Monday 30 March 2009

KNP condemn police action in Mirpur

KNP condemn police action in Mirpur
Dr Shabir Choudhry 30 March 2009

KNP leaders Abbas Butt, Zubbair Ansari, Nazam Bhatti, Asim Mirza, Masoom Ansari, Mumtaz Mirza and Dr Shabir Choudhry have strongly condemned police action against peaceful demonstrators in Mirpur.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Mirpur today against those responsible for upraising the Mangla dam and giving compensations. The police have used sticks and tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstration.

The Mangla Dam was constructed in Kashmiri territory of Mirpur 1967 by Pakistan to cater for water and energy needs of Pakistan. The local people were against the construction of the dam even at that time and they were not paid appropriate compensation. Most of the promises made to the people were not honoured.

Instead of building dams within Pakistan, WAPDA decided to upraise the Mangla dam. The local people once again protested against this but no one listened to them. Many people, especially leaders were silenced by ‘rewards’ and lucrative development plans for the area.

The work of the upraising is nearly complete, but people are still waiting for compensation and alternative towns and hamlets which the authorities promised to build for them. Apart from that other promises with regard to road and bridges are also not honoured and people are really angry against this let down.

Today the local people came out in large numbers to show their anger and to register their protest against the authorities, but the authorities had only tear gas and lathi charge beating (with sticks) to offer.

The KNP leaders demand that those responsible for once again letting people of Mirpur down must be made accountable; and that all the promises made by the authorities must be honoured. END

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com


To view other articles see my blog: http://www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 25 March 2009

A Message to Apna Des

A Message to Apna Des
London 25 March 2009

Friends and colleagues and readers of Apna Des aslamo alaykam

Apna Des means one’s own country. By looking at the prevailing situation where you live, ask yourself if this is your country. Answer to this is yes and no. It is your country de jure - by right; but de facto - in reality it is occupied, and you have no control over it. Do you have any input in making policies or in running of the affairs of this area, or someone else from Islamabad is calling the shots in all policy matters.

Those who control us have deliberately divided us on religious, regional, ethnic and tribal lines. In order to get your rights and fight back divisive and corrupt policies of those who rule us, you have to organise yourselves and establish unity, especially among all Kashmiri nationalists that the cause of nationalism could be articulated and advanced in such a way that it meets present day needs of the movement for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

But it is increasingly becoming difficult to decide who is a nationalist, and who is promoting the cause of secret agencies under the garb of nationalism. There are wolves in sheep clothing and their aim is to protect personal interests and interests of those who occupy us. They, under different pretexts, formulate policies which promote and defend interests of either India or Pakistan. Yet their parties are labelled as nationalist parties, and they have help and support of establishment and media to ensure that they are always in limelight and are considered as senior leaders of the independence movement.

We have to keep a watchful eye on these elements that we are not deceived once again. We have to ensure that we stand united and that personal interests, rivalries, ego, extremism, regionalism and ethnicity DOES NOT become obstacle in the cause of our struggle for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

We all have to work as a team to achieve our goal of national emancipation. Our role should be to promote and protect a Kashmiri interest. India and Pakistan are occupiers in the State of Jammu and Kashmir; and those of us who protect their interests are collaborators and traitors and not Kashmiri nationalists.

Apart from that we need to ensure that our struggle is not against any religion or any community. Religion has no role in our struggle. Our struggle is for our inherent and inalienable right of self determination which has been denied to us. Our struggle is not against Pakistan or India or their people, but against their Kashmir policies. Once the Kashmir dispute is resolved according to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, then we can all live side by side in peace and harmony; and promote political and economic stability in South Asia.

Friends and colleagues, last but not least, our struggle is on this side of the LOC. We were wrongly persuaded to follow the strategy of ‘liberating’ the Kashmir on the other side of the LOC first. It suited Pakistani establishment and some others, but it did help our national cause. Once we are organised on this side of the LOC, and are liberated then we will be in a position to help our brothers on the other side. But it does not mean that we don’t interact and coordinate our activities with like minded people in other regions.

Keep this in mind one slave cannot liberate the other slave, especially when he is forcibly divided and is on the other side of the barbed fence. Either both slaves have to work together to win freedom or one of them has to be free before he could help his enslaved brother. We have to work out a strategy which suits our needs and environment; and those on the other side can formulate strategies which are appropriate to their conditions.

As a Kashmiri nationalist who has sincerely advocated true Kashmiri nationalism through thick and thin, and during very difficult and trying moments, I want to express my profound appreciation for your efforts to promote a Kashmiri interest. I also want to express my gratitude to Muahmmad Rafiq Khawaja and Professor Rafiq Bhatti who have kindly provided me with this opportunity to write this message.

I hope this endeavour will help us to reorganise ourselves that we can establish a democratic, stable and prosperous society in an independent Jammu and Kashmir.

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

A Message to Mutaida National Force

A Message to Mutaida National Force
London 27 March 2009

It was pleasure to learn that some enthusiastic Kashmiris have set up a new platform in Pakistani Administered Kashmir with the name of Mutaida National Force.

The new platform – MNF aims to establish unity among all Kashmiri nationalists that the cause of nationalism could be articulated and advanced in such a way that it meets present day needs of the movement for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

The MNF has come in to being as a result of hard work of Abid Kashmiri, Ifzal Suleria and Pervaiz Magray. It is always very difficult to have unity among occupied and enslaved people; and it becomes more difficult when the people are forcibly divided and have strong allegiance to their parties, regions and tribes.

Unity among Kashmiri nationalists is desired and need of the hour, but it is extremely difficult to get them all on one platform. Apart from other issues a serious problem is to determine who is a ‘true nationalist’. Although all these parties have a ‘national hat’ on their heads and claim to be working for an independent Kashmir, but fact however is that some parties or senior people within those parties are considered to be allies of secret agencies.

Some of these senior people closely work with secret agencies of those who occupy us; and they under different pretexts formulate policies which promote and defend interests of either India or Pakistan. Yet their parties are labelled as nationalist parties, and they have help and support of establishment and media to ensure that they are always in limelight and are considered as senior leaders of the independence movement.

Abid Kashmiri, Ifzal Suleria and Pervaiz Magray are very committed and sincere people, but politics of unity and alliances is not that easy in Jammu and Kashmir. It is uphill struggle all the way. I have no doubt in their sincerity, commitment and skills but they have taken a gigantic task, and I wish them all the best in this endeavour.

They will have to ensure that personal interests, rivalries, ego, extremism, regionalism and ethnicity DOES NOT become obstacle in this good cause. They will have to be very tolerant, skilful and accommodating in order to get this new alliance of the ground.

At this stage I wonder what will happen to the other alliance – All Parties National Alliance. Do they have support of the leadership of APNA? Are both alliances going to work together or compete with each other? I hope that all these matters have been discussed and issues related to them have been resolved, if not then it could create problems in future.

Anyhow I want to congratulate all those who are spearheading the nationalist movement in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan and on the other side of the LOC. Also I want to congratulate leadership of the MNF, and sincerely hope that they will be able to formulate a strategy to unite all genuine nationalists and advance the cause of united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

We all have to work as a team to achieve our goal of national emancipation. Our role should be to promote and protect a Kashmiri interest. India and Pakistan are occupiers in the State of Jammu and Kashmir; and those of us who protect their interests are collaborators and traitors and not Kashmiri nationalists.

Furthermore both India and Pakistan have skills, resources and huge apparatus to protect their national interests, so we don’t need to worry about that, if anything we need to be wary of their policies that we can formulate appropriate policies to counter their moves.

Apart from that we need to ensure that our struggle is not against any religion or any community. Religion has no role in our struggle. Our struggle is for our inherent and inalienable right of self determination which has been denied to us. Our struggle is not against Pakistan or India or their people, but against their Kashmir policies. Once the Kashmir dispute is resolved according to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, then we can all live side by side in peace and harmony; and promote political and economic stability in South Asia.

Friends and colleagues, last but not least, our struggle is on this side of the LOC. We were wrongly persuaded to follow the strategy of ‘liberating’ the Kashmir on the other side of the LOC first. It suited Pakistani establishment and some others, but it did help our national cause. Once we are organised on this side of the LOC, and are liberated then we will be in a position to help our brothers on the other side. But it does not mean that we don’t interact and coordinate our activities with like minded people in other regions.

Keep this in mind one slave cannot liberate the other slave, especially when he is forcibly divided and is on the other side of the barbed fence. Either both slaves have to work together to win freedom or one of them has to be free before he could help his enslaved brother. We have to work out a strategy which suits our needs and environment; and those on the other side can formulate strategies which are appropriate to their conditions.

As a Kashmiri nationalist who has sincerely advocated true Kashmiri nationalism through thick and thin, and during very difficult and trying moments, I want to express my profound appreciation for your efforts to unite Kashmiri nationalists. I also want to express my gratitude to the MNF leadership who have kindly provided me with this opportunity to write this message.

I hope this endeavour will help us to reorganise ourselves that we can establish a democratic, stable and prosperous society in an independent Jammu and Kashmir.

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

Monday 23 March 2009

Message on 23 March 2009

Message on 23 March 2009

Dear Pakistani friends and colleagues aslamo alaykam

I want to congratulate you all on occasion of 23 March – another year in life of Pakistan. Brothers and sisters on this day you have to ask yourselves, is it this Pakistan your forefathers envisaged or they had a different dream?

Please don’t get angry, but I am sure this is not the Pakistan Qaaid e Azam created for you. The Pakistan he envisaged still remains a distant dream. Geography of that Pakistan has been considerably reduced due to follies of those who ruled this country.

Today even constituent parts of Pakistan are not happy, and have you ever cared to think why? I hope you will agree with me that the kind of Pakistan we have before us is not a country one could be proud of. You need to put personal interests, rivalries, ego, extremism, regionalism and ethnicity behind you and make a new start to save Pakistan and serve Pakistan.

Make Pakistan a country worth living, a country one could be proud off, a country which is democratic, a country which is economically and politically stable and country which is at peace with itself and with its neighbours.

As a Kashmiri and a well wisher I wish all the best to you, and sincerely hope that Pakistan becomes democratic, stable and prosperous.

Dr Shabir Choudhry

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com



To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

Thursday 19 March 2009

Development and fundamental rights

Development and fundamental rights

Text of speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry in a Conference arranged by Interfaith International at the UN Human Rights Comission on 13 March 2009. Topic of the conference is: UN Millennium Development Programme 2008, Pakistan and its Peripheries including Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan.

Mr Chairman Friends and colleagues aslamo alaykam and good afternoon.

I want to thank Dr Charles Graves, Secretary General Interfaith International for arranging this conference and providing me this opportunity to express my views.

Before me there were some very interesting and informative presentations. Dr Nazir Gilani, Abbas Butt and Munawer Laghari among others made important points.

Dr Gilani has eloquently explained the legal and constitutional situation with regard to State of Jammu and Kashmir. It is true that the Maharajah of Kashmir made a treaty with the government of India which is known as ‘accession treaty’, which to us is provisional and has to be ratified by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in an impartial plebiscite.

It is also true that the Maharajah made a treaty with government of Pakistan which is known as ‘Standstill Agreement’. The Maharaja government wanted to enter a similar agreement with government of India, but India wanted to discuss matters in more details. The Standstill Agreement provided Pakistan with a legal position in Jammu and Kashmir, but the government of Pakistan violated terms of this agreement by blockading the supplies and by invading the state territory with help of tribesmen.

Dr Gilani is right that it was tribal invasion which forced the Maharaja of Kashmir to seek help and accede to India. Furthermore that the Indian army came to Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with terms of this treaty to ‘save life, honour and property of the people’; and that there is no such treaty with regard to presence of Pakistani army inside the State territory. Basis of presence of the Pakistani troops inside Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan is under terms of UNCIP (United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan) resolutions.

Friends and colleagues

All that is true – it is the legal position with regard to treaties with India and Pakistan, and presence of troops of both countries. Indian army moved in to Jammu and Kashmir to ‘save life, honour and property’ of the people; but we need to ask ourselves, is that what they are doing there. Are they not involved in human rights violations?

Similarly on the Pakistani side of Jammu and Kashmir there are human rights violations taking place, and Abbas Butt has provided horrifying stories about human rights situation in the Neelam Valley of Azad Kashmir. Early on Wajhat Mirza from Gilgit and Baltistan explained the situation of human rights in that region of the State which is very regrettable. This region is legal and constitutional part of the State, and is under direct control of Pakistan; and unfortunately this is the least developed part of the state with very minimal respect for human rights and rule of law.

I also want to share a story about a young man who was part of a peaceful protest march organised by NSF from Muzaffarabad to Gilgit and Baltistan to show solidarity with people who have been neglected for so long. This story is narrated by a famous Kashmiri writer Saeed Asad in his new book ‘Unity March’ (Wahdat March) published from Mirpur in December 2008. He writes:

‘Due to bad weather, rain, storm and dark the marchers endured serious problems which resulted in death and injury of some of them. Some people developed pneumonia and other serious ailments. Their clothes were wet and weather was extremely cold. They had no medicine, no dry or warm clothes or tents. After mammoth struggle they came back on foot to Kel where they tried to get help from the military personnel’.

On page 98 of the book he writes: ‘They blatantly refused to provide medical help and showed they callous and cruel attitude. They said how could we help someone who speaks against us, referring to chanting and slogans of the marchers which they made against the Pakistani army while going through the area early on’.

Army is not only trained to fight and kill, they are also trained to help and rescue as well; but on this occasion armed personnel of Islamic Republic of Pakistan refused to help a dying Kashmiri youth because he spoke against their rule and attitude in the Neelam Valley. They even refused to provide an ambulance that the injured and dying youths could be taken to Muzaffarabad for treatment.

Frustrated, injured and exhausted NSF stalwarts had to wait for a public transport to take the injured and sick people back to Muzaffarabad, which took them 11 hours to reach Muzaafarabad. By that time health of Raja Behzad deteriorated. From Muzaffarabad, he was taken to Islamabad which is another three hours journey. Young Raja Behzad lost his life there. Doctors in Islamabad commented that if he had received medical help on time his life could have been saved.

It is common courtesy that when people see someone in distress or injured, people extend helping hand, especially when some one’s life is in danger; but unfortunately this young man lost his life because those who were in position to help him refused to do so. His only ‘crime’ was that he wanted united and independent Jammu and Kashmir; and this was disliked by those who rule us there.

My question is, did this young man had right to life or not? Did he have a right to be treated and get medicine or not? He was refused help because he went to show solidarity with his countrymen which are forcibly divided and deprived of basic human rights. He was not carrying any gun or behaving aggressively. It was a peaceful march but those who rule us in this part of the world did not approve of this as it demonstrated Kashmiri nationalism.

Mr Chairman

Right to life and right to development are fundamental human rights, but this right is not respected everywhere. Some areas are deliberately kept underdeveloped and basic communication facilities are not provided in order to keep people under control. This is also the situation in the Neelam Valley and some other areas near the LOC.

Development brings jobs, economic independence, stability and prosperity. This does not suite people with vested interest. It is easy for the authorities to control and oppress people who are uneducated and economically depended.

Development cannot take place in a country which is divided by force, a country which is politically unstable, a country which has no peace, a country which has very corrupt system and lacks transparency. No one would like to invest in a country which has poor judicial system, and in which even Chief Justice is looking for justice.

Mr Abbas Butt has rightly pointed out that people who promote the cause of united and independent Jammu and Kashmir are at times castigated as an ‘Indian agents’, and intimidated on the Pakistani side of LOC. This practise must stop, as it violates our fundamental rights and terms of the UNCIP resolutions.

As I pointed out earlier the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir made a treaty with government of India which has to be ratified by the people of the State. In view of legal and constitutional experts people of Jammu and Kashmir can ratify that treaty; they can reject it or renegotiate the terms of that treaty because it is not final yet.

As for Pakistan is concerned the treaty which the government of Jammu and Kashmir had with Pakistan was violated, and Pakistan’s presence inside the State territory is under UNCIP (United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan) resolutions. Under the terms of the UNCIP Kashmiris are permitted to propagate pro Pakistan, pro India or pro Independence ideologies; and no one should treat them unfairly because of this.

Those who try to link the Kashmir dispute with the Two Nations Theory are twisting facts, as it was not applicable to the Princely States including Kashmir. These people want to give Kashmir dispute a religious character in a society which is multi religious and multi ethnic. It must be pointed out that Kashmir dispute is political in nature and religion has no role in it. END

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com


To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

Monday 16 March 2009

Solidarity with oppressed people of Pakistan

Solidarity with oppressed people of Pakistan

On 12 March 2009 there was a demonstration outside the UN Human Rights Council which was attended by people of Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan, Sind, Balochistan, Frontier Province Pakhtoon Khawa and Punjab. The demonstration was organised by Sardar Shaukat Kashmiri and was a big demonstration according to standards of Geneva.

Among those who spoke on this occasion included Senator Sana Ullah Baloch, Munawar Laghari, Col Wajhat Mirza, Nader Mirza, Shaukat Kashmiri, Mumtaz Khan, Nasir Aziz, Abbas Butt, Dr Shabir Choudhry etc.

A summary of Dr Shabir Choudhry’s speech is as follows:

‘Fiends and colleagues, right to assemble and right of expression is a fundamental human right. How unfortunate that in Islamic Republic of Pakistan these rights are curbed by the authorities which claim to be democratic and which claim to respect rule of law’.

‘We are fortunate that we live in Europe where these rights are respected and we can freely assemble to express our views. And today we are here outside the UN Human Rights Commission to show our solidarity with the people of Pakistan who have campaigned for restoration of independent judiciary, accountability and rule of law’.

‘We want to tell people of Pakistan that we stand with them in this hour of need. We support you fully in your struggle for rule of law and fundamental rights. Our sympathies and prayers are with you. You deserve to have an independent judiciary, you deserve to live with dignity and honour, you deserve to have democracy and rule of law; and your struggle will be successful’.

‘But you cannot expect to have democracy who are allies of undemocratic regimes, and those who are product of secret deals with dictators. You cannot expect to have rule of law and accountability from those who are product of corruption and who have a track record of intimidating and undermining the judicial system.’

‘You cannot expect peace and stability from those who have policy of promoting communalism, extremism and hatred. Their policy is to divide and rule. They want to promote extremism in name of jihad which is tearing the Pakistani society apart. On one hand they are part of the war on terrorism and on the other hand they are secretly supporting those who are promoting terrorism’.

‘We want to show our solidarity with all oppressed people of Pakistan, whether they are in Balochistan, Sind, Frontier Province, Punjab or FATA. We also want to speak in support of people of Gilgit and Baltistan and Pakistani Administered Kashmir, where people are also denied of their fundamental human rights’.

‘Pakistan has been ruled by elite who have been advancing policy of communalism, extremism and hatred. This policy of unwise elite has created many problems for us Kashmiris and we continue to suffer due to that policy. This policy not only created many problems for Pakistan’s neighbours but also landed Pakistan in very serious problems which threaten very existence of Pakistan’.

‘Those who expect that the ruling elite of Pakistan could bring peace, stability and prosperity to Pakistan and could help in fight against extremism and hatred are totally wrong, because in view of many experts the ruling elite is part of the problem and not part of solution. They want to perpetuate their rule at all costs. Peace, stability and prosperity in the country are not their priorities. Elimination of extremism and terrorism is not their goal, because they are using these as tools to advance their political and personal agenda’.

‘Their deals and agreements with extremists in Swat and FATA are not based on sincerity. This is to provide these extremists that they can regroup and reorganise themselves to assert their influence and power in other parts of the country. It is believed that in near future these extremist groups will be playing an important role in FATA and Afghanistan’. END

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com


To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

Tuesday 10 March 2009

A meeting with a German Professor

A meeting with a German Professor
Dr Shabir Choudhry 09 March 2009

He wanted to interview me on a tape on current situation of Jammu and Kashmir. I agreed without hesitation as I had nothing to fear. I am not among those who change their views and ideology according to situation and audience. I told him that I will use parts of the conversation for my next article, he reluctantly agreed but requested me not to disclose his name or even disclose name of his university.

All I can say is that he is a Professor of Social Sciences in Germany; and very knowledgeable man. Perhaps it is appropriate to acknowledge that I was impressed with his knowledge on Kashmir, as he was familiar with most leaders and political activists on both sides of the LOC. He was also familiar with names of political activists of Kashmiri Diaspora and current trends on Kashmir.

We talked about all aspects of the Kashmiri struggle. We talked about situation in Jammu, Valley, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. I expressed my views about the struggle and strategies adopted by India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership or more precisely different political parties and their political and personal agendas. We also talked about dangers of communalisation and extremism and how this extremism was imported to hijack the Kashmiri struggle.

This interview or conversation continued for nearly three hours, but after lunch I decided to ask him some questions. He said if the Kashmir dispute is not resolved it could lead to more instability in the region and possible disaster. It can also affect the war on terrorism. I think the international community needs to pay more attention to this matter.

He was critical of the Kashmiri leadership. He thought there were far too many parties and groups. Sometimes it is unavoidable, he said, as people come from different social and cultural backgrounds. They have different views on the Kashmiri struggle; and feel more at ease to continue that from their own platform and according to their own programmes. Regional and ethnic issues coupled with desire to make a political space for potential leaders and political aspirants are also a reason for so many parties.

In his view best way forward was the merger of like minded groups. He agreed that the APCH was not representative of the Kashmiri people although it had its value; and could still make some positive contribution. In his view the dispute was very complex and some people do not fully understand complexities of the dispute. They only want to see it in Muslim and non Muslim context, which sometimes creates problems and aggravates the situation.

He said generally the word Kashmir represents the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but at times people of other regions don’t want to be known as Kashmiris. We have to appreciate that the State is a multi religious and multi ethnic, and people have strong religious and ethnic ties; so we cannot impose any decision on them. We have to respect their sensitivities with regard to their religion, culture and region.

This well informed Professor was of the view that the Kashmiri struggle was not properly organised; and was out of step with modern day independence movements. He said forced division of the State resulted in lack of understanding among different ethnic groups of Jammu and Kashmir and they could not develop national identity. In his view among people of Jammu and Kashmir, regional and religious identities were stronger than the national identity.

Most people of Ladakh and Gilgit and Baltistan want autonomy for their regions and don’t even want to be called Kashmiris. Same could also be said about some people in Jammu who don’t want to be called Kashmiris, and they take pride in their identity as Jammuite. I don’t want to discourage you, as you people have worked very hard for United and independent Jammu and Kashmir, and continue to do so, but to me in view of the prevailing situation this it is just a beautiful dream.

He didn’t like my facial expressions, and he soon realised that. ‘I appreciate what you are doing’, he said. I acknowledge your sincerity and dedication. I know thousands of people have lost their lives, but be honest was that for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir? Or was it to join Pakistan; or was it resentment against India which resulted in death of so many lives.

I don’t want to discourage you. We all have right to see dreams and hope for better future; but remember my friend, not all dreams come true. He said, ‘I cannot see unification and independence of Jammu and Kashmir taking place in near future’. He said this is not to suggest that you should abandon your struggle. You are dedicated people and I know you will continue with what you have done for 2/3 decades; but you have to tune your struggle with modern day methods and strategies.

If Maqbool Butt’s struggle was for united and independent Jammu and Kashmir then the JKLF groups which claim to promote his struggle are out of step with the present day trends and working strategies. He had similar views about the strategies and policies of the APHC. In his view they lacked ideological clarity. Their policies are designed to please one section of the Kashmiri community, and the impression is that they want to promote a Muslim cause rather than a Kashmiri cause.

He said Baroness Emma Nicholson report was a good start, although he did not agree with everything. However it provided an alternative view of the problem and has helped to promote a Kashmiri cause in the European Parliament.

He said many young Kashmiris he has met have assumed their first identity as Pakistanis, and that should be a cause of concern to all those who espouse nationalist politics. He said he was not interested in blame game and who was right or wrong; you should all work together and coordinate your activities to get your ethnic identity recognised in Britain and Europe.

‘This recognition alone will go a long way in helping your movement’, he said. Once you people are part of the state system – you are recognised as an ethnic group then you can make many other demands which will help you immensely. You can get history and culture of Jammu and Kashmir introduced as part of School Curriculum. If this could be achieved then children will learn in schools about history and culture of their parents and this will strengthen their sense of belonging and will give them an ethnic identity.

You have a large Kashmiri community settled here in Britain, but they are known as Pakistanis or Indians. Due to hard work of Kashmir National Identity Campaign some British local authorities have recognised Kashmiris as a separate ethnic group. This is right step in right direction, but it is not enough. All Kashmiri parties, if they really want to promote the cause of Jammu and Kashmir then they should fully support this campaign. They should write to local councils and lobby other relevant departments that people of Jammu and Kashmir must be included in 2011 census.

He agreed with the view that people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan had grievances with the government of Pakistan; and it was only appropriate that they raise these issues here and try to resolve them. And similarly people of Jammu, Valley and Ladakh have issues with government of India and they should take those issues with the government over there. But Kashmiris on both sides need to work out a mechanism to support each other and coordinate their activities.

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com


To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

Monday 2 March 2009

Kashmiri struggle needs and a change of strategy

Kashmiri struggle needs and a change of strategy

Dr Shabir Choudhry’s speech in a public meeting organised by UKPNP in London.

03 March 2009

Mr President, Chief Guest - Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Afzal Tahir, Professor Faiz, friends and colleagues aslamo alaykam.

I want to thank leaders of UKPNP London for inviting me to this public meeting in which people have travelled from various parts of the UK, and some have even come from France. Also I want to congratulate the UKPNP leaders for holding a big gathering in a place like London on such a short notice.

I hope members of UKPNP won’t mind a little advice from me. You people have leaders who believe in liberal and democratic values. They believe State of Jammu and Kashmir is one political entity, and it must not be divided on communal lines. They oppose extremism and terrorism. They want the struggle for unification and independence to be peaceful. I have learnt that you people have a number of branches in the UK; and this gathering shows that you have considerable support in UK as well.

I know some Kashmiris parties in Britain claim to be big parties, and yet they cannot muster half the people you have in this hall. These small parties with big names have no public support, because people have come to know their dishonesty and betrayal. But despite that in UK they are recognised as Kashmiri political parties, and you are not. You people need to get yourself recognised here that you can help like minded people and parties to promote pro Kashmir policies.

Friends and colleagues, ‘our struggle was for political and democratic rights. It was possible that we Kashmiris could have reached some understanding with the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir whereby he could have continued as a Constitutional Monarch with a liberal and democratic system. But those who wanted to occupy us unleashed unruly tribesmen to capture the capital of the State. They didn’t come to help us. They came to occupy us.’

This tribal invasion changed the fundamental character of our struggle. The Kashmiri struggle was peaceful; the imported militancy resulted in suffering and devastation. It also forced the Maharaja to prematurely enter in to a Treaty Agreement with government of India, which is known as ‘Provisional Accession’.

The new phase of militancy was made possible after the JKLF Chairman Amanullah Khan made a secret deal with a Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, which made the struggle subservient to the whims of the ISI. It was a deal between two unequal partners. It was agreed that the ISI will provide: training, arms, money and other logistic support, not to mention full media coverage to the JKLF and all the actions which will take place over there. They also agreed to help the militants to cross the LOC with weapons and everything else what was required.

Amanullah Khan’s role was to project this as a Kashmiri struggle; and ensure that focus of the world attention remains on the Indian side of the Kashmir. It was because of this secret deal that the top leadership of JKLF never bothered even to discuss any strategy for the liberation of the areas under the occupation of Pakistan. They assured their members that as soon as Indian Kashmir is liberated by militancy, Pakistani government will also pack its bags and leave Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan.

Despite the above this militancy was projected and promoted as an indigenous struggle. I have no hesitation to accept that as JKLF members we were also saying that it was our struggle, because that was what we were told by our leadership, and we didn’t have independent sources to confirm this. In any case there was no need to get this confirmed from a third part party as we had no reason to suspect our leadership?

I acknowledge and highly respect sacrifices of Kashmiri masses and junior to middle ranking leadership who worked with dedication and sincerely thought that it was their struggle. They were right to think that because they had no links with any agency and did not receive any funds from anywhere. These people made huge sacrifices for the cause of freedom and continue to do so; and it is because of this they call it indigenous struggle. But when we analyse it in light of the available information then it does not pass the test of being an indigenous struggle.

I also thought it was our struggle and Kashmiri Diaspora was supporting and funding it. However my view of the struggle changed when I visited Azad Kashmir and Pakistan in 1991/2. A senior JKLF friend Choudhry Qurban Hussain who had been there for more than ten months before I reached there told me that: ‘Shabir Sahib, if you think this is our struggle and it is being funded and supported by us Kashmiris living abroad then you are totally wrong’.

He said, ‘Something else is happening in name of our struggle; and surely it is not run by the small funds we provide; and those who provide huge funds for this gigantic project, feed people, provide training and all kinds of support are also controlling the struggle’.

Together we visited many places, including some camps and had detailed meetings with militants and their commanders. We soon established what was happening there because frustrated militants were more than willing to reveal information. Only Amanulla Khan and a few close to him knew the game plan, and the Central Committee had no clue what was going on. We talked to a number of CC members in AJK and Pakistan, and decided to raise this issue in the Central Committee that everyone should be made accountable to highest organ of the party. We didn’t have much luck because of the composition of the CC which was full of Amanulla Khan loyalists and the way proceedings were conducted.

My differences with Amanullah Khan started at that time, and not in 1992. To cut the long story short I was expelled from the JKLF in 1992, and allegation was that I was working against the party (JKLF) policies. We formed a separate group of JKLF and continued with our struggle. When Yasin Malik also became victim of Amanullah Khan and was expelled from the JKLF with very serious charges, he formed his JKLF and we merged with him hoping that he will prove to be better than Amanullah Khan.

It was painful to learn that Yasin Malik was no different. He also had no interest in institution building with in the party, and was more interested in personal promotion and had compromised his ideology for sake of some gains. I was also expelled from his group of JKLF for the crime of speaking against illegal upraising of Mangla Dam at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. This dam was illegally constructed by Pakistan in 1967. Within the JKLF I was warned not to speak about the upraising of Mangla Dam or Gilgit and Baltistan, as it annoyed the Pakistani establishment.

So friends and colleagues, this in nutshell explains the role and ideology of the JKLF. They have been tamed to conduct certain activities within the parameters decided by the agencies. It is unfortunate that one way or the other many nationalists are pursuing the strategy designed by the Pakistani establishment; and I don’t need to tell you that their strategy was to promote a Pakistani interest and not to get us independence.

That strategy is not relevant to our struggle for unification and independence. In light of changing geo political situation and world politics we true nationalists of Jammu and Kashmir need to formulate a new strategy to meet our requirements. Jammu and Kashmir is forcibly divided in five zones – Gilgit and Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Valley, Ladakh, and Jammu; and we need to work out a strategy by taking ground realities of each region.

It was a trap of the agencies who advised Kashmiri leaders to ‘liberate’ the Indian side of Kashmir first; and ignore plight and struggle on the Pakistani side. It was illogical and based on whims and interest of our occupier. How can I help people of the Valley when I am in chains on this side of the divide? I am not promoting five different struggles totally disconnected from each other, rather a coordinated struggle which takes view of the situation of each region when formulating a strategy.

We cannot and should not go the other side of the LOC to organise struggle, I am sure people over there are capable of doing that themselves. Our struggle should be on this side of the LOC. I am not advocating any kind of militancy, but I do emphasise that we cannot sit idle and wait for someone else to come and liberate us. However we can travel to Gilgit and Baltistan to express our solidarity with people fighting for their fundamental rights, and coordinate our activities to support each other. We can also support the genuine struggle on the other side of the LOC as well.

Friends and colleagues, I hope you will continue to work hard and support your leadership to promote the cause of united and independent Jammu and Kashmir.

Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

To view other articles see my blog: www.drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com