New Delhi: The screens of Times Square in New York, perhaps the world’s most prized real estate for advertisements, lit up with slogans against the Kashmir lockdown Thursday.
The messages — from “Restore Human Rights” to “Stand with Kashmir” and “Free Kashmir” — were the brainchild of the Pakistani community based in the US, according to reports in Pakistani media.
The government of Pakistan tweeted the picture from its official Twitter handle.
With the extraordinary efforts of PM Imran Khan, Kashmir issue has now become a Global concern. The voice of people of IOJ&K is once again being heard in the highest diplomatic forums.
“Stand With Kashmir” has been highlighted on Times Square New York, today.#StandWithKashmir pic.twitter.com/2k8u4PYNp1
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) September 26, 2019
Tensions between India and Pakistan have deepened ever since New Delhi scrapped Article 370, which gave Jammu & Kashmir a degree of autonomy. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India, and lashed out at India for its “assault on Kashmir”.
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Why Times Square
Times Square, a commercial hub in New York, US, is one of the best-recognised locations in the world, drawing thousands of tourists every day.
It is located less than 2 kms from the United Nations headquarters, where the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is being held. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan are both scheduled to address the UNGA Friday.
Putting up a screen advertisement at Times Square reportedly costs at least $3.8 million annually for a 30-second spot.
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Focus on Kashmir
This past week, PM Khan had expressed his disappointment with the international community over its response to the Kashmir issue. On the margins of the UNGA, he had said the issue would have got more attention had it been 8 million Jews or Europeans who were affected.
Last week, addressing the Howdy, Modi! event in Houston, PM Modi, without naming Pakistan, had lashed out at crossborder terrorism.
If Times Square was actually “lit up”… why do you need to gray out all the other hoardings in your picture ThePrint? :))
Just giving paid Advt. and saying world wants that. Come on, these Pakistanis are fools to waste their own money whereas india is not at all spending a little bit on such advt. Understand that india made possible to make world leaders in our side. Money get wasted during the course of frustration. Actually india should keep looking at their idiotic activities and enjoy it.
Pakistan need to free POK ….
You don’t have to be Indian or Pakistani or Hindu or Muslim, just a human being to stand against such atrocity being committed in Kashmir 🙁
We Indians should have raised our voices against unilateral changes in our association with Kashmir and shutdown, arrests that followed. Unfortunately, in absence of opposition from within India, this matter is now being internationalized by Pakistan.
Salute to you please you can do that now too and ask modi to end this inhuman curfew in Kashmir…
I don’t know why our government is tight liped about the atrocities in Baluchistan, Sindh, kpk when pakistan is doing fake propaganda on kashmir with full force article 370 is our internal matter I think India is loosing perception war
Imran is concerned on Terrorists who are not able to cross over LOC due to tight security maintained by Indian goverment. It is shameless and baseless campaign by Pakistan on Kashmir in USA when POK public are against Pakistan government and Indian goverment is trying hard to bring normalcy in J&K.
Firstly It’s AJK not POK. I am a proud citizen of AJK/POK. Nobody in POK/AJK is against Pakistani government but surely we are very much wooried about happenings in IoK.. Why modi sarkar has to even try to bring normalcy in J§K.. Is it beacuase this decision is abnormal…..
Find answers in your own comments… Peoples lives have become miserable in J§k.. How can you even think of seiging people in their own homes for 53 days and ongoing.. That’s totally inhumane…
This is no big deal. Anyone can pay money to sponsor a message on Time SQ.
Don’t mistake this with the Voice of New York. Small embarrassment, but definitely not a setback.