By South Asia Solidarity Network
On August 17, 2024, ‘South Asia Solidarity Network’ organized a Solidarity Conference to discuss “People’s Resistance Movement in Jammu Kashmir: A Way Forward” in Washington, DC. Over 100 men and women from various walks of life, including immigrants from Jammu Kashmir and other South Asian countries, participated in the conference, from different states across the United States.
The conference featured prominent speakers such as revolutionary leader Zahid Baloch, former spokesperson of Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) Sahar Saba, intellectual and political economist Dr. Danish Khan, zonal president of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Dr. Tauqeer Gilani, former head of JKLF’s diplomatic wing Sardar Anwar Advocate, South Asia Solidarity Network organizer Farhad Kayani, Dr. Ikhlaq Barlas, Professor Rafiq Bhatti, founding member of the Kashmiri American Welfare Association (KAWA) Zulfiqar Roshan,Wasim from Indian administrated Jammu Kashmir, Ishaq Sharif, and others. The conference was moderated by former secretary general of the Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) Naveed Latif.
Farhad Kayani, in his opening remarks discussed the goals and objectives of the South Asia Solidarity Network, stating that nearly two billion people in South Asia face challenges such as hunger, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and health and sanitation issues. Additionally, climate change, wars, religious extremism, and debt burdens are making their lives even more difficult. Human and democratic rights, especially those of women, minorities, and marginalized communities, are under severe threat, leading to widespread migration both within and outside the region. South Asian immigrants have played a significant role in progressive movements in their new countries while maintaining ties to ongoing struggles in their homelands. The South Asia Solidarity Network aims to unite these movements, allowing immigrants to use their relative privileges in Western countries to garner support and solidarity for these movements.
Sardar Anwar highlighted the economic and political oppression faced by people on both sides of Jammu Kashmir since the partition of the subcontinent, noting that this oppression extends to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He emphasized that the question of Jammu Kashmir’s economic and national freedom is linked to the freedom of the entire South Asian region, requiring a united struggle.
Sahar Saba spoke on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the struggle of women against the Taliban government. She said that, as Amnesty International once stated, the conditions that the people of Afghanistan are enduring are a “tragedy,” and unfortunately, this statement still holds true today. She explained that since the US forces have left Afghanistan, it is said that peace had been established, but in reality, the situation within Afghanistan today can be compared to a graveyard or a prison, where ordinary people, especially women, are deprived of all basic living rights. However, she added that, like the people of Kashmir, Palestine, and other oppressed groups worldwide, the people of Afghanistan have continued their struggle over the past several years. She concluded by stating that the number of people involved in this struggle does not matter; what matters is the determination and commitment to the cause, and ultimately, all struggles are interconnected, and only by working together we can overcome this brutality.
Dr. Danish emphasized three key elements around which solidarity in South Asia can be built: freedom of expression, which is being increasingly restricted across South Asia; economic injustice, with millions of people lacking access to employment and basic necessities; and climate injustice, which affects not only the entire world but particularly the people of South Asia in various ways. He suggested that through this network, these elements can be connected and addressed on a broad scale, both within South Asia and beyond.
Other speakers reflected on the recent struggle of the people in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir and discussed how lessons from this movement can inform future strategies and the need to unite for collective action. They pointed out that the ongoing people’s rights movement in Pakistani administered Jammu Kashmir, which has been active for more than a year, has achieved initial but significant successes. The main demands of this movement included reducing electricity rates, subsidizing wheat, and ending privileges for the ruling class. They further said that the purpose of the Kashmir Solidarity Conference is not only to celebrate this victory but also to connect it with other people’s movements in South Asia. They mentioned recent student struggles in Bangladesh, farmers’, youth and workers’ movements in India, public uprisings in Sri Lanka, women’s struggles in Afghanistan, and the struggles of Baloch and Pashtun communities in Pakistan. Although these movements may seem separate, they are deeply interconnected. This conference marks the first step towards establishing solidarity between these movements and linking them with progressive struggles in developed countries and other regions.
Zahid Baloch, in his concluding remarks said that South Asia Solidarity is still in its infancy and welcomes all kinds of suggestions to further improve it. He remarked that, on one hand, there is the diplomacy of states and ruling classes, which aims to exploit workers, perpetuate the system, and prolong the subjugation of oppressed nations. In contrast, this network is about fulfilling the tasks of workers’ and majority people’s diplomacy. The purpose of establishing this network is to unite progressive immigrants from South Asia and to support and build solidarity with ongoing people’s movements in South Asia while organizing the struggle on an international basis. He said that they are not affiliated with any State or theirEmbassies and will act as representatives and ambassadors of the people, striving to end all forms of subjugation and exploitation.
He said that struggle cannot be built on funds from any state, embassy, NGO, or capitalist. They will not only advance the struggle for the freedom of Jammu Kashmir but also continue the struggle for the freedom of all oppressed nations of South Asia and beyond.
He concluded by saying that the issues are no longer just about solving political and economic problems. The ruling classes have put life on this planet at risk. As long as this system exists, the planet cannot be saved from these dangers. The countries of South Asia and other underdeveloped nations are the most affected by environmental destruction. Therefore, our ultimate fight is against this system which has no solution for the survival of humanity and life on the planet. He also answered the participants’ questions at the end.
