Pak using Canada as base for propaganda
TORONTO: Pakistan has upped the propaganda battle over Kashmir, using Canada as a base for promoting its version of the issue through events that have coincided with anniversary of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by Indian security forces.
For the second consecutive year, the month of July has witnessed a proponent of “Azad Kashmir” addressing multiple meetings in Toronto and towns such as Hamilton.
The visitor this year is Masood Khan, portrayed by Islamabad as the “President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
He was preceded in 2017 by British Lord Nazir Ahmed, who also took a pro-Pakistan line.
Both visits were for the Kashmir Solidarity Conference, which, in the last two instances, has also marked as a “Black Day” the anniversary of the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016.
Indian officials are keeping a close watch on this effort to amplify Pakistan’s position on Kashmir in Canada.
This concerted move, evident over the past 12 months or so, is being viewed with “concern” by officials Hindustan Times spoke to.
One official said even if the Kashmir matter has received little traction in Canada so far, promoting Khan’s visit as the firstever by a person occupying the post of “president” of Pakistanoccupied Kashmir will be treated as a “victory” by Islamabad.
Among the organisers of the meetings are Friends of Kashmir Committee.
Also involved is York region Imam Zafar Bangash, who has claimed to have influenced Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, with regard to the report on Kashmir that was severely criticised by India for its bias.
Tahir Aslam Gora, CEO of multicultural channel TAG TV, has been observing these developments and said he felt Khan’s visit was “significant in terms of bridging with Canadian think tanks” along with meetings held with Canadian MPs. “He brought Pakistan’s perspective of Kashmir onto their radar,” he said.
However, Khan is certainly not on an official visit because he has not had any engagements with Canadian ministers so far. The Canadian government’s stance on the Kashmir issue remains unchanged.