SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R) has complimented the people of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency for boycotting the elections. In a statement, JKLF spokesman, Wajahat Quershi, said, “The poll boycott should serve as an eye opener for New Delhi.” He hoped that people of Varmul and Kargil constituencies would follow suit.

Meanwhile the convener, Hurriyat Conference (G) and chairman J&K Peoples League, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani has expressed satisfaction over the election boycott in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. In an e-mailed statement, he said, “Despite a war like situation for the last several weeks by the Delhi-backed government, the voters of Kashmir rejected the pro Indian parties’ call to cast their votes, which should open eyes of those who supported a constitutional solution of Kashmir dispute with India.”

He said the situation would in no way be different in Varmul and Kargil on May 13. Chairman Salvation Movement, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, complimented people of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency for boycotting elections. “By boycotting polls people of the constituency have emboldened the morale of separatist forces in Kashmir,” Zaffar said in a statement. While lashing at New Delhi, he said, “Government of India should accept the ground reality now and solve Kashmir dispute once for all.” NNI

SLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday said it has been looking into various options including appointment of neutral expert or arbitrator by World Bank to resolve the issue of water with India. Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office said.

“Indus Commissioner Pakistan wrote a letter to India in March but Pakistan has not received satisfactory answer to the question and now considering other options,”

The Spokesman said Pakistan would approach World Bank to appoint arbitrator to resolve the water dispute with India. He said peaceful resolution of longstanding issue of Jammu Kashmir between Pakistan and India was vital for ensuring peace and security in the region.

The Spokesman said besides many other issues between Pakistan and India, Kashmir was the most important issue that needs to be settled as early as possible.

Referring to some statements from Indian leaders about intentions and capacity of Pakistan to counter terrorism, the Spokesman said such statements emanating from India are ‘irresponsible’. He said it is non?serious attitude from New Delhi. Commenting on the drone attacks, the Spokesman said Pakistan had conveyed the concern of government and people of Pakistan about these attacks and issue would be discussed again in trilateral meeting between the heads of Pakistan, US and Afghanistan being held in Washington in first week of May.

He said Pakistan has repeatedly said the drone attacks are counterproductive and do have difference of opinion on these attacks. Replying to a question, the Spokesman said,

“We do have courage to present our point of view on drone attacks and conveyed the sentiments and concerns of people and government of Pakistan to US administration on many occasion.”

About delaying tactics from US to extend help to Pakistan for capacity building like helicopters and night vision, the Spokesman said there has been progress in the cooperation in the war against terror. He said there is realization in the US administration to expedite the process for giving assistance to Pakistan for capacity building.

Replying to a question, the Spokesman said, “We are determined and have the resolve to fight extremism and terrorism.” He said Pakistan has been engaged with the international community based on mutual respect and honour.

He said although Pakistan has the resolve but there is not enough capacity as it did not have sufficient helicopter and nigh vision equipment. He said Pakistan has been engaged with US for capacity building. Commenting on the statement of British Prime Minister, the Spokesman said Pakistan has been examining the statement and would give comprehensive response shortly.

Replying to another question regarding Pakistan?Iran relations, the Spokesman said Pakistan has been making efforts for establishing permanent kind of framework to fight extremism and terrorism. He said next trilateral meeting, between leaders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, will be held in Tehran in the third week of May and Pakistan is looking forward for making Pak?Iran relations more effective.

Kashmir National Party which champion policy of liberal democracy and oppose forces of communalism, terrorism and hatred; has decided to send two senior leaders to Pakistani Administered Kashmir. KNP is a true nationalist party and wants independence from both India and Pakistan. KNP leaders sincerely believe that united and independent Jammu and Kashmir is the only viable and acceptable solution to the Kashmir dispute. This is the only solution which could bring lasting peace in the Sub Continent.

Those people who promote accession of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir to either India or Pakistan have their wisdom and judgement misplaced on this issue. Similarly those who are presenting the Kashmir dispute as a religious problem are perpetuating our miseries. There could be no viable solution to the Kashmir dispute on the basis of religion. Those who are espousing a religious politics are preparing grounds for the division of the State, hence promoting religious extremism and hatred in the region.

Abbas Butt and Dr Shabir Choudhry will leave London on 17th April and stay in Dubai before proceeding to Islamabad on 19th. They will have a KNP meeting on the evening of 19th April in Rawalpindi; and have a press conference in Islamabad the next day. They will have some meetings in Islamabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mirpur to attend an evening meeting with various Kashmiri leaders there.

KNP Zone of Pakistani Administered Kashmir and other friends and colleagues have been requesting a visit for more than a year, but due to other commitments the KNP leaders could not visit the area. Although weather and political environment in Pakistan and Pakistani Administered Kashmir is not appropriate, but the KNP leaders have decided in favour of the visit, and will hold meetings in various cities.

During their visit the KNP leaders will meet senior Pakistani leaders, ministers, Senators, member of Think Tanks and media men. They will also hold meetings with Prime Minister and President of PAK; and other senior Kashmiri leaders.

KNP team in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, other friends and like minded people are making arrangements that the visiting KNP leaders could also have meetings with nationalist Kashmiri leadership and leaders from Gilgit and Baltistan. They will have some meetings with diplomats, including diplomats from the Western countries to discuss the problems of the region, especially terrorism, extremism and the Kashmir dispute.

KNP leaders will also address bar councils in various cities and hold press conferences and public meetings in various cities, including Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Hajeera, Nelam Valley, Chakothi and Bagh. Apart from that they will launch a new book of Dr Shabir Choudhry in Kotli. The new book, Struggle for independence, ‘Jihad’ or a ‘Proxy war’ is published by a famous Kashmiri publisher – Kasher Publishers.

KNP leaders will also hold meetings with NSF leaders and other nationalists to discuss with them the proposed unity march to Gilgit and Baltistan in August; and how it could be supported, and how mistakes of the past could be avoided.

The KNP leaders will travel to the Neelam Valley, Chakothi and other areas near the LOC to listen to the miseries of the people who have been subject to human rights abuse. They want to investigate human rights abuse, political harassment and intimidation there by meeting the victims and their relatives.

KNP leaders will be back in UK on 4th May 2009. During the visit KNP leaders could be contacted on:
Abbas Butt: 0092 332 656 5767/ international no: 0044 (0) 7949 812543
Dr Shabir Choudhry: 0092 332 656 5965/ international no 0044 (0) 77909 42471

He lives in the neighbourhood and works for the Foreign Office, but we never had a chance to discuss matters in this detail before. During my illness he came to visit me and we had a lengthy discussion on current affairs, including Kashmir. After he left I remembered Khalil Gibran’s words who said: “Pity on a nation which is divided into number of groups and each group calls itself the nation”.

He asked me what was the latest on the Kashmir front, and if I saw any light at the end of tunnel. I explained to him what was going on. I also told him that I was no longer part of the JKLF and explained to him why I left the party. ‘So that means another party in Jammu and Kashmir’, he said with a smile which was embarrassing to me.

He asked me to show him a map of Jammu and Kashmir, which I did, and explained to him how Kashmir was divided and which part is ruled by which country. He asked me which area I belonged to and how many parties were in that region, and what they wanted to achieve. I had no problem in pointing out on the map where I came from, but I had problem in telling him exact number of parties operating in Azad Kashmir.

When I told him that in this area – around four thousand square miles – had dozens of parties some wanting independence and others wanting accession to Pakistan, he was shocked. I accepted my ignorance that my knowledge on political parties in all regions of the State was not up to date. Some research afterwards showed that there are two groups of Muslim Conference, two groups of Peoples Party, Liberation League, five groups of JKLF, Peoples Muslim League, UKPNP, JKPNP, JKNAP, KNP, JKPF, JKNLF, three groups of NSF, MQM and branches of nearly all Pakistani political parties. Election Commission of Azad Kashmir has many more parties on their records and I don’t remember their names.

So even people of this small area do not agree what should be the future of this area, he asked me with surprise. I told him that some people living here think they are already independent and others think they are occupied, but most of them are more concerned about the plight of the people living on the other side of the LOC; and not about their own deprivation, lack of liberties and fundamental rights.

He then asked me about parties in the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. I told him that nearly all political parties of Pakistan have their branches there; and that they have the biggest say in the social, political and economic matters of the region. Apart from that there are local parties which include the following: Balawaristan National Front, Kakakorum National Movement, Gilgit Baltistan United Movement, Blor Research Forum, Blor Labour Party, Progressive Youth Front, Gilgit Baltistan Thinkers Forum.

Like in AJK, people here are also divided. Some want to be part of Pakistan; others want to be independent or part of State of Jammu and Kashmir. This area is most deprived area of the State, but despite that there isn’t an organised movement against the forces who control economic and political life in the area.

After my explanation about the situation in these areas he asked if the people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan were satisfied with the status quo. I told him that this was far from truth. People were not happy but they wanted their struggle to be peaceful. Also there are other factors at work, for example, collaborators who control the local people on behalf of the Islamabad government. The politics is based on tribal, religious and ethnic lines, and local leaders make them believe that they are enjoying better life than people in Pakistan; and furthermore because we have same religion and some cultural affinity we must not campaign against the Islamabad.

Apart from that they are led to believe that life of people on the Indian side is hell, and that we must make every effort to get them independent from clutches of India. Once that goal is achieved then we can decide our future and join Pakistan. They are told that Pakistan is fighting their war against India; and that we must not do anything to divert attention from the Indian side or create any problems for Pakistan.

Because media is controlled by Pakistan and we don’t have independent media or our own sources, so by and large people believe what they are told. He nodded his head as he was trying to understand the situation. ‘But collaborators and opportunists are there in every occupied country – are they not in Iraq and Afghanistan but people of those areas are showing their resentment by fighting back’, he said.

‘But situation with us is different’, I tried to justify our inability to demonstrate our anger and resentment against those who occupy us. ‘Situation is different in every country’, he said politely and changed the topic as he knew I was uncomfortable with this. His next question was about number of parties on the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir. Truthfully I didn’t know how many parties were there. I told him that like Pakistan has political parties in Azad Kashmir, India also has all major parties in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from that there are some local parties and APHC – alliance of about two dozen groups.

So in total there are more than 70 parties in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, he asked me. ‘Don’t you think this is too many? More parties doesn’t mean the Kashmir dispute is important; it shows people have wrong priorities and their ego is too big. Don’t get me wrong, I am speaking to you as a friend and not as a diplomat. I would not use this kind of language if you were sitting in my office. You need to ask yourself if you deserve to be independent. If your answer is yes, then you won’t get that independence with so many parties fighting each other and calling the other traitor or collaborator. To me you people are confused lot – your goals are not clear. You don’t know whether you want independence, accession or status quo. You people are not clear if your struggle is religious or political, whether you want to have liberal and democratic system or government based on Islamic Shariat’.

He paused for a moment to see my reaction and then continued: ‘More than hundred countries have got independence since the Second World War, and you have to look at their history and see how many parties they had when they were fighting for their independence; and if they fought each other and called each other traitor’.

What he said was not wrong – we are divided lot, and as a nation we have been unable to decide our destination; but despite that I was not happy with what I heard and it was visible from my face. He asked me not to take any tension and worry unnecessarily. ‘You need to look after your health, as that is more important at this stage. You can continue your struggle once you are fit, although in my opinion you are just wasting your time and energy’.

What he said was true to large extent and it didn’t help my morale. I decided to find out how many parties there were in various parts of the State. I contacted a constituent party of APHC, the person concerned was unable to tell me how many parties were part of APHC groups. I contacted few journalists in Srinagar and they didn’t know either. I contacted a Professor of Jammu University who teaches political Science to get total number of political parties, but I could only get names of about dozen or so parties.

Anyhow I checked the website of the Election Commission of India and found out that there were 43 parties which fought elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from that there were 26 parties which were part of united APHC; it is believed that the total number of both groups is now more than 26. And if we include parties of Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir then the total number of parties exceeds one hundred.

These parties fall in to three schools of thought: pro India, pro Pakistan or pro Independent. Then within these disciplines there are parties which are religious, secular or democratic. So the question before us is, with this crowd of parties, can we formulate a united strategy to liberate our homeland from India and Pakistan; and establish a liberal and democratic form system in united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

He wanted to interview me on a tape on current situation of Jammu and Kashmir. I agreed without hesitation as I had nothing to fear. I am not among those who change their views and ideology according to situation and audience. I told him that I will use parts of the conversation for my next article, he reluctantly agreed but requested me not to disclose his name or even disclose name of his university.

All I can say is that he is a Professor of Social Sciences in Germany; and very knowledgeable man. Perhaps it is appropriate to acknowledge that I was impressed with his knowledge on Kashmir, as he was familiar with most leaders and political activists on both sides of the LOC. He was also familiar with names of political activists of Kashmiri Diaspora and current trends on Kashmir.

We talked about all aspects of the Kashmiri struggle. We talked about situation in Jammu, Valley, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. I expressed my views about the struggle and strategies adopted by India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership or more precisely different political parties and their political and personal agendas. We also talked about dangers of communalisation and extremism and how this extremism was imported to hijack the Kashmiri struggle.

This interview or conversation continued for nearly three hours, but after lunch I decided to ask him some questions. He said if the Kashmir dispute is not resolved it could lead to more instability in the region and possible disaster. It can also affect the war on terrorism. I think the international community needs to pay more attention to this matter.

He was critical of the Kashmiri leadership. He thought there were far too many parties and groups. Sometimes it is unavoidable, he said, as people come from different social and cultural backgrounds. They have different views on the Kashmiri struggle; and feel more at ease to continue that from their own platform and according to their own programmes. Regional and ethnic issues coupled with desire to make a political space for potential leaders and political aspirants are also a reason for so many parties.

In his view best way forward was the merger of like minded groups. He agreed that the APCH was not representative of the Kashmiri people although it had its value; and could still make some positive contribution. In his view the dispute was very complex and some people do not fully understand complexities of the dispute. They only want to see it in Muslim and non Muslim context, which sometimes creates problems and aggravates the situation.

He said generally the word Kashmir represents the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but at times people of other regions don’t want to be known as Kashmiris. We have to appreciate that the State is a multi religious and multi ethnic, and people have strong religious and ethnic ties; so we cannot impose any decision on them. We have to respect their sensitivities with regard to their religion, culture and region.

This well informed Professor was of the view that the Kashmiri struggle was not properly organised; and was out of step with modern day independence movements. He said forced division of the State resulted in lack of understanding among different ethnic groups of Jammu and Kashmir and they could not develop national identity. In his view among people of Jammu and Kashmir, regional and religious identities were stronger than the national identity.

Most people of Ladakh and Gilgit and Baltistan want autonomy for their regions and don’t even want to be called Kashmiris. Same could also be said about some people in Jammu who don’t want to be called Kashmiris, and they take pride in their identity as Jammuite. I don’t want to discourage you, as you people have worked very hard for United and independent Jammu and Kashmir, and continue to do so, but to me in view of the prevailing situation this it is just a beautiful dream.

He didn’t like my facial expressions, and he soon realised that. ‘I appreciate what you are doing’, he said. I acknowledge your sincerity and dedication. I know thousands of people have lost their lives, but be honest was that for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir? Or was it to join Pakistan; or was it resentment against India which resulted in death of so many lives.

I don’t want to discourage you. We all have right to see dreams and hope for better future; but remember my friend, not all dreams come true. He said, ‘I cannot see unification and independence of Jammu and Kashmir taking place in near future’. He said this is not to suggest that you should abandon your struggle. You are dedicated people and I know you will continue with what you have done for 2/3 decades; but you have to tune your struggle with modern day methods and strategies.

If Maqbool Butt’s struggle was for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir then the JKLF groups which claim to promote his struggle are out of step with the present day trends and working strategies. He had similar views about the strategies and policies of the APHC. In his view they lacked ideological clarity. Their policies are designed to please one section of the Kashmiri community, and the impression is that they want to promote a Muslim cause rather than a Kashmiri cause.

He said Baroness Emma Nicholson report was a good start, although he did not agree with everything. However it provided an alternative view of the problem and has helped to promote a Kashmiri cause in the European Parliament.

He said many young Kashmiris he has met have assumed their first identity as Pakistanis, and that should be a cause of concern to all those who espouse nationalist politics. He said he was not interested in blame game and who was right or wrong; you should all work together and coordinate your activities to get your ethnic identity recognised in Britain and Europe.

‘This recognition alone will go a long way in helping your movement’, he said. Once you people are part of the state system – you are recognised as an ethnic group then you can make many other demands which will help you immensely. You can get history and culture of Jammu and Kashmir introduced as part of School Curriculum. If this could be achieved then children will learn in schools about history and culture of their parents and this will strengthen their sense of belonging and will give them an ethnic identity.

You have a large Kashmiri community settled here in Britain, but they are known as Pakistanis or Indians. Due to hard work of Kashmir National Identity Campaign some British local authorities have recognised Kashmiris as a separate ethnic group. This is right step in right direction, but it is not enough. All Kashmiri parties, if they really want to promote the cause of Jammu and Kashmir then they should fully support this campaign. They should write to local councils and lobby other relevant departments that people of Jammu and Kashmir must be included in 2011 census.

He agreed with the view that people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan had grievances with the government of Pakistan; and it was only appropriate that they raise these issues here and try to resolve them. And similarly people of Jammu, Valley and Ladakh have issues with government of India and they should take those issues with the government over there. But Kashmiris on both sides need to work out a mechanism to support each other and coordinate their activities.

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Rajbagh (R) chairman Farooq Siddiqi has described M K Narayanan’s latest statement as out-of-date and defunct and echo’s India’s nervousness about US policy regarding Kashmir.

According to a press note Siddiqi said that Indian government must take the involvement of international community in resolving Kashmir issue as an opportunity for peace in south Asia rather than coerce its opinion and exhibit itself as responsible nation.

Such policy is outmoded and has failed the test of time in the last sixty years. In the name of democracy and national interest India still instills state terror on innocent people of Kashmir which must be stopped. Narayanan had commented about President Barack Obama views on Kashmir as “Barking up the wrong tree”.

Paying rich tributes to Shaheed Maqbool Butt whose 25th anniversary falls on February 11, Farooq Siddiqi said that Indian government thought that by hanging him, they had silenced voice of freedom for Kashmir. But his victorious spirit was soaring over the nation of Kashmir and spreading out from generation to generation.

He also urged upon all the governments, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to impress upon the Government of India to accede to the “Peoples’ Demand” and return the body of Martyr Maqbool Butt to the people of Kashmir for a befitting burial at the empty grave that has been preserved for him at martyrs grave yard at Idd Gah in Srinagar.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The only durable solution to the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute lies in the implementation of UN resolution and giving Kashmiris their birth right of self-determination, said a declaration issues at the end of the National Kashmir Conference (NKC) held here under the auspices of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu & Kashmir (JI-AJK) on Tuesday.

The conference also made it clear that if other formulas or means were used to resolve this vexed dispute would harm the struggle of the Kashmiri people for their liberation.

The NKC rejected Indian plan to malign the Kashmir freedom struggle and to label it as terrorism in a bid to cover their inhumane crimes like violations of basic human rights, killings of people, demolition of houses and shops, gang rape of Kashmiri women, and incidents like mass graves and forced disappearance of the peoples. The conference demanded of the United Nations to prevail upon India to immediately stop the violations of basic human rights in Kashmir.

The NKC also stressed for the need of launching an international campaign to expose the Indian hegemonic designs, which New Delhi particularly after crushing the popular uprising in wake of Shrine Board land dispute through state terrorism.

India wanted to accomplish this plan by staging election farce in occupied Kashmir, turning Pakistan into a barren land by construction dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan and isolate Islamabad in the comity of the nations through staging incidents like Mumbai blasts.

The Conference called for convening a special OIC meeting for raising the issue across the world to counter India nefarious designs. The conference called for halting military operation is Swat and FATA in light of the unanimously adopted resolution of the Parliament and for reinforcing the defence of the borders by deploying armed forces on eastern border and along the line of control. The Conference also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian, and condemned the Israeli aggression against the innocent people of Palestine.

The conference was addressed by Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman Kashmir Committee Mualana Fazal-ur-Rehman, PML-N Leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, PML-Q Leader Ijaz-ul-Haq, Senator Prof. Khurshid, Former Senator Akram Zaki, Gen. (Retd.) Hameed Gul, President AJK Raja Zulqurnian Khan, Speaker AJK Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, Amir JI-AJK Abdul Rashid Turabi, PPP-AJK President Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Former President AJK Sardar Anwar Khan, Former Prime Minister AJK Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and others.-SANA

NEW DELHI: The paramilitary CRPF has asked the Home Ministry for permission to withdraw 65 companies (8,190 men) from Srinagar in a phased manner, with Jammu and Kashmir Police filling their space. These companies were deployed in Srinagar to maintain law and order after the agitation over the Amarnath shrine land issue in August 2008.

In a communication to the Home Ministry last month, CRPF Director-General V K Joshi’s office said the CRPF wanted to de-induct its personnel from law and order duties and return them to beefing up counter-insurgency efforts in the state.

The ministry is yet to give a formal go-ahead, but has discussed the issue with the Omar Abdullah government and indicated the possibility of a phased withdrawal of the CRPF companies, and a “low-profile posture” for the para-military personnel involved in counter-insurgency operations in Srinagar.

There is an opinion in the ministry that some of these 65 companies should be retained in Srinagar till such time as the state police force has adjusted to the restructured law and order grid in the city.

Some 80 companies (10,080 men) were deployed in the Valley after the Amarnath agitation. The CRPF came under political attack from the separatists and mainstream politicians, who accused them of using excessive force on demonstrators in downtown Srinagar. The state police brass remained silent in face of the criticism. A total of 19,278 men (153 companies) of the CRPF are currently involved in counter-militancy operations in the Valley.-SANA

WASHINGTON: President-elect Barack Obama has made his first big foreign-policy mistake-pledging U.S. intervention in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. While the Kashmir issue “is obviously a tar pit diplomatically,” he announced, one of the “critical tasks” for his administration will be “to get a special envoy in there to figure out a plausible approach.” Mr. Obama not only will confront bitter opposition to U.S. intervention from India, which occupies the prized Kashmir Valley, but also will face resistance from Pakistan’s new president, Asif Ali Zardari.

The rationale for intervention is that fear of India requires Pakistan to strengthen its western front in Afghanistan by supporting the Taliban. But the reason for Pakistani support of the Taliban and jihadi forces in Kashmir is that its military and intelligence agencies are riddled with Islamists.

By questioning Indian control of the Kashmir Valley, the United States would strengthen jihadi forces in both Islamabad and Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. More importantly, it would undermine improving U.S.-India relations. What Washington should do instead is support Mr. Zardari’s strategy for peace with India.

In the months before the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November, Mr. Zardari launched promising negotiations on trade and economic cooperation with New Delhi. Now he wants Washington to push for a resumption of the dialogue. Hard-liners and jihadi leaders in Islamabad who are opposed to Mr. Zardari have been outraged by his repeated statements that Kashmir should be set aside, just as India and China temporarily shelved their border dispute so as to pursue economic ties.

The appointment of a high-level regional envoy in South Asia to promote cooperation among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan in combating al Qaeda and its allies would be desirable in the aftermath of Mumbai. But Kashmir indeed would be a tar pit for such an envoy. A U.S. Kashmir initiative, however veiled, would poison relations between New Delhi and Washington.

As previous presidents who have toyed with intervention, Mr. Obama will learn, if he persists, that Kashmir is not a territorial issue. India argues that its retention of a Muslim-majority Kashmir is necessary to preserve India’s character as a secular state in which 160 million Muslims coexist uneasily with a Hindu majority. Conversely, until Mr. Zardari became president, Pakistan gave Kashmir top priority to vindicate its creation as an Islamic state and its rejection of secularism.-SANA

SRINAGAR: On the right to self-determination day on January 5, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control staged peaceful protests, organized seminars and signature campaigns reminding the United Nations about non-implementation of its resolution on Kashmir despite passing of 60 years.

Under the banner of Hurriyat Conference, thousands of people from across the held Valley participated in a signature campaign and sent a memorandum to UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, to register their protest against denial of right to self-determination to them. Similar memorandum was sent to UN by AJK chapter of Hurriyat Conference.

It was on this day in 1949 that the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution which recognised the right to self-determination of Kashmiris. It was for the first time since the Eidgah march in August last year that the Chairmen of two factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, shared the stage. They were first to put their signatures on the memorandum to UN.

Amidst pro-freedom slogans thousands of people participated in the signature campaign. Earlier, a seminar ‘Applicability of Right to Self-Determination in 21st Century and Kashmir Issue’ organized by Hurriyat Conference examined various aspects of UN resolutions on Kashmir, consequences of its non-implementation and present political situation in the Valley.

Chairman of Hurriyat (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, came down heavily on UN and India for failing to implement its resolutions on Kashmir. “We have been considering UN resolution as foundations of our struggle, but its role on Kashmir has been disappointing. By adopting cold approach on Kashmir, UN is as responsible as India in tyranny of Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said.

Mirwaiz said whenever international community stressed for resolution of Kashmir dispute, India diverts the issue terming it as its internal matter. “Everybody, including UN and India is talking about its interests. Nobody is bothered about the Kashmiris who are burning in cauldron of oppression unleashed by India troops to suppress the movement.”

Mirwaiz said the Kashmir dispute is the same as was in 1947. “The elections and change of guard could not change the nature of the dispute. India is systematically trying to build such institutions to get acceptability of Kashmiris. We have to break the status quo which India has been maintaining on Kashmir by virtue of its military might,” he said.

Mirwaiz said New Delhi by force has been able to silence the struggle during past few months but it can not suppress it. He said being signatory to UN resolutions, India has no legal authority on Kashmir. “That is why New Delhi conducted elections in presence of 10 lakh troops. It also sought votes from Kashmiris in lieu of basic facilities. However, it misrepresented the votes as referendum by Kashmiris to hoodwink the international community,” he said.

Mirwaiz said Government is bound to provide basic facilities. “India is not doing any favor to Kashmiris by providing facilities as they pay taxes. There is no shame in demanding the facilities. Let India leave Kashmir we will develop our own resources.”

Mirwaiz said if New Delhi is sincere, let it hold referendum in Kashmir. “Elections are no solution to the dispute. The successive regimes have only represented New Delhi in Kashmir. If any individual or organization will sincerely represent aspirations of Kashmiris in New Delhi, I will be the first to support them,” he said. “There are some black sheep who are hampering the movement. However, despite all the hindrances we pledge to continue our struggle till the dispute is resolved.” Mirwaiz said.

In his address, the Chairman of Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Geelani, said UN and India is legally bound to implement the resolutions. Geelani said India’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru also promised right to self-determination to Kashmiris.

“India is morally and legally bound to implement the UN resolutions. We will not let the sacrifices of martyrs go waste and will take the movement to its logical conclusion, but it is imperative people have to support us,” he said.

Geelani accused the National Conference of strengthening occupation of Kashmir. “Since 1947, NC has been implementing New Delhi’s anti-Kashmir policies. Its leadership has always stood to crush the people’s movements in Kashmir.”

Referring to good turnout in elections, Geelani accused New Delhi of cashing in on people’s weakness. “We’ve to accept that people voted for roads and jobs. But they had to adhere to our boycott call as elections were designed to suppress the movement. Now we have to forget the past and join hands to end the forcible occupation of India. We won’t let sacrifices of martyrs go futile,” he said.

Noted Columnist, Z G Muhammad, said unity among the pro-freedom parties is imperative for the movement. “There is division and conflict in our pro-freedom leadership. They seem to be suffering from defeatist mentality. History is testimony to the fact that movement for right of self-determination has been led by one party and leader.”

Elaborating, he referred to Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Nelson Mandela. “These leaders led the freedom struggle of their respective countries and succeeded. We have to rise above our personal interests and choose our leader for steering the sacred cause,” he added.

Noted academician, Dr Hameeda Nayeem, criticized the pro-freedom leadership for aborting the June uprising. “The leadership suspended the June uprising when it was at its peak. Mirwaiz surrendered before vested interests in Hurriyat. Geelani who thinks he is infallible also damaged the movement by calling off the agitation. For settling personal scores, they can’t take the people for granted,” she said.

She suggested the pro-freedom leadership to strengthen their presence at grass root level. “You have to opt between concession and conviction. If you are sincere you have to live up to the aspirations of Kashmiris,” she said while addressing the pro-freedom leaders. President of High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, dwelt on legal perspective of the UN resolutions. Among those present in the function included senior Hurriyat leaders Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Javid Ahmad Mir, Fazl-ul-Haq Qureshi and Shabir Dar.-SANA