By Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary

Self-Determination

 IMAGINE yourself as a Kashmiri born in Srinagar on Jan 5, 1949. You are 73 years old, and have completed nearly every phase of your life. You took decisions on what to study, where to work, how to contribute, and preparing to retire. A full circle of life. But at every stage, you were reminded that you were not free, that you were under Indian occupation, a kind of colonial rule. That’s the story of every man and woman who lives in the Valley of Kashmir or the Jammu region. You feel helpless and angry.

Iran welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire deal

TEHRAN - Iran welcomed on Sunday the joint statement of India and Pakistan based on which the two sides have agreed to strictly adhere to the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).

Pakistan PM: We would give Kashmiris ‘right to independence’

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged to allow the people of Kashmir the right to independence if residents of the disputed Himalayan territory were to vote for joining Pakistan in a United Nations-mandated plebiscite that has been delayed for decades.

Iran expresses concern over attack on Ashura mourners in Kashmir

TEHRAN - Saeed Khatibzadeh, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, voiced concerns on Monday over Indian security forces’ attack on a Muharram procession in the Indian-administered Kashmir.

Police fire pellet guns on Kashmir Muharram procession

At least 40 Shia mourners in the Indian-controlled Kashmir were injured on Saturday when government forces used batons, burst tear smoke shells and fired pellets to break up mourning processions on the ninth day of Islamic month of Muharram.

Ambassador lauds services to Indian nationals in Qom amid COVID-19

TEHRAN - The Indian ambassador to Iran has lauded the performance of the Iranian Foreign Ministry as well as the local offices of the health and interior ministries for taking care of the Indian nationals in the shrine city of Qom.

By Quayyum Raja

An empty grave in Kashmir

KASHMIR - Thousands of innocent man, women, young and children have been martyred and buried in various cemeteries in Jammu Kashmir during the ongoing Independence Movement, but one grave in Srinagar cemetery is awaiting its shaheed since 11 February 1984. The Shaheed is named Muhammad Maqbool Butt, who had been hanged by the direct order of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.  The dead body of Maqbool Butt was supposed to be brought back to Kashmir and buried in this grave, but the callous Indian government buried Maqbool Butt inside Tihar jail. The people of Jammu Kashmir still believe that they would one day be able to get their HERO’S body and bury him in this grave. The sitting prime minister of India was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards six months later when she issued another dictatorial order to storm the Sikh Holy Temple in Amritsar. 

By staff and agency

Pakistan president lauds Ayatollah Khamenei for strong support on Kashmir issue

Pakistani President Arif Alvi said on Friday that Islamabad is grateful for Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his strong support for the just struggle of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

By Mohammad Homaeefar

Pakistan welcomes Rouhani’s HOPE initiative: Fakhar Imam

TEHRAN – Chairman of Pakistan’s parliamentary committee on Kashmir says his country welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s initiative for securing the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, called “Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE)”.

Cleric raps rights advocates for silence over oppression of Muslims

TEHRAN – Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi, the interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran, has censured the so-called advocates of human rights for keeping silence over the oppression of Muslims throughout the world, especially the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan ambassador thanks Leader over Kashmir issue

TEHRAN – Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Riffat Masood, has praised the stances of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the Kashmir issue.

Zarif meets Indian foreign secretary, expresses concern over Kashmir

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in Tehran on Sunday.

Pakistan ambassador hopes Iran mediates to resolve Kashmir issue

TEHRAN – Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran has expressed hope that Tehran acts as a mediator to resolve the Kashmir conflict between Pakistan and India.

Iran’s student association writes to UN on Kashmir

TEHRAN – The Office for Strengthening Unity (OSU), an Iranian student organization, has written an open letter to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres urging the UN to condemn the Indian government for its behavior against Kashmiris.

Iran’s grand ayatollah demands immediate halt to Indian violence in Kashmir

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian religious scholar has condemned the inhumane treatment of Kashmiris by the Indian government, urging the central government to immediately stop its atrocities against the innocent Kashmiri people and observe their rights.

Kashmir issue is one of Muslim world’s tragedies: cleric

TEHRAN – Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi, the interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran, has said the issue of Kashmir is one of the tragedies of the Muslim world.

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

‘Free Kashmir’ slogans reverberate in Tehran

TEHRAN - In solidarity with the people of Indian-controlled Kashmir, hundreds of people, mostly university students, staged a demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in Tehran on Thursday morning.

Iran expresses concerns over restrictions on Kashmiri citizens

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi issued a statement on Tuesday expressing Iran’s concerns over reports of tight security measures and religious restrictions against the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.

By Batool Subeiti 

Britain's shadow over India's crimes in Kashmir

LONDON - While there is no doubt that the Indian armed forces and the fascist Hindu nationalist ruling party in India need to be held to account for the reign of terror they have unleashed on the people of Kashmir throughout these decades, the latest attempt to annex the disputed territory to the union of India is particularly alarming and a matter of grave concern. 

Rouhani, Imran Khan hold talks over Kashmir

TEHRAN – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday made a phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the ongoing situation in Kashmir.

Cleric urges India to stop acting against Muslims

TEHRAN – Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Movahedi Kermani has urged the Indian government to stop its anti-Muslim actions in Kashmir, saying such measures would not be to the benefit of neither India nor the region.

Amir Abdollahian says there is no military solution to Kashmir crisis

Advisor voices concerns over Kashmir tensions

TEHRAN – Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, has voiced concerns over the escalation of tensions over Kashmir, saying the crisis has no military solution.

By Quayyum Raja

Trump’s offer on Kashmir and bottom line

American President Donald Trump revealed to Pakistani premier Imran Khan in a meeting in White House that the Indian premier Narendra Modi asked him to mediate on Kashmir Issue.

Iran urges India, Pakistan to engage in talks on Kashmir

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Wednesday urged India and Pakistan to adopt peaceful ways and engage in talks over a rising conflict on Jammu and Kashmir.

Iran, Pakistan to establish rapid reaction force against terrorists

No third country can affect Iran-Pakistan ties: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran and Pakistan are determined to expand relations and no third country can undermine their friendly ties.