JAMMU: Four top JKLF leaders Javed Ahmed Mir, Ghulam Abbis Beg, Shabir Siddique and Chulam Nabi Bhat suddenly appeared at & Jan.22 congregation at Badgam and announced that the Front had not given up its struggle for an independent Jammuand Kashmir.
They made it clear that both India and Pakistan would have to wake up to the reality of a “third option” of an independent status for the Kashmins and that in any future talks between the two countries, the People of Kashmir would remain an “unavailable third party.”
This is one of the many divergent voices being heard these days in the valley. Never mind if they sound contradictory or make the confusion worse confounded. The only thing that emerges clearly from the statements made by leaders of different separatist outfits is that no one has the courage 10 call a halt to the gun culture which has been causing havoc among the people. Yet, most of the separatist groups have been advocating a peaceful way to achieving their goals. The qualitative difference between the demand of the JKLF and other “separate Organizations is that while the former wants an independent nation for themselves, the latter want for be part of Pakistan.
So, the pro-Pakistan Jamait-i-Islamia seeks withdrawal of Indian forces from the entire Kashmir valley and the implementation of United Nations resolution for holding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Dukhtarani Millat (Daughters of Islamic Faith), the Jamaitlinked women’s militant group which considers merger of Kashmir with Pakistan as the first Step towards the final goal of Pan Islamic mule in the Indian subcontinent, contends that the Government of India would have to finally concede the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris.
Headed by Aysea Andrabi since 1987, when the Muslim United Front (MUF) launched its agitation against the rigging of Assembly elections by the then National Conference Congress combine, DukhtiraniMilat has become a force to reckon with in the Valley. It enjoys the full support of the Inter Service Intelligence of Pakistan which has been drawing girl recruits for subversive activities from the Milat ranks.
In an interview recently, Aysea outightly rejected attempts by certain militant groups to make Kashmir struggle “secular” in outlook.
Veteran Kashmir Shia leader, Maulana Abbas Ansari, who was released along with Lone and Geelani after 20 months of detention last summer, is for tripartite talks among India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir for hammering outa lasting solution to the Kashmir tangle.
The Maulana, who was once the convenor of MUF and now heads AnjumanIIthadul Muslimeen and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberalion Council, asserts that disputes of political nature do not normally get solved by bullets and bloodshed but by negotiations.
None of the leaders, either belonging {0 political parties or banned militant outfits, including the pro-independent JKLF leadership, thinks that elections would Solve the problem in Kashmir. “We can have elections for plebiscite,” says Maulana Abbas Ansan.
Ahsan Dar, former Hizbul Majahideen chief, who has floated a new outfit called J&K Muslim Mujahideen, also appears to have veered round the idea that peace full negotiations alone could solve the problem. He says his organization was ready to lend support to all “potential political leaders with clear thinking and clean past.”
The People’s League, whose leader Shabir Shah, known for his secular credentials, has been under continued detention for the last two years, has vowed to continue the struggle for self-determine a won. He too, like the JKLF, would like the third option of an independent Kashmir kept open for the Kashmin Muslims.
Like other political leaders, Shabir, too, does not think the gun can find a solution to the Kashmin problem. But, like many others, he also feels that the gun culture has given a boost to their “fight” for secession. There is also another side to it. Most of them fear the militants. “Who knows who will be on their hit list tomorrow.”
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammed Shah, President of the Awami National Conference, has also begun veering round [0 the view that the “most practicable, honorable and peaceful solution’ to the Kashmir tangle lies in acting on the UN resolution.
Slah demands withdrawal of security forces from all public places in the Valley and a roundtable conference of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir to hammer out a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 29, 1993
