Harvard University is under fire for organizing a Pakistan Conference soon after a deadly terror attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. The South Asia Institute at Harvard hosted the event. Pakistani officials, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangazeb and Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, attended.
Students Condemn Harvard’s Move
Soon after the event, two Indian students, Surabhi Tomar and Abhishek Chaudhuri, sent a strong letter to the university. They urged Harvard to stop offering a stage for “whitewashing state-enabled religious terrorism,” according to the Times of India. Their letter triggered a wave of criticism across academic and online circles.
Laxmi Mittal Distances Himself
Indian billionaire Laxmi Mittal, who funds Harvard’s South Asia Institute, reportedly distanced himself from the event. The report added that he chose to step back following the controversy. Meanwhile, the two students wrote another letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They argued that allowing such representatives at Harvard risked making the university “complicit.”
Panel Moderated by Harvard Official
The backlash deepened when people learned that Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director of the South Asia Institute, moderated a panel. Pakistani-American historian Ayesha Jalal joined the session. The official website, harvardpakistanconference.com, confirmed their involvement.
Discussion Topic Sparks Debate
The panel was titled, “The Enlightened Muslim: Examining the intersection of religion, modernity, and state formation in Pakistan.” Many critics found this especially inappropriate given the recent killings of Indian tourists by Pakistan-based terrorists.
Students Demand Action
The students asked Harvard to publicly condemn the Pahalgam attack. They also requested support for students affected by the tragedy. In their letter, they demanded “clarity, courage, and compassion for Hindu and Indian students grieving the targeted killing of members of their faith.”
Harvard Claims Limited Role
A university administrator claimed that Pakistani students organized the event. He said the South Asia Institute only provided “some support” and did not formally host the conference. Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir also participated in the event. However, Harvard has not released any official statement about the controversy.
