The joint statement issued by Biden and Modi is filled with distortions and misinformation. The current American leadership is shamefully manipulating the facts on the ground to serve their own interests and biases, presenting themselves as innocent bystanders while crimes against humanity are being committed under the Modi regime. These concerns were passionately voiced by Syed Salahuddin, the leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Chairman of the United Jihad Council, during his address at a special meeting.
Syed Salahuddin Ahmad emphasized that the American President seems to have conveniently forgotten that Narendra Modi’s visa was revoked by the US government in 2005, and he faced restrictions on entering America. It was during Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat that a horrifying wave of violence swept through the region, resulting in the deaths of thousands, primarily targeting the Muslim community. Salahuddin stressed that this was merely when Modi held the position of Chief Minister. Today, as the Prime Minister of India, not only have atrocities against minorities increased, but they are also being forcibly coerced to abandon their faith at every level. The recent incident on June 24, 2023, where Indian forces stormed a mosque in Zadoora village of Pulwama, forcing worshippers to chant a Hindu religious slogan, Jai Shri Ram, stands as a testament to this religious persecution. Those who refused were subjected to brutal torture.
International reports, including the United Nations Human Rights Organization’s annual report for 2018-19, have unequivocally declared India as one of the worst places for minorities. The United Nations High Commissioner’s report in 2022 revealed that not only were the rights of minorities and lower-caste Hindus denied, but they were also subjected to inhumane treatment. While Muslims have historically been victims of India’s brutality, the list has now expanded to include Sikhs, Dalits, and Christians. Except for the followers of BJP and RSS, Hindus themselves feel insecure within India. Salahuddin Ahmad expressed that the situation has escalated far beyond this point.
The suspension of Dr. Nighat Shaheen and Dr. Bilal, who conducted the post-mortem in the Shopian rape and murder case in May 2009, after 13 years for “conspiring against the Indian state” is deeply ironic. Their only crime was providing an accurate report on the heinous crime committed by Indian forces against innocent women, staining their foreheads with this injustice.
Syed Salahuddin Ahmad said that it is ironic for the leader of a country that supports United Nations resolutions, which state that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and its resolution should be in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, to associate the local resistance organization, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, with terrorism. This blatant hypocrisy and disregard for facts is appalling. He firmly stated that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has never engaged in any unlawful activities. They have consistently fought against occupying forces, aligning their actions with the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter.
Salahuddin posed a question, wondering why the US administration can actively champion East Timor’s freedom and support Ukraine’s self-determination against Russia to further their own interests, while freedom fighters and organizations operating within an internationally disputed region are unjustly labeled as terrorists. This labeling contradicts the United States’ unwavering support for over 18 UN Resolutions concerning the disputed territory. He urged the Biden administration to fulfill its responsibilities by considering the ground realities and historical facts, assisting in the resolution of this longstanding dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions governing the occupied territory. Salahuddin called on the United States to actively contribute to resolving the issue based on the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He emphasized that the pursuit of self-interest, biased approaches, and partisan tactics will not only damage America’s international reputation but is currently causing significant harm.
Furthermore, Salahuddin appealed to the Pakistani government to abandon their timid and apologetic approach towards Kashmir. Instead, he urged them to adopt a proactive stance as a party to the issue. He called on Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue on political and diplomatic platforms, drawing global attention to the matter.
Salahuddin acknowledged the validity of the Kashmiri people’s perspective, stating that had Pakistan advocated for the legitimacy of the Kashmir issue with greater assertiveness and determination, figures like Biden and Modi would have found it much more difficult to overlook the ground realities in the disputed territory. As the meeting concluded, a solemn tribute was paid to the martyrs, reaffirming an unwavering commitment to persevere in the struggle until the desired objective is achieved.
