Kashmir civil society says no substitute for K-resolution

Flaying Indian authorities for failing to hold its troops accountable for grave human rights violations in Kashmir, members of civil society on Sunday emphasised that there can be no substitute for resolution of Kashmir issue and that the recently concluded elections have no bearing on the intractable issue.
They were speaking at a discussion organised here by Centre for Peace and Progress (CPP) on ‘Jammu and Kashmir-The Road Ahead’ attended by people from both pro-India and pro-freedom camp.Stating that there are thousands of “Kasabs” in the Indian Army, lawyer and human rights activist, Mir Hafizullah said India should book the state actors involved in the human rights crimes in Jammu and Kashmir.“There are thousands of terrorists in the Indian Army, CRPF, BSF and other military groups. Here state actors are committing crimes and roaming freely. If India has handed over a list of 40 non-state terrorists to Pakistan for extradition, why is India not convicting the state actors of terrorism,” he questioned.“If they can bring Monica Bedi back to India, why are not they extraditing killer of Jaleel Andrabi Major Avtar Singh from Canada,” he added.Questioning the credibility of the recent assembly polls, senior lawyer and constitutional expert, Zafar Shah said, “We have to see that the elections took place in presence of more than seven lakh troops and we have also to see whether voting was a voluntary act of people or not.”“Even Sonia Gandhi is misinformed about the elections,” he said, adding that people here voted for development.Expressing disappointment over the fracture-prone dialogue process between India and Pakistan, Zafar stressed the need of strengthening the same.Senior Hurriyat (M) activist, Ghulam Nabi Hubbi also said that elections have no impact on Kashmir issue, “a fact accepted by Indian civil society as well.”Stating that Kashmir dispute can be resolved in a phase wise manner, academician and noted political commentator, Hameeda Nayeem emphasised, “However, there can be no substitute for resolution of Kashmir issue. India is trying to create sub-narratives and sabotaging the rights movement here.”Former National Conference leader, Abdul Rashid Kabli said, “People have voted for their internal problems and they made it clear that it has no bearing on Kashmir issue.”“Army has big role in the human rights violations in the Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.Chairman People’s Democratic Front, Hashim Qureshi said that pro-India parties have been promising development from the past 60 years, but nothing has happened on ground. “For how long will pro-India politicians rely on this much beaten discourse,” he said.Advocate Shaheen of National Conference said, “Omar Abdullah has publicly accepted that the elections are for solving day-to-day problems and it has nothing to do with Kashmir issue. I believe if this issue is solved, every other matter will be automatically addressed.”Senior advisor, Rafiabad Rural Development Foundation, Carin Jodha Fischer said that greater economic self-sufficiency for making people able to make choices is necessary here.Senior journalist, Abdul Rashid said, “Press here is facing challenges and India, claiming to be world’s largest democracy, should either cancel the registration of all media organisations here or allow us to work freely.” Referring to the “denial of justice” to the detainees, Mir Hafizullah said, “Detainees here are not getting justice and the cases are pending from years without any trial.”About the Truth and Reconciliation Commission idea put forth by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the rights activist said, “TRCs can be set up only after the resolution of the conflict which has not happened here. Besides we are demanding setting up of an independent commission to probe human rights violations which has not been met.”CPP chairman, O P Shaw who coordinated the discussion termed it as a step to bridge the gap between Kashmir and Indian civil society.Among others, Hurriyat (M) leader, Abdul Rashid Hakim, National Democratic Conference politician, Abdul Gani Naseem, representative of Fazlul-Haq-Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.