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Mirwaiz
Of Kashmir: “We Now Enjoy International Support”
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Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: The era of militancy is over |
Report
by IOL
South
Asia correspondent, Dr. Zafrut - Islam Khan
NEW
DELHI, Feb. 26 (IslamOnline) - In the fast-changing world scenario since
September 11, the Kashmir problem has not remained unaffected. With signs that
Pakistan is trying to disown the All-Party Hurriyet Conference (APHC), there are
indications of desperation among Hurriyet leaders.
They
are trying hard to keep their flock together and not let the world realize their
anxiety at being seemingly ditched by their mentor, Pakistan. They still
maintain that their cause and struggle enjoy Pakistan support.
Recently
APHC formed an ‘election commission’ of its own to conduct elections in the
two parts of Kashmir falling under Indian and Pakistani control. SU Rahman of
IslamOnline’s South Asia Bureau talked to the young Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq,
a leading Hurriyet figure and its former chairman, on a host of issues
concerning the Kashmiri separatist movement, their relations with Pakistan and
the militancy itself. 'Mirwaiz', i.e., 'chief wa'iz', is a traditional
hereditary post, whose holder is supposed to be the religious head of the
Kashmiri Muslims.
Farooq
said, “We believe that the Kashmir problem can be solved politically. There
are three parties to the Kashmir dispute. When India and Pakistan are duly
represented by their respective governments, there is no well-established
representative for the people of Kashmir.”
“We
want to hold elections in the four parts of the former princely State of Kashmir
to elect their own representatives. These representatives will then hold talks
with India and Pakistan,” he continued.
He
said that the aim of the elections is “only to elect the representatives of
Kashmiri people through these elections They will be able to conduct talks with
India and Pakistan governments.”
Farooq
pointed out that his party had “repeatedly asked the Indian government to
conduct free and fair polls in the state. We asked them to conduct elections
under the UN aegis. But India has so far refused to accept our demand.”
Responding
to a question whether his party felt betrayed by Pakistan, Farooq said, “This
is not true. Though it is true that Pakistan has extended moral and political
support to the Kashmiri people, it is not true that every decision that Hurriyet
takes should be sanctioned by Pakistan. Pakistan has been our ally in our
freedom struggle. It has raised the Kashmir issue in all the world forums.
Pakistan has accepted the Kashmiri people’s right of self-determination, when
on the other hand India has denied it all along. Pakistan recognizes the people
of Kashmir as a party.”
Farooq
also pointed out the differences between Afghanistan and Kashmir. “Pakistan
was an outsider in Afghanistan, whereas in Kashmir it is a part of the issue. It
has genuine interests in Kashmir. Pakistani people think Kashmir to be very near
to their heart. It is a very sensitive issue for them. They want a peaceful
solution of the problem. It is India that is not allowing this. But I want to
make one thing clear: Pakistani support or no support, we will continue our
struggle for the self-determination of the Kashmiri people.”
When
asked whether any other country could give Kashmir the sort of freedom and
security that India has provided it, he said, “There is no question why it
wouldn't. We are a political party. We are pursuing our goal in a peaceful
manner. On the other hand, there are efforts to curb our movement. Our people
are not allowed to go abroad. Recently a senior Hurriyet leader [Syed Ali Shah
Geelani] was not allowed to go for Haj. There is an effort to harass our
second-rung leadership and a large number of our second-rung leaders have been
arrested and put behind bars. But it is not very easy to crackdown against the
top political leadership. “
Concerning
the importance of his party, he said, “Hurriyet is the true representative of
the Kashmiri people. It will always remain relevant. Our first step now is to
conduct elections. We are in contact with all the concerned people.”
“I
believe that era [of militancy] is over. Militancy has done its part well. The
issue is so much internationalized that everyone wants this issue to be settled.
See we have initiated this political exercise. Now India should take concrete
actions leading to the solution of Kashmir. They have a policy of letting it
linger on. Militancy can be revived if they don't act,” he said.
When
asked about the more than fifty thousand people in the struggle for Kashmir, he
stated that, “We have achieved a lot by this struggle. It is because of the
sacrifices of these people that we have come close to our goals. Now everyone
says and accepts that it is a problem. Only India is harping that Kashmir is its
integral part. But no one believes this any longer. We have stood by those
people very closely. No body takes India on its face value now.”
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