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Besides UN, the
approach of India, Pakistan and the people of this disputed region
to solve J & K issue is quite different, with respect to UNCIP
resolution. Some UN member countries including UNSC permanent
members give their suggestions and advise to India and Pakistan to
settle J & K issue by mutual consensus according to the will of the
people. Some people of J & K demand the complete withdrawal of
Indian forces from Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK ) while remain mum
in case of Pakistani forces present in Balawaristan and Pakistan
occupied Kashmir (POK). Some people demand for third option (for the
whole J & K), while other parts of J & K demand f or their own
independence. While we the people of Balawaristan (Pakistan occupied
Gilgit Baltistan) demand for our own freedom. All these demands do
not coincide with the resolution of UN. While UNCIP resolution
demands India to withdraw bulk of its forces. It means India has the
right to keep 3 lakh (0.3 Million) of it's forces in whole state of
J & K by withdrawal 5 lakh (according to Pakistani claim of 8 lakh
i.e.0.8 Million Indian forces is accepted valid ). While Pakistan
has to withdraw all it's forces and civilians, who have entered the
state (Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied
Kashmir) after 1947. According UN resolution there is no third or
any other option except to vote India or Pakistan. In this
ambiguity, there is no chance of complete implementation of the 56
year old UNCIP resolution.
There is also flaw
in this long-standing issue because of the lack of leadership and
mutual understanding among all the parts of the disputed region. The
state of J & K (85000 Sq. miles) mentioned in UN resolution has been
occupied by three countries (i.e. India, Pakistan and China).
Further more the people of IOK psychologically divided in to 3 parts
viz Jammu (Hindu dominated area, Kashmir (Muslim dominated area) and
Ladakh (Buddhist dominated area). Pakistan occupied areas divided in
to 2 i.e. Balawaristan (consists of 28000 Sq. Miles Area of Occupied
Gilgit Baltistan) has the mix population of (Shia, Sooni, Ismailia
and Noor Bakhshi Muslims dominated area) and Pakistan occupied
Kashmir (consists of 4000 Sq. miles area of Sooni Muslims dominated
area). Pakistan further divided Balawaristan in to 2 by ceding 2500
Sq. Miles area of Shoomshaal, Hunza to China illegally for its
personal interest. All the above-mentioned parts of disputed J & K
have different ideas, theories and concepts to solve the issues of J
& K according to their own will and experiences.
Now may I call your
attention towards one of its part s to which as we call Balawaristan,
which is best known to you as Gilgit Baltistan, to whom the people
of J & K call Northern Kashmir, while government of Pakistan calls
Northern Areas (to engulf this disputed GOLDEN SPARROW) . We the 2
million people of Balawaristan have our own grievances being most
deprived people of not only this region but throughout the world.
Now I would like to
put some glimpses on its Political, Judicial, Human, Economical and
Cultural issue one by one so you may com pare it with IOK and POK.
There is a highest elected body name Northern Are as Legislative
council, which has no power to legislate even like a local body of
any city of Pakistan or elsewhere. Pakistan has imposed it's own
Minister to preside over this Council as well as to perform his
duties like a King of ancient age. Who has the power to dismiss this
elected body at any time, who can also employees any body from
Pakistan as Chief of Judiciary o n contract basis. Who has the power
of legislate to make laws by direct orders without consulting N. As.
Council or any person of Balawaristan. All political. economical and
administrative powers rest to the Minister of Kashmir Affairs and
Northern Areas affairs (KANA). Recently when the Council has passed
a resolution to finish the control of KANA, they were banned to
enter any government office in Balawaristan by Pakistani Minister
officially. This council has no power even to criticize Pakistani
bureaucrats who have been deployed in the region.
Once when a newly
elected lady member dire to criticize for her husband SSP Amir
Hamza’s suspension by KANA Minister; immediately after her speech in
Council meeting, her husband was dismissed. While another member
N.As. Council Mr. Saif-llr-Rehman was sent behind bars by charging
treason section, when he rebuked a non-local (Pakistani) employee on
his rude attitude against the local indigenous people. Later Rehman
was killed by a terrorist on the instigation and direction of ISI,
when the late member tri ed to bring harmony among the two sects
against the will of the Pakistani occupying forces. More than 100
political leaders and workers are facing sedition charges after
undergone severe torture and Jail agonies. Their fault was to
protest peacefully against the atrocities and occupation of Pakistan.
While we are observing that there are no such cases against the
political leaders of I OK instead of the fact that they are
struggling against India with arms. In spite of that Indian forces
are providing security to these supporters of militants (APHC).
As far as Human
Rights matter is concerned, Balawari stan (Occupied Gilgit Baltistan)
is a unique place of the world, where local indigenous people have
no right to file a writ petition in Balawaristan or any where of the
world against Human Rights violation. Where head of Judiciary is
appointed on contract basis. As many as 5 terrorist training camps
(besides locals, Kashmiri, Afghani and Pakistani nationals) have
been est ablished throughout Balawaristan, as a result many of our
youth have lost t heir lives, many families lost their properties
and became homeless but nothing was paid to them in return. Our
youth (Northern Light Infantry) were sent to Kargil as mercenaries
by Pakistan as a result more than 900 NLI youth were lost their
lives, 1000 wounded and became disable and 40 missing. T he most
barbaric role of both Pakistan and Indian Army was that, Indian Arm
y caught more than 50 NLI soldiers at different places of Kargil in
1999 war and asked, if Pakistan Army accepts NLI soldiers, they will
be treated prisoners of war per Geneva convention. But Indian Army
shot them on the spot when Pakis tan Army denied accepting them.
Indian Army buried 300 dead bodies of NLI soldiers on Kargil
heights, when Pakistan refused to accept their bodies by accepting 2
bodies of its own nationals.
Pakistan has also
occupied the vast areas of Balawaris tan (Chitral and Kohistan) due
to apathy of the world community. Economics: Pakistan earns more
than 20 Billion Rupees from the Mineralm Tourism, Water, custom,
forest and Indirect tax from Balawaristan annually and pays only one
billion annually (development, salaries and the to meet the
expenditures of occupying forces) The people of Balawaristan are the
poorest people of the world, because their resources are being
usurped by Pakistan in spite of its disputed nature.
Culture:
Unlike other parts of J & K, Pakistan
intentionally abolished "ESTATE SUBJECT
RULE" to settle its nationals, terrorists and drug smugglers to
change the demography of this part. Just like Talibaans, Pakistan
Army headed by a Pathan general demolished our historical places and
built Markets for Pathan drug and arms smugglers. As a result the
rich culture and history of Balawaristan has been vanished in mostly
towns.
I would like to
elucidate one thing, which confused so me intellectuals and writers
about the accession of Balawaristan. Unlike IOK, there is no
accession with Pakistan ever taken place. There are many grievances
of other parts of J & K against Pakistan and India. But you
can Judge yourself and compare the hardships we the people of
Balawaristan are facing.
I think, we must
take an advantage of this dialogue process step forwarded by India,
so as to create mutual consensus on at least minimum points by
maintaining the will of our respective parts people by accepting the
large differences of each part. This is a moral duty of our large
populace Kashmir (Valley) to accommodate all 4 parts of J & K (Balawaristan
(Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan), PoK, Ladakh and Jammu) by
endorsing their demands and apprehensions as far as the future fate
is concerned; otherwise this conflict will not be resolved forever.
Of course today the turmoil is going on in Valley (the are of 80 KM
long and 28 KM width) of Indian side of J & K. It can be shift to
other parts of disputed J & K tomorrow, if the civilized world doe s
not give proper attention of their peaceful demands today. That is
why, there should be multiple options to solve the J & K issue
forever.
Now, I would like
to conclude my submission and grievances by putting forward a
formula for your kind consideration, to solve J & K long outstanding
issue, according to the will and wishes of all five parts {(i.e.
Kashmir (Valley), Jammu, Ladakh, POK and Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (OGB)}
by following the guidelines of UN. The will of the people should be
ascertained in two phases. 1). First, ask the 5 parts of disputed J
& K, whether they want to vote for FREEDOM or to merge with India or
Pakistan. If all 5 parts votes come in favour of India or Pakistan
then no need to adopt second phase, this is done . If all 5 parts
votes are cast in favour of FREEDOM, then second phase of
vote/plebiscite/ referendum starts. In second phase, the question:
2. (a) To vote for the whole J & K state
(Consist of 85000 Sq. miles App.). If all 5 parts vote in favour of
the whole J & K, it is done OR (b). To vote one part with other one,
two, three or four parts (c). To vote for their own part (individual
part). Each and every part of J & K unit (i.e. OGB, POK, Ladakh,
Kashmir and Jammu ) should be considered as individual voter as well
as candidate, but both Pakistan and India should be considered only
candidates not voters. After withdrawal of foreign forces,
terrorists and citizens according UNCIP resolution,
elections/plebiscite/referendum should be held within the period of
5 years under the supervision of UN forces. Within the period of 5
years India and Pakistan should be allowed to campaign by media
only, but the people of all 5 regions of disputed J & K should be
allowed to campaign by all peaceful means. I think this formula will
lead towards peace and tranquillity among the people of all 5 parts
of J & K particularly and India and Pakistan usually, if this is
implemented.
Author is the
Chairman
Balawaristan National Front (BNF) |
