Kashmir Task Force is an arm of Indo-American Community Federation dedicated to the cause of Kashmiri Victims of Terrorism.
Message from Chairman
It was a very unfortunate day in February 1990 when we learnt about the exodus of our community members from Kashmir, resulting in their refugee status in their own country. They were thrown into a very miserable condition. It was the saddest day in the lives of some of us!
Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA), a national organization of Kashmiri Pandits rose to the occasion and started mobilizing the overseas community to help these victims of terrorism. The Association did a commendable job in reaching out to all the U.S. members to support our unfortunate segment of the community in dire need.
While I was very heavily involved with KOA as the National Vice-President, I felt it was necessary for us to mobilize the Indo-American community, keeping our small number in view, to help the victims and at the same time, fight the misinformation in this country spread by the Kashmiri separatists. We approached National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA) who agreed to help me in this campaign. Thus, we formed Kashmir Task Force Committee.
As Chairman of this Committee, Burton resolutions favoring the separatists were very strongly condemned and we went on a rampage to educate U.S. lawmakers and media to recognize the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. Dr. Jagan Kaul joined me as Co-Chairman and worked very hard to defeat Burton.
It was a indeed a very difficult task since most of the members of Congress and Senate felt strongly against the human rights record of the Government of India. It was in 1991 when late K.L.Kaul (Past President of KOA), whose tremendous contributions for Kashmiri Pandits have not been matched by anyone so far, called to invite me to form a national political network since Kashmir Task Force was limited to educate only Californians. That is when Indo-American Kashmir Forum was born with me as the western region Convener. It was also great to work with KOA President Deepak Ganju of Florida whose contribution to KP cause cannot be ignored.
I convened a very powerful International Symposium in 1992, in association with the local FIA and other Hindu organizations in California to hightlight the plight of suffering Kashmiri Pandits. It paved the way for a very long and tough battle to save this community. In 1994 and 1996, I led delegations to Jammu camps supported by FIA of Northern California and Indian American Friendship Council. Several children in Jammu camps were sponsored by Indian American Friendship Council Chief Dr. Krishna Reddy in 1996 during that trip.
In 1998, Kashmir Task Force was revived as a Committee of Indo-American Community Federation to find a solution to this serious problem.
In May, 2007 Board meeting of NFIA, Kashmir Task Force was reactivated and received the support of all Directors and veteran leaders to continue working on finding a solution to rehabilitate suffering people.
In spite of all the hard work by so many community leaders in India and elsewhere, we are no where close to returning to our homes in Kashmir and unless we continue the struggle, we will not be able to sustain as a community. I urge our community members to support our initiatives and work cohesively with other organizations and activists, to highlight the heritage of our small community.
Thank you.
Jeevan Zutshi
