“This is not just a regional issue. It is a crisis of global order,” says Senator Rehman
Kashmir Under Siege: Sherry Rehman Condemns India’s Demographic Invasion — Seeks Diaspora Mobilisation
Date: April 16, 2025 – 6:45 PM
Reporter: Imtiaz Ali Abbasi, Chief Reporter Islamabad
Posted by: Watts News, The Largest English Digital News Network Pakistan
Islamabad:
Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Senator Sherry Rehman, issued a powerful call for action during a diaspora conference titled "United Voices: Kashmiri and Pakistani Diaspora Confronting Oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK)." The event was organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).
Senator Rehman condemned the systematic erasure of Kashmiri identity, calling it a demographic invasion orchestrated by the Hindutva-driven Modi government. “The revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, and the resettlement of non-Kashmiris are all part of this forced assimilation,” she said.
She highlighted severe human rights abuses in the region, noting that over 1,000 Kashmiris have been blinded by pellet guns, more than 22,000 women have been widowed, and over 11,000 women have been raped or molested. “The Valley has been turned into the world’s largest open-air prison, under siege by nearly 1.5 million Indian troops,” Rehman added.
Paying tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Rehman stated, “Their support for Kashmir has defined Pakistan’s diplomatic stance. From Bhutto’s iconic UN speech to Benazir’s declaration of February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day—the PPP’s voice has never wavered. Today, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continue that legacy on all platforms.”
She criticized the global silence on Kashmir, questioning the selective outrage of international bodies. “Powerful lobbies have kept Kashmir off the agenda, even as rivers of blood continue to flow. This silence is complicity.”
Drawing parallels between Kashmir and Gaza, Rehman said, “Whether it’s Gaza or Kashmir, Muslims are being persecuted in blatant violation of international laws. This is a collective stain on the conscience of the world.”
She urged the diaspora to remain engaged: “You are our strength. Your voices keep the truth alive. The PPP and Pakistan stand firmly behind you.”
In closing, Senator Sherry Rehman delivered a message of unity and hope: “Kashmiris are not just our friends—they are our family. We seek peace, but never at the expense of justice. The PPP stands united with Kashmir, always.”
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