“Misrepresentation of facts, misinterpretation of agreements and the imperialistic approach had made Kashmir issue as one of the complex issues of the contemporary history”: Amanullah KhanNisar Ahmed Thakur
Amanullah Khan, the renowned Kashmiri leader and the supreme head of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front is one amongst the pioneers of independence movement that was established in 1963.
Since then he has been courageously steering the movement of independent Kashmir with firm resolve, perseverance and unflinching faith that a day will finally come when bloody line, the line of control (LOC) will fall like Berlin Wall and suppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to retrieve the nationhood and the status what they had been enjoying during the times when Kashmir was a free, independent and sovereign state.
Born on August 24, August 1931 in Astore Gilgit, Mr. Khan was the only son of his father. He was just 3 years old when his father, Jummah Khan passed away leaving behind the bereaved family including his mother, step-mother and seven sisters. However, due to domestic circumstances he was compelled to be sent to Kashmir valley wherein he stayed at his sister’s home who was married to a school teacher Hashim Ali Khan of Highhama Kupwara.
After receiving early education there, he went to Srinagar wherein in 1950 he matriculated with highest first division. He was the only Muslim amongst first 20 students who passed the examination, held under the supervision of Kashmir University. Shameem Ahmed Shameem, the veteran writer and member of the Indian parliament was his class fellow. To carry forward his studies he took admission in S P College. Being self-supported and indeed a brilliant student he received special attention, and care from his teachers at the college.
Revolutionary by nature Mr. Khan was basically a staunch Pakistani who covertly started his activities as a volunteer freedom fighter in 1947 while he was studying in middle school. As a result of his pro-movement activities he was arrested and placed under lockup in a local police station at Handwara (Kupwara). In a highly embroiled political atmosphere in the state, Khan during his college life in the capital city Srinagar got involved in anti-Indian pro-Pakistan demonstrations. However, a clear ideology of independent Kashmir developed in his mind after migrating to Pakistan in 1952.
After an in-depth study of Kashmir history and the contemporary freedom movements of Palestine, Al-jazzier and Vietnam Mr. Khan by 1960 became a staunch campaigner of reunification and complete independence of Jammu and Kashmir. And since then he has been vociferously projecting Kashmir case both at national as well as international level.
Throughout his 40-years long political journey rather indulging in power politics Mr. Khan remained stick to his political philosophy and worked rigorously for strengthening and expanding the ideology of complete independence of Jammu and Kashmir. He has written three books, more than 57 comprehensive articles, 56 pamphlets and scores of leaflets on Kashmir.
To materialize his dream of free Kashmir Khan known as father of resistance movement, lunched armed struggle in 1988, with this objective to infuse new life to dying Kashmir issue.
Under his patronage the JKLF also made four historic attempts to cross the Line of control to express solidarity with the people of Indian administered Kashmir besides seeking world attention towards Kashmir issue.
In an exclusive interview with Great Kashmir, the aged leader and the JKLF supreme head Mr. Amanullah Khan talked about different aspects of his political struggle as well as the various dimensions of Kashmir imbroglio.
Mr. Khan what was the basic reason that you had to migrate to Pakistan?
Since my school life I have been involved in the movement by one way or the other way. You will be surprised to know that I was a staunch Pakistani. When I was studying in S P College Srinagar I along with my college fellows used to hold anti-India and pro-Pakistan demonstrations. Being a highly enthusiastic and devoted Pakistani I don’t even miss a chance to come out in the streets to launch anti-India protests. During my college life in Srinagar, there were three separate messes for the students in the Amar Singh College, Muslim mess, Hindu Mess and the Buddhist Mess. I was appointed as in charge of the Muslim mess and luckily the mess-managers had the privilege to have a separate room to live in. Therefore, I too was also given a separate room. When I migrated to Amar Singh College I was joined by some new friends there who used to come and stay with me for hours late night, wherein we used to discuss the contemporary issues.
It was 1951 when Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan was assassinated during a public rally at Liaqat Bagh Rawalpindi. It was big and indeed shocking news for every Kashmiri. But at the same time it was quite astonishing that the incumbent state government turned a deaf ear towards the incident and schools and colleges were open as usual. We too went to college; a Hindu teacher who was a close relative of P N Dhar as he entered into class room he just started teasing and passed some bigoted remarks regarding the assassination of Liaqat Ali Khan. One of our class fellows, interestingly his name was also Amanullah stood up and said we will not take class today we are going out to hold demonstration. Professor Dhar said, “No, not at all I will not allow you to go out”. In the meanwhile there was a heated argument between the teacher and the students. Any ways we finally succeeded in holding a protest and also offered funeral prayers in absence at Partab Park. So this was the sentiment at that time. At the same time, an FIR was lodged against the student, Mr. Amanullah my class fellow who argued with Mr. Dhar at the college.
Hailing from a highly influenced family Amanullah some how managed to change the father’s name mentioned in the FIR with the result I was supposed to be the ring leader of the riots that triggered in Srinagar after the assassination of Pakistani leader. One day, I was just sitting inside my room and some body knocked at my door. As I opened the door, I saw a Sikh head constable whom I had helped earlier. He came in and said Mr. Amanullah you have been badly involved in the case and you have no alternative but to leave the area immediately to save yourself as the charges levelled against you are very severe. Sikh constable said, “You have no one at your back to defend, once you are apprehended it will take you years to come out from jail, so you must leave the area unless the police hunt you down”. So this was actually the clumsy situation under which I had to leave my homeland heavy heartedly”.
Under the given circumstance I finally left for Jammu wherein I joined the family of late K H Khursheed and two other families who were on their way to Pakistan. In January, 1952 we crossed the border, entered into Pakistani territory via Sucheet Garh Sialkot.
What were your feelings at the time when you entered into Pakistani territory and how you managed to continue your studies and other day to day affairs?
It was a heart-rending scene you know as I entered into no man’s land I kissed the soil; it was the sentiment and indeed an indication as to what extent I was inclined to Pakistan. Anyways I don’t repent for what I did. But what was in fact shocking for me that after spending a few days with Muhammad Hussain, the father of K H Khursheed I went to Rawalpindi where I incidentally met with my cousin, Muhammad Ismaeel Khan who was a government employee and later retired as district commissioner. In order to continue my studies I wanted to take admission in Garden College Rawalpindi, but as we met the principal of the college he refused to grant me admission and said, “No this is not possible you can not seek admission in the college because we don’t acknowledge Kashmir University, you will have to appear in middle class exams again”. “Believe me it was like a “Jetka” a bolt from the blue. Any how it is a long history, to cut it short I finally went Peshawar wherein with the help of some sympathizers I succeeded in getting admission in Edwards College. In November 52 I went to Karachi where I took admission in Sindh Muslim College. After completing intermediate 1955 I did Bachelor’s degree 1956 and later graduated in law from University of Karachi in 1962.
Early years in Karachi were very tough for me, having no sufficient means to manage day to day affairs of life I had to even sleep on footpaths for a pretty long time. But thanks to almighty within a short span of time I was finally in a position to establish my own business there. First I started teaching in a Night School. Being a popular teacher I succeeded in establishing two private schools in Karachi.
So by 1961, I became financially self-sufficient and started monthly magazine “The Voice of Kashmir”.
What actually forced you to change the ideology and what was the reason behind this ideological shift?
You know Karachi is a big city where people of different tribes, different races and of course the people of different ideologies live together. So while living there I came across with the people hailing from different ideologies, even I had an opportunity to have interactions with the renowned freedom fighters of Algeria. Secondly, I was inspired by the contemporary freedom movements that were going on in Palestine, and Vietnam.
Particularly after Indo-Pak talks (Bhutto and Surran Singh) in 1963 we came to know that both the countries were planning to declare river Jehlum as international border and the state is being divided yet again (The story in this regard was published in the News Week). You know by this plan every district of Kashmir including Islamabad, Srinagar, Sopore and Baramulla were getting divided. In view the said situation, I thought to myself that we must provide an alternative idea to both the countries to resolve Kashmir issue that will help to keep in tact the geographical integrity of the state.
In this connection I called on my friend Ghulam Muhammad Lone who had an established business in the city and discussed the issue with him; he was also concerned over the recent developments. So we unanimously agreed that let us take an initiative and not allow the two countries to do so.
As for as the question of ideological shift is concerned, basically there are three main reasons on the basis of what one formulates his future line of action or joins any party having particular political ideology. (1) Either you get influenced by the character of any person, leader or any revolutionary personality (2). Or you have any vested interest on the basis of what you join any party. (3) There are some people who on behalf of their wisdom, knowledge, experience and their observations adopt a particular guide line and pursue their ideology to give practical shape to their designs.
Same is the case with me, as I earlier told you that during my stay in the metropolitan city (Karachi) I came across with the people of all the four provinces of Pakistan, I met with the poor, deprived and downtrodden people of the state and even the elites of the country. So whatever I learnt, bearing in mind the experience, knowledge and observations, particularly the attitude of the governments of India and Pakistan towards Kashmir and Kashmiris I finally came to the conclusion that independent Kashmir was the only solution that was in the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Later I started writing in magazines and newspapers just to promote independent ideology and in favour of independent Kashmir my first article was published in Pakistan’s leading newspaper “the Dawn” wherein I pleaded that independent Kashmir was an alternative solution to Kashmir imbroglio.
So what steps did you take in expanding the ideology of independence?
By 1963 in Karachi we were able to establish a group of committed patriots including Ghulam Muhammad Lone Sahib, Abdul Khaliq Ansari and several others, majority of them were journalists and lawyers. In the mean time, we established contacts with other nationalists including, Justice Majeed Malik, Nazki sahib of Lahore, Majeed Amjad Bhat and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat who had recently migrated from Kashmir and was working as an editor in local news paper “Anjam” in Peshawar. It was May 12 1963 we constituted Kashmir Independence Committee comprising of 15 members and Ghulam Muhammad Lone was appointed as convener of the committee. As usual I was publishing the “Voice of Kashmir” that was in fact a mouth piece of the KIC, most of the contents published in the magazine were reflecting the independent ideology that is why the people at the helm of affairs were not happy with me, many allegations were levelled against me. Any ways I tried a lot to continue it but due to bureaucratic hurdles I had to close the magazine.
1965 when Plebiscite Front was established in Kashmir, on the same pattern we formed Plebiscite Front in AJK and Pakistan. During its first ever session that was attended by Abdul Khaliq Ansari, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, Majid Amjad Bhat, Mir brothers of Jammu and several others we reiterated our resolve to fight for the noble cause until the last drop of our blood. You will be amazed to know that one of our colleagues during the meeting said that taking oath as usual makes no sense at all, in order to show loyalty and commitment with the cause we must go and bring soil from other side of the border and then take oath on it. It was some thing really attractive and at the same time inspiring as a result all of us rushed to Jammu-Sialkot border and one of our friends Majid Majeed Bhat could not control his emotions and he just jumped into no man’s land brought some soil from there. It was really heart-rending scene we all burst into tears while taking oath by holding the soil in our hands.
But it was very unfortunate that this front in Kashmir did not last for a long. Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was arrested by police as a result the Front suffered a great setback. And it was first time that we defied article 144 in Karachi by lodging a protest demo against his arrest. Any how during the first annual session of the Plebiscite Front held at Sialkot, I proposed to include the option of armed struggle in its manifesto, which was not accepted but the young members of the front including Shaheed Mabool Bhat admitted the fact that armed struggle was very important. Any ways as we left the venue I was a bit upset about what happened during the meeting.
While on the way back to Mirpore, we were just talking about the outcome of the meeting and many thoughts came to mind and all of a sudden an idea struck to mind that a few months ago I visited Peshawar wherein I had a meeting with Amanullah Khan who was a Major in British Army, during the casual talks he told me that being a trained army officer he was ready to render his services in the movement. At that time I did not say any thing to him but now I realized that time has come that we should seek help from him to move ahead.
From Mirpore, I left for Karachi but advised Mr. Bhat who was doing job in Peshawar to contact Major Amanullah. As I reached Karachi after a few days I received a telegram of Maqbool Bhat in which he had mentioned that “Business settled come soon”. I just contacted Mir Abdul Qayyum and showed him the telegram. So without any further delay we left for Peshawar where Bhat Sahib was anxiously waiting for us. There we held threadbare discussions on various issues and finally on 13th August 1965 we succeeded in establishing a new organization National Liberation Front. We were only five pioneers of the NLF and interestingly no portfolios were given to any of the founding members, although we divided the departments, Ghulam Muhammad Lone and Mir Qayyum were assigned to deal finance related issues, Major Amanullah, in charge armed wing, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat co-ordinator and I was given the task to deal political and publicity related affairs of the organization? This idea I had actually taken from Algerian FLN.
What were the prime objectives of the organization?
The basic reason to launch NLF was to fight through all possible means including armed struggle for a position for Kashmiris in which they are the sole masters of their motherland. So to give it a practical shape in June 1966, Mr. Bhat along with three other associates went to Kashmir just to educate the masses and to garner public support for the movement. But unfortunately M A Bhat was arrested as a result he had to remain in jail for two and a half years and finally he managed to escape from jail and returned to Pakistan in 1968. During this period the entire setup of the NLF in Pakistan was packed down and none of the pioneers was able to run it effectively. Any how we assembled again to discuss the the prevailing political situation and we agreed that we must do something unique to draw world attention towards the unresolved Kashmir issue. In the meantime the incident of Ganga Hijacking took place as a result the entire leadership of the NLF was yet again hunted down and send behind the bars. At that very time when Hashim Qureshi and his colleagues hijacked the Indian plane I was already in prison at Gilgit. However, I was later brought to Shahi Qilla, the most infamous prison. All of us were subjected to severe physical as well as mental torture. Qureshi and others were also arrested and later tried in the court. This was in fact a great set back to NLF and its leaders.
What was the court’s verdict against and have you actually been involved in this case?
Yes of course, but luckily the court’s verdict was in favour of we people and termed all of us including Mr. Ashraf one of the accomplices of Mr. Qureshi as big patriots however; the court maintained that Qureshi did it on the behest of India to spoil bilateral relations between the two countries.
Later in 1976, I went to England, and the same year Bhat Sahib went to Kashmir again, I heard news of his arrest while I was just leaving for London.
Since you have been close to each other, what is your personnel opinion about Maqbool Bhat?
Maqbool Bhat was a committed, ever confident and indeed a great patriot. As a close friend of mine, I am quite satisfied that I have fulfilled my responsibilities, I pleaded his case at diplomatic front. If I would not have pleaded his case he would have died like a common soldier.
You have been abroad and how long you have been in London and what sort of activities you carried out there to project Kashmiris’ cause?
“I have sweetest and even bitterest memories for the period while I was in UK”. I stayed there for almost 10 years, wherein I started to publish “The Voice of Kashmir” again. Later, we established Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front in 1977. Since I have been highly engaged in diplomatic activities, I travelled to many European countries and organised rallies and symposiums in all important capitals of the EU member countries. Even in New York we succeeded in holding a protest demo inside the UN General Assembly Hall (visitors Gallery) while Indian foreign minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was addressing. The JKLF activists who were sitting in the visitor’s gallery threw hundreds of leaflets into the Assembly Hall as Indian FM started his speech. This was a historic and indeed a unique event that within a few minutes the whole world became aware of the Kashmiris’ demands.
Even I held three press conferences in New York. Indian authorities were very much worried about my political activities and that is why Indian government demanded the UK government to push back me back.
So to deport me British police arrested me in 1985 on the pretext of fictitious case. However, the court’s decision came in my favour but the Home Minister gave a written statement saying that my stay in England was against their national interest and ultimately I was pushed back.
In which year you were deported by the British authorities and what were your feelings at that time?
In Dec 1986 I returned back to Pakistan, It was no doubt a bitter experience for me but I finally realized that political struggle can not only bear the fruits. Although politics and militancy was not my business, but I felt that I would have played an effective role on diplomatic front had there been a strong resistance movement in Kashmir.
You are known to be father of the ongoing armed struggle in Kashmir. So when and how you planned to launch the resistance movement?
As I told you when the political and diplomatic efforts of Kashmiris bore no fruits, we had no option but to wage an armed struggle to infuse new life to dying Kashmir issue and almost dead freedom movement. To bring the issue in light, the JKLF finally launched an armed struggle in 1988 just to achieve our inalienable right the right to self-determination. Even from this side of line of control the JKLF activists made four historic attempts to cross the bloody line, the LOC peacefully to draw the world attention towards the gravity of the unresolved issue.
As a result of this movement thousands of Kashmiri youths from both sides of the divided state participated in the armed struggle, laid down their precious lives to get the goal of freedom. Secondly it wiped off the black stain of cowardice for which the people of Kashmir were badly attributed to. Now no one can even dare to call Kashmiris as a week and cowardice nation. The third important change that I realized was that this struggle infused new spirit of nationhood amongst the masses, raised their self-confidence and the people of Jammu and Kashmir started to think like one nation.
Your have a pretty long political struggle, so what do you feel is the main reason that Kashmir issue has not been resolved till date?
Looking from a realistic and Kashmiri patriot’s point of view, unfortunately Kashmir issue has emerged as agonizing tale of shameful retractions by India and Pakistan from their solemn pledges, which they made with the people of Kashmir and the world community.
As a result of misrepresentation of facts, misinterpretation of agreements and the imperialistic approach this simple issue has emerged now as one of the complex issues of the contemporary history.
At the same time, it is also a painful saga of a halpless Kashmiri, who is being fired by one at the front while stabbed at the back by the other.
In short the selfish attitude of the governments of Indian and Pakistan, unpatriotic attitude on the part of Kashmiri leadership and a pathetic attitude of the international community have been the main reasons that Kashmir issue remains still unresolved.
You have also given a road map to resolve Kashmir issue peacefully so in your opinion what is the best possible solution of Kashmir issue?
Under the supervision of International Kashmir Committee (IKC) to be appointed by the UN secretary General with the consent and co-operation of India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership, the divided state of J&K should be reunited and declared as an independent state temporarily with a democratic, federal and secular system of government in place. Having friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries particularly with India and Pakistan who should under take this responsibility not to violate the border or interfere with internal affairs of the state.
The Kashmir as a temporary independent dominion should pledge not to allow its territory and its air-space to be used against any of her neighbours. Under the UN auspicious, after 15 years Kashmiri people should be given the right to choose political destiny whether they want to join India, Pakistan or they want to remain independent.
After holding free, fair and impartial plebiscite, the peoples’ democratic verdict should be accepted by all concerned parties i.e India, Pakistan, Kashmiris as well as the international community as a final settlement of the issue.
The IKC should compromise one nominee each from P-5 countries, European Union, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the organization of Islamic Countries, Germany and Japan.
I am sure this is the only way forward to address the longstanding issue that is not only peaceful, equitable, democratic and honourable solution but can also prove to be feasible and practicable under the given circumstances.
I believe that without addressing the aspirations of Kashmiri people, real peace in the region will remain illusive. At the same time I am confident that JKLF formula will solve Kashmir issue without shedding even one drop of blood.
What about peace talks going on between India and Pakistan, do you think they will be able to settle Kashmir issue?
Unless and until there is a change in the mindset on both sides, there will be no progress, however we support peace efforts we are not enemy of the people or sovereignty of Pakistan or India but we are fighting for Kashmiris’ inherent and internationally recognized right. And we believe that without recognizing Kashmiris’ right to self-determination the peace process can not yield positive results.
In view of the recent statements of the PPP leadership particularly Mr. Zardari one can easily presume how sincere they are with Kashmir and Kashmiris. So peace process can be viewed in many ways, there is no-doubt an opportunity but at the same time there are apprehensions and concerns that needs to be addressed with sincerity.
Critics say that Kashmir as an independent state can not survive economically what do you say?
Kashmir as a state has great economic potentials I am confident enough that after the reunification of divided state within a short span of time Kashmir will be the most peaceful, progressive and prosperous state in South Asia. We have breathtaking tourist resorts, immense water resources, natural resources including dense forests, minerals, fruit, timber and valuable herbs found in abundance in various parts of the state.
So under the prevailing circumstances where people and nations are inter-dependent, there is no second opinion that keeping in view the economic potentials Kashmir can emerge as a successful independent sovereign state.
Any message for the leadership or the people of Kashmir?
I was a staunch Pakistani even today as a well-wisher and sincere to Pakistan and its people, I wish Pakistan to be prosperous and a strong nation. But so for as my political ideology is concerned: I have neither compromised nor retracted from my principled stance. As I believe that the right to self-determination is the essence of freedom. By giving away this right out-rightly, I wonder that what sort of freedom you are talking of.
So Kashmiri leadership has to be very clear regarding the peoples’ inalienable right that is right to self-determination. Secondly apart from see sawing policy they will have to adopt an unambiguous line of action just to achieve the cherished goal.
There is a dire need to have clarity of vision, clarity of destination, self-confidence and self-respect within the leadership otherwise confusion and chaos will continue to hunt the hapless people of Kashmir.
Are you satisfied with your struggle and do you see any solution of Kashmir issue in near future?
Thanks to almighty, I am satisfied with my struggle; I did what I could. However, I am not satisfied with the result. So for as the solution of Kashmir issue is concerned, I can’t just predict but it is my unflinching faith that a time will certainly come when Kashmiri people will get their right for which they have offered matchless sacrifices.
