KASHMIR

JKLF Re-unification Press Statement

2011-10-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

The two main functionaries of pro-independence Kashmiri organization “Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front” (JKLF) have been merged into each other following a meeting of their respective heads Mr. Ammanullah Khan and Mr. Muhammad Yasin Malik on 12^th of August 2011 at former’s residence in Rawalpindi, wherein they had in principle decided to reunite the party. The decisions regarding the re-unification of JKLF were announced by both these leaders during press conferences simultaneously held in Islamabad, Pakistan and Srinagar, IHK. These decisions were agreed upon after an eight (8) member Unity Facilitation Committee (UFC), four (4) members from each side, had held a number of meetings to finalize the modalities since its formation by the two leaders on 12^th of August.

Names of Unity Facilitation Committee (UFC) Members:

From Mr. Ammanullah Khan

1. Adv. Sardar Sageer Ahmed (AJK)

2. Hafiz Anwar Samavi (AJK)

3. Manzoor Ahmed Khan (AJK)

4. Master S. M. Afzal (IHK)

From Mr. Muhammad Yasin Malik

1. Adv. M. Sabir Ansari (AJK)

2. Khuwaja Pervez Iqbal (AJK)

3. Muhammad Rafiq Dar (AJK)

4. Adv. Bashir Ahmed Butt (IHK)

Note: Adv. Sardar Sageer Ahmed was later on replaced by Mr. Abdul Hameed Butt.

The UFC held its first meeting on Friday, 9^th of August 2011, in Central Information Office (CIO) Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi wherein Mr. Ammanullah Khan made his special appearance. On the occasion while delivering a lecture on freedom movement, the organization and ideology, Mr. Ammanullah Khan highlighted the responsibilities and importance of UFC. He thanked central executive committee members of both the sides for having endorsed the decision for re-unification of JKLF by them. Both the sides put forth their suggestions for unification which were fruitful, welcoming and based on forward movement, and were discussed during the meeting in a very cordial and conducive atmosphere. However, the decisions were adjourned till next meeting.

In order to reach to consensus on certain important issues, the UFC were in frequent touch with each other and their respective heads.

The second meeting of UFC was held on Sunday, 18^th of September 2011, again in CIO Chandni Chowk, Rawalpindi wherein the members decided to announce the party re-unification along with the following unanimously agreed upon decisions:

Mr. Ammanullah Khan shall be the life time Supreme Head (SH) of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

The office of SH shall specially and specifically remain assigned to Mr. Ammanullah Khan only, who shall be the most respectable personality to every member, office bearer and leaders of JKLF.

The office of SH shall be the symbol of unity (oneness) for all the constituent parts of the state of Jammu Kashmir, ie; Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, AJK and Gilgat Baltistan.

The SH shall be taking care of the ideological boundaries of JKLF and shall be the symbol of independent and sovereign state of Jammu Kashmir.

Mr. Muhammad Yasin Malik shall be the chairman of JKLF until the central convention is held after the formation of supreme council (SC) for he being one of pioneers of the current freedom struggle including Shaheed Ashfaq Majeed and Shaheed Sheikh Abdul Hameed.

Mr. Muhammad Yasin Malik shall be running the overall organizational as well as the affair’s of freedom movement leading a 19 member committee with proportionately divided representation from every zone.

Names are as below:

From IHK….. 9

1. Adv. Bashir Ahmed Butt

2. Eng. Gh. Rasool Dar

3. Noor M. Kalwal

4. Showkat A. Bakhshi

5. Javed A. Zargar

6. M. Zaman Mir

7. Master S. M. Afzal

8. Sheikh Ab. Rasheed

9. M. Yaseen Butt

From AJK…..6

1. Adv. M. Sabir Ansari

2. Khuwaja Pervez Iqbal

3. Dr. Touqeer Gilani

4. Hafiz Anwar Samavi

5. Sardar Ab. Hameed

6. Khuwaja Saifudin

From Overseas

1. Raja Muzaffar (USA)

2. Prof. Zaffar Khan (UK)

3. Prof Azmat Khan (UK)

4. Manzoor A. Chusti (ME)

The SH shall refer any emerging dispute or controversy for discussions to the highest level decision making authoritative body the SC after having consultations with the party chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik.

Under the leadership of chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, this 19 member committee shall work until the formation of SC and its convention after having held the zonal conventions in their respective zones.

A constitutional committee, based on the members of constitutional experts, shall also be formed to reproduce / reframe the constitution of JKLF. It’s members are:

1. Adv. M. Sabir Ansari

2. Raja Muzaffar

3. Adv. Mazhar Iqbal

4. Adv. Abid Ayub

On certain important issues and party institutions, and their possible role in future, it was decided that their policy shall be formulated and finalized after having discussions in SC lead by Muhammad Yasin Malik, wherein suggestion, if any, from SH shall also be considered and taken into account.

Signatures of the members of Unity Facilitation Committee

1. Adv. Bashir Ahmed Butt ………………………….

2. Adv. M. Sabir Ansari …………………………...

3. Khuwaja Pervez Iqbal …………………………….

4. Hafiz Anwar Samavi …………………………….

5. Muhammad Rafiq Dar …………………………….

6. Master S. M. Afzal …………………………….

7. Abdul Hameed Butt …………………………….

8. Manzoor Ahmed Khan ……………………………..

No one can divide Kashmiris: Yasin Malik

2011-10-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

Soibugh (Budgam), Oct 9: The JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik on Sunday said Kashmiri people cannot be divided on the basis of sects and clans.

“Kashmiri people are linked through a common culture of humanity. Agents who try to divide people on such basis are the real enemies of our movement,” he told a gathering here in central Kashmir. “Our religious scriptures teach us that the pure follower of Islam is one who shares the pain of others,” Malik said. He urged people to remember the sacrifices of the martyrs. “The JK has been griped by widespread grieve, fear and terror. We shouldn’t forget the victims of conflict in this confusion,” he said. Malik said the survival of the movement depends on mutual understanding among different communities living in JK. On the occasion he applauded the contributions made by Syed Hamid-ullah Haqqani, administrator of the Haqqani Memorial Trust, Kashmir.

Protest in London against Fraud Election in Pakistan Administered Kashmir

2011-06-27T02:36:00.000-07:00

‎JKLF Protest in London against Fraud Election in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The protest took place in front of Pakistani High Commission, London. Kashmiri people from other many towns including Luton, Sheffield, Slough, Bedford, and Nottingham also attended. A petition was also handed over to the officials of Pakistan High Commission condemning the involvement of Pakistani political parties in the disputed region and Act 1974. Below is the memorandum

His Excellency Wajid Shams-ul- Hassan
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK
Lowndes Square, London

Date: 26 June 2011

Dear Excellency

Re: The Assembly Elections in Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK- today and the
Azad Jammu Kashmir Interim Constitution Act 1974.

As your Excellency is are aware, elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly are taking place today in which the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- decided not to participate.

Notwithstanding the excitement generated during the election campaign by the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, and Mian Nawaz Sharif the leader of the opposition, the JKLF considers these elections under the 1974 Interim constitution Act as unrepresentative, as it imposes unjust and undemocratic conditions and restrictions on the question of state’s accession.

Excellency our party has, during the past month mounted a vigorous political campaign in both AJK and elsewhere, to mobilise public opinion and create awareness about the undemocratic governance in AJK due to the imposition of the 1974 Interim Constitution. On AJK by

Pakistan

As in London today, the JKLF is holding rallies and vigils across AJK and in other parts of the world to express Kashmiris’ rejection of the 1974 Act, and the undemocratic and unrepresentative structures of governance that have developed under this constitution.

AJK- assembly elections- purport to be a democratic expression of not only over 3 million residents of the territory, but also elect members for constituencies that since 1947 remain within the Indian occupied part of the state... The AJK assembly also styles itself as the successor of the pre August 1947 government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 1974 Act requires candidates wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to

Pakistan

”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1). This requirement of the 1974 Act is a clear contradiction and contravention of the basic political, inherent and inalienable right of the people of AJK, and of the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir for an unfettered choice to have a democratic and representative government.

Therefore continued application and exercise of the 1974 Act hardly reflects any democratic credibility and representativeness in the governance of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Excellency during the past almost sixty four years, it is for the unfettered choice that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have struggled in order to achieve the right for a free and democratic vote! It is indeed this very principle upon which the inherent and inalienable right of around 20 million people of Jammu Kashmir is predicated towards their just struggle for self determination.

Thus Kashmiris since 1947 have seized upon every available opportunity to resist political status quo in their country, and have campaigned for reunification and a sovereign right to decide on the political and constitutional status for their homeland as a just and equitable solution of the Kashmir issue. Incidentally Kashmiris of all political persuasions do not consider the future of their homeland as a dispute between India and Pakistan but rather as an issue which is linked with their inherent and inalienable rights and aspirations.

As you are aware the Kashmir state comprises of a number of regions, which at presently include the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the AJK region and Gilgit Baltistan, which was unilaterally declared as a province of Pakistan by the current Pakistani government since it came to power in 2008.

In the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the assembly elections take place within the Indian constitution. This clearly disenfranchises the people who do not recognise Kashmir as part of India, hence the popular movement for self determination since 1988; which is being violently suppressed by Indian forces of occupation resulting in the deaths of around one hundred thousand people.

While the struggle for reunification and self determination in relation to the entire forcibly divided state of Kashmir continues, we demand that the undemocratic 1974 Interim Act imposed on people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is rescinded and replaced with a transparent and democratic constitution that fully accommodates and recognises the basic political and human rights of all shades of political and ideological opinions, including the enfranchisement of political forces that advocate the cause of an independent and sovereign status for a reunified state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Republic of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was established on 4 October 1947 and reconstituted on 22 October 1947 as the successor Government representing the entire state. If such a government is to have legitimacy of representing not just those within the physical boundaries of AJK, but across the Line of Control-LoC, it is only reasonable to expect that it is fully democratic and sovereign.

That not only the Legislative assembly is elected under a democratic constitution, but also the undemocratic and colonial edifice of the Kashmir Council is constituted in accordance with processes consistent with the principles and practices exercised by a sovereign people.

Otherwise your Excellency, the election process in AJK, taking place today, will once again prove to be a sham election, and a futile effort in the name of democracy. Such a sham process will not only continue to disenfranchise and alienate the people, but will also be a betrayal of the immense sacrifices that they and their forefathers have rendered to the cause of freedom and justice in Kashmir.

We urge your Excellency therefore to convey our views contained in this communication to the Government of Pakistan that it encourages and allows the people in AJK to formulate their own constitution so that a representative system of governance which is fully compatible with internationally recognised democratic norms and principles is established without delay and duress.

With expectation,
Cllr Mahmood Hussain (President, JKLF UK Zone)
Syed Tehseen Gilani (General Secretary, JKLF UK Zone)
________________________________________
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
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Address:          18 Carlton Road, Luton, LU3 1ER

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan High Commission, London on 26th July 2011

2011-06-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan High Commission, London on 26th July 2011 against the fraud elections in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The 1974 Act requires a candidate wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1) - The 1974 Act.

This requirement of the 1974 Interim AJK Act is a clear contradiction and contravention of the basic political, inherent and inalienable right of the people ofKashmir for an unfettered choice to have a democratic and representative government.

Undemocratic and Unrepresentative Elections in Pakistan Administered Kashmir

2011-06-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

A brief background:

For almost sixty four years people of the forcibly divided state of Jammu and Kashmir, commonly referred to as Kashmir), have struggled to obtain their fundamental right for a free and democratic vote!

Kashmiris since 1947 have seized upon every available opportunity to resist the status quo, and they have campaigned for reunification and a sovereign status for their homeland which remains forcibly divided between India and Pakistan.

Kashmir state comprises of a number of regions; however at present it comprises of three regions – namely the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the AJK region controlled by Pakistan and the region of Gilgit Baltistan, unilaterally declared as a province of Pakistan by the current Pakistani government since it came to power in 2008.

In Indian occupied part of the state the assembly elections take place within the Indian constitution. This process disenfranchises those political opinion which does not recognise Kashmir as part of India, hence the popular movement for self determination since 1988, which is being violently suppressed by Indian forces resulting in the deaths of around one hundred thousand Kashmiri civilians.

In Gilgit Baltistan region, recently declared as a province of Pakistan, only the Pakistani political parties are allowed to contest the assembly election, while the governor is appointed by Islamabad as representative of the Pakistani state.

Assembly Elections in Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK 2011

Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK- assembly elections- which purport to be a democratic expression of not only 3 million residents of AJK , but also elect members for constituencies that since 1947 are within the Indian occupied part of the state- take place under the 1974 Act.

The 1974 Act or The Azad Jammu Kashmir Interim Constitution Act 1974 was given to AJK by the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1974.

The 1974 Act requires a candidate wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1) - The 1974 Act.

While the struggle for reunification and self determination in relation to the entire forcibly divided state of Kashmir continues, we demand that the undemocratic 1974 Interim Act imposed on people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is rescinded and replaced with a transparent and democratic constitution that fully accommodates, along with the cause of accession of Kashmir to either Pakistan or India, to enfranchisement of political forces that advocate the cause of an independent and sovereign status for a reunified state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Otherwise the elections process in AJK, schedule to take place on 26 June 2011 will once again be sham election process and mere futile effort in the name of democracy and the people of the region. Such a sham process will not only further disenfranchise and alienate the people but will also be a sad betrayal of the immense sacrifices that they and their forefathers have rendered to the cause of freedom and justice in Kashmir and in particular the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

We therefore seek your support for the democratic rights of all Kashmir people, and in the interim a representative system of governance for the people of AJK- which is fully compatible with internationally recognised democratic norms and principles.

NOTE: This brief note of AJK elections is circulated to Parliamentarians, the press and media, diplomats, political and human rights activists today on 15th June 2011 during a press conference held at the Whittle Room, Broadway House, London.

For further details and clarifications please contact:

Prof. Zafar Khan (Head, JKLF Diplomatic Committee)

Cllr Mahmood Hussain (President, JKLF UK Zone)

Syed Tehseen Gilani (General Secretary, JKLF UK Zone)

________________________________________

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

Email               jklfukzone@jklfworld.org
Web                http://www.jklfworld.org/
Blog                 http://www.jklfworld.blogspot.com/
Facebook        http://www.facebook.com/JKLFWORLD

Independence viable solution to K-issue: Ammanullah

2011-06-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

Islamabad, June 16: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, chief patron, Ammanullah Khan has said that in the backdrop of changes sweeping across the globe, the option of independent Kashmir seems more sensible and a viable solution to the long-running dispute of Kashmir issue.

“Gone are the days when JKLF activists were labelled as double agents and we have come a long way as the nationalist movement is gaining strength on both sides of the ceasefire line (LOC)”, the JKLF founder said while talking to Greater Kashmir. “Initially, talking about Independent Kashmir was not even a minor feat”, he said adding that it was very unfortunate that the Government of Indian accused Shaheed Maqbool Bhat as a Pakistani agent and sent him to gallows after keeping him behind the bars for over 10 years. To the contrary, he said Bhat faced same allegations in Pakistan and was jailed for over two years. “His crime was his struggle for his national emancipation and nothing else”, he said. “I, too, faced the same situation here and was put behind the bars for number of times just for raising the voice of independent Kashmir”, he said. Khan maintained that the region had witnessed a sea change and political maturity amongst the Kashmiris had increased manifold over the past two decades. “I think it is our success that the people, who until yesterday were against JKLF’s struggle for an independent Kashmir, now support and subscribe the same ideology”. “Though they have some reservations, but in private meetings they speak their heart out”, he added. Dismayed over the prevailing political situation in Kashmir he said, there was a dire need that all the political forces should come forward and devise a consensus policy on the issue that has to in line with national interest and reflective of the peoples’ aspirations. He said Kashmiri nation had suffered and struggled for years to achieve the cherished goal of freedom.

Pakistan Administered Kashmir elections and JKLFpoint of view‏

2011-06-07T04:11:00.000-07:00

JKLF rejects Fraud Election in Pakistan Administered Kashmir

2011-06-02T01:34:00.000-07:00

Pakistani Political Parties have no right to interfere in politics of Pakistan Administered Kashmir

2011-05-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

President of JKLF in UK Cllr Mahmood Hussain has said that Pakistani Political Parties have no right to operate and interfere in the politics of Pakistan Administered Kashmir. They have added havoc to already messed up political system in this occupied region. The elections in Pakistan Administered Kashmir is a drama and selection is always done in GHQ Islamabad.

JKLF President said that the current political system in Pakistan Administered Kashmir is a big hurdle in launching a full scale freedom movement for the right of self determination. The recent indulgence of Pakistani political parties in this region has further confused the whole scenario.

Cllr Mahmood Hussain appealed to people of this region to boycott these fake elections and send a strong signal to the puppets of this regions.

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan National Assembly, Islamabad on 28th April 2011

2011-04-26T04:40:00.000-07:00

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan National Assembly, Islamabad on 28th April 2011 against the so-called Karachi Agreement. JKLF belives that Karachi agreement was baseless because Late Sardar Mohammed Ibrahim Khan, one of the signatories to the agreement, has denied having signed it.

JKLF demandS that as a first step towards a true democratisation of the Pakistan controlled territories of Kashmir, government of Pakistan rescinds both the 1949 Karachi Agreement and the 1974 Azad Jammu Kashmir Act.

JKLF bereaved at the demise of Khawaja Kabir Ahmed's father in Kashmir

2011-04-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ideology of JKLF has flourished in every nook and corner of Kashmir:: Mahmood Hussain

2011-04-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

JKLF strongly condemned the killing of phead of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees (JAH), Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah

2011-04-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has strongly condemned the killing of prominent Hurriat leader and head of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Maulana Shaukat Shah in a bomb blast outside a mosque in Srinagar.

In a statement issued from central information office Rawalpindi, JKLF supremo Amanullah Khan, Chairman Sardar Muhammad Saghir Khan, Senior vice Chairman S M Afzal, Diplomatic head Prof Zafar Khan, Secretary Information Dr Toqeer Gilani, President UK Zone Mehmood Hussain, Secretary UK Zone Tahseen Gilani and other leaders of JKLF said that the killing of Hurriat leader was a great loss for the freedom movement of Jammu Kashmir State. They said that Maulana was a moderate and a candid leader of the movement and his brutal killing was tantamount to shun Kashmiri people’s voice for their inherent, internationally accepted and pledged right of self determination. They said that this coward act would not overcome the determination and spirit of Kashmiris for their Freedom. JKLF leaders said that the blood of slain Leader will provide more vigor to the ongoing freedom struggle and our enemy’s dream to crush freedom struggle will never come true. JKLF leaders while paying rich tribute to Maulana Shokat shah have stated that his services for the people of Jammu Kashmir and the role he played for Freedom movement will never be forgotton.

Dr Toqeer Gilani

Secretary Information KLF

JKLF paid rich tributes to Martyrs of Kashmir

2011-03-31T01:47:00.000-07:00

JKLF Press Conference in London (09th March 2011)

2011-03-10T05:56:00.000-08:00

Issues and themes addressed by Sardar Muhammad Saghir Khan Advocate, Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- during the press conference on the Kashmir dispute, in London, on the Jammu Kashmir issue:

The context:

Since 1947 people of Jammu Kashmir have struggled against forced division and occupation of their mother land. The struggle in Jammu Kashmir is, and has been, to assert the basic and fundamental right of the people to determine a political and constitutional future status of their choice. Since 1947 -17 million people of Jammu Kashmir, remain denied of this basic right- the right to choose and the right to freedom.
The entire state of Jammu Kashmir- also commonly referred to as Kashmir- consisting of the valley of Kashmir, the Jammu province, Ladakh, Gilgit Baltistan, and the territories known as Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK- remains divided between India and Pakistan, with a heavy military deployment on both sides of the Line of Control-LoC.
Almost three quarters of a million Indian military and paramilitary forces are deployed in Indian held part of the state alone, while thousands of Pakistani troops are also deployed in the Pakistan controlled parts of the territory stretching from Gilgit Baltistan in the north to Bhimber in the South.
Since 1988 the Indian forces have committed some of the most barbaric acts of violence in Indian held part of Jammu Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of around a hundred thousand civilians.
India and Pakistan made solemn pledges before the international community to allow people of Kashmir the opportunity to determine the future constitutional and political status of their country through a free, fair and democratic popular expression. These pledges and solemn undertakings by both countries have not been honoured.
Both the international community and the United Nations have failed to address the issue of Jammu Kashmir’s future and the inherent, inalienable and unfettered right of the Kashmiris’ to self determination.
The issue of Kashmir’s is not a dispute between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan do not have the right of territorial claim on either the entire state of Jammu Kashmir or any part of it, as Pakistan government has done by unilaterally declaring Gilgit- Baltistan, a de-facto fifth province of Pakistan.
This decision by government of Pakistan over Gilgit-Baltistan is in contravention of the UN SC rulings on the Kashmir dispute. JKLF strongly believes that this unilateral decision of Pakistan government has damaged the issue.
The right to decide on the future status of the state entirely rests with the people of Jammu Kashmir.

The future Prospects:

However we believe that government of Pakistan can undo the damage by uniting Gilgit Baltistan with the AJK territory, to form a truly independent and democratic revolutionary government that would not only have a legitimate and independent voice to advocate for the freedom and reunification of the entire state, but would also address the day to day needs of the citizens of the unified Gilgit Baltistan and AJK regions.
We demand that as a first step towards a true democratisation of the Pakistan controlled territories of Kashmir, government of Pakistan rescinds both the 1949 Karachi Agreement and the 1974 Azad Jammu Kashmir Act.
To achieve this political and constitutional change for Pakistan controlled regions of Jammu Kashmir, the JKLF will launch a concerted political and diplomatic campaign both within AJK and Gilgit Baltistan as well as at international level.

JKLF strongly believes that an unresolved Kashmir issue is a perpetual bone of contention in South Asia and must be resolved with due haste in accordance with the wishes, aspirations and above all unfettered democratic expression of the people.

JKLF wishes for Jammu Kashmir to become a bridge of peace and friendship in the subcontinent, in particular between India and Pakistan, rather than an ongoing battle ground.

The JKLF strongly believes that a fully independent, sovereign and united Jammu Kashmir provides a most viable and durable solution of the Kashmir dispute and will be in the best interest of all the three parties- India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu Kashmir- concerned.

The JKLF calls on the international community, in particular the UK, the USA and the European Union to play a historic and people centric part in facilitating for a just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu Kashmir conflict.

JKLF is of firm belief that for a peaceful and prosperous South and South west Asia region, all roads lead through resolution of Jammu Kashmir dispute.

JKLF demands that the Indian authorities return the mortal remains of Maqbool Butt Shaheed to his family in Kashmir to be buried in a befitting manner.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

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Seminar in House of Lords to Mark 27th Anniversary of Shaheed Maqbool Butt

2011-02-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

London (11 Feb 2011).
On the 27^th Martyrdom anniversary of Maqbool Butt Shaheed, a seminar was held in House of Lords, London.

The Seminar was organized by British Zone JKLF and was facilitated by the prominent British peer Lord Nazir Ahmed. JKLF Chairman Sardar Saghir Khan also attended the event as a Chief Guest. Sardar Saghir is the first top JKLF leader to enter

Britain

for campaigning after the expulsion of Amanullah Khan in 1987. British peers and intellectuals who participated in the seminar expressed deep concerns over the human rights situation in Kashmir. The speakers and delegates at the seminar overall agreed and said that India and Pakistan should resolve their differences through dialogue but must involve Kashmiris in any kind of dialogue and let the Kashmiris make the final decision. Rich tributes were paid to the founder of the movement Shaheed Maqbool Butt on his 27th martyrdom anniversary.

A unanimous resolution was passed on this occasion asking Indian government to handover mortal remains of Maqbool Butt Shaheed to Kashmiri people for burial in Kashmir where empty grave awaits his remains. The speakers demanded that the true representation of Kashmiri people is necessary in the Indo-Pak dialog for the permanent and honorable solution to the Kashmir issue. It is the people of Kashmir who must decide their future. The speakers said that the only solution to the Kashmir issue lies with the people of Kashmir, their inclusion in talks as the main party of the dispute and restoration of national integrity and glory of the forcibly divided state of Jammu Kashmir.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, Chairman of All Parties Parliamentary Group of Kashmir (APPG) condemned the human rights violations in Kashmir. He also condemned the silence of world media regarding Kashmir. He said uprising in Tujisia and

Egypt

got headlines in world media but in Kashmir over 125 innocent people were killed and world media remained silent. Lord Ahmed paid glowing tributes to Maqbool Butt Shaheed and called his sacrifice as the soul of the current freedom struggle.

JKLF Chairman Sardar Saghir Khan while address the seminar as a chief guest paid rich tributes to Maqbool Butt. He said that it is our duty to carry forward his memories and spread his ideology in order to take the independence struggle to its logical end. He said that Kashmiris must unite to form consensus amongst themselves for the sake of the sacrifices given by Maqbool Butt Shaheed and many thousands after him. Sadar Saghir further pointed out that the Kashmir dispute concerned the inherent and inalienable right of the people of Jammu-Kashmiri to determine their political and constitutional future freely. He said that the history of bilateral talks between

India

and

Pakistan

over Kashmir is full of failures in their inability to resolve the Kashmir issue. As principal party to the dispute representatives of Kashmiri people must be included in any dialogue over the future status of Jammu Kashmir. Elaborating further, JKLF Chairman said that

Pakistan

’s Kashmir policy must become people centric. He said that international community including Britain and other major nations have a moral obligation to play a pivotal role for a peaceful and lasting solution based on the democratic will of the people of Jammu Kashmir.

Prof Zafar Khan, head of JKLF diplomatic committee on this occasion also paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Maqbool Butt Shaheed and said that the marking of his martyrdom anniversary is a reaffirmation of the political struggle which he and Mr. Amanullah Khan began over 50 years ago. Greatest tribute to leaders sacrifice would be to continue to this struggle for a just equitable solution of the Kashmir issue. He pointed out that human rights violation are continuing in Kashmir over the years and hundreds of unmarked graves have been found by different charities but international community remains silent on this issue.

Other dignitaries of who spoke on this occasion include MP Simon Danczuk, Lord Qurban Hussain, Prof. Shahid Iqbal, Ghulam Nabi Falahi, Prof. Nazir Shawl, Mahmood Hussain, Malik Latif Khan, Alama Sadiq Queshi and others.

President of JKLF in UK Cllr Mahmood Hussain thanked the gathering for attending the seminar and extending their support and encouragement. Mr Hussain also thanked Lord Nazir Ahmed for organizing this seminar over last 4 years and commended his efforts to raise the Kashmir issue in international forums.

Khawaja Kabir Ahmed

Information Secretary (JKLF

Zone)

Seminar in House of Lords London on 27th Martyrdom Anniversary of Maqbool Butt Shaheed

2011-02-05T11:28:00.001-08:00

Durable peace can’t be established unless Kashmir issue is solved: Amanullah Khan

2011-01-22T02:34:00.000-08:00

Mr. Amanullah Khan the Patron-in-chief of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has made it clear to the governments of India and Pakistan that durable peace can never be established in the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent unless Kashmir issue is solved equitability and that kashmiries will never accept any solution unless it is based on their inherent, pledged and internationally recognized right of self determination. Mr. Khan was commenting on foreign secretaries and foreign minister level of meetings of

India

and

Pakistan

to be held in February and March 2011 respectively.

Following partial recovery from his recent illness caused by physical paralysis, the ideological chief of JKLF appealed to governments of

India

and

Pakistan

and their well wishers not to ignore the basic facts about Kashmir issue particularly the importance of their right of self determination. “All that needs to be done in this respect by

India

and

Pakistan

is sincerity of purpose, of determination and of fair play” Mr. Khan said.

Mr. Khan who is also the convener of the All Parties Committee for the Right of Self-determination comprising 15 political parties of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, said that there were no differences of opinion among Kashmiri political parties about the fact that self determination was their basic and undeniable right which was being denied to them.

Once Kashmiries achieved that right, only then can they try to win the freedom of their choice and the party enjoying the support of majority of people would win and the rest of the parties should and would accept that popular verdict about their national future”. He said.

Mr. Khan appealed to people of entire Jammu Kashmir state in general and to patriotic one in particular to put a joint and united struggle for their national emancipation.

Secretary Information

JKLF

Unity among Kashmiris must for the resolution of Kashmir Issue: Prof. Zafar Khan

2011-01-14T02:57:00.000-08:00

Kashmiri people should remain cautious against the designs of "Puppets" : JKLF (UK)

2011-01-05T02:05:00.000-08:00

Ideology of Maqbool Butt shaheed the only way forward for Kashmiris: JKLF (UK) Zone

2011-01-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

Sacrifices of Kashmiri people have kept Kashmir Issue alive: Zafar Khan

2010-12-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

COMMITMENTS OF INDIA & PAKISTAN ON INDEPENDENCE OF KASHMIR

2010-12-25T06:17:00.000-08:00

COMMITMENTS OF INDIA & PAKISTAN
ON INDEPENDENCE OF KASHMIR

Quid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (The Founder of Pakistan)
“…with the termination of paramount, Indian states would be free to join either the Hindustan Constituent Assembly or the Pakistan Constituent Assembly or to remain independent…"
(Policy Statement issued June 16, 1947)

“……The second question that is engaging the attention of the Muslims of Kashmir is whether Kashmir is going to join the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. I have already made it clear more than once that the Indian states are free to join either the Pakistan Constituent Assembly or the Hindustan Constituent Assembly or to remain independent………”
Press Statement July 11, 1947

“….. .The legal position is that with the lapse of paramountcy on the transfer of power by the British, all Indian States would automatically regain their full sovereignty and independent status. They are, therefore, free to join either of the two Dominions or to remain independent….”
Press Statement July 30, 1947

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru (The first Prime Minister of free India)
“Kashmir has been wrongly looked upon as a price for India or Pakistan. People seem to forget that Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered. It has an individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their future……”
(Speech in All India Congress Committee on July 9, 1951)

INDIA'S COMMITMENT AT THE UN
“……Whether she (Kashmir) should withdraw from her accession to India and either accede to Pakistan or remain independent with a right to claim admission as a member of the United Nations ….. all this we have recognized to be a matter for unfettered decision by the people of Kashmir……”
(Declaration in the Security Council Jan. 15, 1948 by Indian Representative G. S. Ayangar)

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, former President of Pakistan
“…..History has shown us that no right of self determination can be achieved by proxy …….if the people of Jammu Kashmir want their independence, if they want to be liberated………, if they want to be free people in fraternity and friendship and comradeship with Pakistan, they will have to give the lead and we will be with them……no matter what the consequences....” (Speech in the National Assembly, July 14, 1972)

Mohammad Nawaz Sharif (Former Prime Minister of Pakistan)
“……..I make it very clear that, of course, the right of self-determination means that let the Kashmiris decide as to what they want. This right of self-determination if exercised by the Kashmiris, of course, they have every right to decide whether they want to join Pakistan, they want to be independent or they want to join India…..”
(Interview with BBC in Tehran: Broadcast 2010,2200, 2230 hrs PST on Feb. 18, 1992)

SOURCE:: http://jklfworld.org/kashmir_issue.html

Jabar Khan , a senior functionary of JKLF in Pakistan Passed Away

2010-12-08T01:59:00.000-08:00

JKLF Protest Against Pakistan Prime Ministers Visit to Rawalakot

2010-11-29T03:05:00.000-08:00

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front -JKLF- today protested against the visit of Pakistan Premier Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. Protestorss included prominent figures of JKLF and its student wing appeared in Rawalakot and shouted slogans like "Go Back Go Back Yousaf Gilani Go Back" Go Back Go Back Manmohan Go Back". The protest was later addressed by JKLF Chairman Advocate Sardar Saghir Khan and Toqeer Gilani.

Appointment of Qurban Hussain as Peer a good Omen for Kashmiris: JKLF

2010-11-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) welcomes and congratulates Cllr Qurban Hussain on being appointed a peer in the House of Lords. It is indeed a great honour and privilege for a British Kashmiri'. We hope Mr Qurban Hussain will use his good offices, to further highlight the Issue of Kashmir, at national and international level according to the wishes of Kashmiri people.

JKLF UK Zone President Cllr Mahmood Hussain, Sec.UK Zone Tehsin Gilani, President Ch. Iqbal, Head of jklf Diplomatic Committee and spokesperson Prof Zafar Khan, Senior Jklf person Latif Khan, Press and and information Sec Khawaja Kabeer, Organiser m. Asghar, Ch, Yosef, Rauf Khan, Mushtaq Malik, Finance Sec. M. Rafiq, Zafar Junior, Kaman Afsar, Sanawar Hussain, javid Wasti, Zahid Hussain, M.Khawaja,Javid Rashid, M. Faiz, Sagheer Pasha,M. Sabir , Qari Ajaib, Bashir Bazaam, Prof Assim, and many other officials and members of Jammu Kashmir Liberation front UK zone extend their well wishes to Qurban Hussain

JKLF Welcomes Iran’s Stand on Kashmir

2010-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

(London 23 November 2010) British Zone of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front -JKLF- has welcomed the statement made by Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the rights of Kashmiri nation.

In a letter to the

Iran

’s diplomatic mission based in London, President of JKLF in UK Cllr Mahmood Hussain has urged other nations to come out of their closets and take a stand towards the rights of Kashmiri people as recognised by the United Nations through various resolutions. It is their legal and moral obligation to take bold steps for the rights of oppressed nations. The people of Kashmir must be allowed to determine their future according to their wishes and aspirations.

While applauding the statement, the letter said that

India

has forcibly occupied the state and has over 70,000 armed troops stationed there who are committing and are actively engaged in massive gross human rights violations. The letter urged the Iranian Government to use its good offices to highlight genuine aspirations of Kashmiri people and human rights abuses on International forums.

The letter further said that in order for peace and prosperity in this region, immediate initiatives must be taken to pave way for a long lasting solution.

Secretary Information, JKLF (London Branch)

JKLF in Britain concerned about illegal detention of Zahoor Butt

2010-11-22T02:45:00.000-08:00

JKLF in IHK Condemns arrest of Zahoor Butt by Indian forces.

2010-11-19T02:55:00.000-08:00

JKLF in Indian Held Kashmir Condemns arrest of Zahoor Butt by Indian forces.

Srinagar: 18 Nov 2010: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- in a statement issued by Senior Vice Chairman S M Afzal from Srinagar, has strongly condemned the arrest by Indian occupation forces, of senior JKLF leader Zahoor Ahmed Butt in Indian Held Kashmir.

Addressing Eid congregation prayers in historical Jamia Mosque Trehgam, S M Afzal has strongly condemned this cowardly act by the Indian authorities and called on them to release Zahoor Butt without delay and not to infringe his civil and political liberties as a citizen of the state.

S M Afzal said the JKLF Diplomatic wing based in London have already started to make representations to various human rights bodies and other public figures for his immediate release.

Earlier on Monday 15 November, Zahoor Butt, the youngest brother of martyred JKLF leader Maqbool Butt, was on his way to Trehgam for Eid when personnel of the Special Operations Group appeared near Drugmulla and pounced upon him and bundled him into a Gypsy

Andleeb Kashmiri,

Secretary Information,

JKLF (Srinagar)

Kashmir needs space to debate its future

2010-11-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

The disputed territory cannot begin to resolve its problems while it is being crushed on either side by India and Pakistan
BY: Rohini Hensman

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 18 November 2010 12.31 GM

The recent violence in Kashmir on the Indian side of the border, in which more than 100 people were killed by security forces confronting stone-pelters, was the background for a meeting in Delhi in October entitled Azadi (Freedom) – The Only Way, which set off a series of heated debates. At the same time, the government appointed three "interlocutors", unaffiliated to any political party, to meet different sections of the public in Jammu and Kashmir and find out what they wanted.

Indian ultra-nationalists – most vociferously represented by Hindu nationalist organisations but present even among sections who claim to be more liberal – are undoubtedly a major part of the problem in Kashmir. Their dogmatic assertion that Kashmir is an integral part of India – as though India's national boundaries are god-given and any questioning of them is blasphemy – goes with a justification of the atrocities committed against Kashmiris by the Indian security forces. The allegation of sedition against Arundhati Roy for questioning this dogma, and their hysterical outburst against the government-appointed interlocutors for suggesting that any solution to the problem requires the involvement of the government of Pakistan, make it clear that they themselves have no solution to offer short of war between two nuclear-armed countries.

Pretending that Kashmir is not disputed territory must appear to most observers as a typical instance of burying one's head in the sand to avoid seeing what is obvious to everyone else: breathing fire and brimstone at anyone who acknowledges the reality is obviously a non-starter so far as resolving the problem is concerned. But more disturbingly, advocating coercion to stamp out protest in Kashmir and a clampdown on freedom of expression to prevent discussion of the issue constitutes an assault on democracy. To destroy India's integrity as a democracy in order to preserve its territorial integrity is, hopefully, not a "solution" that most people would find morally or politically acceptable.

Then, is azadi the only way? That does not necessarily follow. Indeed, even the meaning of azadi is far from clear. For the hardline Islamist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, it means that Kashmir would be an Islamic state and would be part of Pakistan. For many others – probably the majority – it means that Kashmir would be independent of both India and Pakistan, and for some of these that it would be a secular state. The only point of agreement among all these sections seems to be that Kashmir would be free of Indian rule, and would encompass all the territory of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the border.

However, there is a sizeable minority in Jammu and Kashmir (Hindus, Dalits, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, many Shia Muslims and non-Kashmiri Pahari Muslims, as well as a small number of Kashmiri Muslims) who would prefer to remain with India, especially if Kashmir becomes an Islamic state. So this "solution" suffers from the very same moral weakness (ie, the use of coercion to force unwilling individuals to be part of the nation) as the Indian state's attitude to Kashmir. And it is, if anything, politically more reactionary, since India is at least constitutionally secular and democratic, whereas this vision of azadi is neither; indeed, it has a striking resemblance to the majoritarian Hindu nationalist project for India.

Looking across the border at the Pakistani part of Kashmir, the picture becomes even more complicated. There, too, there is a conflict between the struggle for independence from Pakistan and the efforts of elements in the Pakistani state to outlaw political parties who stand for independence and use Kashmiris in their own conflict with India. To complete the picture, even the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, which stands for Kashmir's independence from both India and Pakistan, is split into factions. So there is absolutely no agreement on who genuinely represents azadi, or even what it means.

Kashmiris on both sides of the border need the space and opportunity to debate their own future without being stifled or crushed by the two powerful states laying claim to the territory in which they live. On the Indian side, draconian legislation such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act; Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act; and Disturbed Areas Act; which extend immunity to the security forces for human rights violations, have predictably resulted in horrific crimes against civilians. Unless they are repealed and the security forces made accountable and punished for such crimes, the conflict will continue. Elements in the Pakistani state who attempt to use Kashmiris for their own ends are equally culpable of escalating the violence and denying Kashmiris their democratic rights. They too need to be made accountable and punished for their crimes.

These measures will not solve the problem of Kashmir, but they will at least help to create the conditions in which it can be solved.

Source: The Guardian (UK) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/18/kashmir-needs-space-to-debate-future

JKLF Leader Zahoor Bhat held, booked under PSA

2010-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

Kupwara, Nov 16: Tension gripped north Kashmir’s Trehgam town on Monday after police arrested Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, the younger brother of founder of JKLF Shaheed Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.

His family said that Zahoor had returned from Pakistan administered Kashmir after 21 years and was previously arrested on February 12, 2009 after he addressed a public meeting at Trehgam on February 11.

They said that Zahoor was lodged at Kote Balwal jail for 18 months and was shifted to Kupwara and later released when High Court quashed his PSA.

Witnesses said personnel of the Special Operations Group appeared near Drugmulla and pounced upon him and bundled him into a Gypsy when he was on way to his home from Srinagar.

Sources said district magistrate Kupwara had issued an order in which Zahoor was booked under PSA but it could not be executed since he was evading arrest for last two months.

JKLF concerned over emergence of outlawed Groups in POK

2010-11-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

JKLF has strongly condemned the activities and re-grouping of outlawed terrorist groups in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Most of these groups are banned in Pakistan and yet are free to operate in Pakistan Administered Kashmir creating uncertainty among the local Kashmiri community. JKLF has termed it against the indigenous freedom movement of Kashmiri people and has vowed to resist any such attempt.

BBC Report about emergence of these Groups: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2010/11/101104_kashmir_package_aw.shtml

Amanullah Khan asks Indo-Pak to shun rivalry

2010-10-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

Islamabad, Oct 29: The supreme head of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Ammanullah Khan on Friday said that the Indo-Pak rivalry and the lack of pragmatism on both sides was the main reason for Kashmir issue remaining unresolved for past 63- years.

“The intransigence and continuing hostility between the two countries not only deprived 15 million Kashmiris of their inalienable right but has also pushed the region into severe economic predicament”, the JKLF leader said in a statement here.

Appreciating political resolve of Kashmiris, he said that people of Kashmir had rendered matchless sacrifices for a cause.

Terming Kashmir as an indivisible entity Khan said that the JKLF would make all out efforts to thwart the conspiracies aimed at bifurcating Kashmir.

Referring to “Restoration of territorial integrity campaign” that culminated peacefully at Chakoti on Thursday he said that the campaign was launched to show complete solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Highlighting the significance of the campaign, he said the main objective of conducting peaceful protest rallies in PaK was to convey a strong message to the governments of India and Pakistan that division of Kashmir would not be acceptable.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Oct/30/khan-asks-indo-pak-to-shun-rivalry-50.asp

JKLF to march from Muzaffarabad to Chakothi CFL tomorrow

2010-10-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

JKLF will march from Muzaffarabad to Chakothi tomorrow and a sit-in demonstration will be held on CFL. Amanullah Khan has reached Muzaffarabad to lead the March and sit-in. He also urged people of Kashmir to support "Quit Kashmir Movement" started by JKLF in Pakistan Controlled Kashmir.

Amanullah Khan urged people of Kashmir to support "Quit Kashmir Movement"

2010-10-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

JKLF stages protest march in PaK

2010-10-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

Muzfarrabad, Oct 22: To reinforce the ongoing Quit Kashmir movement in Kashmir, hundreds of JKLF workers on Friday staged a demonstration at Khoierata adjacent to the Line of Control (LoC).

Besides JKLF stalwarts, the demonstration was attended by the members of JKSLF (student wing of the party) and a large number of people hailing from southern district of Kotli, Nakial, Charoi and Sehansa.

JKLF activists told Greater Kashmir that hundreds of people particularly the youth participated in the rally. He said the participants gathered at Khoierata and later marched towards Seeri village near to the LoC.

The rally culminated peacefully near the border village of Seeri in district Kotli.

Addressing protesters, the speakers expressed their support to Kashmiris’ ongoing peace struggle for right to self-determination. Lauding the political resolve of Kashmiri peoples they said that they (Kashmiris) had rendered matchless sacrifices to achieve their cherished goal.

Terming Kashmir as an indivisible entity they said all out efforts would be made to protect the political as well as the geographical integrity of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

As a part of the ongoing “Restoration of national integration campaign” the speakers said that JKLF would hold another protest long-march from Hajeera to Teetrinote in District Rawalokat on October 25. They said another protest march would be taken from Muzaffarabad to Chakoti on October 27.

Press clips of "Quit Kashmir Campaign"

2010-10-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Updates About JKLF "Quit Kashmir" Campaign

2010-10-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

United Nations changed its Kashmir Stance after Shimla & Tashkent Agreements

2010-10-09T02:33:00.000-07:00

United Nations body lists Jammu Kashmir as separate COUNTRY

2010-10-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

"Disputed Regions Treated As Independent Entities’

FAHEEM ASLAM

Srinagar, Oct 8: Amid mounting international focus on Kashmir, a Untied Nations body has listed Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘separate country’ in one of its important reports on greenhouse emissions.

The development comes amid talks that the United Nations was willing to use its “good offices” in resolving the Kashmir issue, if both India and Pakistan sought the assistance of the world body.

The report titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector: a lifecycle assessment” has listed Jammu and Kashmir as part of East Asia, along with Arunachal Pradesh, which has been spelt as “Arunashal.”

The 2010 report has been prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to assess the greenhouse gas emission from the dairy food chain. It has been published in collaboration with the International Dairy Foundation.

Interestingly, the Jammu and Kashmir has been spelt as “Jammu Kashmir” in the report, which is available on the FAO website www. fao.org. The other countries which have been listed in the East Asia section include Aksai Chin Arunashal Pradesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, China/India, Christmas Island, Dem People’s Rep of Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jammu Kashmir, Japan, Kuril Islands, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.While the report hasn’t mentioned any more details with regard to the issue, a Delhi-based newspaper quoted the FAO Representative in India and Bhutan, Gavin Wall, as saying: “The country grouping that is carried in Annex 5 of the report titled Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector: A Life Cycle Assessment is based on FAO’s Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL). The GAUL aims at compiling and disseminating the most reliable spatial information on administrative units for all countries in the world; it complies with the UNSC international boundaries map. Because the GAUL is developed at global level, controversial boundaries cannot be ignored. The selected approach is to treat disputed areas as ‘independent entities not dependent from countries’. In this way, the GAUL preserves national integrity for all disputing countries. Areas are then classified from a purely geographic point of view.”

The FAO issue has surfaced at a time when there is a lot of talk around that the world community, particularly the United Nations and the United States, were focusing on the resolution of the vexed Kashmir dispute.

While the UN general secretary, Ban Ki-moon on October 7 expressed his willingness to intervene in the Kashmir issue if both India and Pakistan wised so, a news report last month asserted that the US president Barrack Obama would, during his upcoming November visit to New Delhi, ask India to resolve Kashmir if it wanted a ticket in the UN Security Council.

In August 2010, Google landed in a controversy after its maps depicted Kashmir as a disputed territory and some of its parts belonging to Pakistan. The internet giant however rectified the “error” after India said “it would give rise to integrity and sovereignty issues in the country.”

Interestingly, such assertions of Kashmir being a disputed territory have surfaced at various quarters, including some of the newspapers. An Afghanistan daily named The Times of Kabul also mentions Kashmir separately in the South Asian section.

Quit-Kashmir cry echoes across LoC

2010-10-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Srinagar, Oct. 3: A “Quit Kashmir movement” has been launched in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir too, echoing the four-month-old agitation on the Indian side of the Line of Control.

The campaign in PoK has been started by the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) faction led by Amanullah Khan. It has had a low-key beginning since October 1 but is expected to intensify over the next three weeks.

The movement aims at “re-unification and complete independence” of the state, now divided by the LoC, said Touqeer Geelani, a spokesperson for the Amanullah faction.

The JKLF is the premier separatist group in both Kashmirs but is divided into factions, two of which are led by Amanullah and Yasin Malik. Both factions have units on both sides of the LoC, but Amanullah is based in Pakistan while Malik lives in Srinagar.

A meeting of the Amanullah faction’s central committee was held in Rawalpindi on September 30, says a statement issued last week by Touqeer. The meeting decided to “expand the Quit Kashmir movement to PoK and (Pakistan’s) northern areas, including Gilgit and Baltistan”, the statement said.

In Indian Kashmir, the four-month-old agitation has crippled life and left over 100 people dead, but it remains to be seen how much support the campaign can muster in PoK. The campaign in Indian Kashmir is led by pro-Pakistan Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who will oppose any such “movement” in PoK.

“The JKLF has decided to hold a series of protest demonstrations in Pakistan-occupied parts of Kashmir from September 30 and sit-in programmes from October 22 to 27 at different places close to the LoC to enlist support for a concerted movement,” Touqeer’s statement said.

It said public meetings would be held from October 1 to 20 at all district headquarters, colleges and university campuses in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. “We will consolidate the otherwise suppressed national aspirations for re-unification and complete independence of the entire state,” Touqeer said.

“The JKLF will hold a ‘national integration restoration week’ from October 21 as a mark of protest against these invading foreign occupying forces in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, apparently referring to both Indian and Pakistani forces.

“On October 22, 1947, tribals supported by Pakistani forces entered Jammu and Kashmir to plunder and on October 27, 1947, the Indian forces arrived in Srinagar to occupy Jammu and Kashmir... with the result (that) the state was divided between India and Pakistan,” the statement added.

Amanullah’s daughter Asma is married to People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone.

A leader of Malik’s faction said Amanullah’s campaign didn’t have his group’s support. “We stand for complete independence of both parts of Kashmir, but it is our prerogative when and where to start which campaign,” he said.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101004/jsp/nation/story_13015217.jsp

Decisions of JKLF Central Executive Committee held on 25th September 2010

2010-09-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

JKLF has declared to expand the “QUIT KASHMIR” movement to POK

2010-09-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Rawalpindi:

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), the founder and pioneering organization of the ongoing freedom struggle for re-unification and complete independence of Jammu Kashmir State, has declared to expand the “QUIT KASHMIR” movement, launched in Indian occupied parts of Kashmir to the Pakistani occupied parts of Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, so as to make it a strong unified voice of the entire Jammu Kashmir State. In this regard, to drive a popular support for a concerted movement, JKLF has decided a series of protest demonstrations in Pakistani occupied parts of Kashmir from Sept. 30, 2010 and sit-in programmes between Oct. 22 to Oct 27, 2010 at different places, close to the Cease-fire-Line. This was decided in the meeting of the JKLF Central Committee held in its Central Information Office at Rawalpindi, Chaired by Sardar Saghir Ahmad Khan and attended by Amanullah Khan, the Chief Patron of the organization besides the other leaders of JKLF.

In a press release issued from here, it is said that, against the unabated human rights violations by the Indian forces in her occupied parts of Kashmir, JKLF will hold a nation-wide protest demonstrations on Sept. 30, 2010 followed by series of public meetings from Oct. 01 to Oct. 20, 2010 at all District Headquarters, Colleges and University Campuses in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to drive the popular support for “Quit-Kashmir Movement” aimed at to express their strong will and determination and to consolidate the otherwise suppressed national aspirations for re-unification and complete independence of the entire State.

Meanwhile; in the light of Oct. 22, the day when in 1947 the Tribals of Pakistan, supported by Pakistani forces, entered into Jammu Kashmir to plunder and Oct. 27, the day when Indian forces dropped at Srinagar Airport pushing out the tribal forces and occupied Jammu Kashmir, with the result the State was divided between India and Pakistan; JKLF will hold “National Integration Restoration Week” from Oct. 21 to Oct 27, 2010 and as a mark of Protest against these invading foreign occupying forces in Jammu & Kashmir.

In this regard on Oct. 22, 2010 JKLF will hold a Protest Long-March from Khoiratta to Seeri in District Kotli followed by a Sit-In programme with a public meeting close to the Cease-Fire-Line known as the Line-of-Control at Seeri, while on Oct. 25, 2010 another Protest Long-March will take place from Hajeera to Teetrinote in District Rawalokat culminated by a Sit-In programme with public meeting close to the Cease-Fire-Line at Teetrinote. Similarly to culminate the “National Integration Restoration Week”, JKLF will hold another Protest Long-March on Oct. 27, 2010 from Muzaffarabad to Chakoti in District Muzaffarabd to be concluded with a Sit-In programme with a public meeting addresses close to the Cease-Fire-Line at Chakoti.

All these programmes are centrally focused and mainly aimed at to convey to the world at large and to the Govt. of Pakistan and

India

the strong will and determination and expression of Kashmiris’ national aspirations across the divide for re-unification and complete independence of the forcibly divided Jammu & Kashmir State.

In the meeting JKLF leaders strongly condemned the unabated human rights violation by the Indian forces and it was re-iterated that JKLF will continue to struggle till they achieve their cherished goal of national emancipation. Addressing the meeting Amanullah Khan, Chief Patron of the organization, saluting the unparalleled sacrifices and struggle by the new young generation said that JKLF is conscious about the fact that the present popular drive in the occupied Kashmir in support of the ongoing freedom struggle has provided us yet another golden opportunity to alarm the world-conscience to play her most wanted role in solving the Kashmir issue as per the wishes and national aspirations of the people of entire state of Jammu & Kashmir State.

Among other who attended the meeting included Sardar Mohammad Shoaib Khan, Sec. General JKLF; Kh. Saif-ud-Din, Head of the Policy & Planning Committee; Hafiz Anwar Samavi, Ex. Snr. Vice Chairman; Zahid Shaikh, Dy. Sec. General, Sajid Siddiqui, Chief Organiser, Dr. Toqeer Geelani, Publicity Chief; Raja Mazhar Iqbal, Head of Political Committee; Raja Ghulam Mujtaba Khan, Chairman, students wing of JKLF and Members of the Central Committee Advocate Abid Ayub, Chowdhary Mushtaq, Shams Kashmiri while Commander Suhail Kataria attended in the capacity of an observer.

Dr, Toqeer Geelani.

Publicity Chief, JKLF.

JKLF concerned over activities of outlawed Groups in POK

2010-09-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

“We are concerned over recent activities of outlawed Jammat ud Dawa(JuD) and Jaish e Muhammad(JeM) with new name-TAK”, said Dr. Taqeer Gillani, spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which believes on peaceful resistance against India and Pakistan .

“The government should ban the activities of this new group as it is a conspiracy against the ongoing movement of Kashmir.”

British Kashmiris Protested in 10 Downing Street against Human Rights Violations in Kashmir

2010-09-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

LONDON – Expatriate Kashmiris and supporters of Kashmiri cause hailing from various parts of the

United Kingdom

staged a demonstration in front of 10 Downing Street on Sunday 26th September 2010 to protest against Human Rights violations in Kashmir and British Governments silence over the recent killings of over 100 innocent Kashmiri people by Indian forces. The objective of the protest was to draw world attention towards the recent killings of Kashmiri youth, forced disappearances and custodial killings of innocent Kashmiris in Indian occupied territory.

Organized by British chapter of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), hundreds of protesters called on the British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg to check the excesses that the Indian occupation forces have unleashed on the people of Kashmir over the past few months. The protesters also reminded the British Government that

Britain

being one of the largest arms suppliers to

India

, these same arms are being used against innocent civilians in Kashmir; therefore British Government should review its arms pact with

India

Speaking on this occasion, Zonal President of JKLF in UK, Mr. Mahmood Hussain said that international community including Britain and other major nations have a moral obligation to play a pivotal role for a peaceful and lasting solution based on the democratic will of the people of Jammu Kashmir. He said that Kashmiri community in

Britain

want an honourable solution of the Kashmir issue based on the true aspiration of its people.

Addressing the demonstrators, Head of JKLF’s Diplomatic wing Prof. Zafar Khan said that since two decades Indian forces have killed over a hundred thousand people, overwhelming majority of who have been civilians, and many thousands of young men have simply disappeared without trace over these years while many thousands languish in Indian Jails. He urged British Prime Minister to take concrete steps in order to involve Indian Government for a meaningful dialogue with Kashmris over the future status of Kashmir. He reminded the Prime Minister that there are about 1.5 million Kashmiris living in

Britain

and they expect his Government to intervene in order to save precious lives in Kashmir.

A memorandum to British Prime Minister David Cameron was also handed over to officials at 10 Downing Street, London. The memorandum asked the UK Governments to play a pivotal role over future status of Jammu Kashmir. The memorandum stated that “In view of the ongoing state oppression in Indian held part of Jammu Kashmir, we wish to remind Her Majesty’s Government of its international obligations as a major world power over the current situation and the future political and constitutional status of Jammu Kashmir”.

Memorandum further stated that “We strongly urge your government to take serious steps in bringing the concerned parties namely,

India

Pakistan

and representatives of the Kashmiri people for a negotiated and peaceful solution to this 63 year old conflict. The

government as permanent member of the UN Security Council, a leading member of the European Union and as Head of the Commonwealth, has a privileged position in world affairs to play a role for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue”

Others who also spoke were Haji Rauf Khan, Syed Tahseen Gilani, Ershad Malik, Ali Asghar, Prof. Shahid Iqbal, Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed and representatives of other political organisations in

Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed
Secretary Information,
JKLF (

) Zone

MEMORANDUM:

Rt. Honourable Mr. David Cameron

Prime Minister of the

United Kingdom

10 Downing Street, London SW

26 September 2010

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Re: Seeking UK Governments role over future status of Jammu Kashmir

In view of the ongoing state oppression in Indian held part of Jammu Kashmir, we wish to remind Her Majesty’s Government of its international obligations as a major world power over the current situation and the future political and constitutional status of Jammu Kashmir.

For far too long,

India

has been responsible for unprecedented militarised violence against a defenceless populace in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir by giving free hand to military and paramilitary forces which

India

has deployed in huge numbers in the territory.

The numbers of the forces including a myriad of paramilitary brigades and units are estimated to be around 700,000. This level of deployment of Indian military and paramilitary forces makes Indian occupied part of Jammu Kashmir the most militarised region anywhere in the world.

Since the late 1980s these forces have killed over a hundred thousand people, overwhelming majority of who have been civilians, and many thousands of young men have simply disappeared without trace over these years while many thousands languish in Indian Jails.

Over the past few weeks alone, scores of civilians have succumbed to the violent actions of the paramilitary forces not only in the Valley of Kashmir but also in others parts of Indian held Jammu Kashmir.

Since 2009 in particular, Indian forces have with complete impunity unleashed violence against peaceful mass demonstrators resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. The popular peaceful agitation by the Kashmiri masses is against the status quo and the forced division of their country between

India

and

Pakistan

since 1947.

Mr. Prime Minister India erroneously claims that the situation in Kashmir is an internal matter for the Indian state and that Jammu Kashmir is an ‘integral’ part of Indian Union. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jammu Kashmir is an international issue concerning the rights and aspirations of around 15 million people of Jammu Kashmir which, since 1947 has been divided, forcibly between

India

and

Pakistan

. Two thirds of the erstwhile state is under Indian occupation while the remainder is under direct and indirect administration of

Pakistan

We would like to point out that Kashmir issue is not a territorial dispute between

India

and

Pakistan

, nor should it be considered as such. To do so would be to deny the inherent and inalienable right to self determination of 15 million people and such apposition would constitute a denial of over a dozen United Nation’ s Resolutions on the future disposition and status of Jammu Kashmir since 1948.

These U N Resolutions not only bind India and Pakistan, to a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the dispute based on the unfettered political and constitutional rights of the Kashmiri people, but also the international community including Britain, to ensure that such a settlement of the conflict was arrived at.

We strongly believe that the UK Government can play an important role in influencing the processes towards a just, lasting and democratic solution of the Kashmir dispute.
Mr. Prime Minister your remarks during your recent visit to

India

did very little unfortunately, to encourage

India

in particular and

Pakistan

to engage in a serious dialogue with the Kashmiris for a peaceful solution over the conflict. If anything your remarks caused concerns and dismay among the Kashmiri Diaspora communities in the

as your position has been seen supporting Indian policy and violent methods of its occupation forces in Kashmir.

We are of the firm belief that good relations between

India

and

Pakistan

are a pre requisite for peace and prosperity in South Asia. The key to unleash peace in the subcontinent however, lies in a just and lasting resolution of the issue based on a democratic and people centric solution of the conflict.

We also wish to reiterate our strong belief that we wish Kashmir to be a bridge of peace and friendship between

India

and

Pakistan

rather that a bone of perpetual contention and conflict between the South Asian nuclear powers.

We strongly urge your government to take serious steps in bringing the concerned parties namely,

India

Pakistan

and representatives of the Kashmiri people for a negotiated and peaceful solution to this 63 year old conflict. The

Britain

as a friend of

India

and

Pakistan

with its shared history with both nations can prove to be a vital interlocutor and facilitator for instituting dialogue and processes that would lead to a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir conflict.

On behalf of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front

Mahmud Husain (President of JKLF’s British Chapter.)

Protest in Finland (Helsinki) against Human Rights Violations in Kashmir.

2010-09-25T02:39:00.001-07:00

Helsinki, FINLAND (24.9.2010)

Members and Supporters of JKLF in Finland gathered in front of Indian Embassy Helsinki Finland and protested against human rights violations in Kashmir. Protest organized by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Finland Branch and led by its president in Finland Tanveer Chaudry.

Protesters shouted slogans against Human Rights abuses by Indian troops in Kashmir. The demonstrators were holding play cards and banners highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir.

Protesters shouted ` India stop killing in Kashmir, Indian forces leave Kashmir, India stop killing in our Children, We want freedom and Kashmiri’s want freedom’. The objective of the protest was to draw world attention towards the recent killings of Kashmiri youth, forced disappearances and custodial killings of innocent Kashmiri’s in Indian occupied territory.

Tanveer Choudhry

JKLF (Finland)

MEMORANDUM

DATED: 24 September 2010.

Honourable Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister of

India

C/o The Indian Embassy Helsinki

Finland

Respected Dr Manmohan Singh Aadab,

Re: Human Rights Violations and Killings of unarmed youth in Kashmir

This brief protest note is addressed to your Excellency on behalf of Kashmiri people living in

Finland

to reaffirm our strong resolve to support the struggle of Kashmir’s for right of self determination. We express complete solidarity with our compatriots under Indian occupation, and strongly reject

India

’s erroneous stance on Kashmir and occupation of an unwilling populace.

Our protest today at the Indian Embassy Helsinki Finland on the occasion when every day Indian Army is killing unarmed Kashmiri youth, is an attempt to remind the world community and your government to honour the sentiments of Kashmiri people and also honour the commitments that India had made to the people of Kashmir on the future status of the forcibly divided territory.

Your government rules Kashmir with an iron grip supported by an occupation force of well in excess of 800,000army and paramilitary troops. Over the past twenty years these occupation forces have killed more than one hundred thousand innocent men, women and children, while thousands of Kashmiri young men have disappeared without trace after having been abducted by military and civil authorities during this period. Over the past month ,around 2 dozen Kashmir youth have been killed by Indian army who were peacefully protesting. It certainly ill behoves a mature democracy like

India-

particularly if it wishes to seek a solution in Kashmir- that it is intolerant towards political forces which, disagree with its stance over Kashmir.

While JKLF’s ideology is unambiguous on reunified, independent and secular future Kashmir, we’ve always advocated Indo-Pak rapprochement. Its being part of a solution rather than conflict which is what we have espoused over the years. However unlawful killings of our youth, arbitrary arrests and disappearances of Kashmir’s hardly inspire confidence in

India

’s sincerity for peaceful way forward.

Respectfully

Tanveer Ahmed Choudhry Qari Muzaffar Iqbal Naeemi

President, JKLF

Finland

General Secretary

JKLF appealed to people in Britain to join Protest in London on 26th Sep. 2010

2010-09-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Time 26 September · 13:00 - 15:00

Location Number 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom

Organised by: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) UK Zone

More info: JKLF has again organised a protest against Indian brutalism in Kashmir. This time the protest will be held in front of British Prime Ministers Office 10 Downing Street London on Sunday 26th of September 2010, (1 pm).

Britain being one of the largest arms supplier to India, therefore we demand British Government to review its arms pact with India as these arms are being used against innocent civilians in Kashmir.

We request all freedom loving people in Britain to participate in this protest and raise their voice against brutality, occupation and in favour of Kashmiris National emancipation.

KASHMIR: Both sides of the Divide--- We are ONE

2010-09-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

JKLF Condemns India's State Terrorism in Kashmir and Urged people in Britain to join Protest

2010-09-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

JKLF has strongly condemned the recent wave of Indian brutality in Kashmir. In a statement issued from London, JKLF (UK Zone) described the ongoing unrest in Kashmir as

India

’s state terrorism and

India

’s genocide against Kashmiris. The statement condemned the Indian Governments track record of human rights in Kashmir and said that it reflects the institutional conspiracy by Indian government to harass and mass murder the people in order to suppress the popular voice for freedom. While blaming

India

for unrest in Kashmir, it said that it is the result of unjust and forcible occupation of state by Indian forces.

In a statement president of JKLF UK Zone Mahmood Hussain vowed that JKLF will continue its struggle on all fronts until the independence of Kashmir is achieved. He also confirmed that JKLF UK Zone will hold a protest in front of 10 Downing Street, London on Sunday 26th September 2010 to condemn

's intentional silence over Kashmir issue as directed by Supreme Head of JKLF Amanullah Khan.

Mahmood Hussain urged people from all walks of life living in

United Kingdom

, especially the Kashmiri community in

to participate in the demonstration to show their support and voice with the people of Kashmir.

JKLF reminded the world community that

India

must not be allowed to keep people of Jammu Kashmir in political servitude with an occupation force of 800,000 military and paramilitary soldiers. JKLF also appealed international community to intervene and make efforts to stop killings of innocent and unarmed Kashmiris by Indian forces.

JKLF to Protest in London Against Human Rights violations in Kashmir

2010-09-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

JKLF has organised a protest against Indian brutality in Kashmir. This time the protest will be held in front of British Prime Ministers Office 10 Downing Street London on Sunday 26th of September 2010, (1 pm).

Britain being one of the largest arms supplier to India, therefore we demand British Government to review its arms pact with India as these arms are being used against innocent civilians in Kashmir.

We request all freedom loving people in Britain to participate in this protest and raise their voice against brutality, occupation and in favour of Kashmiris National emancipation.

Mahmood Hussain officially declared as Councillor for Walthamstow (East London)

2010-09-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

JKLF (UK Zone) President Mahmood Hussain has been officially declared as Councillor for Walthamstow (East London). Mahmood Hussain is one of the well respected members of JKLF in United Kingdom. He joined JKLF in 1980. We all members and office bearers of JKLF in UK Congratulate him.

KASHMIR ISSUE: The Most Equitable and Honourable Solution: (Amanullah Khan

2010-09-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

KASHMIR ISSUE --------- (II)

The Most Equitable and Honourable Solution

Amanullah Khan, Patron-in-Chief Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

Note: The purpose of this series of articles on Kashmir Issue is twofold. Its first purpose is to present the history of Kashmir Issue in its true and factual perspective as much as possible. This has become a must because vested interests and the self-made direct and indirect claimants to the proprietorship of Kashmir and their pets and puppets in Kashmir have polluted the history of Kashmir in general and of Kashmir Issue in particular, so much so that after passage of 63 years, this adultered history looks almost undeniable. This is enough to mislead the new generation of Kashmir. The second purpose of these articles is to pinpoint a clear and achievable goal for the people of Jammu Kashmir State that can prove, as I see it, real national emancipation for them provided they make up their mind to achieve it come what may. What is equally important, the solution of Kashmir Issue proposed herein is in the best interests of

India

and

Pakistan

as well, as it will result in heralding the dawn of a really peaceful, prosperous and respectful future for them too. (Amanullah Khan)

Well about a dozen solutions to 63 years old Kashmir Issue have been proposed so far but none of them got implemented as either of the parties(and in some cases both) disagreed with them for different reasons though. These solutions included (1) The UN supervised plebiscite per UNCIP resolutions to determine the constitutional status of Jammu Kashmir State. (2) The Dixon Plan (3) Division of the State on religious basis (4) Settlement of the issue through negotiations between governments of India and Pakistan(5) Joint Control of India and Pakistan on the entire state(6) Complete independence of the whole state (7) Complete independence of Kashmir Valley and the rest of the State to go to India and Pakistan.(8) Making the present LoC permanent Indo-Pak border (9) Self Rule to all three regions (10) To give the entire State or part of it under UN Trusteeship for some time followed by a final settlement and Demilitarisation .

The proposed solutions including S.No.1 and 4 accepted by both

India

and

Pakistan

in the beginning could not be implemented due to opposition to them by one or the other party to the issue arguing, rightly or wrongly, that they were detrimental to their respective national interests. None-the-less there surely does exist a way to solve the issue without hurting the national egos or harming the legitimate national interests of

India

Pakistan

or Kashmir.

The Victory – for – all Solution

The solution of Kashmir problem that does not hurt the national egos or harm the legitimate interests of any of the three parties hence cannot and should not reasonably be rejected by any of them, is that it should be peaceful, equitable, democratic and honorable.

The only solution that fully meets all these criteria is (1) to re-unite the divided Jammu Kashmir State in several peaceful phases and after simultaneous withdrawal from there of all Indian and Pakistani armed and civilian personnel (2) make it temporarily though, a fully Independent State with a democratic (having a bicameral parliament) federal (Kashmir valley, Jammu, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan as its provinces) and secular system of government (3) having compulsory friendly relations with all its neighbors with India and Pakistan in particular under the doctrine of peaceful co-existence. They should undertake not to violate the borders or interfere in the internal affairs of Kashmir and the latter should pledge not to let its territory or airspace to be used against any of her neighbors. Although it can be said with full surety that an overwhelming majority of the people will vote for perpetuation of the proposed type of independence, it is nevertheless a must to subject the matter to the freely expressed will of the people in order to make the solution really a democratic one. As such there be a free and fair referendum 15 years after independence, under international auspices in which Kashmiris will determine whether Kashmir should perpetuate its independence, become part of India or Pakistan or adopt any other course and that fair and democratic verdict of Kashmiri people be accepted by all concerned i.e. India, Pakistan all Kashmiris and international community, as the final settlement of the Issue and implemented.

This is the only solution of Kashmir ‘imbroglio’ that is not only peaceful, equitable, democratic and honorable, but can surely prove to be permanent and solve the problem once for all. Let us see how.

PEACEFUL

A study of the proposed solution makes it clear that all the steps to be taken towards its accomplishment will be peaceful. Moreover since the proposed independent Jammu Kashmir will have democratic , federal and secular system of government , the rights and interests of religious and cultural minorities will be safeguarded , hence there will be no communal or ethnic disturbances, no mass-migrations hence no bloodshed too, either during the transitional period or after that.

EQUITABLE

The proposed solution is equitable because it does not do any injustice to any of the parties to the issue but will, in the long run, be highly beneficial to all concerned. It does not do any injustice to

India

because it does not take away from her anything that belongs to her. Indian claim that Kashmir is India’s integral part by dint of Maharajas accession of the state to India, is baseless and unjustified firstly because the Maharaja had signed it at a time when he had lost control of the bulk of the State, and secondly because inspite of accepting Maharaja’s conditions for accession, India did not fulfill them nor did India fulfill her own pledge given at the time of conditionally accepting the accession of the State to India, the pledge of letting the people of the very State determine their own future later through democratic means. (Yet another unfair act on the part of Indian government, she sent troops to Kashmir before officially accepting, even receiving the Instrument of Accession from the Maharaja). And thirdly and most importantly, because after pledge given at UN Security Council on Jan. 15, 1948 and after accepting UNCIP resolution of August13, 1948 both of which provided that the future of the entire Jammu Kashmir State would be determined in accordance with the result of the UN supervised plebiscite in the State, Maharaja’s accession to India had become totally invalid, irrelevant and meaningless. As such asking India to leave the part of Kashmir under her unjustified control to its real owners, the people of Kashmir, does in no case amount to any kind of injustice to India hence the solution is equitable.

This solution does not do any injustice to Pakistan because under Indian Independence Act (IIA) of 1947 Two Nation Theory (that Muslim majority areas should become part of Pakistan and rest of free India) applied only to British India (part of the subcontinent under direct rule of the British) and not to the princely States (including Kashmir) whose future had to be determined by their hereditary rulers. Incidentally this provision of the IIA 1947 had been demanded by All India Muslim League, itself the very mother of Pakistan and the purpose was to pave the way for the Muslim ruler of the Hindu majority State of Hyderabad to declare complete independence of his State as desired by him. Moreover Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the president of Muslim League had himself accepted the right of the Maharaja of Kashmir to determine the future of his State. In his policy statement issued on July 11, 1947, the Quaid had said’ “ The second question that is engaging the attention of the Muslims of Kashmir is whether Kashmir is going to join the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. I have already made it clear more than once that the Indian States are free to join either the

Pakistan

Constituent Assembly or Hindustan Constituent Assembly or remain independent. I have no doubt that the Maharaja and the Kashmir Government will give their closest attention and consideration to the matter and realize the interests not only of the Ruler but also of his people” (page 24 of the book ‘Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Speeches and Statements 1947-48’ published by Govt. of Pakistan).As such Jammu Kashmir does not ipso-facto become part of Pakistan just because it was a Muslim majority State. Therefore, asking

Pakistan

to accept independence of the entire State if Kashmiris so desire, does not amount to doing any kind of injustice to her.

The condition that the proposed independent Jammu Kashmir should have compulsory friendly relations and agreements of peaceful co-existence with its neighbors is meant to address the genuine concerns and apprehensions of India, Pakistan and Kashmir about their security and economics.

As for Jammu Kashmir itself, its complete independence will be, for absolute majority of its people, like their sweetest dream coming true. To make this solution more protective of people’s rights, the provisions of democratic, federal and secular system of government for the proposed independent Kashmir are to protect the rights and legitimate interests of the religious and cultural minorities hence could not amount to any kind of injustice to any section of the people of the entire State.

This solution will be equitable for international community because it will do away with the danger to world peace and smooth working of global economic order posed by continuous tension between two South Asian nuclear powers.

This solution of Kashmir issue will be equitable for all concerned because it will ultimately result in a very peaceful, prosperous and dignified future for all the three parties to the issue.

DEMOCRATIC

The solution will be democratic because the final settlement of the issue will be based on the unfettered and free will of the people of entire Jammu Kashmir State expressed through the proposed referendum to be held under international supervision fifteen years after re-unification and independence of the State.

HONOURABLE

The solution will be honorable for all the parties to the Issue particularly for India and Pakistan because (1) it will solve the Issue without hurting the national egos of India and Pakistan and without giving either of them a sense of defeat as neither of them will be required to handover to the other the part of Kashmir under her control (2) without harming the legitimate interests of either of them as independent Kashmir will be having compulsory friendly relations and agreements of peaceful co-existence with both of them. It will be honorable for the people of Jammu Kashmir because it will be they themselves and not outsiders, who will determine their future.

PERMANENT

The solution will prove durable rather permanent firstly because it will be to reasonable satisfaction of all the three parties and secondly and more importantly because it will open the doors for a peaceful, prosperous and respectful future for all of them.

None of the other solutions of the Kashmir Issue proposed so far from any quarter is as peaceful, equitable, democratic, honorable and permanent for all parties to the issue i.e. Kashmiri people, Pakistan, India and even the international community. What is all the more important, this solution is sure to prove durable rather permanent hence will open the doors for a peaceful, prosperous and dignified future for the peoples and states in the entire region.

URDU VERSION:

Amanullah Khan, Supreme Head, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

B-144, Satellite Town, Murree Road, Rawalpindi

Tele fax: 92-51-4425689, Email amanullahkhan1931@gmail.com, web. www.jklfworld.org

KASHMIR ISSUE --Why It Has Remained Unresolved So Long? Part 1 (Amanullah Khan)

2010-09-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

KASHMIR ISSUE --------- (1)

Why It Has Remained Unresolved So Long?

Amanullah Khan, Patron-in-Chief Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

Note: The purpose of this series of articles on Kashmir Issue is twofold. Its first purpose is to present the history of Kashmir Issue in its true and factual perspective as much as possible. This has become a must because vested interests and the self-made direct and indirect claimants to the proprietorship of Kashmir and their pets and puppets in Kashmir have polluted the history of Kashmir in general and of Kashmir Issue in particular, so much so that after passage of 63 years, this adultered history looks almost undeniable. This is enough to mislead the new generation of Kashmir. The second purpose of these articles is to pinpoint a clear and achievable goal for the people of Jammu Kashmir State that can prove, as I see it, real national emancipation for them provided they make up their mind to achieve it come what may. What is equally important, the solution of Kashmir Issue proposed herein is in the best interests of

India

and

Pakistan

as well, as it will result in heralding the dawn of a really peaceful, prosperous and respectful future for them too. (Amanullah Khan)

Kashmir issue, the oldest unresolved international problem concerns determination of the political and constitutional status of Kashmir (officially known as Jammu Kashmir State), the largest and third biggest semi independent state of the former Indian Subcontinent under overall British Suzerainty until 1947 when the Subcontinent got freedom in the shape of its division on religious basis, resulting in creation of two independent countries, Secular India and Muslim Pakistan.

Kashmir was pre-dominantly a Muslim majority State with a Hindu ruler titled as Maharaja. The Maharaja who was constitutionally entitled to determine the future of his State, wanted to make it a fully independent country having friendly relations with both its neighbors, free

India

and

Pakistan

but both of them wanted to have it for themselves and that confrontation between them gave birth to the international tangle known as Kashmir Issue.

Kashmir Issue could not be solved for the last over sixty years mainly because of the selfishness of the self made claimants to the proprietorship of Kashmir i.e. India and Pakistan, of the former in particular and their pets and puppets in Kashmir

The Painful Saga

Looking from a realistic and Kashmiri patriots point of view, the history of Kashmir Issue emerges as a painful story of shameful retractions by the governments of India and, to a lesser extent by that of Pakistan also, from their solemn pledges; of their tall claims on the stage and devilish misdeeds behind the curtain; of might throttling the right; of misrepresentation of facts and misinterpretations of agreements and of coloniastic approach to a problem concerning decolonization. It is a sad story of a very simple problem being changed into an imbroglio by vested interests just to avoid its equitable solution. And above all, it is a painful saga of Kashmiris being fired upon from the front by one of its neighbors and stabbed in the back by the other, for demanding their inherent, internationally recognized and pledged, hence fully deserved right of self-determination.

Indian Conspiracies

Let me elaborate these ugly aspects of the agonizing history of Kashmir Issue and the reason why this simple issue has not only remained unresolved but has badly injured all the three parties specially the people of Kashmir, economically, politically and emotionally.

Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir was based on Muslim majority of its population whereas one of the main reasons for India wanting to have Kashmir was its first and the most popular prime minister, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru whose ancestors were of Kashmiri origin, wanted his ancestral homeland to become part of India by hook or by crook whereas a big majority of Kashmiri people was against it. To serve their purposes, both started behind-the-scene activities. Mahatma Gandhi, the most prominent of free India’s founding-fathers who apparently had a neutral stand on Kashmir, paid what was termed a private visit to Kashmir towards the end of July 1947 and through a Hindu cleric Swami Sant Dev who was also the religious mentor of Maharaja’s family made the Maharaja change his mind regarding declaring independence for his State and to think seriously of joining India. The Kashmir Muslim Conference had irritated the Maharaja earlier by aggressively demanding accession of the State to

Pakistan

. So he decided to defer his announcement about the future of Kashmir but in the meantime (on 11^th August 1947), only four days before independence of the Subcontinent, replaced his pro-independence Prime Minister Mr. R.C.Kak, a Kashmiri Pundit and the first local prime minister, by pro-India Janak Singh and M.C. Mahajan in quick succession. The latter, as a former member of the Boundary Commission and in collusion with chief of the Commission Mr. Radcliffe and Indian leadership, had already paved the way for making Kashmir part of India by creating a road link between India and Kashmir by awarding, most dishonestly, a Muslim majority area of the Punjab to India instead of making it a part of Pakistan. In the meantime the Maharaja declared that, pending announcement of his final decision about future of the State, he would enter into “standstill” agreements with both

India

and

Pakistan

India

dilly-dallied signing it whereas

Pakistan

signed it under which civil supplies and communications of the State went to

Pakistan

’s control. Smelling behind-the scene India-Kashmir activities, some Pakistani authorities of provincial level also started playing tricks. They initially disrupted the smooth flow of civil supplies to Kashmir to pressurize the Maharaja. On Oct 4, 1947 some Kashmiri Muslim leaders declared formation of a Provisional Republican Govt. for the State ’overthrowing’ the Maharaja. On Oct 24, 1947, the Provisional Republican Govt. was reorganized with Sardar Ibrahim Khan declared as its President.

Pakistan

’s Follies

On Oct 22, 1947 Pakistani tribesmen entered Kashmir “to free Kashmiri Muslims from Hindu rule”. But their behavior was most uncivilized. A number of officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army were also engaged in Kashmir in civilian clothes along with tribesmen but

Pakistan

claimed that neither was any Pakistani soldier in Kashmir nor had

Pakistan

govt. any control over the tribesmen. This gross mis-statement on

Pakistan

’s part cost her and Kashmiris a lot. When the UN came to know later of presence of Pakistani soldiers and army officers in Kashmir and also that Pakistan had considerable control on tribesmen, it asked Pakistan to withdraw its forces and tribesmen from Kashmir before any further step could be taken to solve Kashmir Issue and made that demand a part of UNCIP resolution of 13^th August 1948.

Pakistan

accepted the resolution but refused to withdraw all its forces from Kashmir arguing that

India

would immediately occupy the areas vacated by

Pakistan

. As such, UN resolution could not be implemented and Kashmiris remained deprived of their right to shape their own future. (

Pakistan

’s another misstatement in 1999 claiming that Kashmiri freedom- fighters had occupied Indian pickets in Kargil whereas it was Northern Light Infantry (NLI), an integral part of Pakistan Army comprising personnel from Gilgit Baltistan that had done so. This misstatement on the part of

Pakistan

changed the genuine armed freedom struggle of Kashmiris into terrorism in the eyes of the world giving an unbearable blow to Kashmiris’ freedom struggle).

When Pakistani tribesmen entered Kashmir in October 1947, and started loot, arson, and killing Non-Muslims, the Maharaja fled Kashmir. When he reached Jammu, Mr. V.P. Menon,

India

’s Secretary for States, visited him with an instrument of Jammu Kashmir State’s accession to

India

and made him sign it. The Maharaja nevertheless attached a number of conditions for State’s accession to

India

concerning continuation of his own and State’s semi independent status and non-interference by

India

in its internal affairs.

India

accepted the accession subject to referring the matter to Kashmiri people but including Maharaja’s conditions but before doing so had sent her troops to Kashmir.

Maharaja’s conditions were not implemented by

India

. He was later deprived of his status as the ruler of the State and ousted from Kashmir never to return to his homeland even as an ordinary citizen.

Kashmir at UN

India

took the issue to United Nations Security Council in December 1947 accusing

Pakistan

of naked aggression in Kashmir and calling upon the world body to make

Pakistan

vacate Kashmir. India also declared in the UN Security Council on January 15^th, 1948 that after return of normalcy to Kashmir, India would let the people of Kashmir decide themselves democratically whether Kashmir should remain with India, go over to Pakistan or become independent and seek UN membership. She also pledged that she would accept and implement Kashmiri people’s decision.

Pakistan

had a counter attack on

India

at the UN and accused her of occupying bulk of Kashmir through conspiracies, coercion and blackmail. She accused

India

of resorting to malpractices in the states of Hyderabad and Junagarh also. In the beginning, the title of this Issue under in the UN Security Council was “Situation in Jammu Kashmir” but on

Pakistan

’s request it was changed into “India-Pakistan Question” on January 20, 1948. This change in the title of the debate changed the very complexion of the issue and it started giving the impression of being a territorial dispute between

India

and

Pakistan

rather than an issue concerning Kashmiris right of self determination.

The UN Security Council appointed the United Nations Commission fro India and Pakistan (UNCIP) which, after exchange of views with the governments of India and Pakistan ( Kashmiri Leadership was ignored altogether) adopted the first detailed resolution on Kashmir Issue on August 13, 1948. It provided for ceasefire, withdrawal of all Pakistani forces and tribesmen and bulk of Indian forces from Kashmir and then a plebiscite under UN supervision to determine the future of Jammu Kashmir State. Both

India

and

Pakistan

signed it and ceasefire came into effect on January 1^st, 1949.

Pakistan had earlier asked UNCIP to change the wording of its resolution of Augus13, 1948 and through that change, got the scope of Kashmiris choice reduced to State’s accession to India or Pakistan under the Supplementary UNCIP Resolution of Jan5,1949 thereby depriving Kashmiris of their right to opt for complete independence of their motherland.

In 1950-51 UNCIP reported its failure to resolve Kashmir Issue to the Security Council which appointed Sir Owen Dixon as a sort of mediator. He, after studying the issue in detail, opined that a plebiscite as proposed by UNCIP could never be held in Kashmir and proposed the division of the State in three alternate ways. Both

India

and

Pakistan

rejected Dixon Plan, for different reasons though. Two subsequent UN mediators also failed to evolve a solution, acceptable to both

India

and

Pakistan

. Both mediators accused

India

of showing more undue intransigence as compared to

Pakistan

but the UN did not take any notice. The last report was not even studied or discussed officially by Security Council as it was ‘misplaced’ and finally ‘lost’.

In 1957, Kashmir started being sacrificed at the altar of dirty and unjust international politics. The Soviet Union was crushing the popular movements of

Hungary

and

Czechoslovakia

with brute force.

India

, as an important leader of the Third World could create difficulties for Soviets. They obliged

India

by vetoing two Security Council resolutions on Kashmir (in 1957 and 1962) providing for right of self determination for Kashmiris. So the rights of Kashmiris were sacrificed at the altar of dirty international politics. It was also in 1957 that

India

started totally refusing to implement UN resolution by claiming that Kashmir was her integral and constitutional part.

The Indo-Pak Parleys

The 1962-63 India-Pakistan talks on Kashmir saw a major change in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy when it agreed that in place of giving right of self determination to Kashmiris, the Issue should be solved on the basis of the inequitable doctrine of ‘give and take’. Though the talks did not succeeded but they paved the way for the doctrine to become permanent base for efforts to resolve Kashmir Issue and the Simla Agreement of 1972, Lahore Declaration of 1999 and Islamabad Joint Press Statement of 2004 between governments of

India

and

Pakistan

are based on that doctrine of ‘give and take’. None of these Indo-Pak agreements makes even a mention of Kashmiris’ inherent, internationally recognized and pledged right of self determination. These agreements do not accept the people of Kashmir even as a party to Kashmir Issue whereas they are the most important and worst effected party. The doctrine of ‘given and take’ may solve some small disputes amicably but to subject the very future of a nation of above 17 million people, more in number than the individual populations of as many as 134 independent nations of the world, to the colonialist and selfish desires of its neighbors, the ‘democratic India’ and ‘Islamic Pakistan’, is most inhuman because this approach is neither democratic nor Islamic (Humane).

The last UN resolution about Kashmir was the unanimous Security Council resolution No.1172 of June 6, 1998 in which it resolved to facilitate India and Pakistan to solve Kashmir Issue provided both accepted the offer but India doesn’t accept what she terms as external interference on Kashmir, basically because her stand on Kashmir is too weak to be accepted by any unbiased personality or a group of them as factual or equitable. During the past about half a decade, Pakistan, its military ruler General Pervez Musharaf to be precise, has presented half a dozen solutions to Kashmir Issue including that of giving complete independence to the whole Jammu Kashmir State proposed on Oct, 25,2004. But the General retracted from his last mentioned declaration under pressure from army, his Muslim League (Q) and a section of the media. He has also proposed self rule, demilitarization, joint control etc. But all these proposed steps were ultimately going to lead to forced division of Kashmir on the basis of turning the Line of Control (LoC) into a permanent India-Pakistan border totally ignoring the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people about their future, hence not acceptable to Kashmiri patriots.

India

has all along stuck to its baseless claim of Kashmir being her integral part whereas

Pakistan

has been chasing the looter to share the booty. Both are far more interested in the proprietorship of maximum possible chunk of the State of Jammu Kashmir than they are in the wishes and aspiration of its people.

Nourishing Pets, Puppets

As if the aforementioned misdeeds of governments of India and Pakistan were not enough to stand in the way of an equitable solution of Kashmir Issue based on unfettered and freely expressed will of Kashmiri people, both have tamed a big number of pets and puppets among Kashmiri political leaders and their parties, in both parts of the State who are loyal to their masters in New Delhi and Islamabad instead of their own Kashmiri national cause and enjoy luxuries of ruling their respective parts of the State turn by turn at the cost of their short and long term national interests.

Both

India

and

Pakistan

have made Kashmir Issue a matter of their own national egos. India also argues baselessly though, that if entire Kashmir goes to Pakistan even per Kashmiris freely expressed will, that will damage Indian secular statecraft whereas Pakistan bas been contending that Muslim majority Kashmiri not becoming part of Pakistan was negation of her Two Nation Theory. In their contentions both totally ignore the aspiration of Kashmir people.

Kashmiri Nationalists

Inspite of pledging and declaring nationally and internationally their acceptance of Kashmiris’ right to independence,

India

and

Pakistan

gradually backed out of these pledges. Until the basic change (for worse) brought about by General Pervez Musharraf in

Pakistan

’s Kashmir policy, the only thing common between

India

and

Pakistan

on Kashmir was their opposition to the concept of independent Kashmir. Both countries barred pro-independence parties and individuals, in their respective controlled parts of Kashmir, even from contesting elections to public offices.

In 1971

Pakistan

crushed pro-independence Kashmiri Organizations, the Plebiscite Front and National Liberation front (NLF) with full force. Famous Kashmiri freedom fighter Shaheed Maqbool Ahmed Butt spent about three years in Pakistani prisons accused of being an Indian agent and about 10 years in Indian jails accused of being an agent of

Pakistan

and then sent to gallows by

India

in Feb 1984. He was an agent neither of

India

nor

Pakistan

. His real ‘crime’ was that he was actively and effectively struggling for independence of his motherland, Jammu Kashmir State and most of his compatriots will be no different.

These are a few of scores of examples that explain how supporters of independent Kashmir are treated by

India

and

Pakistan

Kashmiris continued their peaceful struggle for their right of self determination for over four decades but failed. This compelled them to resort to armed freedom struggle in 1988. But

India

crushed it with brute military force.

Pakistan

government’s role in it was not selfless too inspite of her tall claims to the contrary.

International Community took full interest in Kashmir Issue from 1948 to 1957. It was the UN that had given to Kashmiris their right to determine their own future whereas the British rulers, Indian National Congress and Muslim League had subjected their future to the whilms of the Maharaja. But the UN failed to get her own resolutions on Kashmir implemented. After 1957 it gradually changed its policy and is now quite apathetic towards Kashmir Issue in order not to annoy

India

and /or

Pakistan

In Conclusion

In short, the coloniastic and selfish attitude of the governments of

India

and

Pakistan

towards Kashmir Issue, the short-sighted, selfish and unpatriotic attitude of their pets and puppets in Kashmir and apathy of international community have been the main reasons for the Issue remaining unresolved so long.

Amanullah Khan, Supreme Head, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

B-144, Satellite Town, Murree Road, Rawalpindi

Tele fax: 92-51-4425689, Email amanullahkhan1931@gmail.com, web. www.jklfworld.org