A letter to Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
United Kashmir People's National Party(UKPNP)
Date: 10 May 2020
Dear Keir Starmer MP
Leader of the Opposition
House of Commons
London SW1A OAA
Dear Keir Starmer
Re: Jammu and Kashmir dispute
I am a British citizen, and have lived here peacefully since 1966; and strongly wish that peace and stability prevails in Britain that we can all live here peacefully.
On behalf of United Kashmir Peoples National Party, which strongly believes in democratic, liberal and secular ideals; and have actively advanced a peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, I want to make the following points.
Please note that Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.
Whereas India and Pakistan are party to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, we people of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal party – a party which has continued to suffer since October 1947 on both sides of the divide.
In your letter to Muslim Council of Britain, dated 08 May 2020, you stated:
‘Our position on Kashmir has not changed, we support and recognise previous UN resolutions on the right of Kashmir people but maintain that if we are to find a lasting settlement to end this conflict, that can only be achieved if India and Pakistan working together, with the people of Kashmir.’
May I remind you that the UN Security Resolution of 13 August 1948 stated:
A. (1) ‘As the presence of troops of Pakistan in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes a material change in the situation since it was represented by the Government of Pakistan before the Security Council, the Government of Pakistan agrees to withdraw its troops from that State.
(2) The Government of Pakistan will use its best endeavour to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting.’
Pakistan to date has not withdrawn their troops from the territories that do not belong to Pakistan, but continues to send ‘Jihadi warriors’ to commit acts of violence and terrorism on the other side of the divide.
In view of this bitter fact, how relevant are the UN Resolutions, especially when both India and Pakistan have agreed in the Simla Agreement of 1972, that they will resolve the dispute bilaterally.
There seems to be no role for the divided people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is our homeland which is forcibly divided and we must have a final say to determine future status of our motherland.
I hope the Labour Party under your leadership will play its role in empowering people of Jammu and Kashmir, and in this regard, the Pakistani withdrawal is prerequisite. Only after that, appropriate arrangements could be made where people of Jammu and Kashmir can determine future status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Also, I hope that the Labour Party, under your leadership, will ensure that Members of Parliament do not succumb to pressure of those who promote extremism, intolerance and religious hatred; and will discharge their duties impartially by taking views of all communities in to consideration.
It is sad to note that some Members of Parliament , while dealing with Jammu and Kashmir dispute, behave in a manner as if they were spokespersons of Pakistan. This attitude not only damages the standing of the Labour Party, but also harms the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as they try to make it a religious dispute.
While promoting peace and stability in South Asia, we must ensure that there is peace and harmony in Britain, and no one should be permitted to stir up religious and ethnic discord.
We wish to meet you or someone else who deals with matters of South Asia that we can discuss some of the issues mentioned above.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Your sincerely
Dr Shabir Choudhry
President Foreign Affairs Committee of UKPNP.
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