Kashmir Floods: Salahuddin slams Islamabad for maintaining ‘criminal silence’

MUZAFFARABAD — Syed Salahuddin, supreme commander of Kashmir’s largest militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, on Tuesday cautioned Islamabad of its “criminal silence” over losses in the century’s worst floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jihad Council (UJC), an alliance of over a dozen Kashmiri militant groups, said there was “no doubt” that India had left the flood-affected Kashmiris in the lurch, but at the same time, Pakistan had also avoided talking about their plight at the official level.

“Kashmiris have been raising long live Pakistan’ slogans for the past 68 years, but if they reshape their views owing to your cowardice attitude and criminal silence, do you have any right to object to it?” he questioned the Pakistani rulers at a press conference here.

Salahuddin said that the people of Kashmir were less saddened by the impact of the devastating flood and more by the silence of those from whom they expected empathy and support. “We know that Narendra Modi shed crocodile tears (on losses in Jammu and Kashmir) because in effect he has no sympathy for the Kashmiris, but Pakistan’s indifference was more painful.”

It may be recalled that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif twice flew into Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the aftermath of torrential rains and flash floods to assess the losses and express solidarity with the affected people. Though he did briefly mention that Jammu and Kashmir had also suffered enormous losses, he, however, stopped short of categorically offering sympathies or any support to the victims across the divide.

“Who stopped him from speaking in favour of Kashmiris? What is the reason for this criminal negligence,” Salahuddin questioned while mentioning Sharif’s visit to Haveli.

He was also critical of the Pakistani Parliament’s “failure” to adopt a unanimous resolution to express solidarity with the victims of the worst-ever floods in Jammu and Kashmir in general and Srinagar in particular.

On Friday, Pakistan’s both houses of Parliament concluded their longest joint session during which the perceived threat to democracy from the sit-ins of cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan were the focus of political discourse.

The lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution emphatically reiterating their unequivocal and unwavering resolve to uphold the supremacy of the Parliament, the Constitution, democracy and state institutions. However, even though the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah passionately spoke about the marooned Kashmiris, a resolution was not passed to express solidarity and support to them, something which was also criticised by Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq some two days ago after meeting APHC representatives in Islamabad.

“They have been saying that Kashmir is their jugular vein. But today, I am dubious about the veracity of this claim. Nawaz Sharif, its mere lip service,” Salahuddin said.

He claimed that a resolution to be passed by the Parliament was at hand, but it was withheld at the last moment lest it might not annoy Modi. Salahuddin demanded that Pakistan officially ask India to allow transportation of relief goods from the Line of Control (LoC).