Gajinder Singh, Chairman Dal Khalsa, Germany
The four Western tourists taken hostage by shadowy Kashmiri rebel group “Al Faran” recently completed a year in captivity with conflicting reports on their wellbeing. [would like to make fresh appeal to all Kashmiri groups to pool their sincere efforts to end the ‘sad abduction chapter’ once and for all, Tam doing this because I am deeply concerned, “that India is exploiting the situation, particularly the abduction of the four foreigners in the International media.
Tam aware that Kashmiris are undoubtedly being suppressed and they have very few options open to them, to attract the world attention toward the naked Indian repression. But if they have abducted foreigners for this purpose, they must realize that this Very tactic is serving India’s interests and is damaging their just’ cause. Obviously, New Delhi wants to extract as much mileage from this issue.
Al Faran was unknown to the Kashmiri people before the abduction was carried out. The group has no base and backing in Kashmir and It is widely believed that this particular group is a “dummy” sponsored and run by Indian intelligence agencies. By mobilizing the world’s opinion in its favor, the Indian Government would then be able to clear the way for staging of an election to the J&K Assembly. Publicity of militant actions always serve government’s interests, which needed public sanction to introduce new measures of repression against freedom fighters as it has done before in the case of Sikh struggle in Punjab.
Last week, Jane Shelley, the wife of a kidnapped American Donald, appeared before the Press and appealed for the release of her husband; she met Indian Home officials and will also be calling on Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan with the hope that the latter can persuade the kidnappers to release the four innocent foreigners. Similar appeals came from the brother of kidnapped German Citizen, who is/among the four who were abducted, Mrs. Schelley’s decision to appeal to the kidnappers through Bhutto might indicate that the Kashmiris listen only to the Pakistan. This will only strengthen India’s allegations that Pakistan is involved in the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.
Therefore, I urge the Al Faran group if they are sincere to their freedom cause to understand the extent that the Indian government has gone to tarnish the image of the freedom fighters and instead make political capital outfit. The group should pay attention to the desperate appeals of the families of those whom they abducted that still remain hopeful despite the conflicting reports on the situation.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1996
