NISAR AHMED THAKUR
Islamabad, Aug 4: Sardar Ali Shahnawaz Khan, the executive Director of Oslo-based Kashmiri Scandinavian Council (KSC) is one of the effective lobbyists playing an important role to highlight Kashmir issue on international level.
Hailing from the scenic Rawlakot (Pak) 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.
Living comfortably in Norwegian progressive society, his devotion and patriotism forced him to launch a platform to seek world community’s help to resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
With this objective, Khan and his aides launched Kashmir Scandinavian Council to create a better understanding of the Kashmir imbroglio before the Norwegian government, people, and other social organs of the country.
Owing to his efforts, the KSC was able to establish All Parties Group on Kashmir in the Norwegian parliament that has been painstakingly engaged in seeking public support in favour of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Besides his services on diplomatic front, Khan is a strong promoter of peace and inter-faith harmony. During the recent cartoon controversy, Khan played a key role in bridging the ever-widening gap between Muslims and Christians of Nordic nations for which he received world-wide appreciation.
In an interview with Greater Kashmir, Ali Shahnawaz Khan spoke on various aspects of Kashmir issue as well as on his engagements in Norway and other western countries.
Mr. Khan you have been engaged on the diplomatic front for long. To what extent have you been able to promote the Kashmir cause in Norway and other countries?
Several people abroad have been pleading for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute. Norway has a long history of supporting peace deals around the world. It has a great respect for human values and the very fundamental rights of the peoples living in various parts of the world. Likewise, the country has a unique and, indeed, a clear stance on Kashmir; it supports the UN Security Council resolutions on the issue and believes that Kashmiri people are the masters of their own destiny.
I along with my friends formed the Kashmiri-Scandinavian Council in January 1999. Since then, the KSC has been working effectively to draw the attention of the Government and the people of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland towards the plight of Kashmiris.
Over the years, the KSC has been able to bring the Kashmir issue on the centre stage with the result peace loving people in Norway by and large support the efforts going on for the peaceful settlement of the dispute by bringing all its parties on the negotiating table.
What was the spirit that persuaded you to take this initiative on diplomatic front?
The liberation struggle started in Kashmir in 1988. Because of my emotional attachment with the people of Kashmir, I was curious to know about them, their struggle and the way they were fighting for their cause. I had a great passion to do something for them. Until 1992, I had never talked to anyone from the Indian-administered Kashmir. The first person I spoke to was Dr. Ayoub Thakur. When I talked to him on telephone, I could not just control my emotions, I burst into tears. I cried, you know, I could not even speak at that moment. It was not just because of Dr. Thakur. Rather it was my innate emotional affiliation with Kashmiri people. So this over-enthusiastic attitude of mine left a huge impact on him as well, which is why he invited me to London.
I went to UK in 1993; Dr Thakur met me like a father and really encouraged me. A nuclear scientist, he was the only person working for the cause in Europe at that time. I was inspired by the way he was living in UK. His simple but sober life style and his personal contribution and sacrifices for Kashmir struggle inspired me a lot.
Any ways I got a lot of information from him, later I established links with Kashmiri leadership including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq the chairman of Hurriyat Conference. Although I met him a few years back but I had regular contacts with him on phone.
Secondly, my wife, Saiqa Khan, who unfortunately died three and half years ago, played a great role in this; she was a devoted lady who used to arrange meetings with various people as well as those working for humanitarian cause in Norway. It was actually my passion that persuaded me to get involved in the movement.
Being a Kashmiri, I thought if we cannot provide financial assistance to about seven million people in Kashmir, we must at least work for their legitimate cause. Therefore, we decided to launch a campaign in Norway to mobilize public opinion in favour of Kashmiris’ rights movement.
So we met with different people, parliamentarians and lawmakers and apprised them of the political situation in Kashmir and, finally, in collaboration with my Norwegian and Kashmiri friends, we formally agreed to form Kashmiri Scandinavian Council, a purely non-profitable organization.
Would you like to mention briefly the aims and objectives of the organization and its achievements?
The prime objectives of the KSC are:
to promote a better understanding of the Kashmir imbroglio among the Scandinavian people, media, humanitarian and social organizations;
to strive at all levels within the Norwegian and Scandinavian frame work for building a favourable public opinion for implementation of the United Nations resolutions of 1948 and 1949, which gave the people of Jammu and Kashmir the right to self-determination;
to draw the attention of the Government of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finnland and the parliamentarians to the plight of Kashmiris, and garner support for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue by bringing all concerned parties to the dispute to the negotiating table;
to urge the Scandinavian leaders, the Heads of Government and the Secretary General of the United Nations to act more quickly and effectively in halting massive violations of human rights in Indian-administered Kashmir and to assist parties to find a peaceful and lasting solution of the world’s oldest dispute; and,
to highlight the atrocities being inflicted on the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and to uphold and defend the human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Though KSC is an independent organization, but it has affiliation with Kashmir centres working in Washington, Brussels and UK. One of its major achievements is that due to its efforts Kashmir dispute was discussed in the Norwegian parliament. Secondly, a debate was initiated in parliament against India’s bid to become a member of the Security Council. As a result the government of Norway discussed Kashmir issue with Indian government several times.
The formation of the Norwegian Parliamentary Group on Kashmir in 1999 was a major success of the KSC on the diplomatic front. A member of Norway’s influential Foreign Relations Committee and high profile aide to the then Norwegian prime minister, Lars Rise, was the first founding head of the parliamentary group.
The Council successfully managed to arrange a number of visits by leading members of the Parliamentary Group to Pakistan, AJK and Indian-administered Kashmir in 2000.
What is your opinion about the UN Resolutions on Kashmir?
The UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir are vital, well-founded, relevant and applicable. In fact, these distinguish Kashmir dispute from other issues of contemporary history. Otherwise, if you talk of basic human rights issues, thousands of people are victims of violence around the world. Like in Rwanda, Africa, Iraq and other parts of the world, people are terribly suffering. But, what makes Kashmir issue a different case are the Security Council resolutions that acknowledge Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and provide a strong basis to Kashmiri people to fight for their legitimate cause. I think this is the only weapon by which you can build pressure on India thereby seeking world body’s support.
Do you think Norway can play a mediator’s role to settle Kashmir dispute peacefully?
Of course, Norway has been very active in peace diplomacy. Being an independent and self-reliant nation, it has effectively played a role of facilitator or mediator in more than 200 conflicts around the world. People usually like Norway because of having no hegemonic or colonial designs.
It has a track human rights record. So, being a harbinger of peace and human rights, Kashmiris have no objection in case it plays a mediator’s role to bring about a peaceful solution of the imbroglio. But the problem is with India that has been opposed to third party intervention.
What about President Pervez Musharraf’s 4-point formula as critics have been saying that these were contrary to the UN Security Council resolutions?
As a matter of the fact 4-point formula of President Musharraf does in no way negate the UN resolutions. Pakistan government has time and again made it clear that there has been no change in the official stance and reiterated their demand to resolve Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people. No doubt he talked about the out of the box solution but practically he did not say that UN resolutions are no more valid. However, the flexibility shown by president Musharraf amply demonstrated the fact that Pakistan is committed to resolve dispute amicably. At that time when president Musharraf came up with this formula, I think it was a positive move, the initiative gained world wide acknowledgement and acceptance and resultantly there was a lot of pressure on government of India. Diplomatically, Pakistan got a strong political and diplomatic support. I think it was a calculated move, Pakistan was well aware of the fact that India will not give positive response. But Pakistan has successfully been able to convey this message to whole world that Pakistan is a peaceful nation and wants an amicable settlement of Kashmir dispute.
What about peace process?
With the changing global scenario, we must support the peace process. The Kashmiri leadership and the people even support peace talks. What, however, they insist on is that the process should be meaningful and result-oriented. There is logic in it as they feel India is adopting delaying tactics to suppress the ongoing struggle. Nevertheless, I believe the peace process is very important and it must be pursued by seeking support of the peace loving nations.
Do you think there is a change in Indian policy so far as the solution to Kashmir dispute is concerned?
I can’t just say that India is non-serious but what I personally feel is that New Delhi has not been able to reciprocate the flexibility demonstrated by Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership. One thing is clear that there is a lot of pressure on India as it cannot ignore the world opinion.
Do you think Kashmir dispute can be resolved bilaterally?
History is witness to the fact that both the nations have failed to settle the decades old dispute bilaterally, but the way the peace process is going on it is obvious that there is a third party involvement. And, we hope that in view of the larger interests of the people of the subcontinent both the countries would resolve the dispute amicably.
What about reunification of Hurriyat factions?
Reunification move is imperative as Kashmiris have to have one leadership, primarily a solid and vibrant political platform, to strengthen the movement on all fronts. Therefore, the pro-movement leadership must get united and those who are really sincere with the cause must do it immediately without further delay. If you are not a part of the solution then you are a part the problem. Bearing in mind the sacrifices of the people, they must bury their differences and get united in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
What about the cross LoC trade, do you see any drawback in getting engaged in a sort of business-related activities in the conflict zone?
I don’t think trade along ceasefire line can have any negative impacts on the movement, I think there is nothing wrong. Instead, the trade between the two parts of state can help to develop better understanding amongst the people. However, I don’t believe in the terminologies like line of peace, or line of commerce. I just believe that it is a ceasefire line; it will remain ceasefire line, unless the issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kahsmiri people.
No doubt, it is a conflict zone, but your theory will not work under the given circumstances as there is a role for the international community as well. You just cannot ignore the international aspect involved in the whole process.
