Tuesday 20 August 2019

Dublin Declaration- Declaration of a conference organised by Jammu Kashmir International Peoples Alliance in Dublin on 20 August 2019.


Dublin Declaration

Declaration of a conference organised by Jammu Kashmir International Peoples Alliance in Dublin on 20 August 2019.

Title: Jammu and Kashmir dispute and roles of India and Pakistan

This august gathering assembled in Dublin, Ireland, to deliberate on deteriorating situation of Jammu and Kashmir and possible threats to peace and stability of the region strongly feels that India, under the Prime Minister Modi has desecrated all the pledges made to people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also, he has deliberately disregarded ethos of secular and democratic India, marginalised those who promote liberal, democratic and secular ideals, and undermined legal and constitutional obligations.

Apart from us, people of divided Jammu and Kashmir, secular and liberal Indians are also concerned about plight of the suffering people of Jammu and Kashmir; and they openly oppose what Prime Minister Modi has done. In this context, Congress Secretary General, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders ‘expressed dismay at the manner in which the Centre scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir’. She said: 

“The manner in which Article 370 scrapped is totally unconstitutional. It’s against all the principles of democracy, there are rules to be followed when such things are done, which were not followed.”

Many other Indians have expressed strong resentment on the current  situation of Kashmir. Some even commented: ‘All of Kashmir is in jail right now.’ ‘It’s an open-air prison.’

Leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, all three schools of thought - pro Pakistan, pro India and nationalist leaders have also expressed their strong resentment on decision of the Prime Minister Modi’s government. They feel a democratic and secular India has betrayed trust of people of former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. In this context, Shaukat Kashmiri, Chairman United Kashmir Peoples National Party asserted:

“I strongly condemn bifurcation and scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. We reiterate to continue peaceful struggle for restoration of integrity, sovereignty and unification of historical State of Jammu and Kashmir.”

In view of what has transpired after this decision, which is imperialist in nature, this conference unanimously:

1.    Condemn all human rights abuses taking place in forcibly divided Jammu and Kashmir;

2.    Point out that with India there were a number of written covenants, namely Instrument of Accession, the UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370, Article 35A of the constitution of India, Simla Agreement, and Lahore Declaration. It was expected that democratic and secular India will honour their pledges, instead, the Modi Government unilaterally bypassed all that, and bifurcated territories of Jammu and Kashmir under their control and usurped them;

3.    Denounce this action because it is considered illegal and unconstitutional, and against established norms of democratic values. We cannot accept this or support this kind of attack on our fundamental rights and values;

4.    Request the UN to ensure that fundamental rights of Jammu and Kashmir are protected in accordance with the UN Charter, and relevant Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir;

5.    Emphasise that the former State of Jammu Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, or any other country over a piece of land; as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is  our identity, fundamental human rights, including a right to life, travel, expression and a right to determine future of more than 20 million people who are forcibly divided between Indian and Pakistan since 1947;

6.    Remind all those interested in peace and stability of Jammu and Kashmir, that at the time of Partition of the British India in August 1947, the Jammu and Kashmir was a separate political entity; and home of Muslims, Pandits, Dogras, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and other minorities, where all communities lived in peace and harmony;

7.    Caution that any attempts to divide Jammu and Kashmir by force on communal lines will result in promotion of extremism, violence, religious intolerance and hatred in Jammu and Kashmir and in South Asia;

8.    Accentuate that Jammu and Kashmir dispute is a political dispute, and DOES NOT require a religious solution or religious tampering of any kind, as that will inject more fuel to already growing extremism, religious intolerance and hatred;

9.    Highlight that China is not a party to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. People of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal party, with India and Pakistan being contesting parties. Any attempt to make China a fourth party will further complicate the matters, and increase instability, rivalry and pandemonium.


10. Appeal the UN Security Council to take thoughtful and meaningful action to avert disaster in Jammu and Kashmir and in South Asia, as there is a serious threat to peace and stability of the entire region;

11. Urge the world powers and human rights organisation to help us in this hour of need, and tell both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint, honour their pledges made to people of Jammu and Kashmir, release all political prisoners, restore State Subject Laws in all parts of the divided State of Jammu and Kashmir;

12. Recap that we have been waiting for justice since 1947. The Security Council must ensure that both India and Pakistan should honour their responsibilities assumed under different treaties, and under the Security Council Resolutions;

13. Note with sadness that on one hand Pakistan presents itself as a champion of fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir living on the Indian side of the divide, on the other hand, does not provide those rights to people living on the Pakistani side of the divide. Does it mean people of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir living on the Pakistani side do not deserve fundamental rights;

14.  Concerned about Pakistan’s motives because they talk about sanctity of the State Subject Laws on the Indian side of the divide, but very conveniently forget that they were the first one to abrogate these laws in Gilgit Baltistan in 1974, and allowed tens of thousands of Pakistanis to settle in Gilgit Baltistan to change demography, and political, social, religious and economic character of these territories which are constitutional part of the undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir;

15. Anxious that Pakistan is on a mission to further complicate the Jammu and Kashmir dispute by dragging China in to the fray. Already, Pakistan, in total disregard to integrity of Jammu and Kashmir territory, gifted nearly 2000 Square miles of our territory from strategically important resource rich area of Gilgit Baltistan, Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963;

16. Apprehensive of Chinese and Pakistani designs in Gilgit Baltistan, especially after leasing large tracts of resource rich areas to Chinese and Pakistanis, who are increasing their influence and strengthen their hold on these areas because of the projects initiated under the guise of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has strong strategic and military agenda;

17. Demand that both India and Pakistan should respect all their commitments made bilaterally, and in the Security Council; and in this regard India should revoke their decision made on 5 August 2019 to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, as this decision instigated the current unrest and trouble inside Jammu and Kashmir and on the LOC. Likewise, Pakistan should withdraw their troops in accordance with the UN Security Resolution of 13 August 1948, that a process of a trilateral dialogue can ensue, whereby the people of Jammu and Kashmir could determine their future without any fear and intimidation.

18. Express resentment that hitherto, people of Jammu and Kashmir have been side-lined or practically ignored; whereas we are the main party to the dispute, and our sentiments and role must be paramount in future negotiations to find a peaceful and amicable solution to the long standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

19. Implore the world leaders, especially President Trump and others who have a big say in determining international disputes, for the sake of peace and stability of the Indian Sub - Continent, and to avert a nuclear clash, take a new initiative in the Security Council by passing a Resolution which provide three options to the divided people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their future. A peaceful resolution of the outstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute will result in a new era of peace and stability, and economic development in the region. END

Issued by Dr Shabir Choudhry on behalf Jammu Kashmir International Peoples Alliance.

Telephone: 0044(0)7790942471



Friday 16 August 2019

Congratulation to Pakistan. Dr Shabir Choudhry


Congratulation to Pakistan. Dr Shabir Choudhry

1.    They have successfully diverted attention away from all domestic problems.

2.    Fooled people of Jammu and Kashmir and people of Pakistan.

3.    Once again, they have proved that they can manipulate and use people of Jammu and Kashmir to advance their agenda on Jammu and Kashmir.

4.    Because it was an informal meeting, so discussion of this informal meeting was not held in the Council Chamber of the Security, known as horse -shoe table, which has more formal format for meetings.

5.    It means, in view of the Security Council, this meeting was  not important, it was just an informal chat.

6.    Important point is both India and Pakistan were not present in the hall where the discussion took place.

7.    The Security Council does not issue any statement of informal discussions.

8.    In absence of any formal statement, both India and Pakistan can claim success to please their audience.

9.    Only success of this ‘informal meeting’ is that efforts of Pakistan and their proxies have yielded with the following results:

9.1          China has officially become another party to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It was bad enough with two parties, now with 3 parties there is no chance of any unification or independence.

9.2          Prior to that it was India and Pakistan problem, and people of Jammu and Kashmir were there to suffer that both countries play politics in their name.

9.3          In future, Jammu and Kashmir dispute may be known as ‘India, Pakistan and China problem’.

10. In view of the above points, people with common sense can gauge success of this meeting . END