- 2 days ago
Protests have erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan over governance, inflation and political representation, expanding into demonstrations against the Pakistani military.
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00:09hello and a very warm welcome you watching india first i'm gaurav savant pakistan occupied jammu
00:16and kashmir is on fire pakistan army and pakistan rangers have opened fire on protesters
00:22in ravla court and in muzaffarabad if the pakistan army hope that people will not take to the
00:31streets and that they will be intimidated and call off their protests just take a look at those
00:36pictures on your television screen these are pictures from muzaffarabad and ravla court in
00:43pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir hear those chants of azadi hum kya chahate azadi
00:51from makbuza or occupied kashmir and this is happening in pakistan occupied kashmir this is
01:00a video of that march to muzaffarabad estimates say 80 000 plus 80 000 plus took to the streets
01:11shouting azadi hum chheen ke lehenge azadi before i get you more on the story i want to go full
01:18frame
01:19on these visuals and listen in listen in to the chance that has asem muneer quaking in his boots
01:45pakistan army is confronting its worst nightmare because trouble is not just in pakistan occupied
01:52jammu and kashmir on a map i want to show you that pakistan is facing fires on multiple fronts
01:59from pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir to gilgit baltistan again part of pojk what pakistan calls
02:06its northern areas to baluchistan to khaybar pakhtoonghua so multiple provinces in pakistan and pakistan
02:16occupied jammu and kashmir are on fire and the surprising is very real the joint awami action
02:23committee in pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir has called for a massive march to muzaffarabad
02:30it's drawing protesters from across pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir including from gilgit
02:37and baltistan that pakistan claims are its northern areas but what began as a movement against inflation
02:45against heavy and very high electricity prices and load shedding now has actually evolved into a much
02:56larger political movement against the pakistan army with protesters openly rejecting islamabad's
03:04narrative remember pakistan claims the kashmir it illegally occupies is called azad kashmir
03:12but here these leaders in pojk who say there is not azad kashmir it is occupied kashmir it is
03:20makbuza kashmir as this movement gathers momentum pakistan has responded with sweeping security
03:28crackdowns across multiple areas protesters have been shot at protesters have been killed and we'll show
03:34you images of protesters being shot at virtually at point blank range in pakistan occupied jammu and
03:41kashmir there's a massive internet crackdown and shutdown despite that internet shutdown some of
03:47these videos have made it to public domain on social media platforms across the world pakistan
03:53army chief asem munir has deployed an additional 4 000 paramilitary forces pakistani rangers to stop this
04:01march to muzaffarabad internet and communication once again has been shut down cities towns villages
04:08they've been sealed in fact pakistan army is not permitting food water or essential supplies even
04:16vegetables they're not being permitted to reach pojk so on tuesday report said at least eight protesters
04:23were killed ahead of this march and this has fueled further public public anger it's getting larger crowds
04:30onto the streets india has exposed pakistan army and pakistan government over this crackdown in
04:38pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir the ministry of external affairs in a statement and you will in a
04:44moment from now here randir jaiswal the spokesperson of ministry of external affairs they said this unrest is
04:50the consequence of decades of exploitation denial of the most basic fundamental rights and poor governance
04:58in pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir including northern areas so responding to violence against
05:04protesters the ministry of external affairs said there are credible reports of severe police brutality
05:10protesters having been killed and many injured india has called upon the international community
05:16to take note of these developments and hold pakistan government and pakistan army accountable
05:22for massive human rights violations across pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir the government
05:27has also accused the regime in islamabad and rawalpindi of attempting to divert global attention
05:34through a series of misinformation campaigns instead of addressing the anger on the streets of pakistan
05:40occupied jammu and kashmir but this is no longer a story just about pakistan occupied jammu and kashmir
05:46while pakistan battles an unprecedented wave of protest in pojk it continues to grapple with a freedom movement with a
05:55freedom struggle
05:56in baluchistan and this freedom struggle is gaining momentum so much so that there are leaders across pakistan
06:04who now admit and openly that the writ of the pakistan state the writ of the pakistan army no longer
06:12runs across
06:12many parts of baluchistan and that's not the only pressure point
06:19that rest of province the northwest frontier province of pakistan there are large parts of this territory
06:26where the tehreek-e-taliban pakistan control that entire area pakistan army is no longer there
06:33so there are multiple pressure points across pakistan
06:37the big question is is pakistan going under
06:42the story tonight is not just about pakistan army's atrocities in pakistan-occupied jammu and kashmir
06:48it's about a people rising against pakistan army jackboots and atrocities
06:54from pakistan-occupied jammu and kashmir to baluchistan to khaybar pakhtoonghua
06:59i get you much more in this report
07:11these are the scenes pakistan never wanted the world to see
07:23the cries for azadi have never been louder
07:28what began in june as protests over inflation unemployment and governance has transformed into something far bigger
07:45a mass movement a direct challenge to pakistan's political and military establishment and the march towards muzaffrabad could well become
07:55its defining moment
07:56lags of kashmiris are taking part in this march at the heart of this movement is the joint awami action
08:03committee
08:04and they have one message for the establishment this is not azad kashmir this is territory occupied by pakistan
08:32the movement is no longer
08:34were confined to political activists or local leaders women elderly citizens
08:39traders students and even children
08:41have joined the march reflecting the depth of public anger and the scale of participation
08:49is
08:50a
09:14But as the movement gathers momentum, so has the crackdown.
09:18Just a day ago, Pakistan security forces opened fire on protesters, with local reports saying
09:25at least eight people were killed.
09:29India has condemned the crackdown, saying the unrest is the outcome of years of exploitation
09:34and repression by Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir.
09:39New Delhi has also called on the international community to take note of Islamabad's brutality
09:45in the region.
09:46The ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir are a direct consequence of Pakistan's
09:56systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative operation.
10:02Much of the public anger is now directed at Pakistan's military establishment.
10:07Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as the principal target of the protestor slogans.
10:15And the criticism is no longer coming only from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
10:20Even the voices within Pakistan has acknowledged that they are facing a massive challenge on multiple
10:26fronts.
10:54And the entire opposition was the following.
11:07Even the voices within Pakistan has acknowledged that they are facing a massive challenge on multiple fronts.
11:45The slogans echoing on the road of Muzafraabad are no longer just about inflation or governance.
11:52They are about identity, representation and decades of simmering resentment against Pakistan's rule.
12:01Bureau Report, India Today.
12:08And Pakistan is burning on multiple fronts.
12:12For decades, Pakistan claimed that Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir was so-called Azad Kashmir, free Kashmir.
12:21But was that the truth?
12:23The truth is emerging for all to see now.
12:27Those 80,000 plus people who are on the streets, who say they are not getting food.
12:33They are being starved.
12:34The British used to do that in India when they occupied India.
12:39The British did that pre-1947.
12:42Pakistanis are doing that right now in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
12:46They are not letting food trucks travel to Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
12:51They are not letting water, vegetables, meat, medicines, milk.
12:56None of that is being permitted to go into Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
13:00That is how Aasem Munir, the jihadi general of Pakistan, is treating so-called fellow Muslims in POJK.
13:09Pakistan army has resorted to the worst form of atrocities.
13:13Security forces are not only starving people of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
13:18The leaders of the protest, they've been compelled to say that they are living not in Azad Kashmir, but in
13:25Makboozah Kashmir.
13:26They are not free.
13:29They don't have even the right to choose their own leaders.
13:33Pakistan's ISI elects their leaders for them.
13:36The truth about Pakistan army chiefs' brutalities in POJK and Balochistan and Khaybar Pakhtunkhwa are emerging.
13:45But Pakistani media and civil society have been silent on atrocities of Pakistan army,
13:51even in Pakistan's Punjab province, where activists of Tehrik-e-Labaik were massacred in Pakistan's Punjab province,
13:59where PTI workers were massacred in D-chalk.
14:03But then Pakistan kept quiet about it.
14:06Joining me on India first is Major Adil Raja.
14:09He's an ex-Pakistan army officer.
14:12In fact, his father also served in the Pakistan army.
14:15He's a second or a third generation officer, now living in exile in the United Kingdom.
14:20He joins us from London.
14:21Arzu Kazmi is a senior journalist who joins us from Pakistan.
14:24Dr. Tara Kartha is a strategic affairs analyst and expert.
14:28And Sushant Sarin, of course, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.
14:31Somebody who keeps a hawk eye on developments across the region.
14:35Arzu, we are taking the same time.
14:39These are the chance from Ravla Court to Muzaffarabad.
14:43What is happening in so-called Azad Kashmir?
14:46What is happening in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?
14:48What can you tell us? What is happening there?
15:19To be very honest, Gaurav media,
15:21you can tell us some problems.
15:22You have absolutely told us that he's had to suffer from the solicitor.
15:25You have too much to get into it.
15:26They have to be tortured and arrest.
15:30There are many political parties.
15:33There are also some political parties that make sense to face to face to face.
16:17and major raja videos seem to indicate
16:19Pakistan army opened fire on protesters
16:23there have been reports that there were 8 fatalities
16:25in the current round of firing
16:27there are reports that several bodies
16:29were thrown into the river earlier
16:31there's a missing persons case
16:33that may come up as Arzu was also pointing out
16:35what are you picking up
16:37why is Pakistan army under Aasem Munir
16:40resorting to such tactics in POK
16:44Kaurav I've been covering this protest
16:46for last 37 days on a daily basis
16:48and I've been doing a live stream
16:50and I've been smuggling videos out of AJK
16:53the Pakistan administration Kashmir
16:55I've been playing it
16:55and I've got the privilege of sitting in London
16:57so the Pakistani media Arzu is right
17:01and you know I hate to admit
17:03because how the tables have turned
17:05we used to be on the opposing corners of this fight
17:08but how the tables have turned
17:10obviously in AJK and in Pakistan
17:13the Pakistani media is just staying quiet
17:17on the entire fiasco
17:20of the military establishment in AJK
17:22and not only in AJK
17:24while there were dead bodies of policemen
17:27lying on the roads of Koyota
17:29the Pakistani media was dancing
17:31on the concert in the Koyota club
17:33so that is all going on
17:35but in AJK
17:37the reports indicate that 73 people
17:40have been confirmed killed
17:41and the dead bodies have been stolen
17:43just like you mentioned
17:46Mureed Ke massacre
17:47but Mureed Ke massacre's dead bodies
17:49were returned to the families
17:52but I would point towards
17:54the Islamabad massacre of D-Choke
17:56on 26th of November 2024
17:58where the Triple One Brigade
18:00the Marshala Brigade of my army
18:03of which I'm a third generation officer
18:05opened fire on the people
18:07unarmed people
18:08and they snatched
18:09stole away the dead bodies
18:11105 dead bodies
18:12were never returned
18:13to the family
18:14105 dead bodies
18:15in Pakistan
18:16Punjab province
18:18my god
18:19yes in Islamabad
18:20the capital
18:20the capital of Pakistan
18:22Islamabad
18:23right in front of the parliament
18:24in the D-Choke
18:26105 dead bodies were stolen
18:28and they were never returned
18:29and they were buried
18:30just like the dead bodies
18:31of small little innocent girls
18:33of Lal Masjid
18:34during General Musharraf's tenure
18:36who were buried
18:37right next to the police
18:39training academy
18:40in Islamabad
18:41the Sahala
18:41so you know
18:43inke muga hoon lag gaya na
18:46so you were asking
18:47why are they firing
18:48now second biggest thing is
18:50that it started
18:51with as a conventional
18:52protest movement
18:53and it has evolved
18:54into something much larger
18:57something is a much larger
18:58political challenge
18:59for the Pakistani military
19:00establishment
19:01which has always been
19:02ruling the country
19:03but the problem
19:03over here
19:04Gaurav is
19:05that the social
19:06conflict between
19:07the state
19:08and the people
19:09is based on
19:10resource
19:10just allocation
19:12of resources
19:12Pakistani resources
19:14are being allocated
19:15number one
19:17to debt servicing
19:18and then to the military
19:19of the country
19:19and once all the resources
19:21are given to the military
19:22and then given to
19:24the very huge
19:25and humongous government
19:26there is nothing
19:27left to give
19:28to the people
19:29and once you have got
19:30nothing left to give
19:31then people compare
19:32that listen
19:32why there is no
19:37development project
19:38over here
19:39and for example
19:40in Balochistan
19:41the natural gas
19:42is extracted
19:43out of Balochistan
19:44but the Baloch people
19:45never get the natural gas
19:46and the rest of the
19:47Pakistan
19:47give me a moment
19:49give me a moment
19:50that's a very important
19:51point to raise
19:51so for the first
19:53part of this debate
19:54I want to stay
19:54on Pakistan
19:56occupied Jammu
19:56and Kashmir
19:57and then I'll come
19:58to Balochistan
19:58and we have a long
20:00show
20:01because we want
20:01our viewers to know
20:02we are showing you
20:03a map
20:03of how there's
20:05trouble on every
20:05front
20:06so Shan Sarin
20:06few people
20:07analyze Pakistan
20:08better than you
20:09internet shut down
20:11but videos are
20:12still emerging
20:13leaders in POJK
20:14are saying that
20:15they are in
20:15Makboozha Kashmir
20:17they are in
20:17occupied Pakistan
20:18occupied Kashmir
20:20sir in your
20:21appreciation
20:21why is Pakistan
20:22army
20:23or the security
20:24forces
20:24opening fire
20:26opening fire
20:27and resorting
20:28to such
20:28strong arm
20:28tactics
20:29in Ravlakot
20:30and Muzaffarabad
20:31Sushant Sreen
20:33Gaurav I think
20:34the answer
20:34to your question
20:35is an old
20:36Sanskrit phrase
20:37Vinash Kale
20:38Viparit Buddhi
20:39when the time
20:41your doom
20:42is coming
20:42you do the
20:44most stupid
20:44things
20:45and frankly
20:47the ruling
20:48paradigm
20:49in the
20:49current regime
20:50is that
20:51if you block
20:52all bad news
20:52that means
20:53only good
20:53things are
20:54happening
20:54but that's
20:55not happening
20:55because we
20:56have somebody
20:57like Major
20:58Adil Raja
20:58sitting out
20:59here
20:59he is a
20:59very valuable
21:00source for
21:01people like
21:01us
21:01because in
21:03any case
21:03AJK was
21:04a dark
21:06area
21:06there was
21:07nothing
21:07which would
21:08ever come
21:08out of that
21:09area anyways
21:10and now
21:11with the
21:12kind of
21:12coverage
21:13which people
21:14like Major
21:14Raja and
21:15others are
21:15giving
21:15that is our
21:17window to
21:17what is
21:18happening
21:18out there
21:19so one
21:19is that
21:19second I
21:20think
21:20they never
21:21realized
21:22the depth
21:23of sentiment
21:24in that
21:25area
21:26and they
21:27always assumed
21:28that these
21:28are people
21:29these are
21:29cattle who
21:30will always
21:30come regardless
21:31of what we
21:31do because
21:32they stand
21:33by the
21:33Pakistan army
21:34no matter
21:35what so
21:36yes there
21:36will be some
21:37kind of
21:37political demand
21:38but Gaurav
21:39just imagine
21:41over 30
21:41days look at
21:43the kind of
21:43crowds that
21:44are sitting
21:44in Ravlakot
21:45I don't
21:46remember any
21:47agitation
21:48we've seen
21:49the cockroaches
21:49in Delhi
21:50right who the
21:51Pakistani media
21:52keeps talking
21:52about clowns
21:53like Raza
21:54Rumi and
21:54others who
21:55think that
21:55some major
21:56movement is
21:57happening
21:57there are not
21:58even 10
21:58people out
21:58there right
21:59but you
22:00look at
22:00this place
22:01there are
22:01thousands
22:02tens of
22:02thousands of
22:03people under
22:04the most
22:05pressing
22:05circumstances
22:06under the
22:07most oppressive
22:08circumstances
22:08if you
22:09participate in
22:11this in
22:12this gathering
22:12your bank
22:13accounts are
22:14being seized
22:14your jobs
22:15are being lost
22:16all kinds of
22:17repression is
22:18being carried
22:18out and yet
22:19people are out
22:20there sustaining
22:22a demonstration
22:23like that
22:24over 30
22:25days when
22:26there is a
22:27complete ban
22:28on foodstuff
22:29on medicine
22:30on all kinds
22:30of other
22:31things it is
22:32a remarkable
22:32thing that
22:33shows the
22:34sense of
22:34commitment of
22:36the people in
22:36this area now
22:37what is happening
22:38is that the
22:38Pakistan army is
22:39very clearly
22:40panicking and
22:40allow me a
22:41half a minute
22:42just today they
22:43were supposed to
22:44be the long
22:44march they've
22:45delayed it by
22:45one week and
22:46reason being
22:47that the
22:48traditional
22:49patsies of
22:49the Pakistan
22:50army you
22:51know like
22:51rental raja
22:53no relation
22:54to major
22:55adil raja
22:56thankfully and
22:57other clowns
22:58from the
22:58people's party
22:59and others who
23:00are hand in
23:01glove with the
23:01Pakistan army
23:02have been sent
23:03to this area
23:04to try and
23:04assuage the
23:05crowds but
23:06what is going
23:06to happen if
23:07this demonstration
23:09winds down
23:11because certain
23:12assurances will
23:13be made to
23:14these people
23:14the repression
23:16will be not
23:17watched up
23:18because all
23:19the people
23:19who are
23:20leading or
23:21who are
23:21spiriting this
23:22agitation are
23:23going to be
23:23hunted down by
23:24the Pakistan
23:25army that's
23:25the track record
23:26yes and I
23:28suspect that
23:29these have
23:30been people
23:31who have been
23:31sent to
23:32pacify the
23:33situation because
23:34the Pakistan
23:34army has
23:35clearly run out
23:36of ideas on
23:37how to control
23:37the situation
23:38in POJK
23:39and remember
23:41one thing
23:42it's not as
23:43though it's
23:44only in POJK
23:45even in POGB
23:46there are
23:47problems
23:47very very
23:48serious problems
23:49which are
23:50emerging out
23:51there but
23:52again you know
23:53they think
23:54we'll send
23:54the Aga Khan
23:55out there
23:55he'll manage
23:57the situation
23:59out there
23:59it's not
24:00it's not that
24:01simple
24:01they have to
24:02understand
24:03Pakistan occupied
24:03Jammu and
24:04Kashmir and
24:05Pakistan occupied
24:06Gilgit and
24:06Baltistan
24:07both facing
24:08this trouble
24:09and I'll
24:09just come
24:10back to
24:10you on
24:10that point
24:11but I
24:11want to
24:11bring in
24:12Dr.
24:12Tara
24:12Kartha
24:13because
24:13Field Marshal
24:14Aasem Munir
24:15seems to be
24:16remarkably confident
24:17despite fires
24:18on multiple
24:19fronts
24:20he thinks
24:20he's getting
24:21away with
24:21murder
24:22he's locked
24:23up Imran
24:23Khan
24:24and he's
24:25gotten away
24:25with it
24:26he's massacred
24:27people in
24:28Pakistan's
24:29Punjab province
24:30he's massacred
24:31people in
24:31Baluchistan
24:32he's massacred
24:33people in
24:34Khaybar
24:34Pakhtoonghua
24:35and now he's
24:36carried out
24:36a massacre
24:37in Pakistan
24:38occupied
24:38Jammu and Kashmir
24:39and he's
24:39getting away
24:40with it
24:40madam
24:42I don't
24:43Gaurav you're
24:44quite right
24:44but I doubt
24:46if he's going to
24:46get away with it
24:47this time
24:48one aspect
24:49people forget
24:50is that
24:50Adil Raja
24:51whom by the way
24:52hats off to him
24:53for his courage
24:54in what he's
24:55able to say
24:56is that this area
24:58is that this area
24:58is a very very
24:59strong recruitment
25:00area for the
25:01Pakistan army
25:02Sudhan
25:03the Sudhan tribe
25:04which this
25:05Sardar Amman
25:06Khani is from
25:07the Sudhan tribe
25:07Sudhan tribe
25:08gives the largest
25:09number of generals
25:10to the Pakistan army
25:11what do those
25:12people feel
25:13this is a very
25:14dangerous game
25:15I mean if you
25:16remember way back
25:17in 1955
25:18correct me if I'm
25:19wrong
25:19the revolt
25:20started in
25:21exactly
25:22the same area
25:23Punj
25:25in this place
25:27called Parandri
25:27at that time
25:28it was a
25:28Thesil
25:29now of course
25:29it's a district
25:30same areas
25:31same problem
25:32and again
25:34correct me if I'm
25:34wrong
25:35each time
25:35the crowds
25:36have grown
25:37because the more
25:38you fire on people
25:39the more people
25:40will come onto
25:41the roads
25:41to support them
25:42there are children
25:42out there
25:43yes
25:44little school girls
25:46they are out
25:47on the streets
25:47protesting
25:48fantastic coverage
25:49by the way
25:49by you guys
25:50the thing is
25:51see
25:53you have protests
25:54we also have protests
25:55right
25:55as a democracy
25:56we also have protests
25:57you have the police
25:58will control it
25:59they will sit down
26:00they will watch the
26:00whole thing
26:01after three days
26:01everybody goes home
26:02and that's that
26:04this is not
26:05the police
26:06in POK
26:07have very little
26:09powers
26:09the bureaucracy
26:10in POK
26:11is entirely
26:11Pakistani
26:13so who
26:14is going to
26:14speak for them
26:16nobody
26:17absolutely nobody
26:18but the killing
26:20of people
26:20the massacre
26:21that's taking place
26:22and I'm surprised
26:24Arzu
26:24that people in Pakistan
26:26are not rising
26:27against a massacre
26:28that's taking place
26:29how can Pakistan
26:30army
26:31in today's day
26:32and age
26:33behave like
26:34General Dyer's army
26:35what General Dyer
26:37did in Jallianwala
26:38Baag
26:38Arzu
26:39Asim Munir
26:40seems to be doing
26:41it in Pakistan
26:42whether in Balochistan
26:43or in Khaybar
26:44Pakhtoonghua
26:45or in Pakistan's
26:46Punjab province
26:47he killed
26:48PTI people
26:49he killed
26:50Tehrik-e-Labbeg people
26:51now he's killing
26:52Kashmiris
26:53so Pakistan is like
26:54a candle
26:54that's burning
26:55on both ends
26:56Arzu
26:56I mean
26:5750 as more
26:58Major Adil Raja
26:59says 75 people
27:02have died
27:02our information
27:03was more than
27:0350 have been killed
27:04in POJK
27:05and in
27:07Balochistan
27:10exactly
27:10Gaurav
27:11what
27:11I want to say
27:15that Major
27:16Raja
27:16definitely
27:17180 degree
27:19if you remember
27:21that
27:21a few years
27:22ago
27:22they hit
27:23on social media
27:25that
27:26I'm
27:26talking
27:27about
27:27the army
27:27or the
27:29military
27:29establishment
27:30that
27:32I'm
27:33happy
27:34that
27:34I'm
27:34happy
27:37that
27:38we want our country
27:39to progress
27:39we want our country
27:41to progress
27:42we have criticized
27:45but it's
27:46that
27:46it's don't
27:47even
27:47that
27:47these news
27:47are not
27:47many people
27:48and if 50
27:51people'll be
27:51this
27:51give me
27:52then
27:52tell you
27:53who the
27:53people will
27:53tell you
27:54if you
27:54the
27:55people
27:57who has
27:57and
27:57there
27:58don't
27:58what's
27:58happening
27:58to
28:24I don't think so.
28:27Major Raja, has Pakistan Army lost control of Balochistan?
28:32You know, we heard what Mawlana Fazlur Rahman said.
28:36He seemed to indicate that 7-8 districts, Pakistan Army has absolutely no control.
28:41Reports indicate BLA now holds towns and dominates highways.
28:46But there is an entire core headquarters in Quetta.
28:50So, what is Pakistan Army doing in Balochistan, sir?
28:54First, I'll like to take the right to respond to Arzu Kazmi.
28:59The tables have turned.
29:01I've already acknowledged.
29:03The talking about how Pakistan is being suppressed.
29:07I have been given a 99-year prison sentence.
29:10It's just because of freedom of speech.
29:12It's because of journalism in the UK.
29:15I have come from Pakistan.
29:17I was standing up for democracy in Pakistan.
29:21I'm standing up for my right to vote.
29:24And I voted for Imran Khan.
29:26My local MNA.
29:27And when I got a voice for them, I took my house to class and coves.
29:30I got to go to ISI.
29:31And I had to go out there at night.
29:33And then after that, my journalism was an accredited journalist.
29:37As a member of the National Union of Journalists of the UK.
29:40I was court-martialed in absentia, given 14 years rigorous imprisonment, given two life sentences so far, and 25 years
29:48on top of it.
29:49So far, I've been given a 99-year prison sentence, designated a terrorist under Schedule 4.
29:55And my extradition is being asked recently by the UK government in exchange for accepting the grooming gang members.
30:03Just imagine, so I have not only given my share of blood while fighting for my country, but I am
30:10again doing what I'm supposed to do for my country.
30:14And I'll keep on doing that.
30:15So having said that, I would also like to, you know, compliment what Shoshan Serene, sir, said.
30:22The biggest story which we are missing regarding Kashmir, AJK, is that the biggest story is the persistence of the
30:29protest.
30:30You know, regardless of one's political perspective, a prolonged popular mobilization in a disputed territory deserve sustained international attention and
30:40independent reporting.
30:41And I am trying to do that now, coming over to Balochistan, what you asked me.
30:45Gaurav, the writ of the Pakistani military and the Pakistani state is non-existent in Balochistan.
30:52And I can say that with authority based on my first-hand reporting and knowledge of Balochistan.
30:59The recent sad incident which happened in Balochistan, right next to Kowita,
31:09Kowita cantonment where the water dam, which was the defense housing authority, came under attack and police forces were massacred.
31:19And you were sitting right next to the police forces in the cantonment, two minutes right away, ten minutes drive
31:27away.
31:27But the Pakistani military did not send in reinforcement right next to Kowita cantonment for the poor policemen whose dead
31:37bodies were even, you know, defaced dead bodies were recovered by their own relatives.
31:42And the police wanted to, the Pakistani military wanted to take away those dead bodies because Asim Munir Sahib and
31:48his Ardali had to go for the photoshoot and say that,
31:53Listen, we will have a savior. We are a savior. We are a savior. And our right is to govern
31:57Pakistan.
32:00Balochistan is 44% land mass of Pakistan.
32:03And 44% of land mass do not have jurisdiction of the Pakistani state.
32:10There are only fortifications of the Pakistani military and the Pakistani security forces
32:15and Pakistani security forces are restricted within those fortifications and they only come
32:21out because they have to do this nakas from where they have to collect money from the drug smuggling
32:28routes and Iranian oil smuggling routes. The priority of the officers posted over there
32:33is to either spend the one year they're posted there in the hard area. Half the country,
32:38rather 60% of Pakistan is the so-called hard area and you get 0.5 mark in your OEI
32:44and if you're
32:46interested in the carrier because at the end of the day if you want to make your money by becoming
32:50a
32:50general you will spend your one year get that OEI point and get away from there but most of the
32:55officers are there now to get money from the smuggling routes. They tell me sir our posting
33:09you'll be given a letter of thanks and you'll take 99 crore and we'll do business from the money
33:14with this kind of mindset. How can a country survive? Unfortunately you know personal interests are
33:21superseding national interest in our country and I'm talking about the military higher command of
33:26generals this is what they're doing. They're going to the country's criminal and it is a regional issue
33:32now you know. It indeed is because Sushant Sareen the situation does appear to be horrible for Pakistan
33:39Army in Balochistan. I read your report that said Pakistan Army as Major Raja was also pointing out
33:44it did not even go out to rescue trapped policemen. It feared an ambush. This fear mentality of Pakistan
33:52Army just indicates it's not fit for war. So Governor, a couple of things. One, let me just say one
33:59quip
33:59to what Arzu was saying. She's right if the Punjabis don't come out, they're not a very revolutionary
34:06people but it's not a problem now of Punjab. This is now a problem in Kashmir. The Kashmiris are coming
34:13out. The Baloch are rising up in revolt and the Pashtun lands and in Balochistan it becomes very severe
34:23because the BLA is actually the most popular organization in that province and you know you're talking about
34:32what has happened in this recent ambush. Look, I'm looking at it from a somewhat different perspective.
34:38My point is regardless of whether it was cowardice why the Pakistan Army did not go and provide
34:45reinforcements to the besieged policemen or it was complicity. The problem is that the people in the
34:53area think that neither can the Pakistan Army protect them nor do they think they have the faith in the
35:00Pakistan Army because there are these conspiracy theories going around that the reason the Pakistan Army did not
35:06come was because the Pakistan Army has a land interest in this particular area and it was their commercial
35:14interest. They wanted that these people should be wiped out, there should be a climate of fear and
35:19these people are expelled from the region. Even if you ignore this conspiracy theory, right, the point is that if
35:27the
35:27people start thinking of the security forces in this manner then it's game up and on the contrary when
35:35the BLA guys go in somewhere they are treated as liberators. There are ministers who are paying
35:43protection money to the BLA people, they cannot travel on the roads anymore, the chief minister is a puppet,
35:52he is a member of a death squad, the leader of the Pakistan people's party, the other leader and
35:58whose house was attacked is not just a member of Daesh but also a member of Pakistan army supported
36:04death squads. He heads those dead squads and this is the same Pakistan army which then claims that it is
36:10fighting Daesh. So, the problems are manifold out there and as Major Raja is saying, the smuggling rackets
36:19coming from especially from Iran are happening in in front of everybody's eyes. You can smuggle
36:26maybe 10 grams of gold or you know some maybe heroin or something, you can do it surreptitiously but
36:34millions of barrels of oil are smuggled and you cannot smuggle them you know just like that. Somebody's
36:41turning a blind, somebody's taking a cut and who is taking the cut? There are enough indications that
36:47the core commander out there is the crore commander out there because they're making money and the
36:52money is going up and down the chain and they're turning a blind eye to it and they think that
36:56it's
36:56okay, it's business as usual and the thing feeling is that the day we want to do it, we'll carry
37:03out
37:03a steamroller operation and butcher everybody and restore order. Can they do that or is it game up for
37:09Pakistan Army in Balochistan? Sandeep Unnithan, our colleague also joins us for more on this, Sandeep.
37:15You've been tracking Pakistan closely and when you look at the map of Pakistan from Pakistan-occupied
37:21Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Khyber Pakhtoonghua to Balochistan, practically
37:28entire Pakistan barring pockets in Punjab and Sindh, there seems to be an uprising there. Is it game over for
37:35Pakistan Army, Sandeep? Well, you know, Gaurav, you're looking at an unprecedented scenario.
37:41Never before in the last 80 years has Pakistan faced this kind of simultaneous insurrections
37:47all across the country. We last saw that in 1971 when East Pakistan broke away, it became Bangladesh,
37:53but today the Baloch are up in arms, POJK is up in arms and Gaurav, one point, you know, there
38:00are places in
38:00Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Sawai camp, Bilal camp, Kotli camp, Barnala, Abbas, Gulpur. These are all
38:08camps that we have covered as national security correspondence for 20 years. This is from where
38:13terrorists were launched into India to kill civilians, to kill army officers. Today, that entire launch pad
38:20thing, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was a major launch pad. That launch pad itself is beginning to collapse
38:26under the weight of popular protests. I mean, this is an opportunity that we've not had in decades,
38:33that that part of POK, which was this very critical part of this infrastructure of terror, which recruits
38:41from Pakistan's Punjab province and pushes these recruits through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir into India,
38:47is now on the verge of collapse. I mean, look at the people out there. It's on the verge of
38:52collapse.
38:52What can, you know, you mentioned an opportunity. Dr. Tara Kartha, is there an opportunity or should we
38:58just wait and watch Pakistan collapse? I don't think you should interfere because they're doing
39:07it all themselves. You know, why go and put your head into something when there, it's the Pakistan
39:13army is doing everything it can to push this collapse. In, you know, you're talking now of Balochistan,
39:19right? So, I'm just, you know, thinking, Gaurav, how anybody could be so, I'm sorry to say, stupid
39:26as to go and imprison Maharang Baloch. That has created huge disaffection because she's not violent.
39:34She's not a terrorist. She's a human rights activist. She was nominated for the Nobel. I mean,
39:39she is a person of consequence. That is one. Number two, even the Chinese are fed up because
39:44even Gwadar, the whole, you know, the whole infrastructure, which was to come around
39:49in Gwadar to prop up the thing has never come up. And I think what Major Adil Arzu also said
39:55is
39:55about the smuggling racket. You remember the Jamaat-e-Islami brought out a protest last,
40:00it was last year, was it not, where they said, look, I mean, enough is enough. How about giving us
40:05Chinese fishing ships coming and poaching into Baloch waters? Who is running Balochistan? And I just saw
40:12some letter claiming that we are now independent, that Balochistan is now independent.
40:17There's a letter going around saying 83 districts are, I mean, maybe that's an over sort of
40:22exaggeration. But that you can say this and people will actually consider that letter and say,
40:30my God, is this what we've come to? Just shows what Sandeep was saying, that this is now become,
40:36it's completely out of control. Major Adil Raja, is Pakistan completely out of control,
40:43not in control of Pakistan army? Or is there merit in Sushant Sareen saying that Pakistan army thinks
40:48they're a nuclear weapon state. I mean, they're one of the most modern armies, they claim, and they
40:53can steamroll over every protest because they have Donald Trump with them, the UK will listen to them,
40:59and they'll get away with murder. They'll steamroll every protest.
41:04Gaurav, you cannot nuke your own country now, can you? That is the first issue. Secondly,
41:09regarding the smuggling records, it has been institutionalized by the Pakistani military. I
41:14have leaked documents of the local division over there, 40 divisions documents. I have leaked them
41:23last year, and they're very much there on my profile. Their official documents proves that the
41:29oil smuggling record at least has been institutionalized, and they're making money
41:34out of it. So how? And then the present security situation and the environment is as such that
41:40Balochistan is being run by the militant proxy death squads, like the death squad of Shafiq Mingal,
41:47who is now a People's Party leader at this, and he's got, you know, elements of Lashkar-e-Taiba and
41:54Jaish-e-Muhammad working with him. The so-called Punjabi militant networks are part and parcel of the
42:00death squads, and they are coming under heavy attacks by the insurgents. But even these death squads are
42:07unable to run the province because the Pakistani state or the Pakistani military do not have the
42:14finances available to provide for a security force big enough to control half of the country. So
42:21they're outsourcing this job of security to these so-called militant death squads. But these guys are
42:28earning their money through the same smuggling records, not smuggling and oil smuggling records.
42:34Now, it is a very vicious cycle where the same records are being used by the insurgents,
42:40so-called BLA insurgents, so-called TTP insurgents, to earn their revenue. And the revenue is being
42:48earned by these death squads being run by the Pakistani states of Shafiq Mingal and party. And the military
42:54itself is gaining revenue from the same, you know, illegal spectrum. Now, this illegal spectrum
43:03is actually, you know, weakening the foundations of the state. And that is why I say all the time,
43:11and my colleagues in the Pakistani military don't like it, and they say,
43:16you know, you've got no money left to run the country. You're running the country. You've taken
43:22loans in the last three years equivalent to the loan taken since partition. And you've put all those
43:30loans back either into debt servicing or into the military budget or into developing central Punjab
43:38from Lahore to Rawalpindi. So, the last 30 seconds I have on this part of the show...
43:43Give me half a minute, Dharav. Give me half a minute. You're preparing for the breakage of Pakistan,
43:46it means that you're putting all the money... That's the question I'm coming to.
43:50That's the question I'm coming to. Do you see Pakistan break Sushant Sarin or will Pakistan
43:54army be able to, you know, as you've argued, launch a terror strike in India and unite the country?
44:02Look, I think regardless of what they try and do to get out of this sticky situation,
44:06it's only going to make matters worse. Now, let me give you one example.
44:10Major Raja talks about these death squads who have been raised to carry out, you know, operations
44:16on behalf of the Pakistan army. The state does not have the money to pay them. How are these guys
44:21making their money? Partly from smuggling or extortion. And what is that what that is doing is
44:28that is alienating the local population against these people because one, they're oppressing them.
44:33Secondly, they're extorting money from them. Secondly, the one point I disagree with the
44:38Major Raja is he says, you can't nuke your own country. Well, he needs to restudy the Pakistan
44:43army doctrines. Their doctrine is that if... They've bombed their own country.
44:47As an Indian slot takes place, they will bomb the Indians in their own country. So, very clearly,
44:54that is part and parcel of their military doctrine. And last, and this is a point I really want to
45:00make. I don't know what will happen to Pakistan. I think it's become a kind of a toxic jelly right
45:06now.
45:06But I think one thing which I would hold the feet of the government of India on fire is that
45:11it's
45:12all right that you are issuing statements. But, you know, there is a massive food crisis, for example,
45:18in POJK. At the very least, I'm not saying send in aircraft to drop food supplies. That is a very
45:28escalatory move. But at least what we can do is we can package the foodstuffs and throw them in the
45:34river
45:34and tell the people on the other side of the river that you guys can take some food supplies at
45:39least
45:39from here, whatever little we can do. We have surplus food. We have surplus. We have surplus food.
45:44We should help people in Pakistan occupy Jammu and Kashmir. There are people. There's no denying that fact.
45:49Perhaps I'll come back to this debate tomorrow. There's breaking news coming in. I want to thank all
45:53my guests. There's breaking news that's coming in from West Asia. And I have to quickly take this
45:57because there's unprecedented escalation in West Asia war. The US has launched a fresh wave of
46:04airstrikes and missile strikes on Iran. There are reports of multiple casualties, injuries that are
46:10being reported right now in Iran. The US Central Command has issued a statement saying it has carried
46:16out the latest round of attacks on Iran to take out coastal military installations targeting commercial
46:22shipping. This strike lasted 90 minutes. This strike that the US has just carried out
46:32a watch star in Chabahar used for rescue operations by Iran. That was hit for the second time by a
46:41US
46:41missile strike. Iran claims US airstrikes have killed more than 30 people and more than 260 people have been
46:49injured in these renewed attacks. Big story coming in. 90 minute wave of attack. 30 people killed in Iran.
46:57260 people have been injured. Tehran has called the fresh airstrikes and missile strikes by the United
47:04States of America. Cowardly aggression and Iran has pledged there will be retaliation. Iran's Islamic
47:13Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has attacked the US military installations. It's targeted multiple US
47:19military installations in Bahrain, in Kuwait and in Jordan. And they've claimed heavy damage at the
47:26headquarters of the US 5th Fleet. The IRGC has also threatened that they will cut off all energy
47:33exports from West Asia over re-imposition of US naval blockade. I quickly want to get you more
47:41on this story. There's lots that's happening. Welcome back. The politics of our Shriram Mandir
47:48Chandachori has escalated. A massive confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the
47:54opposition Samajwadi Party. Remember, Uttar Pradesh will see elections in 2027. The Yogi Adityanath government
48:02in the state says they've arrested the accused in this case. There is an investigation that is underway.
48:08The SIT probe will reveal more details and further action will be taken. But the opposition is
48:14demanding greater transparency and accountability. So at Panchayat Aaj Tak Uttar Pradesh,
48:22UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and DEBRI Chief Minister Brijesh Bhattak, other BJP leaders and of
48:28course opposition voices, they laid bare their positions on the controversy. We get you more in this report.
48:40The alleged theft of Ramandir donations has now moved beyond an investigation becoming a major
48:46political flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh. At Panchayat Aaj Tak, the biggest names, the sharpest questions and the
48:54biggest political flashpoints came face-to-face. At the conclave, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended
49:01his government's action, highlighting the formation of an SIT and the arrest of accused persons.
49:28But the political battle intensified as Chief Minister Yogi launched a direct attack on opposition,
49:35accusing earlier governments of disrespecting Hindu Aastha time and again and questioning their stand on Lord Ram.
50:03Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Bhattak reinforced the government's position,
50:08saying accountability will be fixed and no guilty person will be
50:20sped.
50:34The Uttar Pradesh BJP chief said devotees' sentiments have been hurt and assured that no one,
50:41big or small, will be protected.
51:03BJP ally Anupriya Patel echoed the same message,
51:06that the guilty will face strict action.
51:33But the opposition sees the issue differently.
51:37Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly,
51:41Mata Prasad Pandey questioned the government
51:43over transparency and accountability.
51:44In 2014-2027, the next year, U.P. has changed.
51:50Do you not believe it?
51:57Do you not believe it?
52:01Do you not believe it?
52:13Do you not believe it?
52:39The Congress also targeted the BJP,
52:43questioning whether all those linked to the case,
52:46including individuals associated with the RSS and BJP,
52:49would be subjected to investigation.
53:16The Ram Mandir Chadhawa controversy has now become a test of accountability,
53:21and political credibility.
53:24With the SIT probe underway,
53:26the issue is likely to remain a key talking point
53:29as Uttar Pradesh heads towards the crucial 2027 electoral battle.
53:35Bureau Report, India Today.
53:39.
53:39.
53:39.
53:39.
53:39.
53:40.
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