Shah asks Pakistan to withdraw from PAK Seeks Obama’s intervention in solving Kashmir dispute

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Nov 4: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chairman and senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmed Shah said on Thursday that not only India but Pakistan should also demilitarize the areas of Jammu and Kashmir under its control, including Baltistan and Gilgit.

After the demilitarization, Shah said that right of self-determination should be given to the people of entire Jammu and Kashmir to decide their fate, as they (people of J&K) are the prime sufferers of the decade’s old ‘dispute’.

US PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA

Shah while seeking intervention of US President Barak Obama to facilitate smooth trilateral talks between India, Pakistan and the prime party i.e. Kashmiris -who have been ignored since long- for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Reminding United States of America (USA) President Barak Obama of his promise, the senior Hurriyat leader said “During his election campaign for US presidentship he had promised to solve the vexed Kashmir issue if he comes to the power.”

“If the US intervention in the resolution of Kashmir issue is not possible, the US president should atleast facilitate talks between the two neighbouring countries and the Kashmiri leadership,” he demanded.

Recalling the words of US president, he said Obama had maintained that the US would possibly appoint an envoy on Kashmir issue like Holbrooke was appointed as envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“The name of former US President Bill Clinton had also figured for his appointment as envoy to Kashmir to which the Hurriyat had welcomed,” he said. He demanded appointment of an envoy in India-Pakistan for the solution of Kashmir dispute.

CEASE FIRE IN VALLEY SOUGHT

Asking Indian government to declare cease fire, Shabir Shah said, “Talks and war cannot go side-by-side. The government should declare cease fire in Valley to facilitate talks for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

If the government is serious to solve the issues, it should acknowledge Kashmir an international dispute and release all the separatist leaders and youth lodged in different jails.

“Kashmir Bar Association chief Mian Qayoom, KBA general secretary, South Kashmir Mirwiz, Duktrane-Millat chief Asia Andravi, and Hamida, besides many others, including schooling going children have been put in jails. They should be released for paving the way for a meaningful dialogue,” he demanded.

ADVOCATED UNIFIED JAMMU AND KASHMIR

While advocating the united and integrated Jammu and Kashmir, Shah accused politicians of trying to create a wedge among the people of Jammu and Kashmir regions for their political gains.

“They are trying to create wedge among the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh regions,” he alleged and appealed the intelligentsia of Jammu region to understand those ‘who have made politics their business/profession’ and are indulging in creating differences among the people of the three regions.

The Hurriyat will not leave the people of Jammu region alone including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, he said adding that the Jammu and Kashmir will remain united.

“I want to pay tributes to those 5-6 lakh people killed in 1947 violence and assured people of the state that their blood will not go waste. We will take the people of Jammu with us, he added.

Reacting to the recent visit of interlocutors to Jammu and Kashmir, the senior Hurriyat leader said that talks will be ineffective unless congenial atmosphere was created.

“The talks with the interlocutors appointed by the central government will not be fruitful unless the ground is prepared by acknowledging Kashmir as a dispute and releasing of prisoners,” he said.

The Hurriyat leader said “We are not against talks but how come we could hold talks when hundreds of people including teenagers and leaders are jailed without any charges.”
It may be mentioned here that the central government had appointed three interlocutors last month, including an eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner M. M. Ansari and an academician Professor Radha Kumar to hold talk with the cross section of society in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said: “I request Indian people to stay by the promise of giving right to self determination to people of Kashmir, made by first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.”

He however, expressed apprehensions that the interlocutors might also not meet the same fate, as happened to the Kashmir committee appointed during the reign in centre by the NDA.