ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Senior leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Tahira Tauqir, on Tuesday said that questioning one’s loyalty based on ethnicity is unjust and harmful to the Kashmir freedom movement.
In a conversation with journalist Mujtaba Butt on Kashmir Digital, Tahira Tauqir said that she has often been made to feel as if being Punjabi is considered an insult, despite her lifelong struggle for the Kashmir cause.
She termed such attitudes deeply discouraging and contrary to the spirit of unity required for the freedom movement.
Tauqir stated that JKLF founder Amanullah Khan always considered Pakistan a sympathizer and well-wisher of the Kashmir issue, and this stance has consistently been reflected in the party’s narrative.
She claimed that Amanullah Khan, Yasin Malik, or Tauqeer Gilani has never made statements against the state of Pakistan. The critical aspect is part of democracy and state independence, Tahira added.
She emphasized that there is no comparison between the conduct of the Pakistani and Indian armies, stating that the Indian army commits grave human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, while the situation in Azad Kashmir is entirely different.
She said that the Pakistan Army plays a key role in maintaining peace, protecting borders, and ensuring security in Azad Kashmir, adding that its attitude toward civilians has remained restrained and respectful even in difficult situations.
“Despite verbal abuse and road blockages, Pakistani soldiers have shown patience and professionalism,” she stated.
Recalling an incident from the life of Amanullah Khan, Tahira said that during a rally, when anti-Pakistan slogans were raised, Amanullah Khan immediately intervened, reprimanded the individual, and made it clear that any anti-Pakistan narrative deeply hurt him and would not be tolerated.
“While criticism is part of democracy, JKLF leaders have never promoted hostility against Pakistan,” she said, adding that she also distanced herself and her husband, Tauqeer Gilani, from the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Tahira Tauqir further said that although strong speeches are often delivered at public gatherings in Azad Kashmir, Pakistani institutions have never responded with vindictiveness, unlike the Indian army, which she accused of harassment, torture, and hostage-taking in occupied Kashmir.
She warned that provocative material originating from Azad Kashmir is exploited by the Indian media to run negative propaganda, which ultimately damages the Kashmir freedom struggle at the international level.
Commenting on refugee seats, she said that the general public has little interest in the issue, terming it a matter driven by political groups rather than public demand.
