London, Sept 25: In a major development, British Parliamentarian Bob Blackman said that it is because of the Indian military that the region of Jammu and Kashmir has not become Taliban-occupied Afghanistan as yet. Speaking in the UK House of Commons, in response to a debate on the human rights situation in J&K, Blackman said Islamist forces would eliminate democracy from Kashmir if India were to withdraw its troops from the region.

 

The debate proposal was given by Parliamentarian Debbie Abrahams and Pakistan-origin MP Yasmin Qureshi. Responding to this, Blackman noted that Kashmir has been "tainted" by multiple terrorist attacks, killings and forced conversions by radical Islamist terrorists.

 

 

"We should remember that while Kashmir Valley may be probably Muslim (dominated), Jammu is predominantly Hindu and Ladakh predominantly Buddhist. And the fact is, historically persecuted religious minorities of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, women and children have unfortunately suffered in the Valley," the MP said.

 

 

He pointed out that it was because of the Indian Army that Kashmir had not become another Afghanistan. "Just imagine, we have seen what has happened in Afghanistan. If the troops were withdrawn, if we had a position whereby the protections were not there, the plight of Jammu & Kashmir would be the same as Afghanistan with Islamist forces coming in and eliminating democracy in the area," the UK Parliamentarian said.

 

 

"It is only the Indian Army and the sound footing of the Indian military democracy that has stopped the region of Jammu & Kashmir resembling Taliban occupied Afghanistan," Blackman added, asserting that "the region is legally and rightfully an integral part of the Republic of India”.

 

Blackman ended his address by asking his colleagues to recognise the reality amidst. It should be noted here that an organisation with which Debbie Abrahams is associated was accused of receiving funding from the Pakistan government. Further, Abrahams was deported by India in February last year for travelling to the country on an invalid visa.

 

On the other hand, Blackman also defended India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 in the UK Parliament. "Under the Indian law, Muslim women are protected against Triple Talaq. A man saying ‘I divorce you’ three times meant the end…Now Article 370 have been abrogated, they have that protection. Under Indian law, it’s illegal for children under the age of 14 to be married," he added.

 

 

"Prior to the abrogation of Article 370, women under the age of 14 could be married. And of course, under Article 35A, the Hindu Kashmiri Pandits were expelled at gunpoint by Islamist forces. Now, they have the potential to return," he remarked.

 

Bob Blackman pointed out, “Local government has been restored in Jammu and Kashmir under the provocation of revoking Article 370. Now, the fact is that the Kashmiri valley is a beautiful area to see. It is an opportunity for tourism, culture, trade, hydroelectric power and many other aspects."