Latest news with #Maqsood
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- India Gazette
Tourists return to Himachal Pradesh as India-Pakistan Tensions ease, bringing relief to local travel industry
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 17 (ANI): With tensions between India and Pakistan de-escalating and the situation returning to normal, tourism in Himachal Pradesh has begun to pick up again. The increasing temperatures in other parts of the country and pleasant weather in the hills are drawing tourists to Himachal Pradesh. Tourism stakeholders, who had suffered a temporary slump, are now optimistic and smiling again, hopeful for a strong summer season. The return of tourists has relieved many who depend on the travel industry for their livelihood. Among them is Maqsood, a Kashmiri migrant labourer who has been working as a porter at the Shimla Railway Station for over four decades, and has described the impact of recent geopolitical tensions on the local tourism economy. Speaking to ANI, a Kashmiri migrant labourer, Maqsood, said, 'Earlier, business was going well,' Maqsood recalled. 'But when there was some trouble at the India-Pakistan border, tourists completely stopped coming. Now that the situation has improved, tourists have started arriving again over the past four or five days. We are hopeful that things will stay peaceful and good. People are coming by buses, taxis, and trains--Shimla is packed once again.' 'The weather is warming up after recent rains, and the tension has eased. We expect a lot of tourists this year. Rooms are still available for now, but the season is just starting. Shimla is calling--it's the best place. Himachal is a very good and peaceful place. There's no conflict here--never has been, and never will be,' he said. Tourists themselves are also expressing satisfaction and relief. Vishwanath, a visitor from Maharashtra, shared his experience, saying, 'Since last week, the situation has normalised, which is why we planned our trip to Himachal. We're visiting Shimla, Kullu, and Manali. The weather is great today, and many tourists like us are here. I wish all tourists a great trip.' He added, 'The India-Pakistan problem has been resolved, so don't worry about it, just relax and explore. The station here is very good. There are many places to see. All the hotels are fully booked. The people here are very nice and helpful. It feels good. There is peace here.' Sneha, another tourist from Pune, explained why her plans changed after the situation calmed down. 'Earlier, we didn't want to come, but now that the situation is normal, we're exploring Shimla by rail and enjoying it. We came from Delhi, and everything here is wonderful. We'll be heading to Kullu and Manali too. Everyone should come and experience this,' she said. Sandeep Verma, a taxi driver associated with the local tourism industry, reflected both pride and positivity. Verma said, 'The recent loss we faced due to the dip in tourism wasn't very big. For us, the country comes first. On behalf of my taxi union, I salute and congratulate our armed forces who showed courage and brought us victory. They deserve applause. Speaking of business, some of our bookings were cancelled last week, but now things are returning to normal. With the support of the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, tourism is back on track.' 'I want to assure everyone on behalf of Himachal's tourism operators that our state is peaceful. You're all welcome here, and there will be no trouble. Summer season has begun--June is our peak time for tourism, and we are confident it will be a good month,' Said Sandeep Verma. As Himachal Pradesh enters its summer season, the hills are again echoing with visitors' laughter, the buzz of activity, and the hope of a thriving tourism economy. (ANI)
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)
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan: Continued oppression and injustice of Christian community raises alarm
Islamabad: Alarmed by reports of illegal eviction of Christians and occupation of their land in Kot Addu district, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has issued an urgent appeal to the government of Pakistan and provincial government of Punjab, calling for an immediate action against culprits who are involved in the ongoing injustice and deliberate neglect of the minority community. The HRCP has highlighted that there is an ongoing illegal eviction of Christian families from Kot Addu in Punjab's Derekabad district initiated by locals and land mafias. Local Christians of the area say that land grabbers were attempting to deprive the Christian community of land to which the latter had a legitimate claim, terming this as a faith-based discrimination. "The mission has found an alarming rise in land grabbing by local land mafias and a consistent failure by the state to uphold court rulings that protect these vulnerable farmers. These include a 1983 directive from the Punjab Board of Revenue, which recognises the community's right to the agricultural land they farm," read a statement issued by the HRCP. 'Farmers who spoke to the HRCP mission said they were still awaiting land allotment letters, following judgments in their favour. HRCP is concerned that in the absence of such documentation, these farmers will lose the little land they currently cultivate. This would leave them vulnerable to forced displacement and without a source of income, increasing their risk of falling deeper into poverty', it added. People from the local Christian community say that they have been facing continuous threats from the land grabbers who have now forcibly evicted them. "Multiple orders from the Lahore High Court to DC Muzaffargarh and DC Kot Addu have gone ignored. Promises of the Board of Revenue Punjab and even the Governor remain unfulfilled. The land grabbers here keep threatening us," said Father Maqsood, a Christian leader of Derekabad. "We demand legal land rights and immediate protection for the poor Christian farmers, who have been left vulnerable and voiceless. They have all the paperwork done but not the muscle to attain legal rights in a corrupt environment," he added. HRCP has called on the Punjab government to probe the matter immediately and issue land allotment letters to the eligible farmers in Derekabad. "The government must also take decisive legal action against land mafias and individuals involved in unlawful evictions and provide urgent protection to the affected families to ensure that they can live and work without fear of reprisal. As Christians, this community is doubly vulnerable and deserves recognition, legal protection and restitution for decades of state neglect," the HRCP urged.
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Today 250 million Pakistanis have become soldiers: Anwar Masood
Listen to article Renowned Pakistani writer and intellectual Anwar Maqsood has expressed solidarity with the nation amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, stating that "today, 250 million Pakistanis have become soldiers." His remarks come as both countries face their most serious military confrontation in years. Speaking in a recent public message, Maqsood emphasized that the true value of the armed forces is best realized in times of national crisis. While he admitted he does not carry a weapon, he said his pen remains his most powerful tool — and he will use it in service of his country. He called on citizens to remain united, calm, and focused, adding, 'Starting a war is easy, ending it is difficult.' Stressing the importance of avoiding further escalation, Maqsood urged both governments to exercise restraint and diplomacy. Reacting to reports of Indian aircraft being shot down, Maqsood rejected celebration, instead mourning the loss of innocent lives. "There is no joy in destruction," he said, noting that every life lost, regardless of nationality, is a tragedy. He also underscored the equal emotional value that national flags hold for people on both sides of the border. 'Just as an Indian loves and respects their flag, I too deeply respect my Pakistani flag,' he said. Maqsood concluded by urging the nation to rally behind its military and government, stressing that unity and discipline are crucial for progress. 'The world has changed,' he noted, 'and no country should head toward war. We must now move forward together for the development of our nation.' His message has resonated widely, reinforcing the role of cultural voices in promoting peace, patriotism, and national strength during turbulent times.\
Express Tribune
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Strings album 'Duur' turns twenty-four
Strings may have become a thing of the past, but the band's songs have long been immortalised in memory. Former member Faisal Kapadia took to Instagram to celebrate the anniversary of the album Duur, which released in 2000 and marked the end of the band's eight-year-long hiatus. "Today marks twenty-four years since Duur was released worldwide. It's hard to believe how time flies - sometimes it feels like just yesterday when we were working on this album and all those music videos. The journey was truly unforgettable. Thank you for being a part of this amazing ride with us!" Kapadia wrote on Monday. The vocalist's words took his fans on a nostalgic trip, reigniting old memories associated with the album and the eponymous song. "Great album cover and an even better song! Timeless!" remarked one user. "This album defined my childhood! Your music has been a part of my journey, and even though the band isn't together, the legacy of Strings lives on. Thank you for the memories!" another wrote. After Strings disbanded in 2021, the duo comprising Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood branched out into solo careers. While Kapadia, who recently launched his solo album, is still rocking the stage, Maqsood has committed to puppeteering with his latest project Pakkay Dost. In an Instagram post shared in January, Maqsood harked back to his popstar days by playing the keyboard. "On Friday, a fan shared a song from our very first Strings album, and it brought back so many memories. Felt like revisiting it on my keyboard - here's a casual rendition, straight from the heart, just like it was back then. How many of you remember this?" he wrote. The song, Main Ne Tujhe, was an offering from Duur. Safe to say, the short clip had the same effect on Strings fans that Kapadia's post did. A user simply posed, "How can we not know this song by heart?"
