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Ambassador Yusuf Buch: A Living Legend

Articles, Uncategorised

It is with sadness to announce that Ambassador Yusuf Buch has been hospitalized in New York City. Please pray for his early recovery. “Oh Allah! The Sustainer of Mankind! Remove the illness, cure the disease. You are the One Who cures. There is no cure except Your cure. Grant us a cure that leaves no illness.” Ameen! Al-Hadith.

Ambassador Yusuf Buch is an observer and a direct participant of Kashmir’s struggle for freedom since its inception in its modern form in 1931.

Born in Srinagar at a time {1922} when Kashmir was still ruled by a feudal prince under the suzerainty and protection of British colonial power. At the end of his scholastic career, passed a competitive examination to win a place in what was called the government’s superior service. But the radical overhaul which was the sequel to the liquidation of the colonial order affected Buch Sahib directly; from being a privileged government official, he became a political prisoner as he was vocally among the opponents of the feudal ruler’s decision to accede to India and to obtain India’s military intervention against the people’s rebellion. This led to his being exiled to Pakistan through a compulsory exchange of war and political prisoners in 1949.’

Buch Sahib came to the United States in 1953 as a winner of an International Essay Contest sponsored by the United Nations. Later, worked as a correspondent at the United Nations. Also, ran a Free Kashmir Centre in New York from 1957 to 1972. He was the member of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1972 to 1977. Later, he was appointed as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland in 1977.

Because of the long years of close acquaintance with the United Nations became the background to Buch Sahib’s appointment to the cabinet of the Secretary General of the United Nations as Director of a Special Advisory Group from 1978 to 1991.

He has written extensively on the issues of South Asia and Kashmir. He is known as the authority on the issues related to Kashmir.

We honor his illustrious life of courage and salute his commitment & dedication to the cause of Kashmir. May Allah (s.w.t.) grant him Shifa-e-Kamilah!

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(These photos were taken on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at his residence in New York).

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