Washington D.C.:
Rep. Ilhan Omar is at it again – denouncing democracy and taking a pro-terrorist stand – this time on Kashmir. At a subcommittee hearing held by Congressman Brad Sherman and in follow-up tweets, Omar is putting forward a false narrative about Kashmir, which has real-world consequences for victims of persecution.
The term “Kashmir” denotes the Indian, Pakistani and Chinese administered territories of the former princely State – the entirety of which was acceded to India at the conclusion of British rule. In the last three decades, over 42,000 people have lost their lives along the Line of Control (LoC) that now separates India and Pakistan in Kashmir due to Pakistani sponsorship of terrorist organizations including the safe harboring of al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Taliban, Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT), Hizbu-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and more.
To further peace, PM Modi has called for a plan in India-administered Kashmir to promote unity, pluralism and the institutionalization of freedom. Omar opposes the plan — attacking any and all who choose democracy over militancy. When Aarti Tikoo Singh, among the persecuted Kashmiris and a journalist of Indian descent, testified at the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Human Rights in South Asia on October 22, 2019, Omar accused the highly-credentialed journalist of making “dubious claims” and sharing a “version” about “what you call militants…nefariously backed by Pakistan,” implying that Singh was “a mouthpiece” for the Indian government.
Singh countered, citing her non-partisan record of reporting throughout the last 20 years.
Singh is prominent and respected – holding a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University, having interned at the United Nations and serving as an editor for The Times of India. Singh has more than two decades of experience in conflict reporting. Her credentials speak for themselves.
The facts about Kashmir also stand with Singh. There is nothing “dubious” or “nefarious” about calling out Pakistan-backed terrorism in Kashmir. Unlike Omar, India is against terrorism, not religion. India is the largest democracy on Earth, and PM Modi is a freely elected leader. He was elected in a landslide victory. The vast majority of Indians stand with PM Modi because his actions in India-controlled Kashmir are a reference to peace-loving people everywhere, including in the Kashmir region and beyond.
When it comes to Kashmir, Omar lacks understanding – just like she lacked understanding about 9/11, casually and disgracefully referring to 9/11 as an event where “some people did something.” It is time for Rep. Omar “to behave in a manner that reflects creditably on the House” (Code of Official Conduct). Indian Americans, like any other group, expect Members of Congress to uphold the oath of office, which calls for Members “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…and bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Put another way, Members of Congress are always to err on the side of democracy – not stand with actors of state-sponsored terrorism.
The Indian American community calls upon Rep. Omar to check her contempt for democracy at the door. The community also calls upon Congressman Sherman to hold another hearing – fair and balanced – that provides a true accounting of Pakistani-sponsored violence in Kashmir.
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