Tuesday 29 January 2019

Solidarity day or a fraud day, Dr Shabir Choudhry


Solidarity day or a fraud day, Dr Shabir Choudhry
London       30 January 2019

5 February is not a solidarity day, as claimed by Pakistan and their followers; but a fraud day. The sooner we understand this fraud, and the real game plan of Pakistan, the better it is for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, credit must be given to the Pakistani establishment for systematically and effectively fooling people of Jammu and Kashmir for the past 70 years.

Sad part of this drama, which Pakistan stages in name of Kashmir is that many people of Jammu and Kashmir still happily dance on the tune played by Islamabad, and regard Pakistan as a big brother and a well-wisher.

Pakistan is having very serious financial problems, and in many parts of the country, their children and old and sick people are dying because of lack of medicine and food. However, their strong establishment has sufficient funds to arm, train and launch militants across the divided line to commit acts of violence.

Also, they have plenteous funds to spend lavishly on various false propaganda projects around the world to fool people of Jammu and Kashmir, and people of Pakistan.

With this exercise they think they are fooling the world about Jammu and Kashmir, and also advance their agenda on Kashmir. Reality, however, is that they are fooling no one, apart from themselves and their collaborators in Jammu and Kashmir.

Diplomats and leaders of other countries are not fools. They know what the Pakistani game plan is, and no country take their propaganda seriously. Some even welcome this kind of activity, as that helps their economy.

For example, if they hold a demonstration in Geneva, they have to transport day wagers from other countries. They have to pay them, for their food, transport and sometimes accommodation. Also, they have to provide massive funds to the organisers for publicity and banners which are displayed on streets. In addition to that, they pay so called leaders who travel from Pakistan and Pakistani occupied Kashmir. These leaders generously spend money in Switzerland in name of Kashmir; and still save sufficient for their families.

Of course, all that is good for the economy of Switzerland, and economies of other countries, where stalwarts of Islamabad hold political events to ‘educate the world community’. Most of the ‘educators’ speak Urdu and Punjabi, and they lack appropriate knowledge on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. I wonder how the world community understands them? Whether they understand the Kashmir dispute or not, they welcome this kind of activity on regular basis, and if anything they encourage it, as it is good for their economy.

True sons of soil understand imperialist agenda of Pakistan and oppose it. Some collaborators with hat of nationalism, on the other hand, say we should not oppose ‘solidarity day’, because Pakistan is the only country in the world that supports us.

They don’t tell people that Pakistan is the only country that attacked us, despite a written agreement. India did not invade us, they came to Jammu and Kashmir after a written agreement, and on the request of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.

They also don’t tell people how Pakistan oppress people, deny people their fundamental rights and exploit our resources in Gilgit Baltistan and in so called Azad Kashmir.

We can criticise India, and also condemn human rights abuses, as they have not fulfilled their pledges; but we cannot change historical facts to suit our political agenda.

Every year well before December, the Pakistani establishment issue directions to their collaborators to prepare plans for the fake historic day- 5 February, which has no historical significance. This year is very important for them, as they have more problems in Pakistan in every aspect of social, political and economic life.

Kashmir is the best topic which divert attention of the divided and suffering people away from their everyday problems. They will have another holiday in our name; and they will show on the national TV channels what their establishment is doing on the Kashmir front.

For this purpose, Foreign Minister of Pakistan is also ordered to take part in the fraud day function arranged in London. Of course, people like Barrister Sultan Mahmood and Chaudhry Yasin have already been instructed to mobilise their followers in England. Like, always, the High Commission of Pakistan will play a key role in the whole affair. Icing on the cake is support of PTI people who are also enthusiastically taking part in this event.

If Pakistan is sincere about the plight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, then they should:
1.   Honour their pledges assumed under the UNCIP Resolutions; and respect honour, dignity and fundamental rights of the people living under their control.

2.   Restore State Subject Laws, and repatriate all Pakistanis settled in Gilgit Baltistan.

3.   Release all political prisoners, and end schedule 4.

4.   Lift ban on all the books and newspapers.

5.   Give appropriate share of the CPEC projects to the people of Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad Kashmir.

6.   Stop exploitation of our natural resources and give control of dams to the local administrations.

7.   Instead of having holiday in our name, work hard and give that money to victims and oppressed people on both sides of the divide.

These moves will make India defensive on the Kashmir dispute; and will enhance Pakistan’s image in the region and beyond. This will surely help to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and present Pakistan as a hero.

Writer is a renowned writer and author of many books. He is also President Foreign Affairs Committee of UKPNP; and Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com       Twitter:  @Drshabir

Tuesday 22 January 2019

Kashmir dispute - what needs to be done, speech delivered by Sarfraz Raja



Kashmir dispute - what needs to be done

Speech delivered by Sarfraz Raja, a leader of United Kashmir Peoples National Party on 20 January 2019.

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues Aslamo alaykam and very good afternoon to all of you.

When the British Raj ended in the Indian Sub – Continent on 15 August 1947, the State of Jammu and Kashmir was one political entity. The Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, despite pressure from various quarters refused to accede to India or Pakistan, and legally and constitutionally regained its independence.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Mountbatten and Pundit Nehru agreed that the Two Nations Theory did not apply to the Princely States. They also agreed that the Rulers of the Princely States will decide future of their states.

Maharaja Hari Singh wanted to remain independent, and for this purpose invited India and Pakistan to enter a Standstill Agreement with Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan immediately accepted this offer and signed the Standstill Agreement, however, India wanted to discuss this matter further.

In a blatant violation of the Standstill Agreement and against Islamic teaching, Pakistan attacked Jammu and Kashmir on 22 October 1947, with intention of occupying the State. Tens of thousands of innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir were killed, women raped and property was looted and destroyed.

Maharaja Hari Singh was unable to defend his State, and requested India for help. India agreed to help provided the State acceded to India. Hari Singh had no choice, but to accept this, and in order to save his country and his people, he acceded to accede to India, which had to be ratified by the people.

This resulted in the first India Pakistan war, and our motherland was forcibly divided between India and Pakistan. It is sad that even after 70 long years, our motherland, Jammu and Kashmir remains divided; and we suffer on both sides of the divide.

Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not only a political issue, it is also human issue. Families and friends are divided, and people were driven out of their homes. It is sad that despite lofty claims of democracy and brotherhood, both India and Pakistan have deprived us of our fundamental rights.

There are UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, which demand Pakistan to withdraw all the troops. India had to withdraw only bulk of the troops. After Pakistan’s refusal to withdraw, no progress was made on withdrawal of the troops; and people were not allowed to express their opinion on the future of our motherland.

Instead of implementing the UN Resolutions, and caring for the people, Pakistan systematically exported extremism, terrorism and religious hatred, which has divided people of Jammu and Kashmir on religious and ethnic lines.

This export of terrorism - sending religious warriors to commit acts of terrorism in Kashmir, result in death and destruction and human rights abuses. India, in pretext of fighting terrorism, is also responsible for human rights abuses.

Our demands are simple:
1.   Pakistan must stop training and sending militants to Kashmir, as that policy adds to our suffering; and it bleeds us.

2.   Pakistan should also stop communalising polity of Jammu and Kashmir and promoting extremism, religious hatred and intolerance.

3.   Pakistan must change its policy in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani Occupied Jammu and Kashmir; and treat people with respect and give us our fundamental rights including a right of expression by not banning our books and newspapers.

4.   Pakistan must respect disputed nature of Gilgit Baltistan, respect State Subject Ordinance and stop settling Pakistanis in this disputed territory; and repatriate those Pakistanis who are settled there.

5.   Furthermore, Pakistan must stop intimidation of political activists, release political prisoners, give people equal share in the CPEC projects; and establish technical and professional institutes to  empower the local people.

6.   By building Neelam Jhelum Hydel dam, Pakistan has diverted water of River Neelam, which has caused enormous problems for nearly half million people, wildlife and environment. We demand Pakistan to release sufficient water that the suffering of the people could end.

7.   I call upon the Indian authorities to respect human rights and honour their pledges made to us in the Instrument of Accession and under the UNCIP Resolutions.

8.   I request both India and Pakistan to stop testing their weapons on the Line Of Control, as this adds to our problems, and innocent people are killed on both sides of the divide.

9.   Also, I request both countries to open all traditional routes linking the forcibly divided State that people can interact and socialise with their relatives and friends.

10.                 Both India and Pakistan should allow leaders of Jammu and Kashmir to meet and start intra Kashmir dialogue to build bridges of confidence.

11.                 Both countries should start a process of trilateral dialogue that people of Jammu and Kashmir can also have their say in the final solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Mr Chairman, I thank you.