Mepa News conducted an exclusive interview with Ahmad Khalid, the Spokesman of The Resistance Front in Kashmir.
Interview with Ahmad Khalid, the spokesperson of the indigenous armed resistance group (TRF) The Resistance Front. (IIOJK)
Q1) what is the current situation in Kashmir, and what is the capacity of the resistance?
Ahmad Khalid:
We have and we will resist in whatever way we can. Our resistance is against occupation and Kashmir will outlive India ‘ In Sha Allah! We will not surrender an iota of our Religion, Culture, land, lives, history, martyrs and blood. Indian Occupation is multi-pronged, so is our resistance.
Indian state has played its every move in Kashmir and as some may say - Indian state is at its strongest ever position in Kashmir. But a slightest drop of a hat from our resistance does jeopardize this perceived strength to the point that - it makes them weak, ugly and crippled. But let me tell you, our resistance isn't a cat and mouse game. Neither is it a show of media optics and perception management. Resistance in Kashmir was and is against Indian occupation. We are fighting for complete liberation of our land from the clutches of foreign occupation.
India has heavily militarized our land. It has resorted to killings, destruction of our homes, imprisoning thousands, thousands have been subjected to enforced disappearance, and used sexual violence as an instrument to curb our resistance. India is targeting our religion, our Muslim culture, our language. It is actively erasing our Identity and is coercively Hinduizing our children. Children are forced to sing Hindu hymns and songs. It has also crippled our economy. Looted our forests. More recently it has crippled our farmers by destroying our fruits by blockading their transportation. This is what a military occupation is bound to do and that is what India is exactly doing!
Q2) It's known that there was a more well-set and effective resistance in Kashmir. And the people in the Muslim world were always talking about the Kashmir issue. But today, Kashmir is off the agenda, and resistance is weakened. What are the reasons for this?
Ahmad Khalid:
We are not begging for help from anyone. It is duty of every Muslim to help us. We have clearly categorized these Muslim-states into four types - a) Puppet states or Satellite states who are slaves of some other Economic power are. We have absolutely no hope from them.
b) Muslim States who have advocated our cause for freedom but because of their own political or economic constraints are not paying heed to us. We can't beg for help here, but on the Day of Judgment they will be held accountable by Allah.
c) People and nations that have always supported us, they have fulfilled their duty but they need to do more. We are indebted for whatever little they have done but at the same time they need to ask themselves- Is it enough?
d) For the occupier and its allies we clearly state - Use your guns, tanks or whatever, it just doesn’t matter. The spectators of world community and their stooges are not expected to wake up. It is our war. It is our struggle. It is our resistance. Since we have decided to fight, we accept the gifts of barbarity.
Q3) What is Pakistan's role and effect in this situation?
Ahmad Khalid:
As written above, Every Muslim state, organization and individual is duty bound to help us. Pakistan not only is duty bound to help resistance of fellow Muslims, but has stakes in Kashmir.
The people of Pakistan have made huge sacrifices for us. We are indebted to them. The government of Pakistan has also provided diplomatic support at times. Pakistan is also a deterrent for India in many ways.
The political parties in Pakistan and many pressure groups have been actively rallying for our resistance. But at times some political players within Pakistan do occasionally dwindle.
Q4) Does Pakistan really support the struggle in Kashmir? If they do, what is the extent of this support?
Ahmad Khalid:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a principal party to Kashmir. They have been helping Kashmiris on Moral, Political and diplomatic front. They do it today also.
Q5) What are your assessments about the rapprochement between India and Pakistan? As you know, they have conducted an "anti-terror military drill" recently. Is this rapprochement affecting Kashmir?
Ahmad Khalid:
There can be no rapprochement between sword and the neck. The military occupation of Kashmir is not only about Kashmiri Muslims but an existential threat for Pakistan and Muslim Civilization. So they have to understand, does rapprochement with India prejudice their existence? We can cheer up for rapprochement with India but not at the cost of Kashmir.
Q6) Do you think Pakistan has shut its eyes to India's violations in Kashmir?
Ahmad Khalid:
How can it shut its eyes? When your body is inflicted upon by wounds continuously, you don’t shut your eyes, but cry, complain, gather strength and fight.
Q7) India comes up with rights violations against Muslims recently. From Karnataka to Uttar Pradesh, there are lynches and mass attacks are conducted. How long these violations were present? What are your thoughts about this situation?
Ahmad Khalid:
This isn’t a recent phenomenon. Muslims in India have always been targeted. Be it Congress, the communists, the socialists, or BJP- RSS, they are all Islamaphobes. The Indian state is a Brahamanical Hindu Fascist state. So right from its formation in 1947, the agenda has been to wipe out Islam and Muslims from India. Not only the RSS and BJP are rabid Hindutva Fascists but every Indian political formation that wears the mask of secularism, tolerance and liberalism has Hindutva bogey at its heart. Islam, Muslims, Pakistan and Kashmir are key components and markers of their Nationalism. Lynching of Muslims is not an isolated incident but outcome of Hindu eco- system, entrenched in every Indian institution.
Muslims, Dalits, Tribals, Sikhs and all oppressed nationalities in India need to forge a strategic alliance against the Indian state, so that it leads to their liberation. The foundation of Indian state is based on oppression. Oppression needs resistance.
Q8) Do you have any intention to conduct attacks beyond Kashmir and inside India?
Ahmad Khalid:
We will continue to attack all the legitimate targets. Whatever is good for our resistance and whatever sustains India's military occupation is our target.
We are not blood thirsty zombies. We are freedom fighters. We are doing our duty and resistance is our duty.
Q9) Can you tell us more about your group? Indian government alleging that you are an offshoot of the groups like Jaish-e Muhammad. What is your response to these allegations? When was your group founded? How many warriors are there in your ranks? What is your goal, Kashmir's independence or its autonomy? What are your roadmap and your project for this goal?
Ahmad Khalid:
Our group is an indigenous resistance group. Officially we started our outfit post August 5, 2019 as “The Resistance Front” but we were in field already. We have good number of Kashmiri fighters working with us. I won’t be able to disclose exact numbers for operational purpose. Our goal is to end military occupation and achieve -Right to self-determination.
Our field commanders devise strategy in consultation with people. We are fighting at multiple fronts, but our main aim is to inflate the cost of occupation for India and keep its Settler colonial project at bay.
Q10) Is there any umbrella organization or joint operations room that gathers all of the resistance groups in Kashmir (or a major part of them)? If there aren't, do you think that something like this is possible in the future?
Ahmad Khalid:
We have United Jihad Council as an umbrella group .We are working together to devise more strategies to resist illegal occupation of India effectively.