What Right Have You Given To Kashmiris Under Your Control: Sheikh Abdullah Asked Pakistan

Sheikh Abdullah's Defiant Challenge to Pakistan

Sheikh Abdullah's impassioned remarks reflect a deep understanding of a compassionate Islam that stands for the oppressed rather than resorting to violence. He posed critical questions to Pakistan, questioning their motives for sending tribesmen to Kashmir and their brutal tactics. "What right have you given to Kashmiris under your control?" he asked, invoking the memory of Master Abdul Aziz, a notable figure from Muzaffarabad, who was killed for sheltering Hindu and Sikh women. Abdullah emphasized that such acts of violence were a betrayal of the very principles of humanity.

He argued that if Pakistan had chosen a different path, the region's history might have been drastically different. Abdullah recalled the determination of Kashmiris to defend their homeland, stating, "We fought back. We didn’t have India’s army, but we had resolve." Since 1931, they had been fighting for self-determination, refusing to let external forces dictate their fate. He criticized the idea that others could decide Kashmir's destiny without the consent of its people.

Abdullah further asserted that the right to self-determination rests with the people of Kashmir, regardless of their religious affiliations. He reiterated that any decision regarding their future—whether to join Pakistan, India, or remain independent—should be made by Kashmiris themselves. In a poignant moment, he recalled India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who publicly supported their cause, cementing a connection rooted in shared values and aspirations for autonomy.