A special screening of the English-language Kashmir film Saffron Kingdom was held in Luton, UK, with participants describing the movie as a powerful portrayal of the sufferings of the Kashmiri people under Indian occupation.  The screening was attended by British parliamentarian Lord Qurban Hussain, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and All Parties International Kashmir Coordination Committee Fahim Kayani, former mayors, councillors, community leaders and members of the Kashmiri diaspora. 

Speaking on the occasion, participants said the film effectively exposed the human rights violations and humanitarian tragedies taking place in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. They stressed the need for the international community to take notice of the plight of the Kashmiri people and play its role in resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.  The film depicted the pain of Kashmiri families living in exile and highlighted the sufferings of victims of killings and enforced disappearances in IIOJK.

It also portrayed tragic incidents including the Gawkadal massacre and reflected the human cost of the decades-old Kashmir conflict.  Produced by Daffodil Studio and directed by Arfat Sheikh, the film aims to raise international awareness about the Kashmir issue through English-language cinema and engage younger generations with the realities of life under occupation.  Participants appreciated the initiative and said films and documentaries could play an important role in projecting the true picture of the situation in occupied Kashmir before the world. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)