News Desk
NEW YORK: An unexpected conversation at the United Nations Headquarters during the International Youth Day Celebration on August 12 brought together three young Americans of Kashmiri heritage and Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai for a candid discussion on Kashmir’s complex history.
During a lunch break, Vijay, a student from Hartford, Connecticut, along with Seema from Boston and Anil from Vermont, raised questions about the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1989–90 and the experiences of Kashmiri Muslims during the conflict.
Dr. Fai stressed that the displacement of civilians was a profound human tragedy and said disputed figures should not diminish the suffering of any community. He emphasized that the history of Kashmir could not fairly be reduced to a Hindu-Muslim conflict.
The discussion also highlighted accounts of Muslim neighbours protecting Pandit homes and property after their departure. Dr. Fai cited former Indian minister George Fernandes and filmmaker Sanjay Kak in support of the argument that many ordinary Kashmiris maintained bonds of compassion despite the conflict.
He urged the younger generation to approach Kashmir’s history without hatred or collective blame, saying reconciliation, dignity, security and equality should guide the future.
