Houston, Texas : On the 41st death anniversary of Kashmiri martyr Muhammad Maqbool Butt, a protest demonstration was held in front of the Indian Consulate in Houston, Texas, by the Kashmiri diaspora. The demonstration condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, demanded the return of Maqbool Butt’s mortal remains, and called for the release of Chairman JKLF Muhammad Yasin Malik.
During the protest, demonstrators attempted to present a memorandum to the Indian diplomatic mission. After receiving no response, Kashmiri activists hoisted the Kashmiri flag on the Indian Consulate and affixed the memorandum to its door. The Indian consulate staff faced an unusual situation as they observed the protest from within the building for two hours, unable to respond to the demonstrators.
Several Kashmiri leaders, including Sardar Anwar Advocate, Imtiaz Ahmed, Tariq Advocate, Javed Aslam, Sajjad Asghar, Sagheer Ahmed, Siddique Kayani, and Manzoor Khan, addressed the gathering. They criticized the international community’s inaction regarding the ongoing human rights violations in Kashmir, including the use of pellet guns and oppressive laws.
Speakers emphasized that the spirit of Maqbool Butt remains alive. They highlighted his sacrifice, stating that he chose to embrace the noose rather than submit to Indian rule. Protesters demanded that India return his remains so he could be buried with honor in Kashmir.
Drawing a parallel to the case of Che Guevara, whose remains were repatriated to Cuba with full national honors, the demonstrators insisted that Kashmiri people deserve the right to honor their hero in a similar manner. They argued that Maqbool Butt’s martyrdom has only strengthened the Kashmiri freedom movement, inspiring a new generation to continue the struggle.
The protesters urged the international community to intervene, ensuring the return of Maqbool Butt’s remains and the release of all detained Kashmiri leaders, including Yasin Malik. They further asserted that India’s presence in Jammu and Kashmir is unsustainable and called for its demilitarization, advocating for the region to be recognized as a neutral state modeled after Switzerland.
Warning of the potential for escalating conflict, the Kashmiri leaders stressed that any attempt to impose a solution against the will of the Kashmiri people could lead to severe geopolitical consequences. They proposed that a free and autonomous Jammu and Kashmir could serve as a bridge for trade and peace among India, Pakistan, and China, fostering regional stability and cooperation.
