WASHINGTON, D.C: The Pakistani-American community in Washington held an event to commemorate Pakistan’s recent military victory over India, calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue.
The event was hosted in honor of prominent the senior most journalists from Pakistan Ariful Haque Arif of JangGroup and Zarrar Khan of Associated Press by prominent businessman and community leader Jamal Khattak at his residence and drew a broad cross-section of political activists, diplomats, journalists, and Kashmiri representatives.
A cake-cutting ceremony marked the celebration, which participants described as a “moment of national pride.” The event honored Pakistan’s armed forces and highlighted unity among the diaspora in response to rising tensions in South Asia.
Veteran journalist and guest of honor Ariful Haque Arif thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for, in his words, “bringing the Pakistani nation together through his aggressive posturing.” Speakers echoed the sentiment, noting that India’s actions had galvanized Pakistani unity both at home and abroad.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri political activist and head of a diplomatic advocacy group and lobbyist for Kashmir cause urged Islamabad to send a high-level delegation to the United States to formally thank President Donald Trump for what he termed a “timely and supportive role” during the conflict. He emphasized the opportunity for Pakistan to use global attention to push for lasting peace in Kashmir.
Pakistani Consular Tahir Jameel said Pakistan’s diplomatic response was effective and helped shape international understanding of the crisis. Press minister Sarfaraz Ahmed praised local and international Pakistani media outlets for countering what he described as “false propaganda by Indian media” and for promoting factual reporting.
Advisor to the President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in the U.S Sardar Zareef, said Pakistan must capitalize on this moment to make progress on the Kashmir dispute, long a flashpoint in the region.
Speakers also paid tribute to Pakistan’s military leadership, including Field Marshal Hafiz Asim Munir and Air Chief Zaheeruddin Babar Sidhu, applauding their strategy and the performance of fighter pilots during the operation.
Among those who addressed the gathering were senior Pakistani journalists and diaspora leaders, including Faiz Rehman, Anwar Iqbal, Syed Asfar Imam, Aziz Ahmed, Azeem Khan, Javed Kausar, Faisal Ali, and Zarar Khan, as well as community members Sardar Zubair Khan, Sardar Shoaib Irshad, Muhammad Anwar Qasmi, Ilyas Masih, Sajjad Baloch, Waseem, Saad Gondal, Hafiz Farooq Shahid, and Raja Abdul Qayyum Khan.
The evening concluded with remarks from host Jamal Khattak and journalist Syed Asfar Imam, who thanked the participants for their continued engagement and support for Pakistan’s national and diplomatic interests.
