By SASN, Chicago
On July 5th 2025, South Asia Solidarity Network organized a meet up at the Socialism 2025 conference in Chicago on “Imperialism, Wars and South Asia, Is There a Way Out?”. The event was attended by activists, scholars and students from all over United States, South Asia, Latin America and many other countries. Various left wing and progressive organizations were represented including, SALAM (South Asian Left Activist Movement), FABPPSSWA (Fatima Ambedkar Birsa Periyar Phule Savitri Student And Workers Association), Chicago Teachers Union, Firebrand Communists, Socialist Horizons, Jammu Kashmir National Student Federation (JKNSF), Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC), International Socialist League, MST Argentina, JKLF and others.
Malik Sajjad from PTUDC moderated the discussion. He introduced the topic in the background of the recent conflict in South Asia and how SASN is working to build solidarity on class lines.
Farhad from SASN explained the history of Imperialism in South Asia and the struggle of the working masses against it. He spoke about the various mass movements and revolutions in the region including the 68-69 movement in Pakistan and the Saur Revolution of 1978 in Afghanistan. He said that a way out of the current misery, poverty, wars and imperialist plunder in the region is a united struggle of the workers, youth and women across the borders that were drawn by Imperialist powers.
Alejandro Bodart from ISL, in his intervention, emphasized the need to build a revolutionary organization in the United States and around the world.
Zahid from SASN spoke on the aims of South Asia Solidarity Network and how it plans to build solidarity with the movements in South Asia and the working class in the west.
Naveed from JKNSF discussed the history of imperialist occupation of Jammu Kashmir on both sides of the so-called Line of Control dividing the region between India and Pakistan. He told the audience how the JKNSF has always struggled against the religious fundamentalism and for the rights and freedom of the people of Kashmir.
Kim Gasper, a reproductive rights activists and Peter Soloenberger a left activist spoke and expressed their solidarity with SASN and the desire to work closely together in future.
Tauqeer Gillani from JKLF spoke about the national question in Kashmir and the history of the struggle of the Kashmiri masses on both sides and their sacrifices. Haleem Khan of JKLF also addressed the gathering and informed about the state oppression and human rights violations in Jammu Kashmir.
This was followed by a question answer session where the audience asked about the future plans and strategies of SASN and role of different movements in South Asia.
