Iranian Sunni Cleric:

UK planted the seeds of hostility in the Indian subcontinent

Rasa – Molavi Salami said the UK planted the seeds of hostility in the Indian subcontinent and the relationship between India and Pakistan and Muslims is not correct.

News ID: 422605

Date: 01 August 2016 - 19:35

RNA – Speaking to Rasa News Agency, Molavi Nazir Ahmad Salami, the member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, referred to the current crisis and conflict in Indian-administered Kashmir, saying that the current conflict between Indian troops and the Muslims people of Kashmir is not the first and will not be the last.

He added that in 1947, the Indian subcontinent was divided into the two independent states of Pakistan and India by the ruler of the time, the United Kingdom. “The tradition of the British government from beginning has been that whenever one of its colonies leaves its control, they plant the seeds of discord there,” he said.

The Iranian Sunni scholar stated that the UK has created this division in order that its former colonies continue to need them and added that the British have always used the policy of divide and rule and tried to divide people into groups.

Molavi Salami added that the UK decided that regions where Muslims were in the majority, such as Bangladesh, western Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and other areas were given to Pakistan and the areas which were mostly non-Muslim were given to India. Most of the division occurred in this manner but Kashmir remained part of India, despite being a majority Muslim region.

He said that more than 90 percent of both Indian- and Pakistani-administered parts of Kashmir are Muslim and that due to this, Kashmir must be part of Pakistan but at that time of the partition of India, the UK, which was responsible for determining the border did not accept this and said later there should be a referendum in Kashmir but India did not allow a referendum to determine if the majority of the people of Kashmir want to be part of India, Pakistan or become an independent nation.

His Eminence said the UK planted the seeds of hostility in the Indian subcontinent and the relationship between India and Pakistan and Muslims is not correct and since 1947, three major battles have been fought because of the problem that Kashmir has created between the two nations.

Molavi Salami said Indian-administered Kashmir initially wanted to be independent but the UK did not allow it and since then, there has been hostility between India and Pakistan which the enemies can exploit.

He added that the dark relationship between India and Muslims is a violation in the eyes of the world and the majority of the Muslims of Kashmir want freedom. Both international and Islamic principles confirm this and opposition to the will of the people is against international law and is unlawful.

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