Inspired by the withdrawal of American and NATO troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban's subsequent victories, secessionist Kashmiri leaders in Jammu & Kashmir say that India's exit from Kashmir is also "written on the wall," according to a pro-Taliban Urdu-language newspaper published from Pakistan.
A screenshot of the report in Roznama Ummat
Roznama Ummat, the pro-Taliban Urdu daily, published a report titled "The Taliban Mujahideen – A Ray Of Hope For The Oppressed Kashmiris." The report includes a subtitle: "The Taliban Mujahideen's Victories Have Shattered India's Dream Of Dominating The Region; The Freedom Movement In Kashmir Has A New Hope; Like [U.S. withdrawal from] Afghanistan, The [Indian] Occupation Forces Will Have To Leave Kashmir Too – Kashmiri Leaders."
Jammu & Kashmir, formerly an independent princely state, is divided between Pakistan and India by a Line of Control (LoC) after the Pakistan-backed mujahideen and irregular troops invaded the region in 1947-48, leading to a stalemate with India.
Roznama Ummat spoke with the Kashmiri leaders based in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), which Pakistan controls. These leaders belong to different factions constituting the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a coalition of secessionist organizations and parties.
Ghulam Muhammad Safi: "The Taliban Mujahideen's Advance Has Shattered India's Dream Of Becoming The Region's Policeman"
Ghulam Muhammad Safi, one of the leaders of the APHC, told the pro-jihad daily: "The people of Kashmir consider the emerging situation in Afghanistan a positive development because the exit of any occupation force from any occupied territories is good news for the whole international community, and especially for people in occupied territories. While it is the wind of Spring for us, the inhabitants of Kashmir, it is now written on the wall for an occupier and aggressor country like India that it too will have to withdraw its troops from Kashmir."
Ghulam Muhammad Safi, who is based in AJK, said: "India's view was that in the presence of the American troops, India will continue to get opportunities to play games in Afghanistan, but its dreams are being shattered. Its huge investment in Afghanistan is also being destroyed."
He added: "In this context, the Afghan ambassador in New Delhi, sensing the future difficulties for India... had spoken about inviting Indian troops to Afghanistan. But if American and NATO troops could not stay there, then the Indian troops are nothing to fight against the Taliban mujahideen in Afghanistan. The Taliban mujahideen's advance has shattered India's dream to become the region's policeman. It realizes that the Taliban mujahideen will capture Kabul very soon."
The Urdu newspaper also quoted Farooq Rehmani, the convenor of APHC, as saying: "We expect that the Taliban mujahideen's continuing advance in Afghanistan will have positive consequences for the region and the entire world. However, conspiracies are being hatched to tame this extraordinary advance so that the morale of the movements fighting against the occupation forces in the world is prevented from growing."
Farooq Rehmani, who is also based in Pakistan-controlled AJK, added: "Whether it be Kashmir, Afghanistan or any other region of the world, the aggressor and occupation forces have to leave ultimately. In the past it has happened thus. Now, it is happening before our eyes; it is a historic victory of the Afghan nation."
Farooq Rehmani said: "For the past 70-75 years, the people of Kashmir have continuously emerged before the world as a symbol of steadfastness and sacrifice in that they are standing steadfast despite every type of oppression by the Indian military. This is not an ordinary matter; this is such a movement that has no external aid, not ready to accept defeat by 800,000 Indian troops. Therefore, the international community must pay attention to the demand for plebiscite by the inhabitants of Kashmir."
Faiz Naqshbandi: "The Development In Afghanistan Contains A Clear Message For The Inhabitants Of Kashmir That Now Their Freedom's Destination Too Is Not Far"
Faiz Naqshbandi, the chief of Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz Group), said: "[Like the Taliban] the movement of the inhabitants of Kashmir is also based on truth. Therefore, we have full trust and confidence that, Allah willing, the occupier Indian military will have to leave Kashmir too, the paradise on earth. At this important turn of history, it has been proved once again that any occupation and invasion cannot last long."
He added: "The development in Afghanistan contains a clear message for the inhabitants of Kashmir that now the destination of their freedom is not far either. Every other day, the occupier Indian military martyrs the inhabitants of Kashmir, destroys their homes. But we are certain that our success's destination is not far. Allah willing, we too will become successful in freeing [Kashmir] from the occupier military."
Zahid Saifi, another leader of the APHC, said: "Against the backdrop of Afghanistan, the inhabitants of Kashmir too see signs of betterment." The Kashmiri leader added: "Without doubt, the occupier Indian military is proactive in pre-empting the implications of the message of inspiration from Afghanistan for Kashmiris. During the past 40 days, 37 Kashmiris were martyred, in addition to the destruction of dozens of houses [by Indian military]."
"India does not want the inhabitants of Kashmir to come out of pressure psychologically. But, the truth is that the exit of the American military from Afghanistan, and the exit of India [i.e., its diplomatic staff] from Kandahar, is itself an extreme pressure for India and its military. In the coming days, the Kashmiri freedom movement will get nourishment," Zahid Saifi stated.
Khadim Hussain Turk, another leader of APHC, was quoted as saying: "The people of Kashmir had themselves taken part in the Afghan jihad during the days of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan [in the 1980s]. Therefore, the relationship between the Afghan brothers and the inhabitants of Kashmir is not new. The Kashmiri people are fighting on every front for their freedom. We understand that the Taliban mujahideen cannot keep themselves separated from aiding the inhabitants of Kashmir.
"Therefore, the international community too will have to think of convincing the Indian occupation military to follow the path of the American military [i.e., by withdrawing from Afghanistan] and engage in talks with the Kashmiris. Otherwise, growth in the relationship between the Taliban mujahideen and the inhabitants of Kashmir will be a natural outcome," he said, adding: "The Kashmiri people welcome the advance of the Taliban mujahideen in Afghanistan. Until our right to plebiscite is accepted, the struggle for Kashmir's freedom will continue. The day is not far when the Indian occupation military will be forced to exit Kashmir."
Source: Roznama Ummat (Pakistan), July 18, 2021.
