Islamabad, – In a candid interview from the Governor’s House in Peshawar, Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council European Union (KC-EU), reaffirmed the deep-rooted affection of Kashmiris for Pakistan, urging early dialogue to prevent local grievances from fueling damaging international narratives.
Speaking exclusively to Farooq Mirza on Fort Pillar TV USA, Syed addressed the escalating 2025 protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC). The unrest, which erupted on September 29 with a region-wide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike, has demanded a 38-point charter including subsidies on wheat and electricity, abolition of elite privileges, and royalties from hydropower projects. Clashes between protesters and security forces have resulted in at least nine deaths—including six civilians and three police officers—and over 200 injuries across cities like Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Kotli.
Syed, on a high-profile visit to Pakistan including key meetings with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, criticized the AJK government’s last-minute negotiations as a critical misstep. “Every issue has a solution if addressed in time,” he said, recalling similar appeals he made to Islamabad and AJK authorities during the 2024 protests. “Had they engaged proactively after the September 29 call—giving two to three months’ notice—these demands could have been discussed calmly. Instead, last-minute fixes, like claiming 36 of 38 demands met, bred frustration.”
He highlighted the human cost of communication blackouts imposed from September 29 to October 4, which severed ties for over two million overseas Kashmiris. “Families abroad couldn’t connect during illnesses or deaths, amplifying diaspora distress and sparking unintended global outcry,” Syed noted. This frustration, he argued, has been exploited by “mischief-makers” and amplified by Indian media to portray the protests as anti-Pakistan sentiment, including calls for army withdrawal and targeting institutions.
Dismissing such portrayals, Syed emphasized: “95% of Kashmiris love Pakistan—they see it as their defense line and closest ally. The JKJAAC leadership repeatedly chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ from every stage, clarifying their fight is with AJK governance, not the state.” He pointed to the tense India-Pakistan environment, exacerbated by recent conflicts, as a factor heightening risks: “In this climate, any whiff of separatism or violence plays into adversaries’ hands, complicating our efforts to spotlight Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir at forums like the European Parliament.”
On the international front, Syed addressed attempts to file human rights petitions against Pakistan in the European Parliament and International Criminal Court, labeling them as persistent but ineffective tactics. Citing a “sea change” in Pakistan’s global image post-May 10, 2023—when violent PTI-led riots following Imran Khan’s arrest initially tarnished the nation’s reputation—he noted renewed respect. “Before, people were allergic to Pakistan’s name; now, they listen. Petitions arrive, but processing them is a different, lengthy process. Efforts to involve the EU Parliament and Commission over two years have yielded verbal nods, not action.”
The KC-EU, under Syed’s leadership, continues vigorous advocacy in Europe, including recent briefings to build awareness of Indian violations. “Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein,” the host concluded, echoing Syed’s call for proactive resolutions. Syed invited further dialogue, underscoring the diaspora’s view of Kashmir as their shared heritage.
As protests subside with government promises of subsidies and a judicial commission, Syed’s message resonates: Early empathy can shield legitimate demands from being weaponized abroad, preserving the unbreakable Pakistan-Kashmir bond.
