New U.K. Act will not affect us, says JKLF leader

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, FEB 21. A leading faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) said today that its activities did not attract the provisions of Britain's new Anti-terrorism Act and therefore had nothing to fear.

Mr. Shabir Chowdhry, leader of the non-Amanullah group, denounced violence and said his organisation had nothing to do with those who were using religion to ``further their own political and business interests.''

Mr. Chowdhry insisted that his was the ``genuine'' JKLF and its activities were confined to diplomatic and political ``lobbying.'' ``Our instructions to our cadres is to work within the ambit of law wherever they live and we are opposed to violence or any action which can be seen as aiding or abetting violence'', he said adding that ``jehad''was a noble concept which some groups were using to promote their own agenda.

Describing the JKLF as a ``moderate'' group which believed in liberal democracy, he said political problems could not be solved at ``gunpoint''. Extremist groups like the Laskhar- e-Taiba were against him and there was no love lost between his group and the assorted U.K.-based extremist groups. ``We are against senseless killings whether it is by extremist groups or by security forces of a State.''

Though a part of the Hurriyat conference, his organisation had reservations about some of its policies. The Hurriyat leaders' handling of the post-ceasefire situation was not a ``mature response,'' he said.

The JKLF stood for an independent Kashmir which could ``co- exist'' with both India and Pakistan. ``We don't like slogans which talk about flying the Kashmiri flag from the Red Fort. We are a civilised group which believe that it is possible to achieve independence through peaceful means and then co-exist with both India and Pakistan,'' he said. A ``united and independent Kashmir'' should include Gilgit and Baltstan, he added.

Mr. Chowdhry is the first leader of any U.K.-based separatist group to explain its position after the new law came into force on Monday. Under this law, the British Government can ban any organisation which it believes is engaged in activities targetted at foreign governments.

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Section  : International
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