NEW DELHI: A joint American Russian “study mission” has rapped both India and Pakistan for taking mutually unacceptable positions on Kashmir, and said “there has to be a compromise” on the issue, while suggesting international intervention.
The team, Consisting of Prof. Stephien P.Cohen (University of Illinois), Prof.Leo E.Rose (University of California at Berkeley), Viacheslav Belokrinitsky, Sergei Kamenev and Vladimir Moskalenko, in its report submitted’ to the Asia Society and the Institute of Oriental Studies, states that Kashmir has implications for regional and even global politics.
At present the United States and other Western countries are wary of Kashmir’s potential to explode into large-scale war and ill entanglement with the spread of Islamic¢ extremism,” the scholars hold. China and Russia, too, are interested in the issue. Kashmir, the authors believe, contributes to fuelling the nuclear arms race in the most general form of such a compromise, the team feels would be the “sharing of responsibility by India and Pakistan for creating the situation in Kashmir, followed by (an agreement for) joint control over the State.
Within the framework of such an approach, it is necessary to move forward with such measures as the recognition Of a special status for Kashmir by India, the creation of an atmosphere of confidence between the populations of both parts of Kashmir, and an end to outside support for Kashmiri extremists and terrorists,” the report suggests. This joint India Pakistan arrangement, it says, could take place with the context of a “South Asia house,” a scheme of comprehensive cooperation between all countries of the subcontinent, perhaps leading to confederation that would include Kashmir.”
The authors view the Kashmir issues bundic of contradictions. “It is an internal Indian problem, it has India Pakistan ramifications, and it has regional and global linkages. Layered overall this is history of inertia, incompetence, personal ambition, neglect and exploitation.”
“The United States and Russia could promote, by means of goodwill missions and other mechanisms, a dialogue on Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Such a dialogue was stipulated in the 1972 Shimla Agreement in the first stage; these negotiations can be held one an irregular basis without preconditions and without a planned agenda. After sometime they may acquire a permanent Status with discussions of the Principle questions concerning Kashmir, Ata later stage, representatives of Kashmir could join in these talks,” the authors recommend.
“Russia and the United States could initiate, in the U.N. Security Council, a resolution that would State their concern about the confrontation in Kashmir and appeal for a peaceful solution. We would also suggest the convening of an international conference on Kashmir to which nonofficial would be invited,” the report says.
Suggesting that Russia and the US could offer their hap bilaterally, Jointly with other countries or through the United Nations, the report says: international lending agencies (the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) might find a useful role in supporting joint ventures in Kashmir (In mining, forestry, hydropower and so forth),” Referring to Pakistan’s strident propaganda against “Indian atrocities” in Kashmir, the authors Say this elicited an international response because of strict censorship on all news from Kashmir, restrictions on journalists, both Indian and foreign, made it difficult to get a true picture of events while some Indian reporters could visit “Azad Kashmir” (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) On the issue of Pakistan aiding militants in Kashmir, the “tudy mission” says. “According to forcing sources, some 60 such camps (for training terrorists) exist in Pakistan; half of them are situated in Azad Kashmir (POK) and half on Pakistani territory. Training was reportedly carried out by Pakistani military men, mostly retired.”
“In some camps they were assisted by Afghan Mujahiden from the Hekmatyar group, with the cooperation of the Pakistani International Services Intelligence Agency, there ‘is also. evidence that some Kashmir Muslims fought alongside the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, After the rebel victory at Khost in April 1991 journalists identified about 500 Kashmiri’s who had taken part in the bate.”
“Even the leaders of the main Separatist groups have undercut Pakistan’s Statements about the Spontaneous nature of the events in Kashmir. For example, the leader of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front, Amanullah Khan, disclosed in January 1990 that the protest in Kashmir had been carefully planned and supported by well-trained armed in Surgents coming from Pakistani territory.” “We received a curious response from senior officials in the Pakistan Government in Response 19 Our question regarding these gaining camps they stated that the Government did not initiate the creation of such camps, but they could exist beyond Government control.”
“We were also informed concerning the participation of Kashmiris in the Afghan war and Mujahideen in the event is in Kashmir. “The Government has nothing to do will this, but such participation may take place on a personal basis,” the paper says.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 14, 1993
