The Kashmir T E L E G R A P H: Washington "Kashmir Peace Conference" a damp squib

India-based Kashmir Bachao Andolan -- the public policy think-tank on Kashmir -- has charged the United States government, especially the State Department, for patronising organisations like the Kashmir American Council and the Kashmir Study Group, which, according to the organisation, have been 'instrumental' in providing 'back-end financial support' to "terrorism" in the Indian States of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, India has termed the 'Kashmir Peace Conference' organised, among others, by the Pro-Pakistan Kashmir American Council -- taking place on July 24, 2003 at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC -- as "motivated" and a "misguided effort". The Indian Embassy in a statement made available to KashmirTelegraph.com made it clear that the Indian Ambassador to US, Mr. Lalit Mansingh "has no intention whatsoever of attending the conference".

Mumbai, India, July 24, 2003 -- Terming the 'Kashmir Peace Conference' organised, among others, by the Pro-Pakistan Kashmir American Council, to be held on July 24, 2003 at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, as "motivated", the Indian Embassy in a statement made available to KashmirTelegraph.com made it clear that Ambassador Mansingh "has no intention whatsoever of attending the conference".

Describing the conference as a "misguided effort", Sunil Lal, Press Counsellor, Indian Embassy, said that the Embassy of India is in no way involved, putting to rest any speculations that India might participate in the so-called 'Kashmir Peace Conference'. He also charged the organisers of the seminar for having "been less than honest in how they have projected participation."

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"The flier (issued by the conference organisers) says invited speakers include-- x, y and z but it craftily refrains from mentioning that this invitation is not acceptable to the Indian Ambassador," Mr Lal added.

It may be recalled that the clarification from the Indian Embassy has come in the wake of a strongly worded letter written by Romeet K Watt, Executive Director of Kashmir Bachao Andolan -- the Mumbai-based public policy think-tank on Kashmir -- to Ambassador Mansingh, asking him to not participate in the conference.

"Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai of the Kashmir American Council -- one of the co- sponsors for the conference -- has been actively raising funds and sending money to Jammu and Kashmir to fuel militancy. He has, I am sure your Excellency is aware, well-built Pakistani links and is associated with the fundamentalist, Jamaat-e-Islami," Watt had earlier written to Ambassador Mansingh.

The Andolan also has charged the United States government, especially the State Department, for patronising organisations like, the 'Kashmir American Council' and 'Kashmir Study Group', which, according to Watt, have been 'instrumental' in providing 'back-end financial support' to "terrorism" in the Indian States of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a separate letter to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Watt, said: "We are surprised that 'anti-India bashers' like Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Omar are being granted permission by India to attend the so-called 'Kashmir Peace Conference'. After all, one must not forget that these two gentlemen would be carrying Indian passports. It is imperative that the Indian government, with immediate effect, impounds their passports in the larger interests of the country."

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