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A Open letter to Mr Bill Clinton |
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Kashmir: The Way Forward Dear Mr Clinton, It is our privilege to bring you the greetings of the people of Kashmir who admire your leadership skills and commitment to international peace and security. After Palestine, Yugoslavia, and Northern Ireland, it is time to bring an end to Kashmir's suffering. We genuinely believe your forthcoming visit to India and Pakistan will help them to put aside their feelings of hate and bitterness against each other; instead focus their attention to the processes or the means for achieving an end to the tragic conflict over Kashmir. The south Asian sub-continent, home for one-fifth of the human race has been in a constant state of war or preparations for war, ever since its independence, because of the dispute over Kashmir. For the last fifty-three years, neither India nor Pakistan nor the United Nations has made any attempt to settle the dispute fairly. The main sufferers of this tragic conflict are the peace loving people of Kashmir. The conflict is sapping economies of both India and Pakistan depriving them of their much-needed resources for human development. Two of the three debilitating wars already fought between Indian and Pakistan have failed to resolve the conflict and a fourth war, possibly nuclear, with ruinous consequences for the entire subcontinent must remain a serious concern for all of us. Mr President, traditionally the people of Kashmir are simple and peace loving. Through centuries, they have lived peacefully in spite of the diversity of religions. There has never been a religion-based discord, nor has Kashmir ever gone to war with its neighbours. Unfortunately, this simplicity and innocence of Kashmiri people has always provided an opportunity for outside forces to use Kashmir issue as a platform for their nefarious designs. Since early 1990's Kashmir has once again become the target of interference and ruthless exploitation, bringing untold suffering and misery for the people of the state. Unfairness and injustices, never witnessed before in the entire history of Kashmir have destroyed the social fabric of our society beyond recognition. Just over a decade of violence and bloodshed in Kashmir has already claimed thousands of innocent lives, thousands more have lost their limbs, homes and hearths, billions of rupees worth property has been destroyed and invaluable monuments of Kashmir's cultural heritage have been razed to ground. Mr President, It is most distressing for we expatriate Kashmiris living in the free world, to witness our people being dehumanised, degraded and killed every day by Indian armed forces, Pakistan backed militants and the Government sponsored renegades in Kashmir. In their onslaught against militants, innocent civilians of Kashmir have become targets for the wrath of Indian security forces, resulting into massive human rights abuse. It is lamentable that we should allow such a tragic situation to linger on for the next fifty years! The tragedy of Kashmir was born amid the flames of communal hatred following partition of British India in 1947 on religious grounds. Ever since, politicians of India and Pakistan have derived limitless political mileage out of the Kashmir issue. Similarly, the word 'Kashmir' is enough to whip-up the emotions of revivalists and fundamentalists on both sides of the Line of Control. While for the warmongers on either side, Kashmir issue has become an excuse to build weapons of mass destruction and strengthen their military might. Unfortunately, all of this is taking place at the expense of the poor masses of these two developing nations. Mr President there is no easy solution to this 53-year-old extremely complex conflict, which has bedevilled relations between India and Pakistan ever since they emerged as two sovereign nations in 1947. It seems that neither India nor Pakistan is prepared to concede right of self-determination and independence to the part of Kashmir under their control. With lack of any perceptible political or militant movement for independence within the Pakistan held parts of Kashmir; reunification and independence of Kashmir is a remote possibility. While any permanent division of the state taking into account its multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition is bound to engulf the entire region in flames of communal violence with catastrophic consequences. The way forward to resolve the conflict peacefully lies in the willingness of both India and Pakistan to put an immediate end to all hostilities against each other. And the most honourable way for all the three parties India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris to work out a durable solution of the conflict, lies in a sustained process of meaningful dialogue and creative diplomacy. This can only take place if India and Pakistan are first prepared to give up their Ostrich like posture towards Kashmir by putting the issue in "cold storage" for a period of 15 years. During this period both India and Pakistan should take all those steps necessary to rebuild trust in each other and invest in trade and economic development on both sides of Kashmir. As a first step towards durable peace in the region, both India and Pakistan should grant a quantum of maximum autonomy to the territory under their control. Once peace, law and order, democracy prevails in Kashmir, rebuilding of its shattered economy and return of the displaced people to their homes should be given a top priority. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan must take a number of other steps (see recommendations) for the peace process to work. Mr President unless both India and Pakistan can demonstrate a firm commitment to peace and stability in South-Asia, any peace agreement between the two will meet the same fate as Tashkent and Simla agreements. Obviously the first pre-requisite for any peace process in the region has to be an end to the violence irrespective of its origin or target- a dialogue and violence cannot co-exist. We firmly believe that a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict is bound to emerge in time once India and Pakistan are economically strong and politically stable. Meanwhile, international community can play its role by helping and supporting trade and economic development in the region. We sincerely hope both India and Pakistan will see your visit as an opportunity to end their differences over Kashmir, rather than interference from a third power. Recommendations: 1. As a first prerequisite for peace in the region there has to be an end to all forms of violence irrespective of its origin or target . 2. India and Pakistan to adopt a "no blame position against each other" 3. The dialogue must be unconditional, no party should emerge with a sense of defeat 4. Elected representatives of Kashmiri people should be involved from the beginning in any negotiations concerning Kashmir issue 5. India must take effective measures to end human rights abuse in Kashmir and bring those responsible for rights abuse to justice 6. Pakistan must stop providing support to militancy in Kashmir 7. India and Pakistan to work on confidence building measures at various levels 8. As a first step towards an honourable solution of the Kashmir issue, both India and Pakistan should concede a measure of maximum autonomy to the regions under their control pending a final solution 9. Repatriation of all displaced people to be given a top priority 10. The entire state to be given a separate joint identity, with a common national flag. While Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications of the two autonomous regions would continue to remain under respective control of India and Pakistan 11. Both India and Pakistan should agree to de-scale their armed forces in the region to a minimum acceptable level over an agreed period of time 12. Allow freedom of trade, development and socio-cultural exchange between the two autonomous Kashmir regions 13. Release all political prisoners 14. Decommissioning of weapons and immunity from prosecution 15. An end to hate-mongering and poisonous propaganda through news and print media 16. Adequate compensation for all victims of the conflict Thank you Yours sincerely Dr Siraj Shah
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