Washington, D.C.May 31, 2025. (TW) __ Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir and main organizer of the event, exclaimed in delight when he noticed that the men, women and children were in front of the White House while it was pouring rain. Sardar Zarif added that it was heartening to note that a unified display of gratitude of Kashmiri -American and Pakistani-American communities was readily noticed at the White House to express deep appreciation to President Trump for his leadership.
Sardar Zarif warned that it has to be noted that although at present there is cessation of war, the hostilities have not abated. Voices of malevolence continue to be heard from all quarters. India is on shopping spree for 5th generation aircrafts and weaponry that ostensibly will provide them edge in forthcoming war.
Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum & Chairman, Kashmir Diaspora Coalition said that 77 years of often bloody wars between two nuclear powers with burgeoning mostly impoverished populations, brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a nuclear Armageddon only a week ago—All that because of the Indian occupation of Kashmir and Kashmiris’ unrelenting yielding love for freedom.
Dr. Mir added that the United States has always taken a principled stand to support their right to self-determination and President Trump has become the latest champion of that cause. There is no reason for India to believe that permanent peace can be achieved with the barrel of the gun from either side!
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice said that the nation of Kashmir expresses the deepest gratitude at the forthright and principled stand taken by President Donald Trump for offering his office of mediation to settle the 78-years old dispute between India and Pakistan. President Trump was very firm and definite when he said that” I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!”
Dr. Fai explained that peace in the region would benefit not only those who are directly impacted by this conflict but India as well, whose economy is seriously drained by the maintenance of such a massive number of troops in Kashmir, and the diversion it creates from other challenges it faces in raising the living standards of its population.
Dr. Fai explained that in view of their lifelong service and dedication to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their demand for self-determination, we put forth the trio-leadership of Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah and Masarat Alam, all of them have been wrongfully jailed at the will of Indian occupying forces who continue to harm, terrorize, and harass the innocent people of Kashmir. They all have remained resolute in fighting for the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir. Their demand for the exercise of the self- determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains unwavering and they will not rest until justice and peace are achieved in Kashmir.
Dr. Fai warned that during Kargil crisis, Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN, appointed Amb. Alvera DeSoto, as his special envoy on Kashmir to settle the issue between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister Vajpayee said no and Kofi Annan took the no of Vajpayee as an answer. Then in 2009, President Obama wanted to appoint Amb. Richard Holbrook as a special envoy on Kashmir, Dr. Manmohan Singh, then the Prime Minister of India said no and President Obama took the no of India as an answer. We hope, President Trump whose personality has made him a figure of global recognition will not take the “NO” of Narendra Modi as an answer
Dr. Imtiaz Khan said that today on May 31, 2025, we the Kashmiri American and Pakistani American communities have gathered in front of the White House to express our sincere gratitude to its current occupant, President Donald J. Trump. If it was not for his profundity and the deep understanding of the problem, the region was headed towards unmitigated disaster leading to unparalleled human fatalities. The hostilities between India and Pakistan have risen to the extent that they were few steps away from nuclear disaster that would have engulfed major population of the world. In this regard, President Trump and Secretary Rubio deserve all the encomiums for their painstaking efforts to avert the calamity by brokering ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Dr. Khan added that the depth of understanding of the intricate problem can be gauged by the pronouncement of President Trump when he stated that underlying problem lies in protracted and unresolved conflict of Jammu and Kashmir. Unless and until that is settled the hostilities between the two nuclear neighbors cannot be abated.
“President Trump had no qualms in offering his good offices in contributing towards the resolution of this long-standing issue. While Pakistan has never demurred for a third-party mediation, India has adopted obstinate and intransigent attitude. It is high time that international bodies like UN and world powers impress upon India to abstain from jingoism and saber rattling so that world can heave sigh of relief,” Dr. Khan highlighted.
Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan, Representative of Voice of Justice in Kashmir said that the political pundits of the region are predicting that the future war between India and Pakistan is not matter of if but when. But with President Trump in the white house, Kashmiris have hope that he will be able to convince, prevail and contain India to eschew bellicose attitude and enter the negotiations with Pakistan and genuine leadership of Kashmir.
Sardar Shoaib Irshad, General Secretary, Kashmir American Welfare Association (KAWA) said that it is high time, Mr. President Trump that we try to make a constructive departure. The best point for doing so is to restore the focus where it originally belonged and where it still rests logically viz: the rights and interests of the people of Kashmir itself. The United Nations Security Council resolutions call it the right of self-recrimination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sardar Zubair of All Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference said that we write to you, Mr. President, with a profound sense of urgency and hope, particularly after the most recent events in South Asia after Pahalgam massacre which involved the armed confrontation between the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, and to bring to your esteemed attention the ongoing and alarming human rights situation in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Ijaz Noori, Chairman, Pakistan Council for Social Welfare and Human Rights said that it is amply clear that future war between India and Pakistan will be difficult to stop before it reaches disastrous consequences. President Trump along with other important world leaders need to be actively involved to prevent this impending nuclear scourge. People of the region especially Kashmiris and Pakistanis have hope that India will not be allowed to indulge in this misadventure and final solution to the complex problem of Kashmir will be achieved.
Raja Liaqat Kiyani, President, Kashmir House Washington said that a peaceful and just resolution to the Kashmir issue, in accordance with the aspirations of its people and relevant international resolutions, remains essential for long-term regional stability and global peace.
Mr. Zia ul Hassan, a well-known leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, USA asked: what is the crime of the people of Kashmir? The only imaginable crime of the people of Kashmir is that they would like to remind the Governments of India of her pledges that she has given not only to the people of Kashmir but to the whole world and the pledge was that it is they the people of Kashmir who have the right to decide the future of Kashmir.
Mr. Zil Ul Hassan added that the people of Pakistan have wholeheartedly supported their brethren in Kashmir on all political and diplomatic fronts and they feel it is their responsibility.
Hafiz Habib Ullah, Senior leader of Muslim League Nawaz of North America said that the latest air strikes and missile exchange between India and Pakistan makes Kashmir conflict the most dangerous conflict in the world. It is implausible to believe that these two neighboring countries will either cap or renounce their respective nuclear genies after they have escaped the South Asian bottle unless the chief source of antagonism between the two — Kashmir — is resolved. It is obvious that no settlement can last if it is not based on justice for the people of Kashmir and recognition of their inherent rights.
Shehzad Choudhary, President, Muslim League, Nawaz, Washington chapter said that Indian army is committing crimes, like rape of women, and torturing innocent civilians and political prisoners, which can be easily called the crimes against humanity
Shehzad Choudhary hoped that the statesmanship of President Trump will not countenance any attempt to ignore the wishes of the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and bypass the expression of those wishes.
Akram Butt, Chairman, Insaniat Foundation urged the participants to redouble their efforts and write to their members of Congress as their constituents to pursue the offer of mediation of President Trump further.
Sardar Hayat Khan of JKLF asked: Is it a crime when the people of Kashmir demand their right to self-determination. The people of Jammu and Kashmir simply want to be the masters of their own destiny.
Sardar Asghar khan of PPP said that we always believed that underlying cause of tensions between India and Pakistan was the unresolved conflict of Kashmir. World powers must pay attention in resolving Kashmir issue rather than simply diffusing the tension between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Khalid Faheem of Jamaat-e-Islami, Azad Kashmir said if the peaceful settlement to Kashmir crisis is to be reached, and if India is to stop dealing with the crises through sheer brutality and terror, world attention must be focused on Kashmir. Everyday scores of people of dying, with them are dying the hopes of an entire generation and entire civilization.
Abid khan, of Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party said that we trust that the personal involvement of Prescient Trump in Kashmir will bring its influence to bear on both India and Pakistan to initiate a peace with which the United Nations as well as the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be associated so as to ensure that settlement arrived at will be based on the principles of justice.
Sardar Zeeshan Khan, representing youth said that we need to sensitize the university and college campuses with the realities on the ground in Kashmir. The education and re-education process about the situation in Kashmir is needed in order to gain the support of American public square.
Others who spoke included: Yamin khan; Shakeel Anjum; Latif Kiyani; Sardar Waqas Khan; Sheraz Hayat; Bashir Khan; Mohsin Khan; Mumtaz Khan; Shaheen Khan; Liaqat Malik; Asif Shah,; Mnasar Mahmood; Tariq khan; Hiba Khan; Zahra Raja; Hina Khadim; Rafiya Khalid.
Dr. Fai is also the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum.
He can be reached ats: 1-202-607-6435. Or. [email protected]
www.kashmirawareness.org