Birmingham, United Kingdom: A large group of British Kashmiris gathered outside the venue in Birmingham where Barrister Sultan Mahmood, the President of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, was addressing a public meeting. The protestors voiced their strong opposition to the visit, accusing Sultan Mahmood of being a puppet of the Pakistani establishment and claiming that his presence in the UK was part of a larger plot to divide the British Kashmiri community and undermine the movement for Kashmiri self-identification.
The protestors, affiliated with the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, chanted slogans condemning the privileges of the elite and the use of public funds to promote a “fake” Kashmir issue. They argued that Sultan Mahmood’s visit was an effort to divide the British Kashmiri diaspora’s support for the Joint Action Committee, which has been at the forefront of the struggle for the rights of Kashmiris and against the ongoing division of the region.
Speaking to Jammu Kashmir TV during the protest, one of the demonstrators stated, “Barrister Sultan’s visit is nothing but an attempt to divide the British Kashmiri community. His actions are controlled by the Pakistani establishment, which does not want Kashmiris to retain their distinct identity. The Joint Action Committee has been working tirelessly to thwart the ongoing conspiracy to divide Kashmir, and this visit is part of a broader attempt to weaken the unity of the Kashmiri community abroad.”
The protest highlighted the larger issue of governance in Azad Kashmir, with many participants questioning why a project as vital as the Mirpur International Airport has not been brought to fruition despite the region’s potential economic benefits. The protestors pointed to the lack of progress on key infrastructure projects and the apparent neglect by the ruling authorities in Azad Kashmir, which they claim is part of a larger pattern of ineffective governance that has left the region underdeveloped and disenfranchised.
The demonstrators were particularly vocal about the growing concerns of the Kashmiri community, both in the UK and in the broader diaspora, who feel increasingly alienated by the political machinations that overshadow their voices in the struggle for Kashmir’s future. The protest also emphasized that the governance in Azad Kashmir has not been able to meet the needs of the people, and that development initiatives, such as the Mirpur International Airport, have faced repeated delays due to alleged mismanagement and a lack of political will.
The British Kashmiri community, a large and politically active group, showed significant turnout at the protest, signaling the depth of discontent with both the political leadership in Azad Kashmir and what they see as the manipulation of their cause by external powers. The demonstrators vowed that this protest was just the beginning and that they would continue to rally for the recognition of Kashmiris’ rights and identity.
The growing tension between the community’s aspirations for self-determination and the political agendas of various stakeholders, including the Pakistani establishment, has led to increasingly vocal calls for a more independent and authentic representation of Kashmir’s people on the international stage. The protest in Birmingham is a reminder of the power of the Kashmiri diaspora to influence global discourse on the issue, and of the ongoing struggle for a just resolution to the Kashmir conflict.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the visit by Barrister Sultan Mahmood will impact the unity of the British Kashmiri community and the broader Kashmiri diaspora. The protestors have made it clear, however, that their fight for a free and independent Kashmir, free from external interference and division, will continue.
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