Intra Kashmir dialogue, third party mediation Urged
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and President Peoples Muslim League Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has suggested intra-Kashmir dialogue as well as third party mediation to resolve the issue on the disputed Himalayan region.

Addressing a news conference at the conclusion of his European and UK tour here on Tuesday night, he said peace process appear to have stalled between Pakistan and India and there was now a need for arbitration by the third party.

Sultan recalled that major outstanding issues in the past between Pakistan and India such as the Tashkent Declaration, Indus Water Treaty Accord and the Rann of Kutch were settled through international mediation.

He said during his visit to Brussels, Sweden and Norway and his talks with various officials and political leaders, he stressed on settling the Kashmir issue through the good offices of either European Union or Oslo.

In this regard he mentioned that Norway can play an effective role pointing out Nordic state efforts in Sri Lanka and the Oslo Peace Accord between Israel and Palestine State.

The former AJK Prime Minister said Norway enjoys good relations with both Pakistan and India and being one of the richest country in Europe it harbours no imperialist ambition nor any business interest in the sub-continent.

“Therefore, in my opinion Norway is a position to play a mediatory role on the Kashmir issue,” he said.

Furthermore, Sultan said,establishment of Kashmir committees in the Parliament of various European countries could also play a constructive role in eliciting support for its cause.

He said such committees were already functioning in Norway, EU, UK while efforts being made to launch similar bodies in Swedish, French, Finnish and German Parliaments.

The Barrister spoke of the importance of involving Kashmiri leadership in the peace process and said without their participation, the process could not move forward. He said intra-Kashmir dialogue could lead to some kind of a acceptable solution to all the parties.

He said decision of Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support India’s bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations has not gone down well with the Kashmiri Diaspora in UK.

India, he added, has not moral justification to be a permanent member of the Security Council without first resolving Kashmir issue.

To show their displeasure, Sultan said, the Kashmir UK community has launched a drive and will present a signed petition at the Labour Party’s annual conference in September this year.

The ex-AJK Prime Minister pointed out the intention is to make obvious to the Labour leadership that the Kashmiri community may remove its support unless UK’s backing for India on UN seat is withdrawn.

He also announced to hold international conference on Kashmir either in London or New York to highlight the issue and the need to resolve it at the earliest as the region remains central to good relations between the nuclear-armed Pakistan and India.

The Barrister informed that according to former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, both Pakistan and India had reached settlement on Kashmir under American pressure and only signatures were required on the deal when the Judiciary issue erupted.

He explained that under this deal the Line of Control was to be declared as an international border. “Had this happened, we would have opposed it tooth and nail because of its unacceptability to the people of the entire State.”

Regarding the recent national elections in Pakistan, he said, these have raised expectations of fresh polls in Azad Kashmir as he claimed the previous one was heavily rigged in 2006.

Peoples Muslim League party member from Leepa Valley Chaudhry Rashid criticised the slow pace of reconstruction process in the earthquake hit areas and alleged misappriopation of funds by the various agencies.●