“We must protect our civilization, our culture and the future of our new generation. So we must come forth with only one demand that there should be an end to Indian occupation of J&K.” – said Syed Ali Shah Geelani while speaking to Fortress Magazine, in an interview made available exclusively for the readers of PakistanKaKhudaHafiz.com

Full Interview transcript and audio below:

Syed Ali Shah Geelani is one of the most respected and popular leaders of Kashmiri freedom movement. He was born in 1929, in a town called, Zoorimunz, Bandipora, in North Kashmir and recieved his college education from Oriental College Lahore. Raised under reign of terror and oppression of Dogra regime, Geelani sb was highly influenced by the writings of Allama Iqbal and Syed Abul ‘Ala Mawdudi. He joined Jamaat Islami J&K and quickly rose within its ranks. Through out his life he has been ardent supporter of freedom of Kashmir and end of Indian occupation. Due to his courage and unwavering determination he was jailed several times and has spent more than twenty years of his life behind the bars.

Interview Transcript – Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Fortress: Assalamo’ alaikum

Geelani Sb: Wa ‘alaikum Salaam wa rahmatullah

Fortress: Geelani sb, I am Tabish Qayyum from Fortress Magazine; we wanted to ask a few questions.

Geelani Sb: Tabish Qayyum … from which place?

Fortress: I am correspondent of Fortress Magazine, published monthly, from Karachi.

Geelani Sb: Karachi is it!! My heart bleeds for Karachi! How much pain and agony I am passing thorough! For avenging death of one person eighty human lives have been taken! Is this not reversion to the same pre Islamic jahiliyya?

Fortress: No doubt, you are hundred percent right

Geelani Sb: Is history not repeating itself? The age of pre Islamic ignorance has come again in a country that was founded in the name of Islam!

Geelani sb burst into tears …

Fortress: Geelani sb, we are witnessing a rebirth of the freedom struggle in Occupied Kashmir like of which was seen in 1989. The vigor and towards the movement amongst the youth and women is astonishing. With the rise in death toll the intensity of protests is also soaring. What has happened so special this time that after period of 20 years, Kashmiri youth, women and children have taken to the streets with such courage and passion.

Geelani Sb: That is the bounty of Allah on us. Allah has given us the strength to work towards this cause. Here in Srinagar we made contacts with the youth, we delivered speeches in mosques, and we tried to explain to the masses the repercussions of Indian slavery. We have introduced the slogan of “Freedom for the sake of Islam” in the masses. May Allah give us the strength to live up to our slogan grants us freedom, and we pray that He gives us the strength to establish the just and equitable system of Islam. Pakistan is identified in the world by means of its affiliation with Islam. And today it is facing destruction. It is punishment for not fulfilling the same obligation. They failed to establish the just Islamic order in Pakistan. They emulated the West and became their slaves; they whole heartedly embraced secularism and discarded Islam and eventually threw it out the window, hence this pre Islamic age of ignorance has to come haunt them again. Over here Alhamdolillah, it is only due to the grace of Allah that we have based our movement on Islam. We have rejected secular politics and have channelized our freedom struggle for the establishment of just Islamic order. This has appealed to the hearts and minds of our youth. That is why you see them on streets ready to embrace martyrdom. Alhamdolillah

Fortress: Recently, Chief Minister Umar Abdullah has labeled the current movement in Kashmir as being a ‘leaderless movement’, at this point in time what is the state of unity and level of involvement of the Hurriat Conference and the Kashmiri leadership in this movement.

Geelani Sb: It is absolute rubbish and propaganda used by the agents of the Indian government. It is not a ‘leaderless movement’; it is being lead by the APHC which in turn is under my leadership. The movement that you are witnessing right now was initiated in 2009 at the district level. The aim was to end the Indian occupation and we gave the slogan to ‘withdrawal of troops from Kashmir’. It was launched by our party, Tehreek e Hurriat, and our first political gathering was held in Shopian. At district level programs we used to come forth with two things, first we had to organize strikes at the district level and second organize big public gatherings and Alhamdolillah in we did all of this in nine districts in year 2009, and by the start of year 2010, only two districts we left. So at the start of 2010, we covered those two districts as well. This created awareness amongst the masses; we told the people that how under Indian military occupation nothing that belonged to us was secure. Be it our land, our forests, our culture, our civilization, our wealth, our life, our sanctity, our honor, every single thing of ours is threatened with the presence of Indian forces. So we must rise above all these subsidies and favors that are being offered to us. We must protect our civilization, our culture and the future of our new generation. So we must come forth with only one demand that there should be an end to Indian occupation of J&K.

Fortress: It has been alleged by India, that the idea, inception and command and control of this movement lay across the border i.e. Pakistan. What is the reality? They allege that Jihadi organizations are playing crucial role in orchestrating these protests.

Geelani Sb: Frankly speaking with no reservation, we had always wished that you cover our movement in its true perspective and present to the world accordingly, and that would have been a great favor upon us. Pakistan is engulfed in severe problems; we are very disturbed and sensitive to it. Millions of people have been affected with these floods and still the situation is out of control. Earlier the occurrence of tragic air plane crash and then above all killings in Karachi, we are conscious to all of this. In spite of this we ask you to pay head to the situation of Kashmir and ask your print and electronic media to dedicate resources to support the cause of the oppressed people of Kashmir. As for the allegations of involvement of Pakistan in this movement or any Jihadi organizations then these are all baseless, there is no gun or bullet or grenade in this movement. At most when the Indian forces beat the protesters on the street and fire shells at them, they respond with throwing stones at them. That is it. These protests are entirely peaceful and highly dignified. We have strike six days a week but we left Sunday open for the sake of public. I say with full confidence that there is not a single person who would say that he has been strained or he can’t buy this or that. We have given directives for opening Bait ul Maal in different areas. Alhamdolillah there are scores of Bait ul Maal. We bring relief goods, vegetables, food items and we distribute them in areas where they are required. Langaars have been setup in hospitals for the patients and their attendants. Alhamdolillah nobody starves over here and no patient is left out without medicine. People have great regard for their traditional values, no body needs to beg. We fully protect the non Muslim community present over here; they are living here without any fear. Representatives of pundits and Sikh community came to me yesterday, we told them that they are very dear to us; they are like organs of our body. We will protect them at all cost. Their wealth, honor, life, places of worship are secure. We have a very pleasant atmosphere over here, and we want to create an atmosphere of mercy, as laid down in Islam. And Allah is helping us.

Fortress: You have recently rejected talk offers, are the people of Kashmir with you on this?

Geelani Sb: Absolutely! Especially the youth and the educated segment of the society, after Allah SWT, we have full faith in their support.

Fortress: What recommendation would you like to give to Pakistan, how should it respond to this situation?

Geelani Sb: Pakistan should effectively employ all the diplomatic missions available at its disposal. It should avoid US pressure to engage in dialogue with India. The issue of Kashmir is not a border dispute between India and Pakistan, that they could bilaterally address it. It is an issue of right of self determination of a nation of 1 Curore 30 Lakhs. And on this basis, Pakistan and other countries should help us. Those who say that we want to help people of Kashmir and then ask Pakistan and India to enter into dialogue; I say that we will get nothing out of this. We got nothing out of it in the past 62 years and we would get nothing out of in the future. Because it is not a mere border dispute, if somebody wants to help then he should do so wholeheartedly by asking for right of self determination for the people of J&K as proscribed in the UN resolutions. India should fulfill the promises it made with regards to it. Yesterday Chadam Baram said in India parliament, that India had made promises with people of Kashmir and it is time for their fulfillment. This is what we are trying to remind to you. This is exactly what people of Kashmir and the youth of Kashmir have been saying all along. Then why are they being persecuted? It shows that there is inconsistency in your own statements. You say one thing in the parliament and on other hand you do the opposite and resort to use brute force in Kashmir. All the diplomatic missions should be engaged, that’s the first step. Secondly a special session of OIC should be convened and there not only should they pass a resolution, but they should also announce immediate boycott of India. India should be given ultimatum of fifteen days to take its troops out of Kashmir; otherwise OIC countries should impose economic sanctions on India. May Allah give the OIC countries courage to take this step. In fifteen days we would gain independence. And Pakistan should play a leading role in this. May this happen.

Fortress: Despite all the promises that India has made over the years, we have seen that it pays little head and has always resorted to use of brute force. For how long do you think Kashmiri youth would keep making sacrifices. Don’t you think that a point would come they would think of picking up gun in their struggle for freedom?

Geelani Sb: We have had an experience of armed struggle of about twenty years. We will inshAllah continue with our peaceful struggle. And Allah will help us. Pakistan’s role is to highlight the issue of Kashmir through diplomatic means. It should give maximum coverage to it.

Fortress: We assure you of our full support. We pray for the Kashmiri leadership, may Allah protect you.

Geelani Sb: I would like to add one thing and that is very important. The entire nation is united. Muslims of Jammu & Kashmir have gathered under united leadership. We have a very bitter experience of this. For sake of Allah you should support this leadership avoid causing any rupture in it.

Fortress: it is a very healthy development. JazakAllah

Geelani Sb: And please convey our hearty condolences and sympathies for the flood affectees. May Allah shower his mercy on Pakistan and alleviate the problems it has been facing.

Fortress: Ameen, wassalamo ‘alaikum

Geelani Sb: Salamo’alaikum

Also read: Hearts of Kashmiris and Pakistanis beat for each other – Aasiya Andrabi (Exclusive to PKKH)