The Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad hosted the launch of the Urdu translation of Abdul Haq Suharwardy’s seminal work Tragedy in Kashmir, highlighting the book’s continued relevance to Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Urdu translation brings a rigorously researched account of the 1947 Partition and the annexation of Jammu and Kashmir to a wider Pakistani readership.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, welcomed guests and described the work as a meticulously documented history whose credibility is reinforced by corroboration from Indian and British sources. He said the Urdu translation will serve scholars, researchers and diplomats by making verified historical material more accessible.
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, said the book is a stark reminder of the injustices endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that the Urdu translation will strengthen public awareness and national resolve, particularly among younger generations.
Ms. Mushaal Hussein Mullick emphasized the human dimension of the Kashmir dispute, noting that the Urdu translation is essential for sustaining informed human rights advocacy. Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur highlighted the volume’s academic depth and documentary evidence, stressing that translation into Urdu makes this authoritative work more accessible across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar reflected on the legal and constitutional aspects of the Kashmir issue and urged that contemporary discourse be grounded in verified historical facts. Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi underscored the importance of historical accuracy for sound policy and diplomacy, calling the book a serious scholarly contribution that helps separate fact from myth.
Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan termed the Urdu translation an intellectual and national endeavour to reconnect citizens with the true historical context of Kashmir. Senior journalist Ms. Nasim Zehra highlighted the role of credible historical documentation in countering misinformation, while multimedia journalist Farhan Bokhari spoke about the book’s relevance for media narratives and public discourse.
The launch at the Institute of Regional Studies underscored how the Urdu translation can shape public understanding, enrich academic debate and support informed policy discussions on the Kashmir issue across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
