The Kashmiri community in Britain always been very vocal and have sense of attachment to the socio-political, socio-cultural happenings of the Indian subcontinent, specially the politics of the divided State of Jammu Kashmir. The announcement by the Government of Pakistan of an “empowerment” package for Gilgit Baltistan attracted Kashmiri attention in Britain too. 

The cross section members of Kashmiri community in Britain meet on 13 Sep. 2009 to chalk-out a strategy and in the subject meeting Prof. Nazir Nasih, Mr. Gulam Hussain and Shams Rehman were deputed to make the draft resolutions to be approved in the next meeting on 27th Sep. 2009.  Certainly the resolutions to be adopted was the document providing bases for unity among community to exert appropriate pressure in the best of interest of the people of Gilgit Baltistan in particular and people of the State of Jammu Kashmir in general.

The draft that was prepared by Shams and others was in need of some improvement.  I raise my concern and Shams asked to send my proposal.  I had review the whole document and e-mail to all.  The subject draft resolutions approved in the meeting on 27th September 2009 including the representative from NAP.  The interesting aspect is that two members of NAP Prof. Sajjad Raja and Prof. Nadeem Aslam opposed the draft resolutions but failed to attend the meeting in order to defend their argument.

 

Sajjad Raja wrote; quote: “I have read the draft resolutions done by Mr. Afzal Tahir, but I am sorry to say that I cannot support these resolutions as they do not mention anywhere the truth that we Kashmiries are seeking total and unequivocal independence from both India and Pakistan. The resolutions support UN stand onKashmir which again we cannot recognize and the resolutions also have very soft tone for India. If we do not talk about total independence, support UN resolutions on Kashmir and just unilaterally and aggressively condemn Pakistan, that means we are indirectly supporting India. This situation is unacceptable to me”.  End of quote.

Please refer to: http://www.unitedkashmir.org.uk/kashmir.html#Conflict    and also   http://www.unitedkashmir.org.uk/analysis.html?part_id=8957&post_id=1439&action=view_comments

 

I wonder if it is the official policy of the NAP.  The fact of the matter is that every successive Government in Islamabad, day-in and day-out, making reference to UN resolutions. In fact it the official position of the Government of India, that the UN resolutions are not valid any more.  

 

Nadeem Aslam wrote; quote: “Do we still believe that UN resolution`s on Kashmir are providing a  comprehensive solution for the forcibly divided Jammu Kashmir  (IOK,POK,OGB,Chinese possessed area). If we can read UN resolutions in conjunction with Simla Agreement 2nd July, 1972,and the similar statements made by the two UN Sec. generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki Moon.Its turn international to bilateral and not any more in the UN.Please read them below? Simla Agreement 2nd July, 1972 Most importantly, it bound the two countries "to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations".

 

4. In order to initiate the process of the establishment of durable peace, both the Governments agreed that:

(i) Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of the international border.

(ii) In Jammu and Kashmir the line of control resulting from the cease-fire of December 17, 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognized position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.

Former Sec. Gen. United Nation`s  (UN) Koffi Annan said :
 UN resolutions on Kashmir did not come under  chapter  7(vii) of the UN  charter and where , therefore , not self enforcing.Unlike  the resolutions on East Timor and Iraq,which come under that particular chapter,the Kashmir resolutions require   the cooperation of both parties  (Ind.Pak) for implementation?  End quote.

Again, I wonder what Nedeem is trying to tell us, if it is the official position of the NAP?  I have noticed from the Invitation Card received from NAP for their function where Sajjad Raja is Chairman Convention Committee  while Nadeem Aslam Spokesperson IC JK NAP.  

 

The draft resolutions had been adopted in the meeting held on 27/09/09 where the rep from NAP was also present:-

 

Changes proposed by KIF

Draft Resolution (adopted on 27/9/09) on Gilgit Baltistan  13th September 2009

We the representatives of the British-Kashmiri political Parties and Organisations (based in the UK) gathered here in Birmingham, UK on 13th September 2009 under the name Campaign against Annexation of Gilgit Baltistan agreed that

We:-

  • reaffirm the fact that Kashmir means Jammu, Valley, Ladakh, Baltistan,Gilgit and Poonch (AJK), officially known as Jammu Kashmir State is comprising of 85,000 square miles of it’s territory dully recognised by Pakistan, India and the UN through various bilateral treaties and resolutions.  That the successive governments of Pakistan have since accepted the UN, and UNCIP resolutions according to which Pakistan is to facilitate self governance of all the territories under its control under UNCIP Commission’s supervision and withdraw its presence from the territory of the State so that the Commission should take appropriate steps.
  • We are united with and in support of the on-going struggle in Gilgit Baltistan for the self-government by the people of the territory according to the terms lay down in the UN and UNCIP resolutions and an improvement by the authority in terms of fundamental, human, political, economic, cultural and national rights would be welcome.  However, we are totally opposed to the forms and methods adopted by Pakistan for the Governance of these areas as they are in breach of the International Law and it is an empowerment  to the Government of Pakistan rather than the people of Gilgit Baltistan, of its pursuit of expansionism. These latest measures exposed Pakistan of its territorial greed and expansionistic motives.   
  • categorically state that Pakistan has no right under International Law, and this fact clearly mentioned in it’s own  law (1973 Constitution of  Pakistan).  The non compliance of the International Law that was and is dully recognised by every successive government in Islamabad and regularly been used as reference, created vacuum of non-availability of any system to safe-guard the basic, human, political, cultural, economic and national rights of the people. The present government, too, failed to address the issue, that is to implement the UNCIP resolutions. The People of Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir together have the right to determine the best way of Governance under the supervision of the UNCIP Commission. 
  • firmly reiterate the territorial integrity and unity of the State, that is 85,000 square miles dully identified and recognised by UN, the Government of Pakistan and the Government of India. Any attempt by any foreign force,  to alter or change it’s  political and geographical entity, that is legally and historically recognised, would be resisted at all cost with full unity and vigour.  
  • Warn the puppets in Muzaffarabad that displaying only the title of “Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government” is no benefit to the people at all. They must not be the part of the Government of Pakistan’s expansionistic move over the territory of our country. 
  • strongly urge the government of Pakistan to stop violating the State Subject Rule with immediate effect in Gilgit and Baltistan and call a Political Convention of the representatives of the peoples from all the territories of the State under its control, to agree upon the constitutional and political forms of self-governance for these areas.  
  • request all the democratic countries and powers of the world to support the people in all parts of divided Kashmir State including Gilgit and Baltistan to achieve the goal of political emancipation by acquiring genuine substantive  socio-political and economic rights deemed necessary for free and independent people in modern times.
  • urge the United Nation Organization to support this resolution and call upon the government of Pakistan to implement the pending UN and UNCIP resolutions so to break the stalemate in the Conflict resolution of Kashmir.

 Urge all the Human Rights organisations and institutional bodies for justice and fairness to support this resolution and write to Pakistan Government to withdraw its presence by implementing the UN and UNCIP resolutions in its letter and sprit over the territory of the state known as AJK and Gilgit Baltistan.