Echoes of Genocide: Kashmiri Leaders See Grim Reminder in Pahalgam Terror Attack
- KOA Admin
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Sharing their perspectives on the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA) Secretary Amit Raina and Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) Co-founder Dr. Surinder Kaul, both residents of the Houston area which is home to a significant portion of the 40,000-45,000 strong Kashmiri diaspora in the United States, offered poignant reflections in conversation with FOX 26 Anchor Rashi Vats in Houston.
Amit Raina, who fled Kashmir as a child during the 1990 civil unrest and genocide, described the attack as, "a grim reminder of the brutal past we had," and recounted his personal trauma, stating, "It took me back to 1990 where I was a 8-9 year-old kid, and my experiences and what we had to go through back then. The pain, the anguish, the brutality. Our community had to go through that genocide."
Following this, Dr. Kaul recalled the harrowing events of January 19, 1990, stating, "On 19th of January 1990, the whole population came onto the road. They used loud speakers to scare us (Kashmiri Pandits). They use derogatory slogans," highlighting the forced displacement he experienced.
He further expressed his distress over the targeting of victims based on their religious identity, emphasizing, "What is very disturbing is that the terrorists, they identified the victims whether they are Hindus or Muslims. That is very painful."
Their comments came in the wake of the attack where radical Islamist terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India, after being identified as Hindu. This tragic event has resurfaced the painful history of the region, including the 1990s when Kashmiri Hindus faced the dire choice of conversion, leaving, or death.
KOA thanks both Amit Raina and Dr. Kaul for being a voice for the community and making their presence seen and heard in the Houston area.
For the full video click HERE.