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
