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation, said that India understands that disputes must be settled through dialogue, but it does not believe in dialogue with a gun pointed towards its forehead. During a discussion with thought leaders at the Columbia Council for International Relations, Tharoor highlighted that Mahatma Gandhi also believed in peace. Still, he led the freedom struggle against the British. 'I would like you to understand our perspective; we don't disagree with you about the importance of peace. We belong to the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who taught us the importance of peace- 'Ahinsa'. But at the same time, for us, peace has to be accompanied by self-respect, and freedom has to be accompanied by freedom from fear. Remember that Mahatma Gandhi was a man of peace, but he also led the freedom struggle against the British. So you don't just sit quietly and turn the other cheek, but you stand up for what is right in your belief. That is what India has exactly chosen to do while facing terrorism,' Tharoor said. 'While we understand that disputes must be settled through dialogue, we do not believe in dialogue with a gun pointed towards our forehead. When Pakistan, which has used terrorism as an instrument of state policy, actually decides to dismantle terror operators constructed in its country, then we can talk about dialogue. Till then, I am sorry we are not ready to talk to these people,' the Congress MP affirmed. Further, the Congress MP outlined the series of developments that started from the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians were killed. 'On April 22, we had a terror attack in Pahalgam, and it was a murderous rampage because what they did was not only to attack and kill innocent tourists on a holiday in a peaceful part of Kashmir. At the time when Kashmir was growing and prospering, our tourism doubled compared to previous years; they came and did this, and the livelihood of Kashmiris was affected. And also to create a battle in India because the killers asked the religion of each person before shooting them dead,' Shashi Tharoor said. He asserted that India's Operation Sindoor was a clear and strong message, as only terrorist infrastructures were targeted and civilians were avoided. 'The Indian Government launched the retaliatory action, Operation Sindoor, because this murderous attack had wiped the Sindoor from the foreheads of 25 Indian women. We gave a very strong message as we struck nine known terrorist headquarters, launch pads, and bases in Pakistan. It was a very carefully calibrated and executed operation to convey the message, as we did not hit any civilian area there but only targeted known terrorist infrastructures,' the Congress MP said. 'Unfortunately, Pakistan chose to retaliate very irresponsibly with shelling on civilian areas. They killed people, children, in their homes, on the streets. The message was clear that if you hit us, we will hit you hard, and if you stop, we stop. And after 18 hours, they stopped,' he added. Shashi Tharoor also highlighted the unity of the delegation he is leading, emphasising that it includes people from five different political parties and different religions. 'Seven MPs that I am travelling with represent five political parties, seven different states of India, three religions, and yet we are all united in one mission. The mission is to reach out to people like you and raise our concern about recent events in our country,' he said. Tharoor is leading the multi-party delegation to the Americas. After visiting Panama and Guyana, Tharoor and his delegation arrived in Colombia on Thursday in an effort of India's global outreach to convey India's zero tolerance against terrorism. After concluding the Colombia visit, the all-party delegation will be heading to Brazil and the United States on Saturday. (ANI)
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
‘There cannot be any dialogue till..': Tharoor Clears Indias Stance Against Pakistan
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation, said that there cannot be any dialogue with Pakistan till it dismantles terror operators constructed in its country. He added that India understands that disputes must be settled through dialogue, but it does not believe in dialogue with a gun pointed towards its forehead. Tharoor said this during a discussion with thought leaders at the Columbia Council for International Relations. "While we understand that disputes must be settled through dialogue, we do not believe in dialogue with a gun pointed towards our forehead. When Pakistan, which has used terrorism as an instrument of state policy, actually decides to dismantle terror operators constructed in its country, then we can talk about dialogue. Till then, I am sorry we are not ready to talk to these people," ANI quoted Tharoor as saying. Tharoor termed the Pahalgam terror attack a "murderous rampage" in which terrorists killed innocent tourists who were holidaying in a peaceful part of Kashmir. He added that India's response was a clear and strong message, as only terrorist infrastructures were targeted and civilians were avoided. "On April 22, we had a terror attack in Pahalgam, and it was a murderous rampage because what they did was not only to attack and kill innocent tourists on a holiday in a peaceful part of Kashmir. At the time when Kashmir was growing and prospering, our tourism doubled compared to previous years; they came and did this, and the livelihood of Kashmiris was affected. And also to create a battle in India because the killers asked the religion of each person before shooting them dead.. The Indian Government launched the retaliatory action, Operation Sindoor... We gave a very strong message as we struck nine known terrorist headquarters, launch pads, and bases in Pakistan. It was a very carefully calibrated and executed operation to convey the message, as we did not hit any civilian area there but only targeted known terrorist infrastructures," Tharoor said. Tharoor and his team arrived in Colombia on Thursday after visiting Panama and Guyana as part of the Indian government's initiative to demonstrate India's zero tolerance for terrorism. The delegation will travel to Brazil and the United States on Saturday following the conclusion of their visit to Colombia. The Indian Government on May 17 announced that seven all-party delegations would visit key partner nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to project the country's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. This was in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 innocent people were killed. In retaliation, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor during the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and killing over 100 terrorists.
