Kashmir, the most agonizing situation in the world: Yusuf Buch
New York. July 28, 2015. Ambassador Yusuf Buch is resting comfortably at his home. A delegation comprising Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai and Dr. A. R. Meer enquired about his health at his residence…
New York. July 28, 2015. Ambassador Yusuf Buch is resting comfortably at his home. A delegation comprising Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai and Dr. A. R. Meer enquired about his health at his residence in New York City. Ambassador Yusuf Buch said that he was saddened to learn that there was no mention of Kashmir in the joint statement between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sharief that was issued in Ufa, Russia.
His message to Kashmiri youth was to hold on to the cause, despite the oppression of the occupying forces. The repression cannot be the reason for apathy towards Kashmir cause. “Participation in the freedom struggle should become the second nature of the Kashmiri youth”, Buch added.
What pains me is the deceitfulness and betrayal of our own past leadership! I have never met more deceitful person in my life than Sheikh Abdullah, he said.
Mr. Buch narrated to us the final wish of a dying Kashmiri martyr who said on July 13, 1931, (Aaseey niboou panin zimadari. Woin chou thuhund faraz aath madad karun) “We tried our best to do what we could, now it is on your shoulder to move the movement forward.”
He said that Kashmir is one of the most agonizing and painful situation anywhere in the world.
Elaborating his experiences in world affairs, Ambassador Buch said, “The alternative to chaos in international relations – and in the global mind itself – is a world order governed by rules and principles and the test of the strength, indeed the reality, of these rules and principles is that they should play a commanding role in the settlement of international disputes. All the major principles essential for internaitonl sanity are attracted by the Kashmir dispute: the two major ones are the sanctity of international agreements and the self-determination of peoples.”
This flood was the first in history, in the living memory of Kashmir. More than 450 people are dead, and more than $1bn in destruction has been estimated. The actual magnitude of the total destruction, the number of dead and the people who are missing may not be known for some time. Kashmir Valley was cut off from the rest of the world for days. Thousands of villages have been submerged, including the capitol city of Srinagar. Hundreds of thousands of people particularly in the rural areas still remain trapped without any outside help or rescue and relief. There has been a total breakdown in communication with no telephone contact of the people with their loved ones Boats were not available. People had to stand on their rooftops waiting for someone to rescue them.