JKLF London Branch Press Release - 19 August 2020
PRESS RELEASE
London (August 18,
2020)
Press Secretary,
JKLF, London Branch
Recent Post
Showing posts with label Press Release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press Release. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Thursday, 8 August 2019
Statement by Zafar Khan, the head JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau On the Illegal Dismemberment of Jammu Kashmir by the Indian government:
Statement by Zafar Khan, the head of Jammu Kashmir
Liberation Front’s Diplomatic Bureau
On the Illegal Dismemberment of Jammu Kashmir
by the Indian government:
·
A
reunified and sovereign state of Jammu Kashmir will be in the best interest of
India, which in its composition as a society, is more disparate than Pakistan,
than a broken and dismembered Jammu Kashmir:
·
There
can be no compromise on our inherent, inalienable and internationally
recognised unfettered, and sovereign right to self-determination.
London 8 August:
In a statement issued in London from its international Secretariat, the
Diplomatic Bureau of the JKLF strongly condemned Indian government’s illegal decision
to dismember the state of Jammu Kashmir.
The head of JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau Prof
Zafar Khan called the Modi government’s decision illegal as well as a
monumental folly. And said that abrogation of article 370 means that Jammu Kashmir’s
conditional constitutional relationship with the Indian union was at an end
both in terms of India’s domestic and international law which, renders India’s
presence in Jammu Kashmir as that of an occupying foreign power.
The head of JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau said that
People of Jammu Kashmir have not only been betrayed by the right wing
chauvinist RSS supported BJP government of India, but it has also snubbed the
international community with utter disregard and disdain regarding India’s
international commitments and obligations to the people, and on their right of self-determination.
He
said that through illegal annexation the Modi government wilfully sought to break
up territorial unity of Jammu Kashmir and destroy its unique character and
identity through absorption as union territory to rule directly from New Delhi’
and also to inflame sectarian and communalism to aid his party’s political
objectives in India itself.
Zafar
Khan said that 5 August 2019 for ever will be etched in the memory of people in
Jammu Kashmir as a black day, and a catastrophe or a day of Nakba as Prime
Minister Modi and his ultra-chauvinist henchmen deviously contrived to replicate
a Palestine like situation, particularly in the valley of Kashmir to engineer a
demographic change.
He
said the world was watching this so called Modi’s RSS inspired final solution
of the Kashmir issue, which in reality means that millions of men, women and
children are now imprisoned in their own homes completely cut off from each
other in their own country and from the rest of the civilised world, with guns of
literally tens of thousands of India’s para military and military troops,
pointed at their heads throughout the greater valley of Kashmir, in the Pir
Panjal region, and in the regions of Doda, Kishtwar, Badarwah and parts of
Jammu including Rajauri and Poonch. He condemned the total siege and lock down of
Kashmir and demanded that the iron curtain which has descended on Jammu Kashmir,
turning the entire region from Kargil to Rajauri into a gigantic prison, must
be lifted.
He
said Indian government should not harbour any misconception of disunity among
the citizens of the state as there is an in build internal unity and solidarity
of long standing among the Dogras, in Jammu and Muslims in the valley and other
parts of the state on the sanctity of 35 A which is a direct attack on the
identity and wellbeing of inhabitants from all ethnic and social and religious
backgrounds.
Zafar Khan pointed out that absorption of
Jammu Kashmir into the Indian union in such an underhand and deceitful manner
will not be acceptable and will prove to be fatally detrimental to the Indian
union itself, as is being recognised by a very large number of people across
all sections of the Indian society. The head of the JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau
strongly emphasised that a reunified and sovereign state of Jammu Kashmir will
be in the best interest of India, which in its composition as a society, is
more disparate than Pakistan, than a broken and dismembered Jammu Kashmir.
Zafar Khan strongly condemned the politically
motivated incarceration of JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik and many other Kashmiri
leaders who are being kept in Delhi’s Tihar jail. He said Yasin Malik, Shabir
Shah and many others are patriotic Kashmiris who want a peaceful resolution of
the Kashmir issue and supportive of dialogue between India, Pakistan and the
Kashmiri leadership. Keeping these leaders behind bars and others under house
arrest is not only inhuman, vindictive and politically motivated but also
colonialistic, and a loss to the achievement of a lasting resolution of the
conflict. He called on the Modi government to release the Kashmiri leaders as
they are a part of the solution not a part of the problem.
Zafar
Khan strongly emphasised that the just and historic struggle for a dignified
and peaceful resolution of the issue will continue, as there can be no compromise
made on our inherent, inalienable and
internationally recognised unfettered, and sovereign right to self-determination.
END
Prof Zafar Khan
Head of Diplomatic
Bureau
Jammu Kashmir
liberation Front-JKLF-
International
Secretariat-119-123 Cannon St Road London E1 2XL
Email: zafargk@aol.com
---------------------------
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Jammu Kashmir's illegal annexation by the BJP/RSS government of India
5 August 2019 will
forever be etched in the memory of people in Jammu Kashmir as a black day.
It will be
remembered as a day when the so called largest democracy in the world, illegally
annexed the entire Indian occupied part of Jammu Kashmir with a stroke of a
pen, and took away the heritage, the identity,
hard fought fundamental rights, and centuries old ethnic, cultural and
religious harmony and tolerance amongst the sons and daughters of the soil.
5 August 2019 will be
remembered as a black day because, on this day millions of sons and
daughters of this beautiful but unhappy land, were imprisoned in their
homes by 820,000 Indian military and paramilitary troops at the point of
gun under orders from a communalist and hegemonic BJP /RSS government
in Delhi.
5 August 2019 will be
forever marked as a black by the people of Jammu Kashmir because, on this
day millions of the citizens of Jammu Kashmir were not treated as members
of humanity. This day will also be marked as a black day because, on this day
the BJP /RSS government under the erroneous rule of might is right, disregarded
the international law and legality, and forcibly annexed a country, and its
people whose political status is yet to be determined by themselves
through the exercise of their, fundamental, inherent and inalienable
sovereign right to self-determination.
On 5 August 2019
therefore, the BJP /RSS government of India has thrown an open challenge to
the world community by completely disregarding its obligations under the
United Nations Charter, and the inherent and inalienable sovereign right
of the people of Jammu Kashmir to self-determination under the UN Charter
and over some 18 UN Resolutions on the Kashmir issue/dispute -conflict.
Therefore, the
legitimate and just struggle to regain the lost sovereign right of
free will, by people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, will continue until victory.
Prof. Zafar Khan
Chairman Diplomatic Bureau
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF-
Chairman Diplomatic Bureau
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF-
119-123 Cannon Street Road,
(Basement North)
London, E1 2LX
Email: zafargk@aol.com
Phone: 0795 6400 834
(Basement North)
London, E1 2LX
Email: zafargk@aol.com
Phone: 0795 6400 834
Dated: 7 August 2019
Friday, 19 July 2019
Release Yasin Malik Campaign delegate led by General secretary JKLF UK zone Liaqat Lone met with Phillip Bennion MEP (Lib Dem west midlands region).
Release Yasin Malik Campaign
delegate led by General secretary JKLF UK zone Liaqat Lone met with Phillip
Bennion MEP (Lib Dem west midlands region).
Nazam Bhatti & Masoom
Ansari the founder members of jklf were also present in the meeting. The
delegate raised their concerns on illegal arrest of yasin malik chairman jklf
under draconian law PSA imposed by indian govt.
Yasin malik life is under
threat due to serious health issues and lack of health facilities provided to
him. He has no access to medicine which has caused deterioration of his health.
His family is not allowed
to see him in Tihar jail Dehli. He has been pressurized to compromise on his peaceful
political struggle which he has refused to do so. He has no contact to his
family ever since he has been arrested since Feb 2019.
Indian Govt has banned JKLF
political peaceful struggle in Indian occupied Kashmir. India, so called world
biggest democracy is not allowing peaceful political movement in Kashmir. There
is more than 700000 troops deployed in Kashmir valley who is using pallet guns
on children, women raped cases, civilian killings, kidnaping of youth is daily
mission of Indian forces in Kashmir.
The Govt of India has
refused access to amnesty international, red cross and many other NGO’s in Kashmir.
It has been mentioned in UN human rights report published in 8th July 2019 and 14th June 2018. The Modi Govt
is propagating Hindu extremism and the lives of innocent people are in danger. The
ceasefire line has been violated many time with heavy shelling on civilians
living on both side of ceasefire line in Jammu Kashmir.
The delegate has also
raised concerns on the exploitation of natural resources by diverting the river
Neelum & Jhelum in Muzaffarabad AJK. Neelum Jhelum hydral project is
serious threat to 675000 people living in that area. There has been no environmental
consultation addressed which has caused the serious threat to local community
due to shortage of water and created health concerns in local vicinity. The
govt of Pakistan is making dams in AJK against the will of Kashmiris which is
the violation of united nation rules. India & Pak cannot build dams on a
disputed territory. We urge the international community to intervene and stop
both occupants to exploit natural resources of Kashmir.
The honorable MEP assured
the delegation to raise our concerns to EU Parliament as well as UN. Mr P
Bennion also support the ideology of independent Kashmir and admired the road
map of Amanullah khan in which he asked both countries to demilitarize Jammu Kashmir
state and give right to the people of Kashmir to decide their future. The referendum
which gives people unfettered right of self-determination.
The delegation presented
the report as well as letter to the honorable MEP for future actions and thanked
him for his help & support to raise the voice for voiceless Kashmiris.
Thursday, 27 June 2019
Indian government must release Yasin Malik from incarceration: JKLF
Statement
by Diplomatic Bureau of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
JKLF leadership will never compromise on the sovereign
right of Kashmiris to freedom
Meaningful
dialogue over the status of Kashmir only possible under UN auspices
Modi
government must release Yasin Malik from incarceration
JKLF
has the capacity and the will to mount a concerted diplomatic/ political
campaign to expose India’s oppressive occupation of Kashmir
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
London-27
June 2019: Meeting at its International Secretariat
in London, the Diplomatic Bureau of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- called
on the Indian government to immediately release its Chairman Mr Yasin Malik who
is illegally incarcerated, in India’s Tihar jail.
Chaired
by its head, Professor Zafar Khan, the Bureau’s meeting took full stock of the
situation arising out of the initial arrest of Mr Yasin Malik under the
draconian and oppressive Public Safety
Act- PSA- in February, and the ban imposed on the JKLF in March ,and subjecting him to India’s
National Investigation Agency- NIA’s- strong arm tactics, and Modi government’s
continuous malicious campaign to malign and subvert the legitimate and political struggle, and peaceful dissent of
the JKLF, its leadership, and that of the Joint Resistance Leadership, the JRL in Indian occupied Kashmir.
In
a statement issued to press and media the
diplomatic Bureau strongly condemned the
inhuman, and ill treatment meted out to the illegally jailed leader by calling it
Modi government’s policy of intimidation, and a deliberate attempt to subject
the head of JKLF to physical and mental torture in solitary confinement. The
statement noted with grave concern at the rapidly failing health of Mr Yasin Malik
as a consequence of inadequate medical care, and noted that the severe
infection in one his eyes that requires urgent treatment, was a glaring example
of Indian government’s policy of
callousness towards Mr Malik to force him into submission.
The
statement warned the Indian government that the JKLF and the people of Kashmir
across both sides of their forcibly divided country between India and Pakistan,
are observing India’s cruel and callous policies towards the JKLF and its
Chairman, with great restraint as well as with serious concern.
Peaceful
dissent, noted the statement, is stifled with prominent leaders and activists
incarcerated under laws like the PSA, and political parties committed to a
peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict, are banned. The statement noted that
as well as stifling and silencing peaceful political dissent in Indian occupied
Kashmir, India’s policy in Kashmir of total impunity refuses to allow any scrutiny
of state oppression by independent observers, the international media and human
rights organisations including the United Nations. The recent refusal by the
Modi government to Amnesty International’s representatives to hold a meeting in
Srinagar, capital of Kashmir, to address India’s excesses arising out of
arrests and denial of civil and political liberties, is a clear example that
India and its occupation apparatus in Kashmir operates with impunity against the JKLF, its
leadership and hundreds of political leaders and activists, who like the JKLF
and its leadership, are committed to a just and peaceful resolution of the
Kashmir issue.
The
Bureau’s statement added that the JKLF as a political movement has the capacity
and the will, to mount and embark upon a concerted political and diplomatic
campaign throughout the world to expose India’s real face of militarised
oppression in Kashmir with her deployment of 780,000 military and paramilitary troops,
and her callously oppressive and vindictive policies towards political leaders
like Mr Yasin Malik who seek a just and equitable resolution of the 72 year old
Kashmir issue.
The
statement added that the JKLF is in an active engagement with human rights
organisations and interaction with various governments and political forces
across many countries to convey the reality of Indian occupation and oppression
in Kashmir; as well as to seek support against Indian government’s treatment
and continued incarceration of Mr Yasin Malik.
The
statement called on the international community in general, and the leading
powers, including the permanent members of the UN Security Council in
particular, to play their rightful role in resolution of the Kashmir issue, in
accordance within the principle of Kashmiri people’s sovereign to decide upon
their political status in a free, fair and democratic referendum under the
auspices of the United Nations. The statement continued that the conflict in
Kashmir has existed for more than seven decades, and remains a serious bone of
contention between the nuclear armed neighbours, India and Pakistan. Both
countries have fought wars against each other over this period, and came
perilously close to a potentially catastrophic war in February and March of
this year, when their Air Forces attacked each other soon after the Pulwama
suicide attack.
India
and Pakistan deploy thousands of their troops across the Line of Control-LoC-
or the ceasefire line -CfL-that forcibly divides Kashmir, and its people under
the 1949 UN sponsored armistice. Even when India and Pakistan are supposedly at
peace, their forces present an existential threat to lives and livelihood of
the civilian population with daily exchanges of fire, across the CfL. The
statement added that the on-going pro freedom political dissent in Indian
occupied Kashmir, has resulted in immense suffering and hardships for the
population. Actions by the Indian military and paramilitary forces, and the use
of repressive laws like the PSA and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA,
that provide the Indian forces of occupation with an umbrella of total impunity
against the people, are a serious cause
for concerns by the JKLF leadership and the people of Kashmir.
The
statement reiterated JKLF’s position that its leadership will never compromise
over the fundamental and inalienable sovereign right of 20 million Kashmiris
across both sides of the LoC/CfL, and in the Diaspora spread across the world. The
statement added that the JKLF wishes see Kashmir as a bridge of peace rather
than a bone of contention in South Asia, and seeks a meaningful dialogue with
both India, and Pakistan under the auspices of the United Nations.
The
Bureau’s statement however, re-emphasised, that Indian government must release the
JKLF Chairman from illegal incarceration and lift its vindictive and
politically motivated ban on the JKLF and allow normal political activities to
take place in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir. The statement strongly stressed on
the fact that Kashmir is an international issue, and not an internal matter for
India. Therefore, there can be no bi- lateral dialogue under the ambit or
constitution of the Indian state over the legitimate sovereign right to freedom
of Kashmiris divided between India and Pakistan, and can only exercise their
inherent and inalienable sovereign right under the supervision of the United
Nations ended the statement……
Prof
Zafar Khan
Head
of Diplomatic Bureau -Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF:
International
Secretariat-119-123 Cannon Street Road- London E1 2XL
Email:
info@jklf.co.uk
Friday, 1 March 2019
Referendum under UN supervison in Kashmir is the only way to ensure lasting peace in South Asia
London-
01 March 2019: Secretary General of the
United Nations Mr Antonio Guterres has been told in a letter to him that as
long as Kashmir remains a bone of contention between India and Pakistan South
Asian region will face a catastrophic and horrendous war over the Kashmir
dispute.
The
letter written by Zafar Khan the Diplomatic affairs head of the JKLF, referred
to military actions taken against each other by
Indian and Pakistani forces, which presented an imminent threat of full scale war
between the two countries over the Kashmir dispute, and pointed out that these
actions have dangerously added to an already existing volatile situation not
only for twenty million people of Kashmir, but for the entire region of South
Asia and beyond.
In
the letter he reminds the Secretary General that Kashmir has been a bone of
contention between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir for more than
seven decades, and in view of the looming catastrophe people of Kashmir
desperately, and impatiently expect statesmanship and leadership role from the
UN Secretary General to take decisive steps for a lasting solution of the
Kashmir dispute.
In
the letter Khan strongly urged the Secretary General to ensure that the
imminent danger of war between India and Pakistan is averted with post- haste,
and that at this crucial juncture in the situation over Kashmir, the UN takes
strong and firm actions to end the dispute with a just and lasting solution on
the political status of the territory, which will bring about an end to the
conflict, and suffering that has caused incalculable miseries for millions of
Kashmiris since 1947.
Khan
Exhorts the Secretary General by saying that in order to achieve the cherished and noble objective
of lasting peace, prosperity and empathy in the region, the United Nations must assume full
control of Kashmir’s administration, and ask India and Pakistan to vacate
the entire state on both sides of the Line of Control –LoC- within three
months.
He
reminded the Secretary General that an ultimate objective of sane human beings
must be to strive for peace and prosperity in society, which unfortunately for
Kashmiris, as an objective, has remained a mirage due to the conflict, and
uncertainty as a direct consequence of Indo-Pakistan confrontation over the
past seventy two years.
Zafar
Khan emphasised to Mr Guterres that Kashmiris have strong, and compelling reasons to
expect from the UN and its Secretary
General that he takes their sincere and
considered appeal, seriously and engages with India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri
leadership, to set a time-frame within which his administration would be able to organise, and
prepare for a free, fair and democratic
referendum so that Kashmiris would be enabled and empowered to decide on the political status of their
homeland through the exercise of their inherent and inalienable right of
self-determination.
He
pointed out to Mr Guterres that a free, fair and
democratic was the only way-forward out of the Kashmir dispute, which otherwise
will remain an ongoing threat to peace in the region, if God forbid it is not
already too late!
The
UN Secretary General was apprised through the letter that India and Pakistan
have fought costly wars over Kashmir in the past, in which citizens of Kashmir
have always suffered the most. Another war between the nuclear armed neighbours
will cause an annihilation for 20 million Kashmiris as well as for India, Pakistan
and their neighbours in the region with an irredeemable destruction.
Secretary General was told by Zafar Khan that
even when India and Pakistan are supposedly at ‘peace,’ deployment of tens of
thousands of their troops in the territory present an existential danger to
millions of civilians, and that as he was no doubt fully aware, Kashmiris have never reconciled with the
status quo as it is the basis of uncertainty over Kashmir’s future, and that Kashmiris
have continued to struggle since 1947 for a free, fair, transparent and
democratic process to regain the right to decide on the status of their
country. He was reminded that he is also fully aware that Kashmiris continue to
suffer immensely as a consequence of status quo and the entrenchment of
Indo-Pakistan positions on the question of Kashmir’s status.
The
letter informed the UN Secretary General that Kashmiris are the principle and
most aggrieved party in the conflict, and they expect the Secretary General of
the UN as the custodian of the world conscience, to accept their right to
insist that UN’s moral and legal authority must be exercised in the interest of
peace and justice.
And
that the Secretary General of the UN will impress upon the leaders of India and
Pakistan that neither their 1.5 billion combined population, nor the twenty million
people of Kashmir must be held hostage in perpetuity to the dangers of an
unresolved and uncertain status of Kashmir.
The Secretary General was reminded therefore,
that a UN administered and supervised referendum remained the only democratic and
peaceful method for the resolution of Kashmir’s political status permanently.
Zafar
Khan further reminded Mr Guterres that the Indo- Pakistan presence in an
undecided Kashmir will inevitably perpetuate the ongoing conflict,
confrontation and war between India and Pakistan. And their presence is also
inconsistent with the aspirations and wishes of the people unless and until,
there is an opportunity for them to give a free and a democratic verdict on the
question of their country’s future.
The
Secretary General of the United Nations, was told that it was not in the
interest of any people or nation, to be a bone of contention between two
powerful countries, as indeed Kashmir and its people are, between their neighbours,
India and Pakistan.
Mr
Guterres was informed that Kashmiris, like any other people want peace and
peaceful resolution of the conflict. And that they wish well for the peoples of
India and Pakistan, and insist that their country and they wish to become a bridge of peace between India and
Pakistan instead of a bone of contention. Secretary General was told in the letter that
“Kashmiris seek your help and support, to enable them to become that bridge of
peace in South Asia”!
Mahmoud Hussain
Secretary of the Diplomatic Bureau
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
119-123 Cannon Street Road,
Basement North
London
E1 2LX
Secretary of the Diplomatic Bureau
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
119-123 Cannon Street Road,
Basement North
London
E1 2LX
---------------------
END ---------------------
Monday, 4 February 2019
JKLF TO COMMEMORATE 35th MARTYRDOM ANNIVERSARY OF MAQBOOL BUTT SHAHEED
(London 05 February 2019): Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
will commemorate the 35rd Martyrdom anniversary of
its founder Maqbool Butt Shaheed all around the world. JKLF will hold
seminars, public meetings and demonstrations in Indian Held Kashmir, all cities
of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, many cities of Pakistan, India, Europe, Middle
ast and America. Chairman JKLF, Yasin Malik has directed all
Zonal, Divisional and District level JKLF office bearers to hold peaceful
programmes in order to pay tribute to the martyred leader.
A meeting of JKLF London Branch was held in connection of 11
February preparations. It was decided in the meeting that JKLF
London branch will participating in large numbers in a protest outside
Indian High Commission in London. During this meeting, senior leader of
JKLF in UK Mahmood Hussain said that struggle and martyrdom of Maqbool Butt is
a glorious chapter of our history that will always guide us through the tough
journey of freedom struggle. He said that we owe it to the future generations of Kashmir to
highlight and spread the vision of Maqbool Butt Shaheed for which he and other
thousands of Kashmiris laid their lives.
11 February is being commemorated as
Maqbool Bhat’s martyrdom anniversary. On this day Kashmiris all across the
world remember their hero with honour and pride. Maqbool But was hanged
by India in Tihar jail on 11 February 1984 and his body was
not given to his family for a proper burial.
Meeting was chaired by London branch
president Javaid Rashid, and attended by Mr Mahmoud Hussain, Mr Tariq Sharif,
Mr M Faiz, Mr Sanawar Hussain, Mr Nazakat Ali, Mr Iftikhar Sharif, Mr Umer
Ishaq and others.
Secretary Information
JKLF (London Branch)
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
JKLF Condemns Government of Azad Kashmir for issuing summons to 19 JKLF leaders
London (23 Jan 2019) : Jammu Kashmir
Liberation Front-JKLF London branch has strongly condemned the actions by Azad
Kashmir governments for issuing summons to 18 senior leaders of JKLF for
protesting and presenting their case of Kashmir.
In a statement issued from
London, it said that a resolution was unanimously passed which condemned the
summons issued against 18 senior leaders of JKLF in Azad Kashmir. Terming this
decision as war against freedom of expression in this part of disputed Kashmir,
statement further said that tight controls
on freedom of expression have
been a hallmark of government policy in Azad Kashmir in recent years and such acts go against articles 18, 19 and
20 of the universal declaration of Human Rights which Pakistani government is a
signatory. JKLF London branch has also extended
its full support to President of JKLF in Azad Kashmir, Dr Toqeer Gilani and
trusts his decision making to handle this situation. JKLF London branch will
also use all tools necessary to highlight this gross injustice making mockery
of human rights.
It was also decided
in the meeting that JKLF London branch will commemorate the 35th
Martyrdom anniversary of its founder Maqbool Butt Shaheed by participating
in large numbers in a protest outside Indian High Commission in London.
During this meeting, senior leader of JKLF in UK Mahmood Hussain struggle and
martyrdom of Maqbool Butt is a glorious chapter of our history that will always
guide us through the tough journey of freedom struggle.
11 February is
being commemorated as Maqbool Bhat’s martyrdom anniversary. On this day
Kashmiris all across the world remember their hero with honour and pride.
Maqbool But was hanged by India in Tihar jail on 11 February
1984 and his body was not given to his family for a proper burial.
Meeting
was chaired by London branch president Javaid Rashid, and attended by Mr
Mahmoud Hussain, Mr Tariq Sharif, Mr M Faiz, Mr Sanawar Hussain, Mr Nazakat
Ali, Mr Iftikhar Sharif, Mr Umer Ishaq and others. .
Secretary
Information
JKLF
(London Branch)
Tuesday, 8 May 2018
Meeting with a senior British parliamentarian by the JKLF Diplomatic Bureau in London
(London, 8 May 2018) Members of Jammu Kashmir
Liberation Front's Diplomatic Bureau,
comprising of its head Prof Zafar Khan, Mr
Mahmoud Hussain and Mr Tariq Sharif, met with British
Parliamentarian Mr Stephen Timms, and discussed with him at length
on the need for a just and a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir
issue based on the fundamental rights of the people.
Mr Timms was briefed by
the Diplomatic Bureau members on the current situation, both
inside Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir and across the ceasefire line that
forcibly divides the state between India and Pakistan.
The diplomatic Bureau
functionaries conveyed their serious concerns at the unabated militarised
violence against civilian population by the Indian military forces that results
in many deaths and injuries of innocent people on daily basis. The senior
British parliamentarian who served as a minister in both, Blair and
Brown Labour Administrations, was also apprised of a culture of impunity
that prevails in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir which is
supported by draconian laws such as the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act -AFSPA - and Public Safety Act -PSA -that
shield the heinous acts of militarised oppression perpetrated by the Indian
forces; and to prevent death and destruction the Indian military
must not come into contact with the civilian population, and must withdraw from
the urban and rural areas, particularly in the Valley of Indian
occupied Jammu Kashmir.
Mr Timms was briefed on
the suppression of peaceful political dissent by Indian authorities through,
the denial of fundamental democratic rights, including those of free speech and
assembly. And despite claiming to be the biggest democracy in the
world, India confines the Kashmiris' Joint Resistance
Leadership comprising of the JKLF Chairman Mr Yasin
Malik, and leaders of the APHC , Syed Ali Shah Gilani and
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, constantly either under house arrest
or in custody.
The JKLF functionaries
informed Mr Timms of the ongoing serious situation across the ceasefire line,
and proposed that to ensure safety of the civilian population from death and
destruction on daily basis, the Indian and Pakistani forces must disengage
along the so called Line of Control-LoC- by withdrawing up to 10 kilometers
from their current positions.
Mr Timms assured the JKLF
leaders that he would engage with the British Foreign Secretary on the Kashmir
issue, and agreed with them that as a world power, and with a permanent seat on
the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom should play an effective, and
proactive role over the Kashmir issue. Mr Timms assured the members of the
Diplomatic Bureau of continuing to work with the JKLF on matters related with
the Kashmir issue.
The Diplomatic Bureau
members passed on to Mr Timms some of the recent
correspondences written by it on the need for a just and peaceful
settlement of the Kashmir issue as well as on the current
situation, to the British Prime minister, the UN
Commissioner on Human Rights, and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Mahmood Hussain
Diplomatic Bureau
London
Friday, 27 April 2018
JKLF London branch paid glowing tributes to Late Amanullah Khan on his second death anniversary
JKLF London branch paid glowing tributes to Late Amanullah Khan
on his second death anniversary during commemorative gathering.
Rich tributes were paid to this great legend and pledged to
continue with his mission for a democratic and independent state of Jammu
Kashmir.
President of JKLF London branch, Mahmood Hussain said Amanullah
Khan gave identity to Kashmiri people especially those living abroad. Mahmood
Hussain said that Amanullah Khan was an honest and selfless person who was
offered all sorts posts to compromise but always worked for the Kashmir cause
which was very close to his heart. He said that Amanullah Khan struggled for 70
years of his life for the cause of Kashmir and no example of such magnitude of steadfastness,
sacrifice and determination can be found.
JKLF London Branch
Monday, 9 April 2018
An open letter to the People of India on the killing fields of Jammu Kashmir:
An open letter to the People of India on the
killing fields of Jammu Kashmir:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you aware that in your name
the Indian army has killed 100,000 people in Jammu Kashmir since 1988?
Are you aware that 7000,000
Indian troops are considered as an occupation force by Kashmiris?
Are you aware that Kashmir is not
a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan?
Are you aware that over one dozen
UN resolutions exist on the Kashmir issue?
Are you aware that Kashmiris have
not consented to be ruled by India or by any other country?
As Kashmiris we only wish to
exercise the right to decide our political destiny with a peaceful and
dignified existence as free people. We hope that for peace, justice and
democracy you as free people of India, will support our fundamental right to be
free in our own country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Shupian massacre:
9 April 2018
Your country has deployed hundreds of thousands of military and para military forces in Jammu Kashmir, who kill and maim civilians indiscriminately in militarised violence. The killing spree by the Indian forces in Shupian with 19 killed and over 200 injured, including in Anantnag, Tral, and Kangan, and in other parts of especially the valley of Kashmir, is not an exception. Those killed in such encounters are labelled as militants or Pakistanis by your military to justify death and destruction perpetrated against civilians every day.
Within this background, one
wonders how Prime Minister Modi would justify deaths in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir,
to 53 other leaders whom he will meet at the 25th Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting-CHOGM- in a week’s time in London. And how would Mr Modi
justify, if he is asked, about the conduct of his country’s army which arrests,
tortures and kills civilians. And how would he justify the behaviour of his military
and paramilitary forces, whose soldiers callously and vindictively torture, and
cripple civilians mercilessly? And how would he justify that the ‘incredible’
largest democracy in the world uses its favourite democratic practices of imprisoning
the entire population in the homes, and imposes curfews for weeks on end, to
deny democratic rights of free speech and assembly? And when the people come
out on the streets against militarised oppression, and engage in peaceful
protest your army resorts to the use of its preferred weapon for crowd control,
the pellet guns, to blind civilians in their thousands. How would Mr Modi
justify, depriving the entire Kashmiri society by shutting down schools,
colleges, universities, and other facilities and amenities like mobile phones
and the internet, which the rest of contemporary world takes for granted? And
above all how would he hide the heinous crimes perpetrated by the army of the ‘incredible’
largest democracy in the world on the social media- loaded up in many cases- by
Indian soldiers who commit such acts of depravity to assert and boast about bravery
of the Indian army, over the helpless people of Jammu Kashmir.
Inevitably as patriotic Indians,
you would wonder why the Indian army would and should resort to such unethical
conduct that belittles the reputation of a professional military. These acts of
violence against Kashmiris are committed by the Indian army to instil fear and
a sense of helplessness in the minds of the inhabitants, who wish only to
determine their political status as free people. The militarised violence is
perpetrated to send a clear message to the people in Jammu Kashmir that they
are not the arbiters of their destiny. Under the pretext of militancy, your
government, and the military forces are busy in silencing the voice of the
people, and their cry for freedom. Your country’s forces that number over seven
lakh (seven hundred thousands) in total, have wreaked havoc and devastation
in the lives of millions of civilians over the past 30 years. During this
period, in your name the Indian military, has killed as many as a hundred
thousand civilians, and the count is rising with the latest indiscriminate killings
in Shupian. Your military forces have got into the habit of even shooting
directly with bullets and pellets at funeral prayers which are offered for
those killed by the Indian army during peaceful protests.
How ironic therefore, that an
Indian court awards a sentence of five years to a famous film star for shooting
a blackbuck, while your country’s soldiers are awarded with promotions and
bonuses for killing women and children, and using civilians as human shields in
Jammu Kashmir. Under the cover of laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers
Act- AFSPA- and Public Safety Act-PSA-, your army acts with impunity in Kashmir.
Rape of Kashmiri women is used as a weapon. Youth of Kashmir is particularly a
favourite target of your forces. Many are deliberately targeted during peaceful
political demonstrations with the aim to kill. Those arrested are never seen
again by their loved ones. There are over seven thousand unmarked graves all
over Jammu Kashmir, and particularly in the valley of Kashmir. Up to eight
thousand people are missing. Your government, and the army have a lot of
explaining to do, in terms of the Indian state’s conduct in what can only be
described, as war crimes against the people in Jammu Kashmir. Your government
knows full well that Jammu Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between
India and Pakistan- it is an issue that is about the right of 20 million people
to freedom, and self-determination across both sides of the ceasefire line. Our
simple question as Kashmiris to the people of India is- for how long can the
world be hood-winked by your government in believing that in Jammu Kashmir
India is fighting ‘terrorism’ or Pakistan? The truth and reality in Indian occupied
Jammu Kashmir is that an entire nation is being held hostage against its will
in subjugation with a massive military presence by your country. Jammu Kashmir
is the most militarised region in the world. And your army has unleashed a militarised
reign of terror in the territory. Your government refuses even to allow
the UN to investigate human rights excesses, and violations committed
against civilian population by the regular military and a plethora of para
military forces.
As patriotic citizens of India
you may choose not to accept the militarised oppression being committed in your
name by the Indian state in Jammu Kashmir. However, the reality is that your
government has given a licence to the Indian army to kill, pillage, and
perpetrate acts of violence and destruction with impunity. As already pointed
out Indian forces use Kashmiris as human shields, which is an incontrovertible
reality. Your military operates under the umbrella of draconian laws that give it
complete immunity since under these laws a culture of impunity has become
prevalent in Jammu Kashmir, which gives rise to a massive violation of
fundamental human, civil and political rights of millions of ordinary Kashmiris.
If what we say is not true about the conduct of Indian forces in Jammu Kashmir,
then why wouldn't Indian government accede to the UN’s requests for an
independent scrutiny of the situation?
Your government has refused to
allow the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights-UNHCHR- to visit
Jammu Kashmir, despite repeated requests by the world body. What is Indian
government scared of? Is your country’s government hiding its ugly militarised violence,
in India’s undeclared war against the people of Jammu Kashmir? Perhaps the
government of India, and the Indian army consider their actions in Kashmir above
domestic and international law? We would expect of you that as patriotic
citizens of India, you would consider it your national duty to pose these
questions to Mr Modi, on the conduct of your army in the killing fields of
Jammu Kashmir, as he contemplates engaging with fellow Commonwealth leaders in
London at the 25th CHOGM in a week’s time. It is quite likely that fellow
participants of the CHOGM may well choose to do so on the suffering of
civilians that prevails in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir.
It could be however, that in the
face of India’s aggressive diplomacy within the United Nations, and the
international system of inter- state relations, and like the people of India the
international community is wrong sighted about the full extent, to which the
helpless and forsaken inhabitants of Jammu Kashmir, are being oppressed by your
country’s military forces? And therefore, like you the good people of India, the
international community also finds it expedient to hide behind the all too
familiar and obvious pretext, that Jammu Kashmir is a ‘bilateral dispute'
between India and Pakistan? Thus as within the people of India the
international public opinion is also not fully aware about the plight of
Kashmiri masses. This no doubt creates a diplomatic escape route for India when
it kills dozens of civilians and claims that they were militants or as the BBC
reported, suspected militants, in the case of the massacre in Shupian on April 2, and indeed
countless other massacres and excesses that have taken place throughout Indian held
Jammu Kashmir over the past thirty years.
For example it would be
absolutely unlikely that disappearance of over eight thousand men, mostly
picked up from their homes, and never seen or heard since their arrests, would
be forgotten by their families and their nation. And what explanations would
Prime Minister Modi give at the CHOGM in London if he is taken to task, and asked
about the thousands of unmarked graves, and the eight thousand disappeared in Jammu
Kashmir? Or would he continue to prevaricate, and escape with the customary
intransigence, and double-speak over the conduct of the Indian military against
the civilian population? We must remind you in all sincerity that sooner rather
than later, the truth will come into the open. And when it does, your pride and
reputation as Indians will surely be hurt, and suffer in the comity of nations;
especially when responsibility of heinous crimes perpetrated against the
civilian population , will squarely be levelled against India.
Presently Indian held Jammu Kashmir
is not open to international media. And the Indian media, despite its claims,
is totally biased against the genuine peaceful dissent of the masses. Like the
Indian army and the government, Indian media too, considers the struggle of the
people in Jammu Kashmir as Pakistani inspired, and not indigenous. This is a
complete distortion of the reality of our peaceful struggle to be a free people.
Furthermore how India’s huge military
presence impacts on the lives of millions of people, is the most closely
guarded secret in the world today. India is silencing a genuine political
dissent of the people in Jammu Kashmir; and has been for decades! India has
reneged on all the international commitments it made on the issue of Jammu
Kashmir’s future status at the UN. And yet India demands a permanent seat as
member of the UNSC, when in reality India does not even subscribe to the UN
system of arbitration, and search for solutions over international disputes. If
it did the issue of Jammu Kashmir’s future status would have been resolved by
now; especially since there are more than a dozen UN resolutions specifically
on the issue of Jammu Kashmir’s future status. Therefore, it is an absolute
travesty of truth and justice that in your name successive Indian governments
call Jammu Kashmir as an ‘integral’ part of India. We must strongly reiterate
that we do not consider Jammu Kashmir to be part of either India or Pakistan.
Your country also does not recognise
the UN Charter in its entirety. Therefore, while Mr Modi’s claim for a
permanent seat on the UNSC may be based on India’s size and economic power, the
international community however may not be persuaded to look the other way
anymore, and continue to be misled about the true nature of the Kashmir dispute.
The most important and central party in this dispute is the Kashmiri nation,
comprising of twenty million people across both sides of the cease-fire
line, that forcibly divides them between India and Pakistan.
India claims to be the so called biggest democracy in the world, whether this claim is true, only you the Indian people, are the best judges to substantiate. But this is most definitely not the case as far as Jammu Kashmir and millions of its people, under your country’s occupation are concerned. In Kashmir India is an occupying power, and has been since it invaded an independent country in October 1947. Ever since 1947 India has trampled on the fundamental right of the people, including their right to freedom of expression, of assembly and above all the right to life as free people. In your name India stifles and puts down political dissent. Imprisons and incarcerates political leaders who engage in peaceful political dissent.
India claims to be the so called biggest democracy in the world, whether this claim is true, only you the Indian people, are the best judges to substantiate. But this is most definitely not the case as far as Jammu Kashmir and millions of its people, under your country’s occupation are concerned. In Kashmir India is an occupying power, and has been since it invaded an independent country in October 1947. Ever since 1947 India has trampled on the fundamental right of the people, including their right to freedom of expression, of assembly and above all the right to life as free people. In your name India stifles and puts down political dissent. Imprisons and incarcerates political leaders who engage in peaceful political dissent.
This is exemplified by the way
your government has treated the Joint Resistance Leadership-JRL- over the past
two years. This treatment is indicative of your government’s attitude to the
people of Jammu Kashmir and a peaceful resolution of the dispute over their
future political status. The JRL is confined to house arrest or incarcerated in
jail. Over the past two years Mr Yasin Malik the Chairman of the JKLF has been
in and out of Srinagar central jail on dozens of times, while Sayed Ali Shah
Gilani and the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are constantly confined to house arrest. There
are numerous restrictions imposed on the JRL. It is denied the democratic right
to engage with the people. The JRL has been prevented from travelling to Shupian
to condole the bereaved families of those killed by the Indian army on 2 April.
Mr Yasin Malik was incarcerated and released only on 8 April from Srinagar
central jail. A deliberate policy of communal divide is being promoted and
orchestrated by your government in Jammu Kashmir. The leadership is not allowed
to travel with in Jammu Kashmir and interact with all the sections of society,
including religious minorities. The Indian government uses PSA to prevent
peaceful and legitimate political dissent in Kashmir, and yet India portrays
itself as the biggest democracy of the world.
Your governments claim that Jammu Kashmir is part of India their ruler acceded to India in 1947 we must humbly remind you that the idea of the right to self-determination as a concept implies, that those who are governed must give their consent to be governed, and that people have the right to shape their own destiny, and their right in shaping their destiny must be recognised as sovereign right. This patently is not the case as regards the relationship of people of Kashmir vis-a’vis India and Pakistan.
You
must recognise, and accept the reality that with seven lakh Indian soldiers deployed
in Jammu Kashmir, one wonders what on earth your country’s idea of Jammu
Kashmir being an ‘integral’ part of India means? Your huge military in Jammu
Kashmir is a hostile force, which has subjugated the people of Jammu Kashmir by
force. The people of Jammu Kashmir have not given their consent to your country
to rule over them. If ever there was consent it was conditional, and India has
not fulfilled its side of the obligations in the temporary arrangements of 1947.
India treats Kashmir as a colony and we as Kashmiris feel as colonised people.
Thus as people of Jammu Kashmir we do not have a covenant with either India or
Pakistan, nor have we given our consent to be ruled by either one or the other
country. This is a basic fact that we sincerely wish to convey to you, as we
protest throughout the world against the militarised violence perpetrated by
the Indian army in Jammu Kashmir against our people.
Finally,
we would like to remind you that as peaceful people, we have always desired for
Jammu Kashmir, to become a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan, and not
a perpetual bone of contention. We hope that, as your Prime Minister prepares to
depart for London to attend the 25th CHOGM, you would advise him as patriotic
citizens of your country, to accept the wise counsel of his fellow leaders,
from the family of Commonwealth nations to embark on a peaceful resolution of
the future status of Jammu Kashmir based on the undeterred right of twenty million
Kashmiris to self-determination. This is the only practical and sane wayforward.
Sincerely
Prof
Zafar Khan Chairman of Diplomatic Bureau
Jammu
Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF
International
Secretariat-119-123 Cannon Street Road
London
E1 2LX
Presented at the Indian High
Commission in London by:
Mr
Sabir Gul President JKLF UK Chapter
Mr
Tahseen Gilani General Secretary JKLF UK Chapter
Mr
Tariq Sharif Member of JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
