by Dr Shabir Choudhry for Sri Lanka Guardian(December 01, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) What a change? What a U turn? Those who were until recently selling General Musharaf’s four point agenda on Kashmir leading to division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir have made another somersault and have brought out a new ‘commodity’ wrapped skilfully in cover of right of self determination.
Right of self determination is a fundamental human right and is highly respected in all societies, especially in the West. Many countries and agencies use this noble concept of self determination to further their national and personal interests. Some business minded people have transformed the Kashmiri struggle in to a lucrative business, and they have ability to sell anything.
They have mastered the art of salesmanship, and have successfully sold Kashmir issue for generations. When it suited them they advocated the status quo, when militancy was popular, it was sold as a ‘Jihad’. When popularity of militancy declined they became advocates of peace and human rights. When General Musharaf, as a President of Pakistan proposed a division of Kashmir in a form of ‘self rule’, they advocated that ‘self rule’ was more ‘advanced’ and ‘forward looking’ concept than right of self determination.
Now that General Musharaf is no longer calling shots and his four point agenda is abandoned, policy makers in Islamabad thought of promoting right of accession under disguise of self determination. They approached their tried and tested ally based in Chandni Chowk of Rawalpindi, who successfully accomplished many missions for them in the past.
As a result of that understanding a declaration was made with regard to ‘right of self determination’. This so called nationalist leader who is not regarded as such by any nationalist party of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan, and is out of step with all parties who promote united and independent Jammu and Kashmir is still ‘blue eye boy’ of Pakistani agencies.
He seems to be more at home with pro Pakistan parties and that is why he never felt need to consult or talk to any of the nationalist parties. He under directions of his mentors had meetings with pro Pakistan parties and declared right of self determination day on 14th October.
Their foot soldiers and employees in Europe were also issued directions to hold some function to promote their brand of ‘right of self determination’ that it ‘coincide with the right of self-determination day called by their mentors in Islamabad, hence some people in a close room meting set up an ‘All Parties Adhoc Committee’ in name of Kashmiri Diaspora.
Interestingly these promoters of right of self determination felt no need to take in to confidence anyone from Jammu, Ladakh, All Parties Nationalist Alliance - alliance of nationalist parties of Azad Kashmir of Gilgit and Baltistan, or GABNA alliance of parties in Gilgit and Baltistan, Kashmiri alliances among Kashmiri Diaspora and popular parties in the Valley; and yet they have nerve to claim that they are representing the majority view. It clearly looked that their aim was to promote a Muslim interest – a right of self determination for Muslims to divide people of Jammu and Kashmir on religious lines.
Dr Nazir Gilani, a prominent human rights activist and Secretary General of JKCHR- only Kashmiri party with a special consultative status with the UN, was also among those who were not invited to this so called meeting in which this so called ‘All Parties Adhoc Committee’ was set up. A Kashmiri channel – KBC is sincerely trying to educate people and doing its best to help Kashmiri Diaspora to forge some kind of unity; and Shams Rehman is playing a leading role in this regard.
Shams Rehman had a special TV programme for this purpose, and when he pressed these promoters of new right of ‘self determination’, why they did not take other Kashmiris on board to promote unity and right of self determination, one man who receives a salary from a centre set up by Pakistani agencies said: We have called all people who believe in right of self determination, but we will not invite those who are ‘hashia bardaar of India’ and that he ‘will expose these people’. The term ‘Hashia bardaar of India’ is abusive and derogative, and is not used by self respecting people – one can translate it as a ‘member of an Indian lobby or agent of India’.
This man was a school teacher before the start of militancy and since that time has changed many platforms which helped him to run his kitchen. His mentors could not promote him adequately with a title of school teacher so they gave him a new title of a ‘Professor’; and exported him from Islamabad to London with hefty salary. Perhaps this guy does not know that his language was divisive and full of hatred; and he could be clearly in violation of British laws. The British authorities don’t look kindly at those who spread communalism and hatred, and advocate such policies which can shatter peace and harmony of the British society.
After pressure from the KBC team and other political parties they hurriedly issued some invitations. On Saturday 11th October I checked with some active nationalist parties in UK and I was astonished to find out that they did not receive any invitation, and this so called seminar is taking place on 14th October. Active participant in this campaign is Amanulalh Khan’s JKLF which is not regarded as a nationalist party by nationalists of Jammu and Kashmir, and like Muslim Conference their role is to protect and promote interest of Islamabad from their respective platforms.
According to the rational expressed by this employee of Islamabad all those who were not invited in the so called original meeting or there after are ‘Hashia bardaar of India’ – agents of India?
It would be pertinent to ask some questions from these champions of ‘right of self determination’:
Who called this meeting of representatives of Kashmiri Diaspora to set up an ‘All Parties Adhoc Committee’?
What criteria, if any, were used to extend invitations?
When and where this meeting was held and who were present?
Names associated with this enterprise also belong to political parties; and those parties also have a policy on Kashmir, does it mean that they are disappointed with the policy or stand of their parent parties that they felt obliged to set up a new platform?
Apart from that these people are also associated with pro Pakistan alliance known as Rabta Committee or Coordination Committee, does it mean that this platform is no longer capable to advance the cause of self determination?
I am sure one could add more questions to this list. It is becoming evidently clear that this new campaign is a new trade mark for those with commercial interest in the Kashmiri struggle. It is not their imitative, just like militancy was not their initiative. Previously they were agents of a ‘proxy war’ and sold it as a ‘jihad’; and it looks that in place of that now they will be part of this ‘proxy politics’, controlled and directed from Islamabad.
My humble request is to find another business or another job, and do not sell right of accession to Pakistan wrapped up in a beautiful cover of right of self determination. And please do not use name of Kashmiri Diaspora to further your political and commercial interests.
The Writer is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. - Sri Lanka Guardian
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