Karachi (HRNW)- Renowned economist and intellectual Dr Kaiser Bengali stated that occupied Kashmir is under heavy deployment of Indian military forces, which are involved in daily operations, arrests, and grave violations of human rights.
He mentioned that the local police, instead of serving the public, have become a subsidiary of the Indian army, assisting in actions against the oppressed Kashmiri population. He expressed these views while speaking at a Black Day event held in solidarity with the Kashmiri people. The event was organized by the Kashmir Society of the University of Karachi and KU’s Office of the Student Affairs Advisor at the KU’s Audiovisual Center.
According to Dr Bengali, occupied Kashmir has now become a safe haven for criminal elements, while the Kashmiri people continue to make indescribable sacrifices on a daily basis. He urged international media outlets to expose India’s atrocities to the world and raise a strong voice in support of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Dr Bengali remarked that the novel Jaffna Street vividly portrays the painful lives of the Kashmiri people. Addressing students, he said that reading this novel would help them understand the intense suffering and oppression endured by Kashmiris.
During his address, Dr Bengali lamented the intellectual decline in the country, stating that the tragedy is that “we neither read nor write, and we make demands without study.” He pointed out that there are widespread misconceptions among the public regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. He quoted that as per the agreement, the western rivers fall under Pakistan’s share and the eastern rivers under India’s. However, a clause allows India to draw water from the western rivers when needed, enabling it to access Pakistan’s share without formally violating the treaty.
On this occasion, KU’s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi emphasized that the purpose of the event was to understand the Kashmir issue in its true essence. He expressed concern that many believe the issue can be resolved merely through slogans.
He stated that despite Indian atrocities, aggression, brutality, genocide, and all forms of oppression, the Kashmiri people continue their struggle for freedom. He noted that over the past eight to ten years, the Indian government has subjected not only Muslims but other minorities to severe hardships.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi stressed the need to reevaluate national policies in light of current circumstances, as policies must evolve with time and changing realities. He added that in international relations, there are no permanent enemies or friends—only permanent national interests. Therefore, he urged that foreign and national policies must be restructured with national interest as the guiding principle.
Another speaker, the former chairperson of the Department of International Relations Professor Dr Sikandar Mehdi stated that universities are essentially the birthplace of ideas—creative, bold, revolutionary, and those that challenge conventional thinking.
This, he said, is the true role of a university, and it is encouraging that today’s discussion centers on the future of Kashmir. He posed critical questions: How should Pakistan address this issue? What should Kashmir’s tomorrow look like? Should it be another “yesterday,” or a new and genuine “tomorrow”?
He emphasized that the past keeps returning in new forms, slogans, and claims, as if it were the future. Therefore, he added that discussions on national and international matters must be approached with seriousness and nuance—not for short-term political or emotional gain.
Dr Mehdi highlighted that the real issue is blind allegiance. He explained that if students are asked, they would say India is the problem and the obstacle to resolution. However, if he were to lecture on Kashmir’s future at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, everyone there would say Pakistan is the problem. Similarly, if he spoke at Western universities like Harvard or Oxford, students would question why both countries are wasting their resources. These students do not share the emotional or practical involvement that we do.
He concluded that for many, the goal is not to resolve the issue but to maintain its existence to preserve influence and control. This underlying conspiracy benefits arms-selling nations, who profit by selling weapons to both Pakistan and India, thereby fueling their business. Dr Mehdi also noted a grave concern: the diminishing willingness to listen to and accept new ideas—especially in Pakistan, India, and particularly in Narendra Modi’s India.
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