JKNIA Seminar - Jammu Kashmir, the way forward, presentation by Dr Shabir Choudhry

JKNIA Seminar - Jammu Kashmir, the way forward, presentation by Dr Shabir Choudhry

Luton, England 23 December 2018

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues Aslamo al Alaykam.

I was asked to come with some suggestions. I want to submit the following suggestions for your consideration.

1.   First we must acknowledge that the entire former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir is occupied; and no region could be called independent or a base camp.

2.   We should also accept that, apart from India, China and Pakistan are also occupying countries; therefore, our struggle must be against all countries and not against only one country.

3.   Without starting a blame game, we need to admit that the strategy of assuming so called Azad Kashmir as a ‘Base Camp’ to liberate the other Jammu and Kashmir was flawed; and was promoted and advanced by the ruling elite of Pakistan.

4.   Therefore, we need to adopt a practical strategy that people of Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir cannot ‘liberate’ the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, especially when we are in chains on this side of the divide.

5.   Those who promoted this strategy, and continue to do so, in essence, are promoting the agenda of the Pakistani elite, as they want to divert attention from the problems we face in Gilgit Baltistan and in Pakistani Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

6.   In view of this, the people of Jammu and Kashmir should struggle against the country that occupies them; and must not become proxies of any country.

7.   We should also accept that our struggle must be peaceful. Remember, whether the gun is borrowed, gifted or purchased, we cannot win unification and independence with the gun, as we are occupied by 3 nuclear states with large armies, and live in a very volatile region.

8.   Hitherto, the use of gun has only brought disaster to the people of Jammu and Kashmir; and distorted our struggle as a proxy war, in which one country is training militants, providing weapons and funds to be used against the other country.

9.   Furthermore, we must not communalise our polity and struggle. Jammu and Kashmir is a multi-religious and multi ethnic State; and does not belong to Muslims only. It is home for all of us. Therefore, our struggle must be for a democratic and progressive society and must not be tarnished with religious colour.

10.                 Every citizen has a right to life, and enjoy all other fundamental rights. Sponsored militancy and so called jihad against India has resulted in oppression, killings, imprisonment, torture, rapes, intimidation and harassment. That must stop.

11.                 However, in my opinion, the sponsored militancy and jihad must stop first, that the authorities don’t have this excuse that human rights abuses take place and people die of ‘collateral damage’, because they are fighting militants.

12.                 Once normalcy returns, and gun culture is eradicated, then there should be a process of intra – Kashmir dialogue among all the ethnic, political and religious groups of Jammu and Kashmir State.

13.                 We should emphasise on governments of Pakistan and India that Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not a bilateral dispute. We people of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal party to the dispute; and we must have the final say on the future status of our motherland.

14.                 In view of the above, we people of Jammu and Kashmir must be made a part of dialogue process. History of India and Pakistan relations proves our contention that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved by force, or by bilateral agreements.

15.                 We must urge both governments to reconsider their current approaches on Jammu and Kashmir dispute; and open all traditional routes that people of Jammu and Kashmir can interact with their fellow citizens.

16.                 In addition to the above, I suggest there should be a no man’s land created along the current Line Of Control. Armies of both countries should voluntarily withdraw about two miles, which will give about four miles no man’s land. Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, after security check up, should enter this no man’s land. This could be a meeting place where people can meet, eat, debate, socialise, trade and build bridges of confidence.

17.                 I suggest that JKNIA should contact Diplomatic missions of India, Pakistan and China, and in line with the above strategy hold a process of dialogue with these countries.

18.                 Furthermore, JKNIA should take a lead in establishing contacts with fellow citizens belonging to other religions.

19.                 Additionally, JKNIA should make sincere efforts to establish contacts with democratic and progressive people of India and Pakistan, and seek their help because resolution of Jammu and Kashmir is essential for peace and stability of South Asia.

20.                 We must promote pro people and pro peace policies; and should not hesitate to challenge those who promote extremism, terrorism, intolerance and religious hatred.

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

Modi is paying price for extremist policies. Dr Shabir Choudhry

Modi is paying price for extremist policies.

Dr Shabir Choudhry   London   13 December 2018

During my recent visit to Qatar, I was invited to a function held in a dessert at night by one prominent Qatari Sheikh. It was his family function where, apart from his family, close friends were invited. I got the invitation because Sheikh’s daughter was in my daughter’s class; and he kindly invited us too.

It was amazing experience for me. Dessert at night was cool, and there were numerous dinner sites in the dessert, where the rich people enjoyed their evenings with friends and family.

The camp was divided on strict gender lines, and I did not know anyone on the men side, where around 80 people were present. It was a camp, but had sofa sets, carpets, tables, chairs, everything you can think off related to luxurious dinner. If I start explaining everything what we did, or ate there, then I won’t have any space left for the conversation I had with some Indian Muslims.

The Sheikh greeted me very warmly. He studied in England, and had no problem in conversing in English. He introduced me to some Muslims from India. During my conversation, I discovered that they were from Kerala.

I introduced myself to him, as a Muslim visitor from London. I asked Umer if there was Hindu Muslim trouble in Kerala. He said there was no trouble in our state. We live peacefully and respect each other, share each other’s happiness and grief.

“Good to hear that”, I said, “so there must be trouble in other states. Pakistani media tells us that lives of Muslims are made living hell in India.”

He said, “If your source of information is only Pakistani media, then there is no need to discuss anymore. I sometimes watch Pakistani news channels, and wonder which country they are talking about. It didn’t look about India. The situation is not as bad as they portray. In my personal experience, there is no trouble in Chennai, Madras, Karnataka and Kerala. I have spent time in these states. I can’t speak for the whole of India. I understand there are areas in UP, Gujrat and Jammu and Kashmir, where Muslims face problems, and some are killed as well.”

I said, I don’t have details, like you have. However, the Pakistani media tells people that Muslims are having very difficult time since Modi has become Prime Minister of India.

He said, “Yes, there is some truth in this. Extremism in India has increased in some states, as a result, Muslims and some other minorities have suffered, but that is not true for all the states.”

Another Indian Muslim, Hussain joined the discussion, and said: “Majority of people of India are secular minded. They are not trouble makers. In every society, there are good and bad people. Because India is a huge country with so many cultures and religions, it is expected to have differences and troubles. However, secular minded people have replied to policies of Modi in the elections. Modi and BJP are paying heavy price because of their extremist policies.”

I said, I can agree, no society is perfect. Every society has its own problems. Within Muslim societies, there could be political, tribal and sectarian problems, which sometimes result in bloodshed and riots.

The fourth person who was listening to us attentively said, “More Muslims suffer in Pakistan than in India. How many Muslims India has killed since 1947; and how many are killed by Pakistan since 1947? Do you have details or shall I give you some details?”

The other two men laughed, and I felt a little embarrassed. This man perhaps knew his subject better than others. After asking him his name, I said, “brother Ali Abbas, I know what Pakistan has done. I wanted to learn from you people about the situation in India.”

With a smile on his face, he said, “I hold Master’s degree in politics and history. Apart from watching other media, I also watch Pakistani media, and I can tell that almost all Pakistani journalists are managed and controlled. In order to divert attentions from their domestic problems they talk about problems of Muslims in Kashmir and in India. If they are so concerned about problems of Muslims, why don’t they speak about problems of Muslims in Yemen, in Syria, in Afghanistan and in China?”

As soon as he stopped, Umer said, “What about problems of Baloch people, Pashtun people, people in FATA who are subject to aerial bombardments; and sadly, there are no media reports to tell about their plight. You Pakistanis seem to be more concerned about propagating our problems then doing something positive to resolve your own problems.”

I thought I was on a weak wicket. In any case, I was not there to defend wrong doings of Pakistan. Political rule is, when you are on unstable ground, it is better to change the topic. So, I said:

“Brothers, please correct yourselves. I am not a Pakistani. I am from Azad Kashmir.”

With a defiant smile on his face, Ali Abbas said, “How interesting? You are from occupied Kashmir? How Azad are you there? Do rulers of Pakistan give you respect and fundamental human rights?”

This was another territory, which is close to my heart, nevertheless, I wanted to avoid discussing it in this place. I said, “We are not azad; and we don’t have fundamental human rights.”

However, in order to change the topic, I asked Hussain, “When you go back to India which airport do you use?”

It was totally unrelated question to the discussion we were having. He said, “We have 4 international airports in Kerala. We live in India, and not in Pakistan, we have plenty of airports.”

Before I could comment on this, Ali Abbas with a cheeky smile asked, “Sir, how many international airports do you have in your country which you call Azad Kashmir?”

I knew, I was in a tight corner again. I pretended to be working something on my fingers, and with a smile I replied, “Ten airports, one for each district.”

They all laughed. They knew I was only joking. Ali Abbas said, “Sir, I meant airports and not bus stations.”

They all laughed again, and I joined them too. After they stopped, I said, the territory where I live, is called Azad Kashmir. It doesn’t mean it is azad. We are occupied by Pakistan. The prefix azad is just to fool people that they are azad; and those living on the side of the divide are occupied by India.

Before we could say anything else, our host came to inform me that my wife and daughter were ready to go. I thank God for this intervention; and shook hands with them, and left by saying we may continue our discussion some other time.

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