Srinagar, May 13: In what could add further strain in Indo-Chinese relations, the chief minister of Indian Kashmir Omar Abdullah Thursday revealed that the Chinese government had offered his grandfather guns to strive for independence of the region from Indian control.
The Lion Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah aka Lion of Kashmir
Omar Abdullah’s grand father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the most popular leader of Kashmir before his death in 1982. Known as Lion of Kashmir (Sher-e-Kashmir in Kashmiri terminology), he ruled Kashmir for many years.
Addressing a function on Thursday, chief minister said, “Sheikh Abdullah was asked to take gun by Chinese government for giving momentum to his freedom struggle against Indian dominion. He, however refused the offer saying that when he is not ready to give the gun to his own son (Dr Farooq Abdullah) how can he ask the sons of poor people (Kashmiris) to take the guns and fill up the graveyards”.
This is the first major statement from any pro-Indian or separatist Kashmiri leader about China offering military assistance to Kashmiris. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq few months back met Chinese envoy in Geneva and sought Chinese government’s help in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Referring to separatist leaders, Omar Abdullah said certain leaders want to give gun in the hands of youth and perish their lives and future of the state as they survive on this kind of politics. “Their survival is on bloodshed, violence and miseries of people, but we want to safeguard the lives of people especially the youth, give pen and jobs in their hands instead of gun, seek the development and prosperity of the society and address the political issues of Kashmir politically across the table through the dialogue process”, he.
The chief minister made it clear that he won’t allow revival of militancy in Kashmir. The militancy erupted in Kashmir in 1989 after youth took to guns to fight Indian forces in Kashmir. However, the militancy is on decline and last year was declared as ‘most peaceful year’ in past 20 years by Indian security agencies.
Chinese want Pakistan to hold kashmir. this is because their karakoram highway goes through it, and it allows them to access gwardar port balochistan which is a china trading outpost. but it is kashmiri people who suffer.
Chinese want Pakistan to hold kashmir. this is because their karakoram highway goes through it, and it allows them to access gwardar port balochistan which is a china trading outpost. but it is kashmiri people who suffer.