Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Nawaz Sharif,
28 February 2015
Kashmir National Party
28 Brook Road
Newbury Park
Essex
England
IG2 7EY
Dear Sirs,
Re: India Pakistan talks and Kashmir
I am writing this letter
on behalf of Kashmir National Party
which is a pro peace, pro democracy and pro people party; and which strongly
oppose forces of extremism, terrorism and hatred. Also the KNP believes that the State of Jammu and Kashmir is legally not
part of any country; and its future is yet to be determined by the people of
the former Princely State.
I am sure you will agree
that first responsibility of every civilised and democratic government is to
protect life, liberty and property of the people. When Pakistani supported ‘Tribal
Invaders’ was not too far from the Kashmiri capital, Srinagar, under this
serious threat the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir expressed his desire to accede
to India - which was provisionally accepted by the then Governor General of
India – that life, liberty and property of his people could be saved.
The people of Jammu and
Kashmir had an option to determine their future either by accepting this
‘Provisional accession’ or rejecting it; or negotiating some new terms, once
the invaders were driven out of the State territory. We people of Jammu and
Kashmir State never had an opportunity to express our opinion on the matter
because India failed to vacate the State territory; and subsequent events also
made Pakistan a ‘party’ to the dispute.
Hitherto, the former
Princely State is forcibly divided, and innocent people suffer on both sides of
the divide. Whereas, the KNP strongly
believes that there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute, and
resolution could only be achieved through a process of dialogue; however, the
people of Jammu and Kashmir, the principal party to the dispute could not be
sidelined in the process of dialogue.
We are pleased on the
resumption of India and Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks to resolve
bilateral disputes. The people of Jammu and Kashmir State in General and the
KNP in particular believe that the Kashmir dispute is not a territorial
dispute; and India and Pakistan CANNOT determine future of the Former Princely
State by ignoring aspirations of the people.
We acknowledge that there
are three schools of thought in Jammu and Kashmir, namely those who want to
accede to India, those who want to accede to Pakistan and those who want to
become independent. Those who want to join India or Pakistan their interests are
protected by the respective governments; but those who espouse the cause of an
independent Jammu and Kashmir their interests and apprehensions are not
represented when India and Pakistan hold bilateral talks on Jammu and Kashmir.
Furthermore, there is a
long history that people of Jammu and Kashmir living on the Indian side of the
divide, whether they believe in an independent Jammu and Kashmir or an
accession to Pakistan, their views and aspirations are represented because they
regularly interact with top level Pakistani officials. Also on various
occasions these people have had opportunities to meet senior Indian officials,
and put forward their views.
The people of so called
Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan who promote an idea of united and independent
Jammu and Kashmir are deliberately ignored by officials of India and Pakistan.
Our views, aspirations and concerns are not represented at any level.
In view of the above we
strongly urge that people of Jammu and Kashmir who promote peace and tolerance;
and whose aspirations and concerns are hitherto ignored must be made part of
the dialogue that amicable solution to the Kashmir dispute could be found.
I look forward to hearing
from you, and hope that some actions will be taken to engage people in the dialogue
process and empower them.
Yours sincerely
Dr Shabir Choudhry
Director Diplomatic
Committee,
Kashmir National Party.
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