‘JK youth victims of long drawn conflict’
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Expressing serious concern over the prevailing human rights situation in Kashmir speakers at a seminar hosted by Institute of Strategic Studies here on Wednesday stated that the youth of Kashmir who have been at the forefront of the ongoing struggle were the `worst victims of India’s oppressive policies’. This was stated by Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and other speakers at a seminar titled “Human Rights, Youth and the Issue of Jammu and Kashmir” at Islamabad, Pakistan Thursday.
Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, Senator Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Qayyum, Ghulam Muhammad Safi Convenor All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Dr. Seemia Raheel Qazi the head of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Attiya Inatyatullah, Sheikh Tajamullul Islam, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Rafiq Dar, Altaf Hussain Wani, Abdullah Gilani, Dr. Nazir Ahmed Gilani, Arfif Kamal, Ershad Mehmood and others also addressed the seminar.
Addressing the seminar, Ambassador Masood Khan the Director General ISSI said that Kashmiris have been subjected to atrocities since 1948 but human rights violations in the restive region stepped up alarmingly after 1990s. “Ever since every man, woman and child in Kashmir is suffering and the youth have especially been victimized by the so-called security forces”, he said.
Khan said that the movement started by the youth against the Indian aggression since Afzal Guru’s anniversary at Delhi University in early 2016, has generated a new enthusiasm for the right of self-determination in Kashmir.
This new enthusiasm he observed was being carried out politically, through social media. Khan said that Pakistan needs to realize its responsibilities. Terming dialogue between India and Pakistan as imperative Khan said that there was a dire need to raise the voice at the international forums besides lobbying within the Indian civil society.
“There is need to work proactively with the Human Rights Council to provide relief to the affected Kashmiris”, he said adding that Intra-Kashmir confidence-building measures should also be institutionalized.
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, the president of Pakistani administered Kashmir said that Kashmir movement cannot ever be compromised. He said that Kashmiris’ struggle was a just struggle and it should not be associated with terrorism. “Kashmiris’ demand is based on principles and has immense strength”, he said addding that the political parties of Pakistan must realise that they cannot ignore the Kashmir dispute .
Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch suggested that a balance has to be created in the country between the opinions of those who want to have friendly relations with India, and those who want to keep Kashmir as their first priority. Regarding the HR situation in Kashmir Baloch said, “Every home in Kashmir and every individual have been affected”.
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehaman, said that the political application of the argument has lost its efficacy in world opinion since it is invariably associated with Pakistan’s security and economic interests. This dilemma must be understood and the issue must be talked about exclusively for Kashmiris.
Referring to international covenants with special reference to the UN Charter Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said that Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination was a just and legitimate struggle. Rejecting the notion that international circumstances are not in favour of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir Haq said that the OIC had recently passed a comprehensive resolution on Kashmir recently. He however said that Pakistan needs to highlight the dispute more proactively.
Senator Lt. Gen Abdul Qayyum emphasized that Kashmir remains to be one of the Pakistan’s core vital national interests. As a party to the dispute he said it is Pakistan’s responsibility to promote and project the Kashmir cause in the letter of the spirit of the UN charter which acknowledges peoples’ right to self-determination. He said that a multi-prong, mission oriented strategy should be evolved to seek a solution of the dispute peacefully. He said that war was no more an option. “Though there are extremists elements like RSS in India but there was no dearth of saner elements within the Indian society who want the issue be resolved peacefully”, he said adding that the incumbent regime had vociferously raised the issue of Kashmir at all international forums and there was no question whatsoever of appeasement.
APHC leader Ghulam Muhammad Safi said that during past several years may out of the box solutions were proposed to resolve the Kashmir tangle. He, however, said that Kashmiris have time and again rejected these imposed and ready-made solutions. “Kashmiris want nothing short of right to self-determination”, he said adding that this preamble of our movement has been written by the young generation of Kashmir with their own blood. Regarding Indo-Pak talks he said Kashmiris were not averse of dialogue but “Our only demand is that India should accept Kashmir as a disputed territory”.
“Kashmiris will continue their struggle to materialize their cherished dream as it is now a matter of life and death but Pakistan has to decide how much importance it gives to Kashmir”, he concluded.
Dr. Samia Raheel Qazi while regretting the pathetic human rights condition in Kashmir said that the new connotations like ‘half widows’ and ‘half wives’ have surfaced in Kashmir that were agonizing and painful.
Speaking at the second session of roundtable discussion Dr. Attiya Inayatullah appreciated the youth of Kashmir saying that the educated and well integrated youth who have been spearheading the movement has redefined the course of Kashmir struggle. Terming human rights situation in Kashmir as volatile she said that it was the responsibility of the UN to alleviate the sufferings of people in the disputed region. Citing the mass-rape of Kunun Poshpora, killings of innocent civilians and the issue of mass graves she said that International Criminal Court (ICC) should also take up these issues. She said that there was no right to freedom of speech and expression in Kashmir and E-curfew was used as tool to suppress the voice of dissent.
Attiya said that mental health in Kashmir was declining as a result of surging violence. Referring to a survey conducted by foreign journal she said about 55 per cent of local population was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She said that drugs was yet another highly worrying factor. “These drugs are being used to target youth specially in the areas like Tral, Pulwama and Sopore where resistance is more stronger than other areas”, she added.
Highlighting the importance of early resolution of K-dispute she said world can not run the risk nuclear confrontation in the region.
Sheikh Tajamulul Islam the director of Kashmir Media Service suggested that UN can take a suo moto action on Kashmir provided the dispute was made a subject of chapter 7 of the UN. “As long as the issue is debated and discussed under chapter IV of the UN it will continue to remain a bilateral issue between the two countries”, he said.
Dr. Syed Nazir Ahmed Gilani said that said death of a generation in Kashmir had caused a serious number deficit in the process of self-determination. He said that the youth of Kashmir were being profiled. “Three categories (A B C) have been defined to kill Kashmiri youth. Kashmiris today he said were more vulnerable than they were in 1931.
“Then the Maharaja was forced to surrender and restore the rights in just 11 days and today we have been fighting for last several decades and there is no respite in sight”, he said adding that Sanik colonies were being established to settle Indian citizens in the valley. “The state (Kashmir) where Indians were not allowed to enter without a formal permit are now being settled in the valley”.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood the Chairman Board of Governors ISSI in his concluding remarks said that the right of self-determination must not be coupled with terrorism. He suggested that Pakistan should not withdraw from its principle stance of the right of Kashmiris for self-determination.
Pertinently, the Kashmiri intellectual Syed Abdul Rehman Gilani’s recorded audio message was played during the interactive session of the seminar.
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