RTC hails resumption of Indo- Pak talks

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Feb 23: Experts and Kashmiri leaders on Wednesday hailed the resumption of Indo-Pak talks and reiterated that Kashmir dispute should be resolved peacefully.  

Participants at a seminar organised by JF-London

Speaking at a Round Table Conference hosted by Justice Foundation London here on Wednesday the speakers deliberated on the various aspects of the Kashmir dispute, they reiterated that the international agreements arrived at the UN with regard to Kashmir need to honored saying that the India’s bid to secure seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should be linked to the settlement of the long-pending Kashmir dispute.

Welcoming the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan the speakers said that the talks won’t yield positive results if centrality of Kashmir dispute was not accepted. They said that Kashmiris being the primary party to the dispute has to be associated with the process to make it a credible and result-oriented exercise.

Progress of dialogue they said requires and international facilitation and good will. They maintained that Kashmir was a political issue and therefore had to be settled peacefully in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiris who have rendered matchless sacrifices to achieve their cherished goal of freedom.

They also urged the British parliamentarians to play their role in seeking a peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute.

Speaking on the occasion, British parliamentarians Richard Harrington said that a broad based consensus within the Kashmiri leadership on the issue of Kashmir was must to move forward collectively in a very judicious manner.

Andrew Giffits said while expressing solidarity with Kashmiri people said that the British Parliamentarians and the people in the corridors of power in Britain were concerned about plight of Kashmiris.  “And human miseries in the region must end”, he added. Simon Danzcuk while assuring full support to Kashmiris’ Right to Self-Determination said that human rights violations were the biggest challenge for humanity. He said demilitarization would really help to alleviate sufferings of Kashmiri people. 

PaK president, Raja Zulqarnain Khan said that stolen property (Kashmir) can’t be sold on and on. Rather than opening up new Pandora boxes by presenting new suggestion and formulas Khan said that the international community should impress upon India to implement the relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan the prime minister of PaK said “The horrendous situation in this region keeps undecided not only the destiny of 15 million Kashmiris but it also jeopardizes the peace, security and progress of entire South Asia, with a population of over 1.5 billion”.

Reefing to Dr Farooq Abdullah’s recent statement Khan said, “Dr. Farooq may visit any part of Pakistan or Azad Jammu and Kashmir any time and I offer, Dr Farooq and myself take green Kashmiri tea together at Chakothi, at Suchetgarh. From our side he said that no bar stands in the way.

About CBMs he said, “We wish to see all roads and routes opened between all parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir”.

He maintained that the dispute of Kashmir was inseparably linked with the grand settlement of South Asian subcontinent, where three parties Muslim League, Congress and Britain were engaged in the negotiations that peacefully culminated in the shape of two sovereign states India and Pakistan. Same approach he said has to be followed to settle Kashmir dispute by involving all the three parties india, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir in the talks.

In his opening statement Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl the chairman of justice foundation said, “the envisioned peace process by the political leadership of India and Pakistan could change the course of South Asia provided the political will of both the countries be forthcoming”.

Highlighting the essential components in the peace process for Kashmir he said that there was a dire need to bring a quality of change in the HR situation in the region and ensuring positive engagement of all the actors on the ground.

He said that the CBMs have so far remained cosmetic saying that there was a dire need to promote unhindered cross border movement and allowing reunions between the divided families living across the divide.

He said that trade facilities should be enhanced to strengthen economy of the Jammu and Kashmir state on both sides.

Dr. Fai said that the USA had played very important role in internationalizing the Kashmir dispute. Expressing dissatisfaction over the out-come of talks he said that there was no impact of talks on the streets of Srinagar.  He made it clear that killings in Kashmir and peace talks between india and Pakistan cannot go together. 

Referring to Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s recent statement he said that the former Pakistan FM had rightly mentioned that there would be no progress in the dialogue unless Kashmir was part of the Indo-Pak talk’s agenda.

G. M Safi said that India’s intransigence was the stumbling block in the way of peace and urged the international community to play its role to help resolve dispute peacefully in accordance with the wishes and will of the people.

Tajamull Islam while highlighting the attributes peaceful uprising in Kashmir said that world powers can’t remain indifferent to a process of change in a very sensitive part of the world. He said that the dispute of Kashmir has a substantive and well founded international legal and historical context without which it cannot be addresses in its real perspective.

Terming the British parliament as mother of all parliaments Muhammad Farooq Rehmani Chairman of Peoples’ Freedom League said that the UK should fully support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. He said that the proposals like self-governance and joint management were nothing but to deceive Kashmiri people.   

It is pertinent to note here that on the request of JKLF-R leader Shoib Ahmed Shah one minute silence was observed in honor of the victims of Kunan Posh Pora where scores of Kashmiri women were” allegedly” raped by Indian troops during a nocturnal raid on 23 February 1991.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Lord Nazir Ahmed, KAC chief Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Prof. Nazir Ahmed Shawl the director of Justice Foundation, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Sheikh Tajammul Islam, Ghulam Nabi Nosheri, Justice Majeed Malik, Khalid Ibraheem, Abdul Rashid Turabi, Sardar Anwar, Shoib Shah and others whereas the PaK premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and Raja Zulqarnain Khan
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Play role in K-issue resolution: UNIW to int’l community

Assures Full Support To Kashmir Cause

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Kashmir Conference hosted by UNIW

Muzaffarabad, Feb 20: The delegates at an international conference hosted by Istanbul based Union of NGOs of the Islamic World here today urged the international community to play its pivotal role in settling the long-pending Kashmir dispute to the satisfaction of India, Pakistan and the people of J&K.

The conference “Kashmir Dispute and its International Dimensions” was attended by the UNIW representatives from 27 Islamic countries, including Turkey, South Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.

PaK President Raja Zulqaranin Khan, premier, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, KAC chief Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, APHC-G convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Syed Yousuf Naseem, were the prominent speakers in the event in which JKLF leader Rafique Ahmed Dar and Dr. Waleed Rasool were also present.

PaK president, Raja Zulqarnain Khan highlighted the Turkish government’s stance over Kashmir. He said the country had supported Pakistan’s principle stance and wants an amicable solution in line with Kashmiris’ aspirations. Khan was of the view that APHC should establish Kashmir center in Istanbul to keep the Turkish people abreast about the Kashmir situation.

Prime Minister, Sardar Attique Khan said Kashmiris want a durable peace in South Asia. Terming Kashmiris as a peaceful nation, Khan maintained that Kashmiris offer themselves to be the peace bridge between Indian and Pakistan. “We as a nation are not against any country in the region or against any peace initiative”, he said. 

Highlighting the international dimensions of the ongoing non-violent movement in Kashmir, Dr. Fai said, “Kashmir is not a fight between Hindus and Muslims, nor it is a struggle between theocracy and secularism”. He said Kashmir was about hopes and aspirations of 16 million people of Kashmir irrespective of religious background and cultural affiliations.

Dr. Fai who is also member of the board of trustees of UNIW said world in general and Indian intelligentsia in particular had accepted the fact that the latest uprising in J&K was indigenous, popular and non-violent.

APHC leaders, Ghulam Muhammad Safi and Syed Yousuf Naseem stressed for the early settlement of the Kashmir dispute and said Kashmiris had offered great sacrifices for their cherished goal.

The Conference adopted over a dozen resolutions demanding international community to settle the issue peacefully.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Ahmed Azam Abdu-ur-Rehman from Malaysia, Abdul Hameed Almzaroo from Saudi Arab, Ali Kurt Turkey, S M Rashidu Zaman from Bangladesh, Achmat Sadiq from South Africa.

Kashmir resolution key to regional peace: Dr Fai

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 18: Terming resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan as a positive development, the Executive Director of Washington based Kashmiri American Council, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai has said the two countries had no choice, but to address the Kashmir dispute for the sake of peace and prosperity in South Asia.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Dr Fai said, “It is agreed that the dialogue is the only way to reduce tension, but the ultimate objective of the talks should be the settlement of the long-standing issue of Kashmir that happens to be the root-cause of tension in the region”.

Underling the gravity of Kashmir issue, Dr. Fai said, Kashmir should be on top of agenda during the forthcoming Indo-Pak talks.

Quoting Pakistan Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said Kashmiri leadership fully endorse PM Gilani’s statement in which he mentioned that dialogue would be meaningful if Kashmir was part of the agenda.

Drawing parallels between Egyptian uprising and the present non-violent movement in Kashmir, he said, “The important message for the people of Kashmir from the streets of Egypt is that non-violent indigenous movements cannot be suppressed by the use of brute force”. The second important aspect of the movement he pointed out was that “it is the will of the people that ultimately prevails”.

He however maintained that there was a vast difference between the movements going on in the two regions as there was no oppression against the peaceful protestors in Egypt while on the other hand the Government of India had “deployed  over than half a million troops to suppress Kashmiris struggle for right to self-determination.”

Replying to a query, he said there was dire need that the Hurriyat leadership should evolve a joint strategy to take the ongoing movement to its logical end.

Lauding Kashmiris’ political resolve, he said the movement had now been transformed into new generations which was having international acceptance owing to its non-violent and indigenous character.

Dr. Fai is scheduled to participate in an international conference being organized by coalition of NGO’s of Islamic World on February 20 at Muzaffarabad.

UN resolutions only way to settle K-dispute: PaK Prez

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Feb, 17 2011: AJK president talking to Dr.G N Fai

Islamabad, Feb 17: The President of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) K Raja Zulqarnain Khan on Thursday reiterated that Kashmir issue could only be resolved by implementing United Nations resolutions.  

While talking to a delegation of Kashmiri leaders, led by Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, here Khan said, “Holding plebiscite in the region is the best way to settle the Kashmir dispute once for all. Granting the inalienable Right of Self Determination to Kashmiris is the only way.”

He said that “Indian intransigence” was a major hurdle in the way of peaceful resolution of the dispute. “India has been constantly defying the international law thereby refusing to implement the relevant UN resolutions in Kashmir for past 63- years,” he added.

Khan said that international community should first settle the Kashmir issue and then grant permanent seat to India in United Nations Security Council. “The OIC and the EU countries can play very important role in this regard,” he added.

Khan also briefed the Kashmiri representatives about the International Conference being held at Muzaffarabad in April 2011.

The delegation that called on PaK PM comprised Ghulam Muhammad Shafi, Rafique Ahmed Dar, Abdul Majid Malik, Ghulam Nabi Nowsheri, Tufail Altaf Bhat and others, whereas Sheikh Waleed Rasool and Haifiz Sadiq were also present on the occasion.

CDR to host 2-day conference from today

NISAR THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 12: Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR), a non-partisan NGO is all set to host a 2-day international conference in New-Delhi from Sunday.

The seminar titled as “Common Interests and Common Future: Dialogue across the LOC”" would be attended by the delegates from India, Pakistan including politicians, ambassadors, former bureaucrats, parliamentarians, veteran journalists, traders and the representatives of the civil society.

The prominent personalities from Pakistan, PaK and Gilgit-Baltistan who are attending the conference include Sherry Rehman former Information minister and Member Parliament, former Chief Justice of PaK, Justice (retired) Majeed Malik, Dr Humayun Khan the former Pakistan Foreign Secretary, former Pakistani High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan, Security Analyst and journalist Nasim Zehra, veteran political analyst and peace activist Ershad Mahmud, Dr Toqueer Gilani, senior leader and member JKLF and Hafeezur Rahman President PML (N) Gilgit-Baltistan.

JKLF demands shifting of mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat to Srinagar

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

ISLAMABAD:JKLF activists held a sit-in protest in front of the UNMOGIP office in Islamabad today and urged the UN to exert pressure on India to handover the mortal remains of the JKLF founder late Maqbool Bhat to his relatives in Kashmir.

 Speakers on the occasion highlighted the sacrifices of Maqbool Bhat who was hanged to death in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on this day in1984. Terming Bhat as the pioneer of the ongoing struggle, they said that his indomitable role and peerless contribution would be remembered for a long time.

Later, the JKLF leaders presented a memorandum to the UN officials seeking the intervention of the  highest body to get-back the mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat.

The memorandum also highlighted the prevailing political and human rights situation in Kashmir and demanded that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon should send a fact finding mission to JK to probe into the cases of extra-judicial killings, unnamed graves, torture and killings of innocents.

Besides the JKLF stalwarts, the protest demonstration was also attended by the leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) and several others including Ghulam Ahmed Bhat, Rafique Ahmed Dar, Saleem Haroon, Peoples League Chairman Sheik Yaqoob, Manzoor-ul-Haq Bhat andNsiar Mirza.

Meanwhile, APHC-M organized a Quran Khawani function at its office in Islamabad to pay homage to the JKLF leader. Besides the amalgam’s convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, the prayer function was attended by the APHC leaders and representatives of the Kashmiris community.

Rallies, seminars mark Kashmir solidarity day in Pak

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Meanwhile, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir led a walk from China Chowk to Parade lane in front of the Parliament House, which was attended by the federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watoo and Kashmiri leaders hailing from both sides of the line of control.

Islamabad, Feb 5: Kashmir solidarity day was observed on Saturday in Pakistan with people from all walks of life participating in day-long public rallies, seminars and symposiums across the country.

Jamaat Islami Pakistan organized a huge public-rally in the heart of the capital city, which was attended by people from all walks of life including men, women and school-going children. Standing alongside the road near Aabpara Chowk, participants of the rally formed a human chain on the occasion.

Addressing the rally, speakers paid rich tributes to Kashmiris and extended their support to their struggle. “Thousands of the people in the rally amply demonstrate Pakistani peoples’ allegiance and affinity with their Kashmiri brethren engaged in a struggle for right to self-determination”, they said.

Demanding international community to play its pro-active role in settling the long-pending issue in the region they remonstrated that the world body’s role was dormant vis-à-vis Kashmir while it has shown great interest and activism in settling the issue of East-Timor and Darfur in Sudan.

Lambasting the ruling elite of Pakistan, the speakers said that the present democratic dispensation has failed to highlight Kashmir cause at international level. The gathering was addressed by the JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan, Senator Professor Khursheed Ahmed, former MNA Mian Muahmmad Aslam, and Abdul Rasheed Turabi.

Syed Munawar Hassad addresses rally at Aabpara

While reiterating his country’s political moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris’ struggle Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman on the occasion said, “We reiterate that Pakistanwill continue to support the just cause of the people of Kashmir. We shall always stand by our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the realization of their fundamental and inalienable rights”.

Nations he said cannot be defeated and “India should read the writing on the wall”, he said adding that it could not suppress Kashmiris’ indigenous movement by force. He added that the day was not far when the people of the region would realize their cherished goal of freedom.

Federal minister Manzoor Ahmad Watoo, JUI-F leader Moulana Muhammad Yousuf and APHC-M convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar also addressed the gathering. Saghar thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for their moral, political and diplomatic support and stressed the need for early resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Kashmir key to regional peace’

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

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Islamabad, Feb 3: Terming dialogue as the civilized way to resolve disputes, the delegates at a conference here on Thursday resolved that the solution to unresolved Kashmir issue was a key to peace and prosperity in South Asia.

The National Kashmir Conference organized by Jammat-e-Islami PaK was attended by the leaders of various political and religious parties of Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK).

Deliberating on different dimensions of Kashmir issue, the speakers maintained that there was no harm in holding dialogue provided that India accepted Kashmir as a dispute. “The history stands witness to the fact that India used dialogue as a tool to hoodwink international community besides befooling innocent Kashmiris”, they added.

While expressing their discontent over Pakistan’s inconsistent policy on Kashmir participants said that need of the hour was that Pakistan should adopt a coherent policy on the issue to send a positive signal. “The policy should be reflective of aspirations of Kashmiris as well as the people of Pakistan”, they said.
“The policy makers of Pakistan should devise a comprehensive Kashmir policy bearing in mind peoples’ aspirations on either side of the Line of Control (LoC),” speakers added.

Lauding Kashmiris’ years-long political struggle the National Kashmir Conference assured that the entire religious and political leadership of Pakistan and PaK would support Kashmiris till they get their right  to self-determination.

They said that besides sensitizing the international community, the recent mass uprising in Kashmir had mobilized the Indian civil society, which they said have now been asking Indian government to end the human rights violations in the territory. 

Participants were of the view that the UN resolutions provide a strong basis to resolve Kashmir dispute.
Flaying international community’s policy of indifference towards Kashmir they said that besides endangering security situation in the entire South Asian region the international community’s pathetic approach has led to the bloodshed.

They noted regrettably that the United Nations had failed to discharge its moral and legal responsibilities vis-à-vis Kashmir while on the other it has played a key role in settling the issue of East Timor and carving out an independent state for the people of South Sudan.

Of those who addressed the seminar included Fazl-ur-Rehman, the Chairman of Parliamentary Kashmir Committee, PaK president Raja Zulqarnain Khan, Senator Professor Khursheed, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, JI Chief Syed Munawar Hussain, Ejaz-ul-Haq, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Abdul Rashid Turabi, former PaK premier Raja Farooq Haider, APHC convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, JKLF supreme head Amanullah Khan, Khalid Ibraheem and several others.