WASHINGTON: In a major policy-shift the World Kashmir Freedom Movement has urged the militants in the valley to abandon their present tactics of ‘using random force and instead depend on worldwide lobbying to achieve their political objective

Obviously the appeal which formed part of the nine-point policy resolution calling for a political Dialogue and a representative govt in Kashmir adopted here on Saturday took note of the international outcry against the recent kidnappings and killings of foreign tourists including those from Israel.

According to a movement’s spokesman the new policy unanimously approved by its international conference would serve as a basis for the world-wide lobbying effort to draw attention to the nights of the Kashmiri people to self-determination as promised by successive UN resolutions

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Jamsheed Marker and its First Secretary in the UN Mission Ashraf Qureshi were among the main speakers at the conference held at Marriot Hotel about 700 delegate turned up

Others who spoke included: Lord Erie Avebury Chairman of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Committee US Republican Congressman Dan Burton Dr Abdullah Omar Nasseef Secretary-General the Muslim World League in Mecca and Mushahid Husain noted Pakistan journalist.

Indian Ambassador to the UN Chinmoy Gharekhan also figured in the list of speakers But Indian sources later said that Mr Gharekhan’s name was including without his consent.

Lord Avebury who spoke about the sufferings of the people in the ‘Indian occupied Kashmir’ wanted the UN Security Council to restore Kashmir on its agenda.

He also suggested approaching the UN committee on decolonization. Kashmir had been reduced to the status of an Indian colony he alleged.

Two US Congressmen Wally Herger (Republican) and Vic Fazio (Democrat) and Democratic Party Senator Howard Metzenbaum sent messages pledging support to the conference.

The participants a Majority of whom were Kashmiris living abroad and activists from the valley stressed the need for intensifying the movement taking advantage of the world situation marked by the disappearance of the cold war and the prevalence of the new spirit of freedom as manifested in Eastern. Some Khalistan supporters were present at the gathering.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 2, 1991