Bukhari calls for unity to defeat ‘enemies of peace’

Srinagar, Apr 25: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has called on people to preserve their “spirit of kindness, empathy and hospitality”, despite the warmongering of certain communal elements.”
He said a large number of tourists have given terrorists a befitting response by staying in the valley despite the gruesome massacre, which claimed 26 innocent lives in Pahalgam.
The Apni Party president in a statement said that upholding unity, mutual trust and resilience is the key to overcoming adversity and defeating the enemies of peace.
“I take immense pride in saying that the people of Kashmir embody extraordinary hospitality and compassion. During the winter, the residents of Gund village in Ganderbal opened their homes and mosques to provide shelter to hundreds of foreign and domestic tourists who were stranded in heavy snowfall. In freezing temperatures, the locals offered free food and tea to these guests,” he said.
Bukhari further said, “Several accounts have now surfaced, revealing that during the recent gruesome terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, locals—despite their own fear and panic—came forward to help the injured at Baisaran Meadow. Our hero, Syed Adil Hussain, gave his life while trying to disarm a terrorist. Local drivers gave many tourists free rides to Srinagar. Auto-rickshaw drivers ferried tourists—who chose to leave the valley after this horrific attack—to the airport free of charge. Locals were seen weeping, heartbroken by the tragedy that unfolded.”
Applauding the hospitable nature of the people of Kashmir, Altaf Bukhari stressed on keeping this spirit alive. “The spirit of hospitality is woven into the very fabric of Kashmiri identity—and it must be preserved and kept alive, despite the warmongering of some communal elements,” he said.
Bukhari said he was pleased to know that, despite the gruesome attack and the loss of lives in Pahalgam, many tourists have chosen to stay. “Thousands have visited Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and Gulmarg over the past two days. Remarkably, over 9,600 tourists rode the Gulmarg Gondola in just two days following the heinous incident. This is a befitting response to the terrorists and their handlers—and it gives hope,” he said.
Upholding unity, mutual trust and resilience is the key to overcoming adversity and defeating the enemies of peace, the former minister added.