HURIYAT SPRINGS A SURPRISE-DROPS DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN KASHMIR

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HURIYAT SPRINGS A SURPRISE-DROPS DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN KASHMIR

Author : G Bharat | .

Posted on : Monday, July 16, 2012

The All-Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) that represents a conglomerate of political entities in Kashmir has thrown in a pleasant surprise- till now the outfit that insisted on third party mediation in Kashmir-for a simple reason-nothing else can work- has suddenly dropped the demand. India and Pakistan have negotiated bilaterally over Kashmir without a result for over 64 years, and even slow learners would conclude that a new negotiating formula is necessary for progress. Hence APHC is now willing to forgo international facilitation, provided both the governments of India and Pakistan agree that the APHC leadership will be fully associated with the peace process at a later stage.

At a round table held in Geneva recently, titled ‘Self-Determination & diplomacy-A Kashmir Scenario-’organised by the Europe-based Kashmir Centre, in association with the International Human Rights Association of American Minorities (IHRAAM), Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq declared, “The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is willing to forgo international facilitation, provided both the governments (of India and Pakistan) agree that the APHC leadership will be fully associated with the peace process at a later stage.” He further added that APHC will be trumpeting the panoramic array of potential peace plans to resolve the conflict over Kashmir. The only non-negotiable plan is self-determination, i.e- any resolution must be approved by the people of Kashmir.

Till now the Hurriyat had been seeking third party intervention by world powers, the UN or the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)- to solve the Kashmir issue. However, this move had always been opposed by New Delhi, which saw Kashmir as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan- and third party intervention as interference into their internal affairs.

The Hurriyat Conference also wanted to solve the Kashmir issue either by implementing UN resolutions or tripartite talks involving all the three parties–India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris. Emphasising this aspect, Mirwaiz added, “the principle of self-determination and the maintenance of international peace and security are inseparable. The denial of self-determination to the people of Kashmir has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear catastrophe and destruction to the people of Kashmir”.

Speaking for the genuine aspirations of the Kashmiris, and co-relating it with the present world happenings- the APHC leader added -“the people of Kashmir ask neither more nor less than what has been afforded to Namibia, the East Timorese and Montenegro and Southern Sudan: Self-determination is both a legal and moral entitlement. To believe anything less than self-determination would end the frightening strife that has blazed for 64 years,is to believe in fairy tales. ”

However, since the hardliner group is now willing to drop this line, it brings a lot of cheer to the diplomatic honchos at South Block- who now have a reason to smile- as the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference has climbed down from its stated position. This means that the next step-peaceful negotiations- is round the corner- and its only a matter of time before they see reason and understand that its only the Kashmiris and the State & Central Govts, who can together decide the best interests of the region- minus the trouble mongers from across the border- who are only interested in shedding blood on our side.

However, as is wont with Kashmiri politics, a note of dissent was immediately sounded by the rival Huriyat group Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who expressed disagreement with Mirwaiz’s stand. The conglomerate held a meeting of its advisory council, expressing reservations on the stand. “It is unacceptable to us,” the spokesman said in a statement. The Hurriyat (G) argued that the abdication of demand for international intervention could cause irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause.

“Although we believe in desisting from issuing statements which may lead to any confrontation, but here we want to put forth the amalgam’s basic stand on this matter so that the people remain aware about the sensitive matters and that we also want that put across a message to the international community that Hurriyat (G) has reservations on this stand of Mirwaiz,” the spokesman further added.

The Hurriyat (G) equated the stand with the policy of New Delhi. “New Delhi has always been trying that international community should not come in between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, so that it would succeed in its plan of usurping Kashmir.”

However, Mirwaiz also clarified his position saying the stand was conditional.“I talked about pushing the third party intermediation to background on the condition that India and Pakistan would include Kashmir in the dialogue. The Hurriyat Conference would accept any solution that may be thus achieved as per the aspirations of the Kashmir,” he added.

Since the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was born and then split into two in 2003, they have been divided in their policies, but maintain right to self determination as their basic stand. It is thus, perhaps, the first time, that the secessionist conglomerate and Pakistan are on a confrontational path. While voices from Pakistan continue to be in favour of third party intervention, the new dispensation in Hurriyat believes if India and Pakistan can themselves resolve the Kashmir issue, there is no need for third party intervention. Maintaining that both India and Pakistan were "mature nations and capable of resolving issues between them", Mirwaiz cautioned that the two should realise that it were the "Kashmiris who have suffered because of the confrontational attitude of the two countries.”

Finally, it will be the people of any region who will decide their destiny and may even turn to violence, if all peaceful avenues of dissent are not available. Therefore, `it is our duty to redouble our efforts to bring peace and justice to the whole world, not through brutal force, or dictatorial regimes or military might but through the weapons of moral persuasion, democratic values and universal principles’, as hoped by the Mirwaiz.

In the interest of stable peaceful and prosperous South Asia, and to build people to people relations and bridges of friendship and understanding- it is imperative that the two nuclear powered neighbours forget their animosity of 64 years and finally sit down to determine `peace & prosperity’ for both sides of divided Kashmir. For a better and a brighter tomorrow for the whole South Asian region- this is the need of the hour.

Thus, in the Mirwaiz’s own words- “there can be no peace without justice and no justice without peace”.

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Really appreciable

Posted by : Sanjay Kulkarni | On : 5/16/2012 6:49:37 AM

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