The Hindu : National : `Independent Kashmir only solution'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

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National

`Independent Kashmir only solution'

By Shujaat Bukhari

MIRPUR, NOV . 24. There is a strong lobby for an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir here with people expressing belief that an all-party conference can produce leadership to represent all people. It is also believed that the Hurriyat Conference represents the sentiments of the Kashmir Valley alone.

At a conference organised here by divided families (who came here from Jammu in 1947 and after), intellectuals, politicians and others advocated free movement of people on both sides. Thanking the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) for organising the visit of journalists from the other side, the participants said meeting "our relatives had become inevitable as we have lost our patience now."

Though several people here acknowledge Pakistan's role in "helping Kashmir's struggle for self- determination," many felt that an "independent Kashmir is the only solution." Mohammad Saeed Assad, a writer, said: "We consider both India and Pakistan as illegal occupants."

Mirpur is a prosperous region on the Pakistan side of Kashmir with huge shopping complexes and palatial houses. Over 70 per cent of Mirpuris reside in the United Kingdom and the region earns billions of rupees as foreign exchange. A number of people lost their livelihood after a British company took up work on the Mangla dam in the early Sixties. They were compensated with jobs in the U.K. An estimated six-lakh people from Bhimbher, Kotli and Mirpur now live in Britain.

People here back the Pakistan President, Parvez Musharraf`s policy on Kashmir and feel that reopening the roads is the first step towards solving the decades-old problem. "We see these developments as a good beginning and should continue as we want to meet our kith and kith in Kashmir, Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu," said Javed Iqbal Mirza, a former district Collector. Gen. Musharraf "is a realist and all those involved should follow his proposal." Politicians had been exploiting the Kashmir issue for their own interests, he said.

Nazir Anjum, a professor, said Kashmiris on all sides had no leadership. The Hurriyat Conference "represents the Kashmiri-speaking population of the Valley, not [those in] Jammu, Ladakh, Rajouri, Poonch or Doda." Echoing his sentiments, Prof. Shehbaz said an all-party meet, regardless of religious and political affiliations, should be convened to allow people to decide about their fate. Mohammad Sharief Tariq, a prominent lawyer, said a strong leadership needed to emerge before any solution could be discussed.

Syed Touqeer Gillani, a resident of Kotli, criticised the media for toeing the Islamabad line. His remarks, however, did not go down too well with the audience, many of whom questioned his credentials. "He belongs to the JKLF (Amanullah) and not the people," said Abrar Haider, a journalist.

Abdul Majid Malik, former Chief Justice of "Azad Kashmir's" Supreme Court, who heads the Jammu Kashmir Liberation League, sought demilitarisation by both sides. To a question, he said: "It is a wrong notion that an independent Kashmir cannot be sustained. The sub-continent depends upon our waters. If this is not the case let both India and Pakistan leave us. Water is the real reason for our slavery."

The Mirpur Bar Association, Kashmir Press Club and Jamiat Ulema Jammu and Kashmir hosted a reception for the Indian delegation.

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