MUZAFFARABAD: A British Kashmiri political activist has claimed that awareness about the repercussions of the unresolved Kashmir issue among the native British people is increasing with each passing day.

“India’s Aug 5 move to annex occupied Kashmir has come as a blessing in disguise because it has made many people in the West dig deep into the genesis of this longstanding issue as well as implications of inaction to resolve it in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” Slough-based Khawaja Abdul Ghani told reporters on Monday.

The press conference was held by him to announce his decision to end his 52-year-long association with the Pakistan Peoples Party and join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Originally hailing from the town of Hattian Bala in Muzaffarabad division, Mr Ghani was flanked by PTI’s central joint secretary and former AJK minister Khawaja Farooq Ahmed on the occasion.

According to Mr Ghani, after India’s Aug 5 move the participation of British Kashmiris from both sides of the divide and the British Pakistanis in pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations in the United Kingdom had increased significantly.

But more than that native Brits and people from other communities, believing in fundamental human rights, were also turning up in big numbers at these events, he added.

“This is because of the just stand of Kashmiris,” he said.

Mr Ghani said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s charismatic personality and his powerful advocacy of the Kashmir case at the UN General Assembly and elsewhere had inspired him to join the PTI.

“The way premier Khan has exposed the so-called largest democracy and the nefarious designs of BJP and RSS before the international community has made many Westerners rethink their previous views about India,” he maintained.

In reply to a question, he said the PTI would leave no stone unturned to ensure greater unity and harmony among the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora for effective representation of the just cause of Kashmir.

“I feel pleased to share with you that the Kashmiri and Pakistani Diaspora have already risen above their political affiliations back home and participate in pro-Kashmir events with one flag and one slogan,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2019