Former Minister for Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Farzana Yaqoob, stated that as long as Kashmiris have hope, no one should be allowed to despair. She emphasized that Kashmiris do not need mere sympathy from Pakistan but rather practical action. She urged the government of Azad Kashmir to raise its voice for the people of Occupied Kashmir, who cannot speak for themselves.
She expressed these views while addressing a seminar titled “Daughter of Kashmir: Struggles and Resistance” at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.
The event was organized by the Human Rights Council of Pakistan and attended by prominent speakers, including senior journalist and columnist Bashir Sadozai, Dr. Khalida Ghous, Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam, Jamshed Hussain, Sardar Nazakat, and Sardar Asif Khan. The seminar was moderated by anchor and broadcaster Raheela Firdous. Speaking on the occasion, Bashir Sadozai highlighted that for over 70 years, Kashmiri women have endured immense suffering but have never backed down from resistance.
He revealed that the Indian Army raped 100 women in a single night, yet Kashmiri women continue to raise their voices against oppression. He stated that Kashmir has been turned into a massive prison, where even wildlife is fleeing to the mountain peaks due to military oppression. Farzana Yaqoob pointed out that brave Kashmiris like Parveena Ahangar, whom even the Indian military feared, have played a vital role in the struggle.
She also mentioned Khurram Parvez, an internationally recognized human rights activist, who has been imprisoned for two years, and Dr. Qasim Faktoo, who has spent 33 years in jail, while his wife, Asiya Andrabi, has been imprisoned for 19 years. She stressed that Burhan Wani never killed anyone, yet the Indian Army executed him. Speaking at the seminar, Sardar Nazakat said that Kashmiri mothers and daughters have made unparalleled sacrifices. He demanded a free and fair referendum within the state and urged the Pakistani government to include Kashmiri intellectuals in international delegations advocating for Kashmir.
Sardar Asif Khan Sadozai stated that despite every eight Kashmiris facing one Indian soldier, their resistance remains unshaken.
He emphasized that education is the most powerful tool for Kashmiri women, adding that Azad Kashmir has one of the highest literacy rates in the region. Jamshed Hussain remarked that the daughters of Kashmir still look toward Pakistan for action, but the response from Pakistan’s leadership has been insufficient.
He insisted that Pakistan must move beyond symbolic advocacy and adopt a stronger stance. Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam asserted that the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved without resistance, comparing it to the Palestinian struggle, which has forced global powers to acknowledge their cause.
Dr. Khalida Ghous called for re-evaluating global policies on Kashmir, emphasizing that international indifference towards Kashmiri women has grown. She also pointed out the striking similarities between the struggles of Kashmir and Palestine, stating that global politics does not favor Kashmir’s freedom.
