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Q: India didn’t positively respond
to Pakistan’s fresh proposals on Kashmir. What are your
comments?
Shabir Shah: We welcomed demilitarization proposal
from the Government of Pakistan and President Musharaf.
It was because we thought demilitarization will undo the
environment of fear and people will be fee to express their
opinion. It was a good proposal. We had this opinion that
if government of India was serious in solving the issue
then it should accept the proposal. It is unfortunate that
India did not respond positively to this proposal.
Q. What could be the reason of negative Indian attitude?
Shabir Shah: It is unfortunate; I would say Pakistan
has exhibited matchless flexibility since 1947. it has talked
of “out of box” solution. It even offered dialogue out of
the ambit of UN Security Council Resolutions, if India had
a will to resolve the issue I think this is the same point
of view, which we Kashmiris hold. Let’s come to the table
and then the party with logic and reasoning will carry the
day. This is very simple. Let me tell you that our case
is very strong. No UN resolutions on any surpass resolutions
on Kashmir in number. India and Pakistan admit that Kashmir
is a dispute. Notwithstanding our unmatched sacrifices which
have cost us lives of hundreds of thousands & rendered
countless towns into rubbles, we are peace loving people
and ready to come to a solution through talks, provided
India wanted that way too. We consider Kashmir a political
issue and want a political solution for it. Unfortunately,
all this is falling on deaf ears in New Delhi. Indian government
showed no reaction to any proposals coming from either Pakistan
of academia.
Q: Why are you not allowed to travel abroad?
Shabir Shah: Mine is a principled stance. The world
had admitted that Kashmir is a disputed territory. This
issue has triggered three small and three full-scale wars.
I am citizen of a disputed territory. To travel on Indian
documents does not conform to my status as being inhabitant
of a disputed area. Call it madness or my faith; I can not
come to terms with travelling on documents stating me Indian
citizen. I want UN travel documents that show me a Kashmiri,
inhabitant of a disputed territory & not a Indian citizen..
Q: Do you think you enjoy freedom of political activities?
Shabir Shah: Not at all. The other day I had planned
to go the Hazratbal Shrine to participate in the function
held with reference to the birthday of Holy Prophet (SAW).
Thousands of pilgrims gather there. Hold prayers, and exchange
views regarding the movement. I used to go there every year.
However this time my residence was cordoned off and I was
not allowed to step out of my house. This is just one example.
Take election drama. If India believes in democracy then
it should allow us to avail our right to canvass against
casting votes because we politically believe so that this
will lead us nowhere. However, we were recently barred fro
going to people in Rafiabad and Pattan to contact people
where a so called election dram was being played. Either
we are arrested or our ways are blocked. We are not allowed
to put our point of view in front of our own people. You
will see no effect of confidence building measures, which
are being pursued for the last two years in Occupied Kashmir.
What you can see all is custodial killings, crackdowns and
coercion, especially in rural areas where the Indian forces
find no fear of getting exposed. Public is harassed &
warned of dire consequences against attending our gatherings.
India indeed is limiting our physical movement. There is
no such thing as freedom of political activity in occupied
Kashmir.
Q: What steps, you think, India should take improve
situation in Occupied Kashmir?
Shabir Shah: Only smaller things, very small, indeed.
What we are asking for is not a big deal. India government
will not have to go into legislation in parliament to take
measures that are required to improve situation in Kashmir
so that process for the resolution of the ultimate issue
can be initiated. Even opposition in New Delhi will not
criticise the government for these steps. Our foremost demand
is immediate release of political prisoners from Indian
and Jammu Kashmir jails. Another demand is withdrawal of
special powers act given to troops of regular Indian army
and paramilitary forces’ personnel. Indian government should
seriously move to stop custodial killings and trend of declaring
innocent people missing after they are arrested. It should
also bring it’s officers to account who have been involved
for such human rights violations. Indian government should
do so for creating an environment that is congenial to talks
aimed at peace. War and talks do not go side by side India
will need to take substantive & serious measures to
make Kashmiris believe that it is serious about resolving
the issue. Unfortunately nothing of that sort is visible
here. A roundtable in recent past by India was but a joke.
People who were invited to this roundtable were unknown
to the Kashmiris. People of Kashmir are politically sensitive
and conscious. Peace process can only be initiated when
India gets ready to address the core issue. And involvement
of Kashmiris is imperative to achieve perennial peace in
the region. India will need to initiate meaningful and result
oriented dialogue with Kashmiris and Pakistan.
Q: you just talked of Round Table. Another roundtable
is being planned in Srinagar. What India intends to get
out of it?
Shabir Shah: This is but a joke. The invitees include
pro Indian stooges like congress, PDP and people form Panthers
Party. Interestingly these people being represented by India
herself. These people have played games with freedom and
are. I don’t ask that I only can represent Kashmiris, but
at least there should be people who consider Kashmir as
a dispute, those who challenge accession. I repeat this
is but a joke.
Q: Do you think you enjoy freedom of political activities?
Shabir Shah: Not at all. The other day I had planned
to go the Hazratbal Shrine to participate in the function
held with reference to the birthday of Holy Prophet (SAW).
Thousands of pilgrims gather there. Hold prayers, and exchange
views regarding the movement. I used to go there every year.
However this time my residence was cordoned off and I was
not allowed to step out of my house. This is just one example.
Take election drama. If India believes in democracy then
it should allow us to avail our right to canvass against
casting votes because we politically believe so that this
will lead us nowhere. However, we were recently barred fro
going to people in Rafiabad and Pattan to contact people
where a so called election dram was being played. Either
we are arrested or our ways are blocked. We are not allowed
to put our point of view in front of our own people. You
will see no effect of confidence building measures, which
are being pursued for the last two years in Occupied Kashmir.
What you can see all is custodial killings, crackdowns and
coercion, especially in rural areas where the Indian forces
find no fear of getting exposed. Public is harassed &
warned of dire consequences against attending our gatherings.
India indeed is limiting our physical movement. There is
no such thing as freedom of political activity in occupied
Kashmir.
Q: What steps, you think, India should take improve
situation in Occupied Kashmir?
Shabir Shah: Only smaller things, very small, indeed.
What we are asking for is not a big deal. India government
will not have to go into legislation in parliament to take
measures that are required to improve situation in Kashmir
so that process for the resolution of the ultimate issue
can be initiated. Even opposition in New Delhi will not
criticise the government for these steps. Our foremost demand
is immediate release of political prisoners from Indian
and Jammu Kashmir jails. Another demand is withdrawal of
special powers act given to troops of regular Indian army
and paramilitary forces’ personnel. Indian government should
seriously move to stop custodial killings and trend of declaring
innocent people missing after they are arrested. It should
also bring it’s officers to account who have been involved
for such human rights violations. Indian government should
do so for creating an environment that is congenial to talks
aimed at peace. War and talks do not go side by side India
will need to take substantive & serious measures to
make Kashmiris believe that it is serious about resolving
the issue. Unfortunately nothing of that sort is visible
here. A roundtable in recent past by India was but a joke.
People who were invited to this roundtable were unknown
to the Kashmiris. People of Kashmir are politically sensitive
and conscious. Peace process can only be initiated when
India gets ready to address the core issue. And involvement
of Kashmiris is imperative to achieve perennial peace in
the region. India will need to initiate meaningful and result
oriented dialogue with Kashmiris and Pakistan.
Q: you just talked of Round Table. Another roundtable
is being planned in Srinagar. What India intends to get
out of it?
Shabir Shah: This is but a joke. The invitees include
pro Indian stooges like congress, PDP and people form Panthers
Party. Interestingly these people being represented by India
herself. These people have played games with freedom and
are. I don’t ask that I only can represent Kashmiris, but
at least there should be people who consider Kashmir as
a dispute, those who challenge accession. I repeat this
is but a joke.
Q: Lack of unity is a big question mark when it comes to
Kashmiri leadership. What do you say?
Shabir Shah: This is unfortunate. This is 2006 and we spent
last year to on this issue. We realized that we should forget
whatever misconception occurred among us and whatever bitterness
prevailed. This is because we claim to be and are heirs
to martyrs. We are representatives’ of orphans and widows,
whose youth were martyred for the freedom. We should tolerate
one another. We should co-exist and should not suspect one
another’s intentions. One should not blame somebody on the
basis of suspicions. This way we would be helping them unconsciously
against whom we are struggling. We should take all of those
on board who consider Kashmir as a dispute. Be they go for
a solution through talks or through UN resolutions. Nevertheless,
I am not disappointed at all. Mistakes do happen and we
must help each other to ratify them. We will be together
eventually, I am hopeful.
Q: Do you think that international community including
US is taking interest in resolving Kashmir issue?
Shabir Shah: I think the international community
is not playing its role as it should, however, I do appreciate
the US president Bush for what he said about Kashmir in
Asian Society Seminar prior to visiting India & Pakistan.
Though he did not said so forcefully while in India. Anyway
we want the European Union, US and China and even SAARC
to play their role for establishing peace in the sub-continent.
If they fail to do so, I think the current CBMs would fail
to bring any good to this region. I believe Kashmiris would
reach to their destination one day. We have give sacrifices
of Hundreds of thousands of people for our right to self-determination.
However international community should monitor the situation
that who is trying to reach a solution and who is avoiding.
International community should play its role because the
two countries are nuclear powers and it should not let situation
go to a desperate end.
Q: What in your opinion is the level of acceptance
of proposals by president Musharraf among Kashmiris?
Shabir Shah: The people of Kashmir understand that
Pakistan is the only country in the world that has continuously
been supporting their struggle for their right to self-determination.
Be it political level, diplomatic level or a case of moral
support, Pakistan has always been on the back of Kashmiris.
The people of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir have played the
role of “Ansars” for us. We understand that Pakistan had
to lose a part (East Pakistan) of it because of Kashmir.
Kashmirs never suspect the intentions of Pakistan, its government
and people. Pakistanis gave sacrifices with us. Kashmiris
are taking the present flexibility by the Pakistani government
positively. They believe in moving ahead with it but unfortunately
India is obstinate and not showing any response. We pray
for the integrity of Pakistan, we want to see safe and strong
Pakistan. We believe a strong Pakistan is the source of
safety for the Muslims of sub-continent.
Q: Do you think a practical and acceptable solution
of Kashmir can be reached out of the paradigm of UN resolutions?
Shabir Shah: UN resolutions are the most appropriate
option. You let people decide their own future and then
every one is bound to accept it. It happened some years
back in East Timore. India argues that the resolutions are
not applicable now, we say if UN resolutions are applicable
in Iraq, about Iran and in East Timore, then why not in
Kashmir. Especially in the view that the two countries are
nuclear powers and even US secretary of state recently said
that “Kashmir was a flash point”. Nevertheless, if unfortunately
world is saying that UN resolutions are not practicable,
the Kashmiris are showing their willingness to resort to
talks for the resolution of the issue. However the world
should remember that there are three parties to the dispute
with people of Kashmir on the forefront. So when all parties
put forward their proposals on the talks table, then India
and Pakistan should accept what would be acceptable to the
people of Kashmir. All the parties should consider compulsions
of one another. India should shun its shyness about talks
and come to dialogue. It is a country of over 140 million
people, and the population of Kashmir has also acceded 15
million individuals. Resolving this issue will help to improve
relations among the two countries and benefit this large
number of world population living in this region.
Q: Do you see any positive impact of present advancements
on the life in Kashmir?
Shabir Shah: so for nothing. Atrocities are the order
of the day in Occupied Kashmir. Youth are killed in fake
encounters. So far we are not feeling any change. However
I believe and am advocate of the notion that until and unless
animosity of India and Pakistan does not reduce, and both
the countries do not understand each other, there would
be no advancement on Kashmir. Pakistan has done what it
should have. Now it is New Delhi’s turn.
Q: Any thing else?
Shabir Shah: I would again say world community should
see who is advancing towards a solution and who is receding.
If India will take single step, we will come forward by
ten because we have suffered a lot. But I firmly believe
that we will be triumphant eventually. And Pakistan who
has been our supporter all time will also bear fruit of
its support. Let me say that India would also benefit from
early resolution of Kashmir issue. Kashmir as become a graveyard
of its economy. If India reaches any early solution it would
benefit its public. Resolution of Kashmir issue would prove
a great blessing for sub-continent.
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