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Thought

#FreePalestine Might Accidentally Boost Pakistan's Kashmir Playbook

Dr. J

Dr. J

— 4 min read
#FreePalestine Might Accidentally Boost Pakistan's Kashmir Playbook

In the lively world of global activism, the #FreePalestine cause stands out as one that really pulls at the heartstrings.  Here in India, where we've always rooted for the underdog—remember our own freedom struggle? —people have taken to the streets with real passion, flags flying and voices raised for Palestinian rights.

But here's where it gets tricky, and maybe a bit amusing in that ironic way life has: some of this support, whether folks realize it or not, ends up lining up with what Pakistan pushes on Kashmir separatism. It's like cheering for one team's justice while accidentally boosting the rival's playbook.

Let's unpack this thoughtfully, with some solid facts, figures, and voices from the ground, all while keeping things civil and focused on the bigger picture—no finger-pointing, just food for thought.

Historical Ties: Palestine and Kashmir in the Same Conversation
India's bond with Palestine goes way back, built on that shared anti-colonial vibe. Back in 1947, we voted against splitting up Palestine at the UN, and by 1974, India was the first non-Arab country to officially back the PLO as the Palestinians' voice (Kumaraswamy, 2010). Nehru and others saw it as kin to our independence fight.

Fair enough, but it's not all straightforward.

Palestinian figures have often nodded along to Pakistan's take on Kashmir, calling it another battle against "occupation." The Palestinian Authority, for one, has backed OIC resolutions slamming India's moves in Jammu and Kashmir (Organization of Islamic Cooperation, 2022).

UN docs show Palestine jumping on or helping push at least a dozen Kashmir-related resolutions from 2010 to 2023, mostly alongside Pakistan, spotlighting human rights stuff.

Yasser Arafat himself, during a trip to Pakistan in 1989, said something like: "Kashmir's fight is part of the wider war on imperialism, just like ours in Palestine" (as cited in Abbas, 2015). It's heartfelt rhetoric, sure, but to many in India, it feels like a quiet boost to separatist ideas back home.

You can't help but smirk a little at the twist: folks in Mumbai or Delhi marching for Palestine might not see how it echoes "Azadi" chants up north. Global causes are messy like that.

Hamas and Kashmir Links: More Than Just Talk?
Now, zoom in on groups like Hamas and their possible ties to Kashmir militants—it's shadowy, but analysts have spotted patterns. Straight-up ops together? Not really proven, but ideas and maybe logistics overlap. Hamas bigwigs have reportedly met with outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which India calls terrorists for Kashmir attacks (Swami, 2023).

A fresh 2025 report even mentions a hush-hush Pakistan meet-up where Hamas folks swapped notes with LeT on tactics (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 2025). Numbers-wise, the Council on Foreign Relations tracks LeT in over 50 big Kashmir incidents since 2000, with Pakistan often accused of giving them cover—though they deny it.

Hamas got on India's terror list in 2019, and intel briefs from last year point to their propaganda popping up in Kashmir circles, comparing Gaza streets to the Valley (Ministry of Home Affairs, India, 2024). It's like shared playlists in the militancy world.

Our External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar put it bluntly in 2025: "Nations backing Pakistan's terror games need to know it boomerangs" (Press Information Bureau, 2025). Polite wake-up call, right? For those #FreePalestine rallies, it's a reminder: good hearts, but watch where the echoes land.

On the Ground in India: Enthusiasm Meets Tricky Politics
In places like Delhi, Hyderabad, or campuses across the country, #FreePalestine draws crowds—students, thinkers, especially from minority groups. A Pew survey pegged 45% of Indian Muslims strongly backing Palestine, versus 28% overall (Pew Research Center, 2023). But sometimes, it spills into Kashmir parallels.

Protests mix slogans, and a journal piece from 2020 digs into how activists link the two as "colonial archives" of resistance (Khan & Mizrahi, 2020). On X, #FreePalestine often buddies up with #KashmirWantsFreedom, even from Indian accounts that might not spot the Pakistani media vibe underneath (Basu, 2024).

Wry thought: In hashtag world, a quick share for Gaza could unintentionally cheer on Srinagar splits. Not doubting the genuine fire here—just noting the slip-ups.
India's official line? We back a two-state fix and bash terror, loving our Palestinian ties but not Hamas, and no, Kashmir ain't Palestine (Jaishankar, 2024). As one writer quipped: "India's not Israel, Pakistan's not Palestine—let's not mix metaphors" (Singh, 2023).

Time for Smarter Solidarity
Bottom line, #FreePalestine in India may come from a good place—empathy for the oppressed. But the Pakistan-Kashmir overlaps, backed by these facts and voices, suggest pausing for a rethink.

Could well-meant cheers fuel old rivalries? Maybe. 
Let's advocate with eyes wide open, pushing peace without the unintended assists. Irony aside, wiser paths are out there.

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