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Monday 26 February 2018
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JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau met with British Foreign and Commonwealth Office,-FCO- in London


Statement for Press & Media on the meeting with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office-FCO- officials  by a delegation of  Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front’s diplomatic Bureau:
 London - 26 February 2018:

A delegation of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF’s- Diplomatic Bureau, led by its head Prof Zafar Khan, met with British Foreign and Commonwealth Office,-FCO- officials on 22 February, and discussed at length  the current situation in Jammu Kashmir.
The delegation conveyed to the FCO a message from JKLF’s Chairman Mr Yasin Malik, as well as the need for British Government’s role in support of setting up of a Mediation Panel on Jammu Kashmir by the Commonwealth family of  nations, on the ongoing serious situation on the ceasefire-line in Jammu Kashmir, and the oppression within Indian Held Jammu Kashmir by  Indian military and paramilitary forces; and the need for demilitarisation of Indian and Pakistani forces in Jammu Kashmir including along the ceasefire line-CFL- or the Line of Control-LoC.
While conveying Mr Yasin Malik’s message, the delegation reminded the British government that the JKLF and the people of Jammu Kashmir gave up militancy in 1994, and adopted a political and diplomatic path towards resolving the issue of Kashmir’s future status at the behest of Britain, and other western countries including the USA. However increasingly the Indian government has become more belligerent and aggressively violent in its suppression of Kashmiris’ individual and collective political, and human rights over the years with a complete denial and deprivation of political space. The JKLF delegation conveyed to the FCO officials that the Joint resistance leadership-JRL- is restricted in its movements and political engagement by the Indian authorities, and Mr Yasin Malik in particular, is consistently subjected to incarceration through a revolving door policy by the Indian government since 2016. The delegation pointed out that the leadership is deliberately denied contact and engagement with the people in Jammu Kashmir by the Indian authorities in order to create mistrust and socio-political cleavages within the diverse society of Jammu Kashmir.
The delegation called on the British government to take a serious note of the growing frustration of the youth in Jammu Kashmir at the systematic process of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and harsh treatment meted out to families of individuals, in particular the young, who take part in peaceful resistance. Through deliberate harassment, intimidation and suppression of peaceful political expression, the Indian authorities are forcing the youth to shun the political path. The delegation reminded the British Foreign Office that, despite being confronted by an extremely difficult, and stifling political climate created by the communalism of the BJP/RSS nexus in Jammu Kashmir, the JRL is resisting India’s sinister machinations against the popular struggle for freedom by sticking to peaceful political methods of resistance.
 The delegation called on the British government to support the proposal by the JKLF for setting up of a panel of Mediators at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,-CHOGM- being hosted by Britain in April 2018. The head of the delegation Prof Zafar Khan referred to the letters written in this regard by the Diplomatic Bureau of the JKLF to Baroness Scotland, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, and Mrs Theresa May the UK Prime Minister, respectively on the importance of the Commonwealth family of 52 nations, to play an active role on Jammu Kashmir issue by setting up a panel of mediators, to engage with India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership towards an equitable solution of the Jammu Kashmir issue.
The delegation reminded the FCO that the current situation on the CFL or the LoC was extremely serious due to daily exchanges of fire by Indian and Pakistani armies with heavy weapons that cause deaths of innocent Kashmiri civilians on both sides of the divide. Scores of innocent men, women and children are being killed daily, particularly along the Pakistan controlled side of the line where by and large, the CFL is heavily populated with civilian settlements. It seems quite clear that the Indian army deliberately targets the villagers in their homes and during their daily activities. The delegation called on the British Government to support JKLF’s demand for an immediate demilitarisation of the CFL with the withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani forces by ten kilometres from their current positions, to ensure safety of civilians, and protection of their livelihood. The delegation also called upon the British government to support JKLF’s demand that the Indian military and paramilitary forces return to their cantonments, and avoid contact with civilian population, as these forces are responsible for deaths of innocent civilians and destruction of their property on daily basis. The delegation strongly reiterated the stance of the JKLF that armies of both India and Pakistan must vacate Jammu Kashmir with active involvement of the international community, and both countries must ensure an early transfer of power to 20 million people of Jammu Kashmir as part of a permanent resolution of the Jammu Kashmir conflict.
The head of the delegation Prof Zafar Khan, accompanied by JKLF’senior leaders, including Mr Mahmoud Hussain, Syed Tehsin Gilani and Mr Tariq Sharif, reminded the FCO officials, that British policy on Jammu Kashmir was not appropriately consistent with Britain’s international status and historic responsibilities.  As permanent member of the United Nations Security Council-UNSC-, and head of British Commonwealth, Britain could not justifiably hide behind Indo- Pakistan bilateralism on Jammu Kashmir, as this position amounted to support of Jammu Kashmir’s occupation and denial of the right of Kashmiris to decide on their future status and political destiny.
The officials were reminded that Britain enjoyed friendly relations with India and Pakistan, and has an important stake in a peaceful South Asia. As nuclear powers Indo- Pak confrontation over Jammu Kashmir is a serious threat to regional and international stability and human progress. India and Pakistan have fought a number of wars against each other, and have entrenched claims on Jammu Kashmir, and cannot be trusted to resolve the conflict over Kashmir. And that the Kashmir issue can only be resolved within the people centric context, and active involvement of influential nations like the United Kingdom within the international community.
Thus, Britain has a duty to engage with leaders of both India and Pakistan the delegation urged the British government to do so   for the sake of peace and prosperity of the sub-continent and justice for twenty million people of Jammu Kashmir, during the forthcoming CHOGM in April. The delegation reminded the FCO that up to a million strong British Kashmiri diaspora was also unhappy with the indifferent attitude of the UK government on Kashmir issue. The delegation reminded the FCO that Kashmiris want Jammu Kashmir to become a bridge of peace and stability in the region but will not accede to enforced division and oppression represented by the  status quo.  

Mahmoud Hussain
Secretary
 Diplomatic Bureau of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
International Secretariat
119-123 Cannon Street Road, Basement North
London E1 2LX

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Friday 9 February 2018
Kashmiri nation awaits Maqbool Butt’s return to the Homeland.

Kashmiri nation awaits Maqbool Butt’s return to the Homeland.


9 February 2018
Kashmiri nation awaits Maqbool Butt’s return to the Homeland. His mortal remains must be released by government of India.

At home and in the diaspora, on 11 February every year, people of Jammu Kashmir mark the day, as a day of resolve and affirmation of their right to freedom, and independence in reunified Jammu Kashmir.  This is the day when Kashmiris demand that government of India releases mortal remains of Muhammad Maqbool Butt, and hands them over to his family, and his nation. Since his judicial murder by the Indian government on 11 February 1984, Maqbool Butt’s mortal remains are buried in a corner of the notorious Tihar Jail in India.
Indian government with its usual obduracy, and intransigence on all issues relating to the future status of Jammu Kashmir, refuses to release Maqbool Butt’s body, despite repeated demands for its return to his homeland. Over the years successive Indian governments have consistently, and in a blatantly callous manner, refused to release the mortal remains, either to his family, or in the care of his party-the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF-.
Since the day of his hanging, an empty grave awaits Maqbool Butt’s mortal remains, to be interned at the Martyrs’ cemetery in Srinagar, with the respect and dignity that befits a valiant son of the soil, whom the Kashmiris regard, across both sides of the ceasefire line, as the father of their nation. Maqbool Butt is a national hero, and his martyrdom is a symbol and epitome of peoples’ struggle, to become masters of their destiny in a reunified Jammu Kashmir that is cohesive, prosperous and at peace with itself, and its neighbours. Maqbool Butt was a strong advocate of the sovereign rights of his compatriots over their own country’s destiny, and did not accept either Indian, or Pakistani claims on his nation’s political destiny.
Maqbool Butt has become a symbol of resistance, and an inspirational icon to his people, especially the young, who long to see their homeland freed and reunited, as envisaged by their martyred leader. Demand for the return of Maqbool Butt’s mortal remains will continue, as well as the demand and the struggle for which, he was judicially murdered by a country’s government that has reneged on all the solemn pledges, it made before the international community on the Kashmiris’ right to freedom.
India also refuses to release mortal remains of Afzal Guru, whom the Indian government hanged on trumped up charges in February 2013. This clearly shows India’s tyrannical policies towards Kashmir, and an utter disregard for the civil and political rights of Kashmiris. Undoubtedly Indian government follows a vindictive, oppressive and colonialist paradigm, to reinforce its political hegemony, and occupation of Jammu Kashmir by continued imprisonment of Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru even in death!
This in reality, is the true face of Indian democracy, which on 34th martyrdom anniversary of the most illustrious son of the soil, Kashmiris at home and abroad will continue to expose, as they do today, on this 11th day of February 2018, from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad, and from London to Brussels, North America and in many other cities of the world. Rallies, vigils, seminars and public gatherings held on this day, are a testimony  of the expression of solidarity, and determination, by the Kashmiris with Maqbool Butt’s struggle and sacrifice, and Maqbool Butt’s right as the father of the nation, and Afzal Guru  to be buried in their homeland-Kashmir.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front:
The Diplomatic Bureau- International Secretariat:
119-123 (North Basement) Cannon Street Road,
London
E1 2LX
Email info@jklf.co.uk

Monday 5 February 2018
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JKLF- condemns killing of civilians across the ceasefire Line, and in Indian held Jammu Kashmir.

London (5 February 2018)
The JKLF has strongly condemned the ongoing firing and shelling across the ceasefire line between the Indian and Pakistani forces in Jammu Kashmir, and violent suppression of political dissent by Indian forces in Indian held part of the forcibly divided country. In a statement issued by the head of JKLF’s Diplomatic Bureau   from London today, the JKLF has called on the United Nations to ensure safety of civilians both inside Indian held Jammu Kashmir, and along both sides of the ceasefire line as a priority, through strengthening the role of its UNMOGIP contingent in the region. The JKLF has called on the UN to institute urgent measures to demilitarise the ceasefire line and demand assurances from the opposing armies for safety of civilians in the border areas.
The statement also took a strong note of the continuing deaths of innocent civilians in Shopian and elsewhere in the Valley of Kashmir at the hands of the Indian army. And termed the current situation intolerable, and unbecoming of a civilised world when civilians are deliberately targeted by a professional army, whether in Shopian, Pulwama, Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipur in Indian held Jammu Kashmir, or in Jagalpar Kuiratta, Nykyal, Poonch, Neelam valley or indeed many parts of Pakistan administered Jammu Kashmir. The only result of such military actions is death and injury to innocent civilians of all ages. The international community has a moral and legal responsibility to censure those responsible for causing misery, death and desolation to innocent lives.
The JKLF statement pointed out that for seventy years, India and Pakistan are locked in conflict over their claims and counter claims on Jammu Kashmir. Both countries have fought full scale wars, and daily exchanges of fire by their armies along the almost five hundred miles long cease-fire line, makes it absolutely impossible for tens of thousands of civilians, to lead a normal existence. Many lives are destroyed through death and destruction. Children whose parents put them to bed at night are found dead in the mornings with bullets and bomb shrapnels pierced through their tiny bodies. This carnage of innocent lives takes place because Indian and Pakistani armies are deployed eyeball to eyeball along the ceasefire line.
The JKLF statement added that the Indo-Pakistan confrontation causes immense suffering and miseries for people on both sides with nothing in sight by way of redress and justice. The entrenched positions of both countries have rendered 20 million forcibly divided people invisible, which is nothing less than a tragedy of epic proportions for Jammu Kashmir- a country- as big as Great Britain in size. Indian and Pakistani military presence in Jammu Kashmir is a constant physical and psychological threat, and danger to the safety and wellbeing of the people. Their presence is also an impediment to peace in the region and the world as both countries are nuclear powers.
The JKLF statement concluded by exhorting the United Nations to take urgent actions to disengage Indian and Pakistani military forces from the civilian population not only on the borders across both sides of the ceasefire line, but also force Indian military into cantonments. The JKLF urged the United Nations to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate the many violations of basic human rights of the people of Jammu Kashmir.  The statement called on the international community to persuade India and Pakistan to provide unhindered access to the international and local media to report freely on the current situation on the ceasefire line.
Zafar Khan:  Head of Diplomatic Bureau, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front –JKLF-
London Secretariat:                       119-123 (Basement North) Cannon Street Road, London E1 2LX
Email:                                    info@jklf.co.uk
JKLF London Branch to Participate in Protest outside Indian High Commission on 11 February 2018

JKLF London Branch to Participate in Protest outside Indian High Commission on 11 February 2018

(London 05 February 2018):
 Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) will commemorate the 34rd 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, cities of Pakistan, India, Europe, Middle East and America. 

A meeting of JKLF London Branch was held in connection of 11 February preparations. JKLF London Branch will participate 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 never given to Kashmiris for the burial.
Secretary InformationJKLF (London Branch)
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