ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the resolution of Kashmir dispute is the realization of the right of self-determination of the people Jammu and Kashmir which is enshrined in the UN Charter. Addressing the Kashmir Solidarity Day Convention in Islamabad on Thursday, he said this right was promised to the Kashmiris by the international community more than six decades ago, but regrettably these fundamental rights continues to be denied to them.

He said the norms of justice, international law and the UN Security Council resolutions were violated while blatant human rights violations by the Indian security forces continue unabated.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said that generations of Kashmiris have rendered countless sacrifices for this just cause which remains unrealized. Over ninety two thousand Kashmiris have lot their lives. Countless others have suffered all kinds of atrocities. He said there is no let up in the oppressive military presence and torture, extra judicial killings, disagreement of women, arbitrary detentions and fake encounters remain the order of the day.

Prime Minister said the indigenous uprising in Kashmir fueled by the Amarnath Shrine land issue last year has added another sad chapter to the sufferings of the Kashmiris. He said in hour of trial, suffering and struggle of the Kashmiris, the people and the government of Pakistan stood firmly with their Kashmiri brethren. He said the leadership of Pakistan, have condemned the brutal use of force by the Indians, and demanded them to respect the human rights of the people of Kashmir.

He said before the Mumbai incident, Pakistan was constructively engaged with India under the Composite Dialogue process. The Kashmir issue was a critical component of that dialogue. He said Pakistan has stressed the need for engagement and resumption of the Composite Dialogue.

He said we have impressed upon India and the rest of the world that focus of the efforts of the two countries should remain on countering terrorism which is the real issue. Prime Minister said Pakistan has been affected by terrorism and is therefore determined to deal with it unilaterally, bilaterally, regionally and globally.

He said we have further stressed that counter-terrorism requires pragmatic cooperation rather than resorting to hostile propaganda or threat of use of force. He said Pakistan hope that the peace process would resume soon and become result oriented in addressing all outstanding issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the world powers have, once again, reiterated their concern on the centrality of this festering dispute to the peace efforts and called for its early resolution. He said we fully support, and indeed encourage, international efforts to this end.

The Prime Minister said the observance of 5th February as Solidarity Day is a singular reaffirmation of our commitment of solidarity with the people of Kashmir and we would continue to observe this day till such time that the heroic struggle of Kashmiris to achieve their right to self-determination reaches its logical conclusion.

He assured Kashmiris that Pakistan will continue to support the cause of Kashmir through peaceful political means. Concluding he prayed and hoped that the future generations of Kashmiris will be spared from the anguish of brutality and of foreign occupation

In his speech, President of Azad Kashmir Raja Zulqarnain Khan said Kashmiris don’t want war between Pakistan and India but peace can only be established through resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said the two countries arrived at an understanding for various confidence building measures but the fact remains that solution of Kashmir conflict would be the biggest confidence building measure.

He expressed gratitude of Pakistan for its consistent support to the cause of Kashmiri people and providing valuable support during hours of trial like earthquake of 2005. Speaking on the occasion the Federal Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamaruz Zaman Kaira said that the people and the government of Pakistan would continue its moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause to its logical conclusion.

He said the settlement of the Kashmir Issue is imperative for the durable peace in South Asia. He said due to the tragic incident of Mumbai the Indian government got an excuse to suspend the composite dialogue. He said we are committed to initiate the peace process with India.

The Chairman of Kashmir Committee of the Parliament Mualana Fazalur Rehman said that we are not observing solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren in certain dates and month but they are an integral part of our body and life. This solidarity could not be reduced or weaken by any force.

He said the Kashmiri people have begun which struggle for seeking the right to self-determination Pakistani people is with them as the whole international community is agreed to give them their birth right.

Mualana Fazalur Rehman said members of the Kashmir Committee would visit Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Niger next month and would also lobby for the Kashmir cause on the occasion of OIC summit in Damascus in May this year. He said the Committee is of the view that lobbying should be done to have contact group on Kashmir in the European Union as well.

Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Council Mohammad Yasin Malik urged the Kashmiris and Pakistanis to sit down and chalk out a single strategy to resolve this issue. He said in the held Kashmir we have a transition from violent act to non violent as demanded by the world community and they are appreciating it.He said the whole civilized world is condemning the Mumbai incident. He said we must adopt a collective policy and should convey one only message by one voice.-SANA

To the Honourable Mr President,
President Barack Hussein Obama.

We wish you are in the best of health and high-spirits.

Mr. President, we are writing to you as a group of concerned American, foreign, and Pakistani students who would like to bring your attention to the world’s longest-standing flashpoint. It is our belief that a watershed has been reached where some common-sense needs to prevail in South Asia with regards to India-Pakistan relations. We recognize and appreciate some of the statements that you have made with regards to that but we urge you to accept with utmost seriousness that the Kashmir Dispute has lingered on for far too long. We ask you to offer the best of your offices to facilitate and mediate a speedy resolution to the disputed conflict of Jammu and Kashmir.

For over 60 years, the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been a source of intense bitterness and discord between India and Pakistan.

In 1947, after the Partition of the British colony of India, Kashmir’s Maharajah ceded to the Indian Union. However, the principle enshrined in the Partition of British India was that ascension was to be based on the notion of Muslim-majority provinces & princely states be given to Pakistan while Hindu-majority territories forming India.

There was also the Princely State of Hyderabad, a state with a Muslim Nawab and a Hindu majority. India’s armed forces annexed the Princely State of Hyderabad through the illegal use of Indian Armed Forces on the logic that Hyderabad was Hindu-majority even though the Nawab had expressed his intentions of joining Pakistan. Similar, was the fate of the Princely State of Junagardh.

On hearing the news of the Maharajah of Kashmir joining the Indian Union without the consent of the Kashmiri masses – an undemocratic move indeed – the populace of the state and adjoining areas revolted against the Maharajah. This meant Pakistan and India were juxtaposed for their first war that neither side had wanted. While for India this was tantamount to land grab, for Pakistan this was an attempt to defend its very rationale for existence as a state.

Mr. President, Resolution 47 of the United Nations Security Council, passed in 1948, stands as a source of truth and justice to resolve this dispute between India and Pakistan. This is in line with the long standing principle that has held the international system together since Westphalia – the right to self-determination.

India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, then why, we ask does it not adhere to the words of its own co-founding father, Jawaharlal Nehru who affirmed his faith in a free and fair plebiscite to let the Kashmiris decide their fate? Why, we ask, has the international community and more importantly America been silent to this gross violation of the ‘self-determination’ principle of International Relations?

Mr President, just like the founding fathers of the United States of America made innumerable sacrifices by raising voice against the tyranny of the monarchy and for exercising their right to self-determination, do the people of Kashmir not deserve that same unalienable right to rid themselves of a tyrannical rule that they have never accepted?

Mr. President, Pakistanis and Kashmiris are only seeking what is just and fair. The Pakistani state and people have been long-standing allies of the United States and its peoples. We joined forces with your nation to defeat the threat of Communism in Afghanistan. What did we receive in return? That humiliating Pressler Amendment which crippled our defence needs based on arbitrary, unilateral and comatose efforts by lobbyists.

Mr. President, we consider this our duty to point out to you that Pakistan did not introduce nuclear weapons to South Asia – our neighbour to the east did. Now we watch in deep horror as America gifts our eastern neighbour with nuclear technology and next generation reactors even though India has not ratified either the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. This is a clear break from tradition when America believed in the power of treaty and customary laws.

Such provisions also challenge the America’s long standing position of being ‘fair’ to both nuclear states in the subcontinent. However, now Pakistan is being denied this fairness and just treatment while we carry the tag of a ‘Major Non-NATO Ally’.

Mr. President, coming to the War on Terror, how many Americans are aware that 8000 Pakistani civilians have lost their lives last year as a result of terrorist attacks? Do the think-tanks that churn out anti-Pakistan rhetoric not see the price being paid by Pakistan or are they oblivious to glaring hard realities?
Pakistan has become the frontline state in the War on Terror yet we receive a paltry amount of development aid and security aid that is not enough to tackle a hardened Taliban insurgency and growing economic crisis that the world financial crisis has triggered. Pakistan lacks duty-free access to American and European markets. Such provisions would allow for economic liberty to emerge with a new dynamic in our country and hence reduce the threat posed by extremism. We point these issues out to open some eyes in Washington to the dynamics which are plaguing South Asia and converging into a mega issue which can cause rapid destabilization of the region while spirally in to a major international crisis.

Respected Sir, you may not be aware, but India has defaulted on it’s pledge to the world community, to Pakistan, to the People of Kashmir, and to human conscience; for it has failed to carry the plebiscite which it had agreed to under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 47.

Sir, are you aware of what really is happening in Kashmir? Mr. President, 100,000 civilians have been killed in conflict which began in the early 1990’s as a result of a heavy Indian military presence and their brutal methods in the occupied state. The Indian mainland has actively engaged in attempts to alter the natural demographics of the Kashmir Valley. Over 50,000 Kashmiri Hindus have fled the valley, as a result of increased communal tensions due to India’s denial of a plebiscite – communal violence that plagues India proper as well. This is not of Pakistan’s doing, but India’s failure; for this adamant daughter of a once wise civilization denies Kashmir her democratic rights.

This past summer of 2008, Kashmiri separatists eschewed violence in favour for peaceful non-violent protests. Hundreds and thousands of Kashmiris, upwards of half a million poured out on to the streets to protest Indian rule. The result? Indian security forces gunned down 70 unarmed protestors in broad daylight. For the past 60 years, India’s Independence Day is marked as a ‘Black Day’ by Kashmiris as they hoist black flags in defiance to illegal Indian rule. One only needs look in to reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to discover the plethora of evidence of Indian atrocities, not to forget the discovery of thousands of unmarked mass graves in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

India also continues to plan and build mega-dam projects that are a blatant violation of the standards laid down by the Indus River Water Treaty between itself and Pakistan. This has resulted in Pakistan’s two most important rivers, The Chenab and the Ravi, being choked as India illegally tampers with the water topography of Kashmir. This has started to pose acute problems and threatens the very existence of Pakistan’s agriculture-based economy. It also threatens two of Pakistan’s provinces with acute water shortages, with adverse effects on crops and the Pakistani people. This also affects Pakistan’s hydroelectricity generation capacity – already plagued by acute energy crisis – further damaging our capacity to ensure economic liberty and the prospect of upward social mobility. Does the United States not see these violations?

Mr. President, we want the People of Pakistan and the People of Kashmir – whether the latter chooses independence or union with Pakistan – to have every right to exercise their aspirations whether that is to live with human dignity and/or the right to upward social mobility. The current conflict has taken a heavy toll on the Pakistani masses while also has resulted in unimaginable suffering for the Kashmiri masses. We can forgive those who have been afraid of dark in the past and have not embraced rationality, but we cannot forgive those who are afraid to accept the light. The light, Mr. President, is democracy. This has two loose ends that will have to be tied up. America has to give up its love affair with dictatorships in Pakistan and Kashmir has to be entitled to a democratic exercise to determine its own destiny. Freedom beckons for Kashmir as Kashmir bleeds under the yoke of a million-strong illegal Indian military occupation. You alluded to Iran unclenching its fist, but what about India unclenching not just its fist but unloading that shotgun it has placed on the heart of Kashmir?

We ask upon you to fix this historic injustice and to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their unalienable right to self-determination and democratic exercise to choose their own destiny, whether it be with India, Pakistan, or as a free nation-state in the comity of Nations – such as Kosovo has done. Sir, you are in a position to act. Mr. President, prove to us the merit of playing by the rules and set a strong precedent that the international system can work for the weak as well and not just the strong. Because sooner or later, if the prospect is not shown to the masses that the international system supports justice and not just profits, then playing by the rules will seem distateful and paradoxical as we would have come to the realization that we are not considered part of the game.

P.S: Please see the thousands of signiatures and more profoundly a light we have lit for you on this website; www.plebiscitekashmir.com

Regards ,

Haroon S. Ellahi Shaikh and Saad Syed
Society For Plebiscite Agaisnt Occupation
________________________________________________________________

Editor’s Note:
Pakistan Times received this letter from Mr. Ellahi Haroon. Since an important issue has been highlighted in this letter by Ellahi Haroon and Saad Syed, Editor has published this letter because it is not only a valuable food for thought for the readers of Pakistan Times but Editor is hopeful that message reaches to right destination.

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

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for the implementation of the UN resolutions to pave way for a sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Sharif as its capital. Speaking in a UN General Assembly debate, Pakistani delegate Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said solution to the Palestinian issue requires nothing less than Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied territories.

Referring to the grave situation in Gaza, he urged Israel to seriously reconsider its policies which were endangering the lives of the besieged Palestinian people and also the peace process.

He said it is time to turn a new page for peace and stability in this region and security across the globe for generations. The Pakistani delegate urged the international community particularly the Quartet to ensure that urgent steps are taken to remove all impediments for peace.-SANA

NEW DELHI : India has slammed the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for its statement on Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as “uncalled for and irresponsible,” and asserting that India did not need any advice regarding protection of human rights of its citizens. “We regret that the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a statement on the situation in J and K. This is uncalled for and irresponsible. India does not need any advice in respect of the protection and promotion of the human rights of its citizens,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in response to a question. Read the full story

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the international community particularly United Nations, OIC and human rights organizations to take notice of grave human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. Responding to questions by newsmen at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Wednesday, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said in the wake of brutal killing of Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz and other activists by Indian forces, Pakistan has set in motion the process to raise the issue at various levels. Read the full story

ISLAMABAD: The executive Director of Oslo-based Kashmiri Scandinavian Council (KSC) Sardar Ali Shahnawaz Khan, is one of the most effective lobbyists playing an important role in highlighting the Kashmir issue on international level. Hailing from the scenic Rawlakot valley, Khan migrated to Norway in 1986. After his formal schooling, he got Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Norway, at the same time he got diploma in Information Technology. As a Norwegian citizen, he joined politics in 1992 and is a member of the Christian Peoples’ Party, one of the mainstream political parties of the country. Read the full story