Tuesday, September 01, 2009
By By Our Correspondent

LEADERS of all the political parties of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to immediately resume talks to resolve the Kashmir issue on the basis of Kashmiris’ right of self-determination.

A press released issued after the AJK political leaders meeting here on Monday said: “Eminent Kashmiri leaders, representing all major political parties of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas, met in Islamabad on 27-8-09 to resume their discussions for a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue.”

“The political developments since their last meeting, following their meeting with Foreign Minister of Pakistan on September 20, 2007 were discussed. The leaders noted with great concern the lack of progress in the negotiations between the governments of Pakistan and India on resolution of the Kashmir issue and urged the two governments to resume the talks without delay,” the statement added.

The leaders reaffirmed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir stand united to achieve their right of self-determination, reiterating the demand that the former state should remain indivisible, geographically, politically and constitutionally, and that the right of self-determination also entitled them to sit with the representatives of the governments of Pakistan and India to conclude arrangements meeting the national security concerns of Pakistan and India.

They exchanged views about the nature of the future State of Jammu and Kashmir and decided to take the necessary steps to explore the views of the government of Pakistan. They also decided to extend invitation to the leaders of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian held areas of the former state.

The representatives of the people of the Former State of Jammu and Kashmir urged the two governments to open all points on the Line of Control and all the roads and paths, including the Kargil-Skardu and Mirpur-Jammu (Mnawar Akhnur) road for traffic and commerce.

The Kashmiri leaders showed deep concerns at the continued senseless violence against the innocent people of the state adding to the horrendous toll of lives during the past nineteen years.

Those who attended the meeting were: Chaudhry Muhammad Latif Akbar, PPP-AJK Secretary General and Minister of Finance in the AJK Government Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan (MLA in the last four assemblies) President, Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party, AJK, Mr Abdul Majeed Malick, Chief Justice (r) AJK, President, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League, Mr Amanullah Khan and Supreme Head of JKLF Justice (r) Syed Sharif Hussain Bokhari President, Kashmir Action Committee, Mr Munir Hussain Chaudhry Advocate President Pakistan Peoples Party (SB), AJK, Mr Wajahat Hassan Mirza, Chairman APNA, Mr Nurul Bari, Naib Amir Jamat-e-Islami, Mr Ianayatullah Shimali, Chairman, Gilgit Baltistan National Alliance, Dr Najeeb Khan Naqi, former minister AJK representing the Muslim Conference AJK. The meeting was facilitated by the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy and United Centre for Peace represented by Dr Mubashir Hasan.

JKLF has made it clear that Gilgit Baltistan is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir State and any change in its administrative status betrayed a tacit shift in the government’s stand on Kashmir.
Amanullah Khan, Patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), said the move had robbed the Northern Areas of a special status, virtually converting it into the country’s fifth province.
Mr. Khan further said that Islamabad had lost support of the Security Council over the years due to a ‘wavering stand’ on Kashmir and now it was squandering whatever goodwill it had by merging Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan.
Supreme Head Amanulah Khan has demanded the Azad Kashmir style of governance in Gilgit Baltistan.

In the meantime, JKLF Central Executive meeting will be held in Rawalpindi on 2 September 2009 to discuss the new developments. 

Islamabad, Kashmir (18 Aug 09) Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front - JKLF has paid rich tributes to its martyred leader Manzoor-Ul-Islam on his martyrdom anniversary.

Senior Vice Chairman of JKLF, SM Afzal while addressing a rally in Mazar-E-Shohada, Islamabad said that Manzoor-Ul-Islam being a leading figure in our cadres has inspired the whole nation with his sacrifices. He further said that he worked tirelessly and with great devotion for the freedom of nation. The rally was also addressed by Chaimman Islamic Students League, Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi, Ammer Umat Islamia Qazi Yasir, JKLF Zonal President Abdul Qadir Rather, Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh of Peoples League, Malik Anwar, Nazir Ahmed Khan and others.

A blood donation camp was also organised by Umat-E-Islamia in Islamabad, in which people took part in large numbers. Speaking on this occasion, the speakers also rebuffed the statement of Indian Prime Minister and termed it an attempt to demoralise the people of Kashmir.

Andleeb Kashmiri,
Spokesman, JKLF
(Sub-Head Office, Rajbagh, SRINAGAR)

LONDON, Aug 15: The All Parties International Kashmir Co-ordinating Committee the alliance of British Kashmiri parties and representatives of Kashmiri diaspora have called for withdrawal of Indian troops from the populated areas of Kashmir as a first step to build a constructive environment for dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue.

This demand was made through a memorandum addressed to Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh and was handed over to the officials of Indian High Commission in London after a protest demonstration to mark the India’s Independence Day as black day.

It was demanded that India must recognize Kashmiri peoples inalienable right to self determination, abolish all draconian laws including infamous Public Safety Act, and International human rights and humanitarian organizations be allowed to visit Kashmir Valley for helping the suffering population of the held territory.

The Kashmiri leaders reminded Indian Prime Minister of his promise of zero tolerance with regard to human rights violations and said that no substantial or tangible progress has been witnessed to that effect as blatant violations of human rights were continued in length and breadth of Kashmir.

The memorandum highlighted that the iron fisted policy of Indian administration along with draconian laws continued to increase the possibility of blatant and unbridled violations of human rights. Saying that repression is not the answer to the popular sentiments of the people, the Kashmiri community representatives urged Indian government to pay heed to the saner voices with in India that were recognizing

Kashmiri peoples aspirations and advocating for the measures to the right direction.

Condemning the arbitrary arrests and repeated crackdown on political leadership of Kashmir, the memorandum further stated that today’s protest widely participated by Kashmiri Diaspora needs to be recorded concern over failing health of Syed Ali Geelani, Shabir Ahmed Shah and continued detention of Naeem Ahmed Khan, Ashraf Sehrayee, Asia Andarbi, Zahoor Butt and scores of other political detainees.

They expressed hope that the present policies pursued by Indian administration will be reversed and fundamental freedom will be restored to find a peaceful resolution of the dispute through constructive dialogue. The Kashmiri community representatives further demand a tripartite inclusive dialogue between Kashmiris, India and Pakistan.