By TwoCircles.net newsdesk
Washington, D.C.: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said during the open forum, entitled, Peace Process between India and Pakistan: The Role of Kashmiri Leadership, organized by the Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center that Kashmiri leadership is not necessarily against the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. But they want these negotiations to be meaningful and purposeful.
Dr. Faid said that the history of past sixty years testifies to the fact that the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have largely been fruitless. India and Pakistan tried at Tashqant in 1966, at Simla in 1972, at Lahore 1998, at Agra in 2001. These agreements failed because they sought to bypass the primary party the people of Kashmir. Similarly, agreement between Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru in 1952; and the pact between Sheikh and Indira Gandhi in 1975; and an agreement between Farooq Abdullah and Rajiv Gandhi in 1980s sought to bypass Pakistan, left the basic issue of Kashmir unsettled. So the time has come that talks must be tripartite. The reason that talks must be tripartite is that the dispute primarily involves three parties- India, Pakistan, and the people of Kashmir. But the primary and principal party is the people of Kashmir, because it is ultimately their future, the future of 14 million people of Kashmir that is at stake.
Dr. Fai said that the principles that are involved in the Kashmir dispute cannot be and should not be ignored. There are two: It is the inherent right of the people of all zones of Kashmir to decide their future according to their own will and second principle is that it is impossible to ascertain that will except through a vote under impartial supervision in conditions which are free from compulsion, intimidation and external coercion.
Dr. Fai reminded the audience that when the Kashmir dispute erupted in 1948, the United States took the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The U.S. was a principal sponsor of the resolution, which was adopted by the Security Council on 21 April 1948. The U.S. was also a leading member of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan that was set by the Security Council to resolve the issue of Kashmir. He said that it was most gratifying for us that on February 22, 2006, President Bush made it a point to clarify that the United States supports a solution of the Kashmir dispute acceptable not only to India and Pakistan but also to the people of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman, All Parties Hurriyet Conference said that the birth of Kosovo as an independent nation has given new hope and optimism to the people of Kashmir. He urged international community to understand the realities about the issue of Kashmir and persuade India and Pakistan to engage genuine Kashmir leadership with the peace process to settle the 61-year-old dispute.
Mirwaiz emphasized that for a lasting solution of the Kashmir dispute, it is the people of Kashmir on both sides of the Cease-fire Line who being the principle party, will have to play the key role. In the past, they have been dissociated with every effort made to settle this problem. Mirwaiz emphasized that the road to peace in South Asia lies in the final settlement of the Kashmir conflict.
Mirwaiz urged the Government of India to abide by its promise of zero tolerance on human rights abuses in Kashmir, release political prisoners and repeal draconian laws. The impact of the dialogue felt on the streets of Kashmir will enhance the peace process and may lead it to its logical conclusion.
Mirwaiz emphasized that the dialogue process need to be made all-inclusive. The representatives of minority community and the leadership of the indigenous militants must be included in the peace process. Then alone the initiative taken by India and Pakistan will succeed.
Mahmud Ali Durrani, Pakistani Ambassador to the United States said dialogue between Pakistan and India to solve the Kashmir issue has been a fairly regular feature. Unfortunately various initiatives and multiple rounds of dialogue since 1947 have not brought us any closer to the resolution of the dispute. Maybe there is a need for a paradigm shift. Maybe it is time to go back to the fundamental issue. What do the Kashmiris want? For this, the role of the Kashmiri leadership becomes central and defining while India and Pakistan become the facilitators. “In essence what I am suggesting is that they become equal participants in a triangular dialogue. This may not have been possible a decade back but now I feel this is a possibility,” said the Pakistani Ambassador.
Mr. Durrani emphasized now is the time to move beyond academic workshops to a more focused dialogue between the three towards a final settlement which would be acceptable to all parties.
Ambassador said that Pakistan believes that the Kashmir dispute is not about territory but the destiny of a people. And if indeed we believe that this is an issue about people and their aspirations then it is logical that their involvement becomes central. A solution that does not meet with the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiris and is forced on them will be short lived and in the long run will neither suit India or Pakistan.
Mr. David Wolfe, Expert on Conflict Resolution, Management and Negotiations from New York clarified that tripartite discussions on Kashmir are a necessity; a requirement in order to come to a viable solution acceptable by all sides, i.e., India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership. While recognizing the complexities and dangers involved in the Kashmir issue, most notably the nuclear dilemma, perhaps it is time that India and Pakistan allow the people of Kashmir exercise their right to self-determination before the decision of nuclear fallout is made on their behalf.
Mr. Wolfe said that once ideas are spoken, they have a chanced to live through action. Recognition by India and Pakistan of the Kashmiri leadership would be an enormous undertaking and changing of the guard. It would also establish legitimacy that the people of Kashmir have a vested interest as a stakeholder in the negotiations far greater than just keepers of the land. Once than happens, all parties will be required to make a commitment to a long lasting peace. A commitment that by no means is idealistic but necessary to finally end the suffering of the Kashmiri people.
The forum attended by Kashmiri leaders, and Indian and Pakistani diplomats was held in Washington DC on Wednesday.