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The father of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani in a recent interview with an Indian daily has said India will someday realise that his son was a “freedom fighter”.
The father of the slain youth, whose death has sparked a cycle of protest-and-crackdown in India-held Kashmir that has left more than 80 civilians dead, likens his slain son to Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
"When Bhagat Singh was fighting against the British, they called him a terrorist, but Indians maintained he was a freedom fighter. When the problem of Kashmir will be solved, India will realise Wani was a freedom fighter, Muzaffar Wani said in an interview with the Times of India (TOI).
Muzaffar Wani said he "liked everything" that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
"He said Burhan's killing had brought a new light in this movement of freedom," said Muzaffar Wani.
Below is the text of the interview conducted by Times of India:
After your son's death, do you think Kashmiri youth should pick up guns and fight against security forces?
Of course not. The better way is dialogue between India and Pakistan. So that there's peace in Pakistan and also in India. All Indians are our brothers and all Pakistanis are our brothers. We Kashmiris love every Pakistani and we love every Indian.
Eighteen Indian soldiers lost their lives in Uri. Evidence points at Pakistan's role. How do you look at it?
How can it be Pakistan? Whoever entered Kashmir after becoming a militant is a Kashmiri. Even a Muslim from Hindustan can come. It could even be an attack by Kashmiri militants.
But Pathankot probe showed there were phone calls by terrorists to their families' handlers in Pakistan. Banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad released an audio mocking Indian agencies.
It's necessary to solve the Kashmir problem. Else, these attacks may happen. But we don't know where these militants are coming from or infiltrating as the borders are sealed by the Indian forces. What is the Indian Army doing? How did the militants reach from the border to Pampore? If there is evidence (against Jaish) then investigations should be done.
How did you learn about Burhan leaving the family? What was the family's reaction?
On October 5, 2010, Burhan left home. He told his mother he was going to meet some friends but didn't return that evening. Then we came to know that he had joined the militants. For two months before this encounter, I tried my best to convince him. His year of birth was 1994. I told him that he was born during the peak of instability and that it was obvious that he felt the pain. When he was 10, he told an Indian Army officer that he wanted to join the Army. He said this when a raid was being conducted to search militants in our village. Burhan had a strong liking for camouflage outfits. One of his videos shows he loved cricket. He would have loved to play for India, not Pakistan.
Face of Kashmiri militancy
Burhan Wani had become the iconic face of militancy in his early 20s. He regularly posted video messages online dressed in military fatigues and invited young men to join the movement against Indian rule.
The killing of Burhan Wani drew tens of thousands to rise up and renew demands for freedom from Indian rule.
The son of a school headmaster was born in the southern town of Tral. He was a teenager in 2010 when his older brother was beaten to death by troops on patrol near their home. Subsequently, he joined Hizbul Mujahideen and eventually became the face of a new generation of Kashmir's militancy.
The impression about him among his fellow people was of a polite teenager who left home to become a Himalayan Robin Hood and a powerful insurgent commander.
Comments (56) Closed
This stands inscribed in the international law and the world is well aware of this. Long live the freedom movement for Kashmir..!
Indeed.
No they won't realise it ever, as some govts can't see past their inflated Egos
We are all now burhanizied...Burhan is symbol now against Illegal occupation.Burhan is freedom,burhan is everything.Forgetting Burhan means forgetting everything.
His brother was killed by Indian army.How can a family forget this.Killings bring more killings,we have to understand this.
What's special about Burhan, he has same status as other freedom fighters , no more no less.
Will India recognize Burhan Wani was a freedom fighter. The answer is no.
It was a senseless killing and clearly, as events are unfolding, Modi has shot his own foot and has stirred up a hornets nest as Kashmiris will get their freedom.
Freedom fighters in india are recognized by the non violent way of fighting for freedom not the oposite.
As father of Wani who lost his son I can understand his emotions.
When he was 10, he told an Indian Army officer that he wanted to join the Army. It is apparent that his father, though being a teacher himself, did not try (or succeed) in grooming him into a army officer. It is important that the youth's energy is channelised towards fruitful, constructive, goals, else chances are that they get astray and take up the wrong path.
@Simba And whatever Indian army / government is doing in Kashmir is right ? why you Indians always try to evade the real issue ? Burhan Wani will keep coming back if Indians do not realize that they are occupying Kashmir against the will of Kashmiri people
Sacrifice of Wani and thousands others will not be wasted. Wani RIP.
He was a teenager in 2010 when his older brother was beaten to death by troops on patrol near their home
The effect is within the cause itself
This is what freedom of expression and press all about, Proud to be an Indian
I can feel the pain of the father we live in India or Pakistan we are same people we share the culture by naming the country does not devide us. We feel the pain if something wrong happen in our countries. Please sit down and talk. This land is ours and will be ours.
Long live the Kashmiris.
It clearly shows that freedom struggle is inbuilt within Kashmir. No one can strive for other person unless he tries himself. Kashmir cause is now being self driven and on a roll. More will come and join to get rid of Indian occupied kashmir.
@Simba Wishing or fighting for your rights is not a wrong path...
Rest in peace, Burhan Wani, your sacrifice will never be forgotten.....
@Iftikhar Husain we are different on religion. Big differenec
@Krish Dear you are allowing freedom of expression but not from your Army to the kashmiri ppl.. double standard..
@Nazir The unfortunate indian refusal to respect the Kashmiris right to plebiscite, for the last 70 long years, has contributed to this violence...
@Krish you just arrested numerours kashmiri activits. You had curfew for 2 months. 80+ppl are dead. Hundreds and blinded for life. What freedom of expression are you talking about?
The interview with Mr Muzaffar Wani is very mature and touchy. He surely spoke from his heart. Most important point is that even after loosing 2 sons, he covered the entire interview in such a composed and dignified way. I also have 2 sons who are as old as his dead sons. I can feel his pain
Once India will divert at least 80% water of Indus river for the welfare of Kashmiris, all the Kashmiri youth will get enough jobs and money. They won't get attaracted to terorist activities. Our Pakistani friends shall also be very happy after seeing prosperous Kashmir.
He was a freedom fighter and a proud Kashmiri nationalist. God bless his soul. We Kashmiris Don't forget sacrifices rendered by our kinfolk.
@Bharat Yes , We want water from Kashmir that is one of the conditions for supporting kashmiri freedom struggle.
@Bharat they cannot be bribed by india, hopefull our india friends realise this once thy are reunited with the ajk brothers and live happily
Respectfully to Muzaffar Sir, yes. One day India will. And I have always seen him as freedom fighter and a great person since I came to know about him.
@Harmony-1© Modi has not shot himself in foot not at all.Logic tells me that if you take up guns no matter what your circumstances you are likely to be targeted.Over the years mistakes have been made by both sides now it's the time for reflection and move on to a more logical way of tackling the problem .Freedom is definitely not on that agenda.A careful analysis of the root cause of the problem is a prerequisite.
@very wrong does that include the Pakistan govt as well.
@Simba Burhan saw his brother being killed in front of him by the Indian army and you say his parents didn't parent him well. I say India didn't do justice to Burhan and thousands of other Burhan's in Kashmir.
Indian should hold a moral ground like other nations (Briton) and hold a referendum in Kashmir. The UK did it in Scotland and so what is the puss about then, if India wants to be labelled a democractic country and given a slot at the UN Security Council.
@Krish but you do't have the answer what Muzaffar Wani is saying and neither have the moral courage to accept the truth.
My apologies to his father, but thats just a biased opinion. Freedom fighters dont kill innocents.
@Zak I don't know if you know but majority Kashmiris are opposing the Indus Water Treaty which gave Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan Punjab.
@Zak :- you are great 100% with you, thanks
@SUS
Indian constitution does not have provision of plebiscite, it does not allow secession. Once you join Indian federation you are in for good.
India is not the only country which does not allow secession, constitutions of whole host of nations around the world does not permit secession through plebiscite.
@Namo - Did Burhan Wani 'a militant' even kill anyone other than featuring in videos and photos posing with weapons and taunting security forces? So, what Modi did was wrong - quite evident now!
@Alba We don't need indian certificates in this regard...
@Baba Saheb Kashmir is a disputed land, has never been legal part of india...
Why did Burhan Wani not stand for elections to represent his people instead ?
@Iftikhar Husain Could you refer the kashmiri pandits who were driven out by the militants in 1989. They are the original natives of Kashmir
@Shahbaz Ahmed Burhan wani father also an kashmiri, he is having all the freedom then why not others?
Like any other Republics in the world, Bharat also taken action against those, who fought against the system of a republic with the help of assault rifles.
@Ahmed bin Babar Read history !!
@Bharat Indus Water Treaty is signed and India is a binding party to it and will not be allowed to break the treaty unilateraly under international law. Pakistan can bring this case to the International Court of Justice and India will lose.
Havn't you guys already not done enough? Taken Kashmir, Junagarh and Hyderabad by force, partitioned Pakistan by force, occupied Siachen by force, sending people like Kulboshan Yadev to spread terrorism... Now you want to take away our water? Rest assured, this will not be tolerated.
@M.Jamal and, Why troops killed his brother. Did you try to find some answer of it?
@ozzy freedom of expression is not pelting stones.We have a different meaning in democratic societies
@Khwarezmi That's the problem. Both side feel mistreated by each other. West wins in this fight.
@Deepak Kalra We made history in india, it is for you to read that...
@Abdul Rehman
Correct idea
@Ahmed bin Babar
Mr. Babar, have you read the history of Kashmir.
JAI HIND
@Khadim
100% Correct
@D.K. PAMNANI We made history in the Subcontinent, it is for you to read that...