Coordination among Kashmiri diaspora groups is the need of the hour to intensify lobbying to expose Indian belligerence, Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK President Fahim Kayani said during his visit to Istanbul, Turkiye.
“If not now, when?” asked Kayani, during his marathon meetings with Kashmiris and allies in Istanbul to urge greater unity among the diaspora.
Kayani was on a brief trip to the city to meet Kashmiri leaders including Dr Mubeen Shah and Dr Asif Dar at Kashmir House in Istanbul.
The Kashmiri leader said that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) looked towards the diaspora for relief.
“Everyone has to contribute to the cause in whatever way possible,” he said while strongly suggesting coordination among different Kashmiri groups.
The Kashmir cause, he said, is strong in terms of legal and international relations but what is more important is that the locals are morally correct and those who support them are on the right side of history.
The TeK leader further stressed that Europe is an important region from where the voices of the Kashmir freedom movement must find space. “Kashmiris need to come to a common understanding to put forth their point of view to different government and non-governmental institutions.”
Lauding the efforts of the Kashmiri leaders he met in Istanbul, Kayani said: “No one can silence Kashmiris and their allies until there is an upright leadership.”
He added, “We must cultivate young leadership, encourage role models and take lessons from the legacies of Shaheed Syed Ali Geelani and Shaheed Ashraf Sehrai for they stood for honour and dignity of Kashmiris which they saw only possible after Kashmir was freed from the illegal occupation of India.”
He, during the visit, also met several non-Kashmiri allies and thanked them for their support for the sacred cause.
The Kashmiri leader also thanked Turkish lyricist and author Turgay Evren for his contributions to the freedom struggle.
“Role of arts and digital campaigns have achieved a special place in freedom movements and the likes of Turgay Evren have attained a special place in the hearts of Kashmiris in IIOJK,” the TeK UK leader concluded.