Pandith clan feels exalted over Farah’s achievement

Bhagaat-e-Barzallah,the house where Farah Pandith’s parents used to live before they migrated to US in 1969,has attracted attention overnight as her relatives celebrated the success of their kin.

She is the first Kashmiri woman to have attained such a height,Maheen Pandith,cousin of Farah said on Saturday.

“We received this great news only yesterday. We all are very happy. We are really proud to have a sister like her,” Maheen said. Describing Farah as a born leader,she said the entire clan is excited over her achievement.

Originally belonging to apple-rich town of Sopore,55 kms from Srinagar in Baramulla district,Farah Pandith’s mother had migrated to the US,a year after Farah was born here.

Maheen said Farah stayed with the family in their Sopore house during her two visits to India in 1984 and 1992. Pandith’s family in Sopore is known to be quite influential.

Jamsheeda Nissar,another cousin of Farah said entire Pandith clan is happy. “Not only we,entire Kashmir is proud of its daughter,” she said.

Farah,41,previously served as an adviser on Muslim engagement at the State Department and donned the role of senior adviser to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs.

She also served on the National Security Council as coordinator for US policy on outreach to the minority community.

Farah worked at the US Agency for International Development on assistance projects for Iraq,Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories,her family members said.

She wrote her thesis on the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir and in 1994 secured permission to visit her homeland.