Two internationally renowned researchers from Poland are among a group of authors whose jointly written books on Jammu Kashmir have been banned by the puppet government of Indian held Jammu Kashmir . The so called Azad or free Kashmir government is not any better either . It has also banned many books many a time by local authors on Jammu Kashmir. This is due to the fact that only compromised politicians buy powers from their masters and therefore, it is part of their responsibility to suppress truth descent and independent voice.
Dr. Piotr Balcerowicz’s deep interest in Kashmir stems from his broader scholarly engagements with South Asian history, international relations, and human rights—as well as his commitment to understanding complex conflicts in a nuanced, interdisciplinary fashion.
He is a professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Warsaw and an expert in Indian philosophical and religious traditions, political philosophy, and human rights, which positions him naturally to study Kashmir’s multifaceted challenges .
His work on Kashmir—including the books Human Rights Violations in Kashmir and Law and Conflict Resolution in Kashmir—examine the region’s political and legal complexities, as well as human rights dynamics in both Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered regions . In Kashmir in India and Pakistan: Policies, he and his co-author Agnieszka Kuszewska reflect on their research process, noting that extensive contact with Kashmiri communities (both in the region and diaspora) significantly shaped their understanding and depth of insight .
In short: Balcerowicz’s interest in Kashmir grew out of his intellectual foundation in South Asian political thought and ethics—combined with rigorous field-informed research into the conflict’s legal, human rights, and cultural dimensions. His co-author Dr Agnieszka Kuszewska is a distinguished Polish political scientist and expert in South Asian Studies with a strong focus on India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir Conflict. She is currently an associate professor at the institute of Middle and Far East , part of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
Usually, anybody likes in India is disliked by Pakistan and likes by Pakistan is disliked by India, but if and when someone speaks out for Jammu Kashmir, then both rivals unite themselves to oppose them. A fresh example is that Dr. Piotr Balcerowicz was invited
by an organization to attend a conference in Pakistan, but his visa application was not processed on time despite ample time at hand. Any visitor coming from abroad to see friends in Azad Kashmir is deterred unnecessarily. The point is if a visitor is not a security risk in Pakistan, why is he a risk in Azad Kashmir?
We strongly urge Pakistani government to change this policy on Jammu Kashmir and should not bring itself down to Indian level.
Quayyum Raja's full official name is Abdul Quayyum Raja, but the British press shortened his name when he was arrested in connection with an Indian diplomat kidnapped by his fellow KASHMIRIS in Birmingham in 1984 to save the life of a Kashmiri Hero Muhammad Maqbool Butt hanged by India and buried inside Tihar jail on 11 February 1984. Quayyum Raja is from Azad Jammu Kashmir administered by Pakistan. He acquired various qualifications from EU and UK, including a Master in Psychology & Social Sciences, Journalism and Modern World History. He supports both Pan Islam and Pluralism, which may sound a contradiction, but he claims he can draw a balance. Quayyum Raja spent about 22 years in British jail extra-juducially as a Kashmiri political prisoner. He was released by the European Court of Human Rights on 17 May 2005. He has travelled extensively both before his captivity and after his release.
