Rep. Ilhan Omar is at it again – denouncing democracy and taking a pro-terrorist stand – this time on Kashmir.  At a subcommittee hearing held by Congressman Brad Sherman and in follow-up tweets, Omar is putting forward a false narrative about Kashmir, which has real-world consequences for victims of persecution.

In the last three decades, over 42,000 people have lost their lives along the Line of Control (LoC) that now separates India and Pakistan in Kashmir due to Pakistani sponsorship of terrorist organizations including the safe harboring of al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Taliban, Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT), Hizbu-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and more. 

When Aarti Tikoo Singh, among the persecuted Kashmiris and a journalist of Indian descent, testified at the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Human Rights in South Asia on October 22, 2019, Omar accused the highly-credentialed journalist of making “dubious claims” and sharing a “version” about “what you call militants…nefariously backed by Pakistan,” implying that Singh was “a mouthpiece” for the Indian government.  Unlike Omar, India is against terrorism, not religion. 

When it comes to Kashmir, Omar lacks understanding – just like she lacked understanding about 9/11, casually and disgracefully referring to 9/11 as an event where “some people did something.”  It is time for Rep. Omar “to behave in a manner that reflects creditably on the House” (Code of Official Conduct). 

The Indian American community calls upon Rep. Omar to check her contempt for democracy at the door.  The community also calls upon Congressman Sherman to hold another hearing – fair and balanced – that provides a true accounting of Pakistani-sponsored violence in Kashmir. 

About USINPAC:
The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that leverages the over 4.2 million Indian Americans to bring about outcomes that matter. USINPAC provides support to candidates for federal, state, and local offices, and serves as a resource for federal agencies, lawmakers, and Congressional staff. For more information, please visit. www.usinpac.com