KASHMIR SITUATION

The Jammu Declaration by the Assembly of

J&K Leaders and Intellectuals

Jammu, 7-8 May, 1995

1.The Assembly expresses anguish and shock on the present state of affairs caused by kidnapping, killing. bomb blasts and failure of the State Administration to establish its authority and provide protection to the lives and property of the innocent people.

2. Urges the revival of democratic institutions in the State.

3. Expresses solidarity with all efforts to find a solution to all problems through an unconditional dialogue and discussion with all shades of political opinions in J&K and calls on all political parties to respond to this call to prove their sincerity and commitment for the welfare and development of all the three regions of the State and press for equitable development of all the three regions.

 4. Calls on the people to openly condemn all such acts of kidnapping, killings, arson in the name of so- called struggle for Azadi, which amount to violation and infringement of civil, political, economic and social rights of the people.

 5. Condemns the foreign mercenaries and the angry youth for criminal acts, calls on the Kashmir youth to dissociate from guns and violence and take political platform for the redressal of their genuine grievances through discussion, dialogue and democratic means and methods, as the gun culture and  fundamentalism are against the spirit of Kashmiriyat.

 6. Feels that J&K is a national political problem that needs political solution and neither guns of the militants nor military solution is any answer to the problem of J&K.

 7. Urges the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of the representatives of J&K Leaders representing all political parties in order to work out a consensus to seek a final settlement of all issues and problems including those related to the people of the three regions. Hails PM's offer to grant maximum autonomy to J&K minus Azadi and invite Hurriyat leaders to join the political parties for discussion.

8. Urges law and order authorities to act strictly in accordance with the principles of natural justice, rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. Condemns all acts of violation of rule of law by both the security forces and the militants.

9. Urges the release of political prisoners who are not involved in any serious offence to start a confidence building process and the speedy trial of all other prisoners.

10. Expresses serious concern on the plight of migrants living in the most tragic situation in various refugee camps and urges the safe, secure and honorable return of a migrants to their homes.

Appeals to all sections of the society to preserve communal harmony, unity and brotherhood and to defeat the ugly designs of the enemies of the State.        

The Hindustan Times Situation Report

The completion of six years of Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir last week went unnoticed for there were no achievements worth recalling

be completely neutralized. And whether the State is ready Militancy, the main target during this period, is yet to for Assembly polls is a matter of intense debate.

Since January 19, 1990 when the Central rule was Congress coalition Government headed by Farooq imposed in the State after the National Conference- Jagmohan as Governor, holding of fresh elections has Abdullah quit in protest against the reappointment of become a moot point.

for holding polls in spite of the fact that it is the only That Jammu and Kashmir is still not ideally suited Central rule for such a long period is because there were State in the entire country to have remained under the "inconsistencies in the policy on Kashmir throughout this. period", political analysts say.

contradictions in fighting militancy and restoring Over all these years, there were inherent normalcy, if there were occasions when it appeared that the Government was following "bullet for bullet policy" bending in front of the secessionists. on others it was more than apparent that Government was

The burning down of Charar-e-Sharif shrine last year militants entry into the holy town was not checked, then was demonstrative of this conflicting approach. First, the there was a cordon to force the militants to come out Neither the shrine could be saved nor the militants could be arrested.

K.V. Krishna Rao that he has attempted to adopt a single In all fairness, it can be easily said about Governor line object of curbing militancy It was during his period in October-November, 1993 when the Hazratbal psychological blow to the militants. It shattered faith of imbroglio was resolved in a manner which dealt a severe the people in the secessionists as they started asking questions as to why they (militants) had to "surrender when the people were killed in dozens". It was an obvious reference to October 22, 1993 Bijbehara massacre which claimed 37 lives and left 70 others wounded.

The resolution of Hazratbal crisis which distanced people from militants, has been often described as a turning point" in Kashmir.

In spite of this the militancy now has started rearing its head in Jammu region. Doda presents a dreadful example of that.

A relentless fight against militancy at the cost of other core problems in the State has seen unprecedented rise in corruption.

Bureaucrats are not interested in the revival of the democracy. "Everything is going well, why should there be an elected Government and a jumbo size Ministry to rule over us, ultimately we run the Government," a senior officer holding a key position in the Government said.

(Source: The Hindustan Tirgs, 26 January, 1996)

I.K. Gujral on Kashmir Problem

 The 'Hurriyat' leaders have after years of turmoil and violence, seen merit in establishing offices in Delhi and Jammu to initiate a dialogue with various segments of the national polity and also to listen to the differing viewpoints. This may make then realise, if they had not seen that already, that neither the gun nor canvassing with Pakistan or any other outside power can bail them out of this self-inflicted agony. In the words of a poet:

 "Gairon Se Kaha Tum Ne

  Gairon Se Suna Tum Ne

  Kabhi Hum Se Kaha Hota

 Kabhi Hum Se Suna Hota"

 (You have frequently talked and listened to others. It: might have helped if you had talked and listened to us too).

 (Hurriyat) offers a "simple alternative (for) a meaningful and peaceful dialogue between all contending parties with the help of the World Body or any friendly country"

The President, the Prime Minister, Ms. Bhutto, Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Mr. Abdul Qayoom of Occupied Kashmir had told me separately that the contentious issue concerned only Pakistan and India. "The issue (they had told me) is bilateral and not trilateral" Therefore, asking for a trilateral meeting is neither acceptable to India nor even to Pakistan. Now would any political party permit a third-party intervention that was ruled out in the Simla Agreement.

 A diverse Indian society is not a bonded vote bank of any political party, nor is it committed to a single point of view. But all are united to preserve the nation's secular unity. Our accommodative and resilient democracy has often made adjustments and there is no reason to believe that the valid and secular aspirations of the Kashmiri people cannot find their space in this polity.

 Their opening the office must be responded to with the needed sympathy and understanding Postponement of the polls, for whatever reason, provides an opportunity for initiating a helpful dialogue at some level or the other.

 A prudent leadership that includes all parties need not be rigid and insist on preservation of the status quo. The Opposition parties have now received a call for assistance. They must.. help in fording the agonizing chasms of alienation.

(Source: The Hindustan Times, 7 December, 1995)

Iqbal A. Ansari on Kashmir Problem

 For the Muslims of Kashmir, their Islamic identity may find legitimacy in this scheme. But they have to ensure that the democratic rights of non-Muslim Kashmiris to live in freedom and dignity as equals are not curtailed in the process.

 It is in this context that Indian Muslims can be expected to play a role in the resolution of the conflict, By deciding to be pragmatic they can contribute towards a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This will once and for all heal the festering wound of partition.

 The rest of India for its part must destigmatize Muslims from the supposed sins of medieval monarchs and partition and deal with them with an attitude of trust. Unless this is done they will not feel reassured and confident enough to play a normal role in the subcontinent. Besides, Indian nationalism must not be defined in terms of one particular religious or even secular culture based on the motto "one nation, one people, one culture. This is bound to cause restatement among the non-dominant groups, especially in Kashmir. Each group's identity will have to be recognized both in law and in reality.

(Since) Muslims are not here on sufferance, policy or a trilateral meeting is neither acceptable to India nor makers in India should also realize that while no even to Pakistan. Now would any political party permit a fundamentalist outfit can be allowed legitimacy in politics, to deny it a public role in the socio-cultural life of the Muslims is proving counter-productive. A greater sense of discrimination would be required to differentiate between the different shades of fundamentalism and to be able to judge what is valid and what is not.

By ensuring an honorable place to Muslims in the Indian state, it will be possible to revive the hope that Kashmiri Muslims can still seek their destiny within a federal/confederal India. it is also possible for Muslims in. Kashmir as well as the rest of India to evolve a culture based on the humanist tradition of Islam, one which will partake of both Sufism steeped in love and tolerance and the Shariat up-holding justice and mercy.

(Source: The AIM, November, 1995)