Great gesture by Pakistan.
Pakistan offers persecuted Kashmiri fans of Afridi admissions in Pak universities - thenews.com.pk
**ISLAMABAD: Pakistan opened its heart and academic institutions for the 67 students who have been expelled from India’s Swami Vivekananda Subharti University in Meerut because they supported the Pakistan cricket team. The Foreign office has invited them to study in Pakistan. The spokesperson at the Foreign Office, during a regular media briefing, was asked to comment on the reaction by the Meerut University, which booked these Kashmiri students for sedition after they allegedly cheered for the Pakistan team during a cricket match in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, which India lost .
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“We know that Kashmiris celebrated Pakistan’s victory at certain places. We saw Indian media reports that there were all night celebrations and there were also reports that 67 Kashmiri students were expelled,” responded the spokesperson who admitted that she did not have any way to collaborate that information.
“But if these Kashmiri students want to come and pursue their studies in Pakistan, our hearts and academic institutions are open to them.”
To another query where India has stooped to a new low by politicising the Subcontinent’s most popular game, an Indian journalist from the PTI informed her that the Meerut police had filed sedition charges against the students.
Taken aback completely, the spokesperson responded: “For cheering a team in a cricket match? If this is sedition, it is very unfortunate.”
The Indians have also taken to the social media over this very harsh punishment for the Kashmiri students who reacted to their hearts and could not contain their happiness when the best team won.
In fact, several years ago The News had witnessed a match in Rawalpindi between the two rivals, when Indian tourists looked surprised when Pakistani girls and boys started to support the Indian team, many painting their cheeks with Indian colours. The sky did not fall.
Earlier, as the issue went viral on the social media, SSP Meerut, Omkar Singh, said that on the basis of the complaint submitted by the University Chancellor PK Garg, unnamed Kashmiri students had been booked under Section 124 A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 427 (mischief) of IPC.
Criticising the slapping of sedition charges against the students, the Indian media quoted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while echoing Pakistan’s views, as saying it was an “unacceptably harsh punishment” that would ruin the future of the students and would further alienate them.
Omar said he would take up the matter with his UP counterpart Akhilesh Yadav and try to get the charges dropped. Snehesh Alex Philip, PTI correspondent in Islamabad, tweeted: “The move to charge Kashmiri students with sedition for cheering for Pakistan cricket team is bloody idiotic. Hope better sense prevails”.
In fact, even the maverick Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi showed more grace and wisdom when he told the media that he wanted the revival of cricketing ties between India and his country, saying the game could bring an improvement in the relations between the two countries.
“The way I enjoyed my cricket in India, I never enjoyed anywhere else. We are after all neighbours. The relations should be good between us. Cricket can only help better the relations,” he said here.
Maybe it has escaped the Indian authorities that Pakistani journalists touring Srinagar a few years ago were told by the Kashmiri youth: “The day when Pakistan loses to India in a cricket match, we go to bed hungry and do not eat dinner because we are so disappointed.”
Will the Indian government then slap sedition charges on thousands of youth in the valley for skipping their dinner?
What about the Bangladeshis witnessing the Indo-Pak match in Dhaka? Easily the fans were cheering the Pakistanis as the players had won their hearts and minds on that day.
So will the Indian government now extend its policy of clamping sedition charges on youngsters whose country is not only a neighbour but also a close ally of New Delhi?
A fan of Shahid Afridi remarked: “Kitnay Pakistani supporters maro gay? Har ghar say Afridi ka fan niklay gha!”
APP adds: Pakistan expressed its satisfaction over the recently held meeting between Pakistan and India on the Line of Control (LoC) in New Delhi but demanded the release of a detained driver.
The FO spokesperson said a meeting of Pakistan and India on the LoC trade held in New Delhi was constructive. The spokesperson said the Pakistani side demanded the release of the detained driver because without his release, investigations into the allegations levelled against him could not move forward.
Commenting on the Pak-China defence cooperation, the spokesperson said, “China is our strategic partner and our cooperation in this sector should be seen in the context of regional situation.”
She said that India was the largest arms buyer in the world while Pakistan did not want to indulge in an arms race. However, Pakistan had to maintain the minimum level of symmetry for the sake of stability and peace in the region.
Regarding the Pak-Saudi Arabia ties, she said Pakistan was imparting training to the Saudi armed forces personnel. She said Pakistan would be interested to sell its JF 17 Thunder, Mashshaks and other training aircraft to Saudi Arabia. However, she said certain international guidelines needed to be followed in this regard.
Replying to a question regarding Afghanistan, the spokesperson said Pakistan hoped there would be no civil war after the withdrawal of foreign troops from that country.
The spokesperson said in case of a civil war, Pakistan would face the repercussions. She said, “Pakistan is in contact with the Afghan authorities on issues of border securities and effective management of western border.” She reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation and peace process.
The spokesperson said, “We want peace and stability in Afghanistan and culmination of terrorism from the region.” She said Pakistan believed that after the presidential elections in Afghanistan, national reconciliatory efforts would continue.
Responding to a question on Ukraine, the spokesperson said that talks and diplomacy would be the only option to calm down the situation. She hoped that the issue would be resolved through peaceful means.
Replying to a question regarding differences within the Gulf Cooperation Council members, she said Pakistan enjoyed good relations with all the Gulf countries.
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67 Kashmiri students charged with sedition - thenews.com.pk
67 Kashmiri students booked for sedition over celebrating Pak victory - thenews.com.pk