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We want progressive and democratic Pakistan
By Shaukat Kashmiri
‘We
want India and Pakistan to have friendly relations so that there could
be peace and stability in South Asia. But before they reach that stage
- genuine friendly relationship between both countries - Kashmir
dispute has to be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri
people.’ This was said by the JKLF leaders in a reception given to them
in Switzerland by Sabir Malik, a Pakistani community leader.
Sabir
Malik while welcoming Abbas Butt and Dr Shabir Choudhry said, ‘I am a
Pakistani nationalist and my loyalty lies with Pakistan, but I do
admire your struggle and have great sympathy for you people.’ He said,
‘Love for Kashmir is also in my blood, but national interest of
Pakistan is paramount to me. I like Kashmir to become part of Pakistan
but if people of Jammu and Kashmir want to have their own independent
country, free from both India and Pakistan, I will accept that as well’.
Abbas
Butt appreciated these sentiments coming from a loyal Pakistani, and
said ‘We Kashmiris are not against state of Pakistan or India, but we
are against their policies which want to keep people of Jammu and
Kashmir divided and deprived of independence.’ He further said if
people of Kashmir get their independence then we can all live in peace
and side by side and work for peace and prosperity of the entire
region. We have many things in common and it would be good to work
together for peace, stability and prosperity of South Asia’.
Sardar
Shaukat Kashmiri said, ‘People of Kashmir living on the Indian side of
LOC had complaints against India and they are showing their resentment
against that. We people on this side of the LOC also have genuine
complaints against the attitude and role of Pakistan, but to date we
have not taken arms against Pakistan because we believe in resolving
issues through a process of dialogue’. He further said, ‘Pakistani
governments have exploited our resources and have deprived us of basic
human rights especially in Gilgit and Baltistan’.
He
said, ‘There are many examples and one can be given to prove this
point. Take example of Mangla dam which was built to meet water and
energy needs of Pakistan, but people of Mirpur had to suffer because of
this. People who were uprooted in 1967 have been not settled yet and
Azad Kashmir government did not get any royalty for this, and yet the
Pakistan government has decided to upraise the dam again which will
further uproot more than hundreds and thousands people’.
‘Similarly
earthquake victims are still suffering in tents and the resources and
cash money collected for this purpose has been diverted and
misappropriated by Pakistani officials. When we complain against such
misdeeds we are declared as anti Pakistan and Indian agent, and this
does not help to create cordial relationship between both communities’.
Dr
Shabir Choudhry said, ‘We also like Pakistan but like other people we
also love our motherland. At present, Jammu and Kashmir is not legal
part of any country, as future of the State is not determined yet. But
if Pakistan wants to divide Jammu and Kashmir and join a conspiracy to
keep the state divided and deprived of independence then we have to see
what is good for us’. He said ‘We want to see stable and peaceful
Pakistan which can play its due role in the community of nations. A
stable, democratic Pakistan which is at peace with itself and its
neighbours is in the best interest of the region. It will help people
of Pakistan to prosper and forge friendly ties with other nations’. He
said, ‘Image of Pakistan abroad is not very good and good Pakistani
people have to take a lead to change that image’.
Nasir
Aziz Khan, while addressing the audience emphasized the need of working
together. He said, ‘we nationalist Kashmiris need to work together to
get that right message across. We need to reorganise the struggle on
secular and nationalist lines, as religious element will cause more
problems in future’. He said, UKPNP is a true progressive nationalist
party which wants to set up branches in all major cities of Europe so
that Kashmiri workers are able to lead and project their miseries and
exploitation in their own region internationally, as well as can take
part in international labour movement effectively. The workers of UKPNP
are struggling to counter activities of those elements that are
communalising the struggle by making it Jihad and Islam versus other
religions. He said, ‘these people are not only misusing the funds and
commercialising the struggle but damaging it. He further said that
UKPNP is natural ally of Pakistani and Indian masses. We want Indian
and Pakistani people have their basic rights. We would like Pakistan
become a true democratic country and dictatorship and feudalism should
be abolished. UKPNP is against use of religion in politics or against
enemy as weapon .We are secular democratic people. Our party has long
history of struggle and scarifies. We are state victims and state
institutions have always been used against us.
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