Kashmir Conference Supports Indo-Pak Dialogue
NISAR AHMED THOKAR
Islamabad, Aug 1: The speakers at a conference hosted by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front here on Sunday appreciated the ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan and expressed the hope that the two countries would apprise the Kashmiri leadership of the outcome of talks to lend credence and transparency to peace process.
The participants of the conference after having an intense brainstorming session resolved that all out efforts would be made to strengthen the ongoing peaceful, non-violent, democratic movement in Kashmir to achieve the cherished goal for which Kashmiris have rendered tremendous sacrifices.
Reiterating their full support to Indo-Pak dialogue process, they were of the view that rather than looking at Kashmir only through political prism the two countries should see it as an issue relating to the freedom of human beings. “Both the countries should engage seriously and settle the long-pending issue in order to mitigate sufferings of the bleeding nation”, they maintained.
Terming Kashmiris as the principle party to the dispute they said that association of Kashmiris’ genuine representatives was imperative to bring about a lasting solution of Kashmir imbroglio.
Under the prevailing political situation, they said that the Kashmiri leadership should revisit their wisdom and set out their priorities keeping in view their socio-political and moral obligations and national responsibilities.
The JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik said that it was high time that Kashmiri leadership should realize their responsibilities and make all out efforts to steer the rights movement to its logical conclusion.
“There are indeed differences of opinion within Kashmiris, however when it comes to national responsibilities, we must bury our differences and speak and act in unison”, he said adding that under the given circumstances best spokesperson/pleader of Kashmiri nation would be the one who can ensure their representation in political decision making process.
Demanding Kashmiris’ inclusion in the talks process, he said that it was the basic right of the people of Kashmir to be part of the decision making process. “The two countries are talking about Kashmir issue that consumed four generations of Kashmiris and they are discussing about the future of a nation having five thousand year old history, isn’t it our right to be part of that discourse?” he asked.
Speaking on the occasion, PaK premier Chudhary Majeed assured his government’s support toKashmir cause and said that he would be hosting a conference on Kashmir soon to evolve broader consensus on the issue.
He said that peace in the subcontinent was linked to the settlement of the lingering dispute. He said that PPP’s stance regarding Kashmir was very much clear and there was no ambiguity whatsoever. “We believe in the peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue on the basis of right to self-determination”, he said adding that “we don’t talk about options”. Kashmiris he said were the principle party to the dispute and should be included in the talks process.
He said that there was a dire need that the political entities should set a one-point-agenda and forge a broader consensus on the issue.
Expressing his shock and dismay over the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmirhe opined that there was a geo-political, ethnic and ideological divide and Kashmiris were virtually divided in three parts.
Malik said that the government of PaK has miserably failed to fulfil its obligations vis-à-vis the ongoing struggle in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed the need for reinstating the region’s government in line with the declaration adopted by the first ever constituent assembly on 24 August 1947.
He said that bilateral agreements between the two countries had adversely affected the international posture of the Kashmir issue and reduced its scope by making it a bilateral issue between two nations.
Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan
The former premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan appreciated the ongoing peace talks betweenIndia and Pakistan and termed the Kashmir centric CBMs as a positive development. He demanded the opening of more trade and travel routes along the LOC to strengthen trade, tourism and people to people contacts on both sides.
He said that it was imperative that the ceasefire across the LOC, the initiative taken during the president Musharraf’s government, should be extended in the entire valley.
Stressing the need for early resolution of Kashmir he said that it has become a nuclear ring and conflict in this highly volatile region was a great threat to security in south Asia.
The PML-N chief organizer and the former prime minister of Pak on the occasion said thatKashmir related CBMs (trade and travel) have broken the myth of so-called ceasefire line. However, he was of the view that the initiatives taken so far have unconsciously overshadowed the Kashmiris’ basic right of self determination.
JI chief Ab. Rasheed Turabi said that Kashmiris were not averse to talks however, there was a dire need to create congenial atmosphere for the talks. He said that before entering into any dialogue with India, the Indians must accept the centrality and the disputed nature of Kashmirsaying that the basic objective of the talks with India should be the resolution of dispute in line with Kashmiri peoples’ right to self-determination.
He said that the former Pak president Pervez Musharraf’s unilateral approach in dealingKashmir issue had negative impacts on the Kashmir movement. It was his autocratic approach that resulted in the split of Hurriyat Conference.
He said that unity within the segregated Hurriyat factions was much needed at this stage when Kashmiris are facing several challenges. He also expressed serious concern over the issue of Dr. Fai’ arrest and lauded his role in promoting Kashmir cause at international level.
Speaking on the role of Kashmiris the APHC-M convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar said that Kashmiri people who have rendered great sacrifice deserve the right to be a part of political decision making process. Kashmiris he said have been playing important role “the Kashmiri nation is bleeding for last several years, they have been sacrificed each and every thing to get the issue resolved”. He noted regrettably that no one was going to recognise the Kashmiris’ role. “Peace and freedom are entirely two different things, peace gets disrupted when you talk of freedom” he said adding that Kashmiri want peace but peace with dignity and honour.
Highlighting the supreme sacrifices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir JI leader Ghulam Nabi Nowsheri said that “right to self-determination” was the inalienable right of the people ofKashmir. He said that the issue needs to be resolved in accordance with Kashmiris aspirations and in line with the relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir.
The chairman of JKLF-(Amman) Sardar Sageer Advocate said that under the garb indo-Pak dialogue process efforts were underway to further disintegrate Kashmir and stressed the need for unity within the ranks and files of freedom loving people.
The PML-N Gilgit Baltistan president Hafeez-ur-Rehman hailed the dialogue process betweenIndia and Pakistan and urged the Kashmiri leadership of all the three regions to devise a comprehensive mechanism to achieve the collective goal. Highlighting significance of the dialogue he said that dialogue was best way to resolve disputes.
DECLARATION:
The resolution adopted at the end of seminar while reiterating full support to peace process asked India and Pakistan to include Kashmiris in the talks process.
The conference supported the return of Pandit migrants to their native areas.
Reiterating their full support to the ongoing peaceful movement in Kashmir the delegates of the conference assured that the people, government of PaK, political parties and the civil society will make all out efforts to strengthen the rights movement at all fronts.
The participants of the national conference urged the respective governments of the two countries to facilitate Kashmiri leaders’ travel on both sides so that they can be able to forge broader consensus besides evolving a common minimum agenda on the issue.
The resolution demanded the government of India to stop rights violations in the territory, repeal black laws and release all political detainees so as to create a conducive and congenial atmosphere for the talks.
The conference also hailed the release of Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai and expressed the hope that the government of USA will deal his issue beyond the perspective of Pak-US confrontation. The resolution stated that Dr. Fai was a harbinger of peace in the region who has been championing Kashmiris’ just cause at international level for more than two decades.
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