Citing the ongoing India-Pakistan Asia Cup final in Dubai, jailed Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has raised questions about the controversy over his Pakistan visit earlier this year.
She posted on X, “If India can play cricket with Pakistan, why can’t one of its heroes (Sonam Wangchuk), attend a UN conference there?”
The Pakistan narrative about Sonam Wangchuk is false and defamatory. We were invited to a UN climate conference where he praised Mr Modi for initiatives like Simply Life.#freesonamwangchuk #SatyamevaJayate pic.twitter.com/qeqROAEn71
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) September 28, 2025
Her remarks came after Ladakh police chief SD Singh Jamwal suggested Wangchuk could have “links” with Pakistan.
Sonam’s Visit to Pakistan Was Professional
Angmo clarified that the visit was purely professional and climate-focused. She said Wangchuk went to attend the ‘Breathe Pakistan’ conference in February, organised by the United Nations Pakistan chapter and Dawn Media.
“We attended a conference organised by the United Nations, and it was on climate change,” she told PTI.
“I was also there to present a paper on women’s role in climate change… In fact, he (Wangchuk) praised Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi on stage at the event,” she added.
Details of the Event
Angmo explained that several multinational organisations were part of the event. She mentioned ICIMOD, which brings together all eight Hindu Kush countries to work on climate issues. She said HIAL, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives that she co-runs with Wangchuk, is part of ICIMOD’s Himalayan University Consortium.
She said Wangchuk’s presence was in line with his global climate activism, not politics.
Defending Wangchuk Against NSA
Angmo strongly opposed the government’s move to book Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The law allows detention without trial for up to 12 months.
“I think it is a very wrong charge. Sonam certainly is not a threat to any public order,” she said.
She also pointed out Wangchuk’s record of supporting India. “How can you portray a person as anti-national who has been talking about making shelters for the Indian Army, and boycotting Chinese goods?” she asked.
On Alleged Provocative Statements
Authorities have accused Wangchuk of making provocative remarks by referring to “Gen Z protests” in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Angmo explained, “The reference being bandied around is actually an example Sonam gave, that ‘when governments are not responsive, it leads to a revolution’. We should avoid the interpretations.”
She added that Wangchuk’s words in Ladakhi were mistranslated. “He just said that ‘when change has to happen, it can start with one individual, or with the death of one individual, and that individual could be me; I’m happy to give my life for it’,” she said.
Reminder of Peaceful Protest Promises
According to Angmo, Wangchuk was only reminding the government of its promises to Ladakhis. She said he always stressed that the Leh Apex Body’s protest was peaceful.
On September 24, violence broke out during the protest. Wangchuk condemned the violence and ended his hunger strike in disappointment.
