Author: Pawan Durani
Publication: thekashmir.wordpress.com
Date: January 6, 2007
URL: http://thekashmir.wordpress.com/2007/01/06/kashmir-compromised-pandits-forgotten/
I would surely be recommending the autobiography
of General Musharraf to everyone. And Indians in particular. Not for the reason
that you would imagine that it is well written, not for the reason of its
wide publicity, but for the reason that it gives an insight into the cunning
and non trustworthy behavior of General Musharraf.
In his autobiography, In the Line Of Fire,
General Musarraf does not mince words in criticising his seniors in army and
accepts that he is not one of those who has been disciplined in his life.
Apart from his own past leaders in army & Politics he makes fun of India
too. The same person is being now branded world over as the only chance of
settlement of "Kashmir Issue" and that has made the world leaders
pressurize India in a hurry , a hurry where India is likely to compromise
a lot and Kashmiri Pandits to lose almost everything.
THE KASHMIR FORMULA !
Last year General Musharraf gave an idea of
Kashmir being divided into different zones and withdrawal of army from two
regions in Indian Kashmir ie Baramulla & Kupwara . It need not be mentioned
that these two regions happen to have the largest infiltration of terrorists
and one can very well imagine the sate if India chooses to reduce its troops.
However last month Musharraf gave his famous Four point formula, which shockingly
was welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh. However one thing
which most of us have missed out is that the four point formula did not come
overnight. The Formula talks of joint supervision of the seven regions . The
formula was infact presented long back by KSG (Kashmir Study Group in US )
It was December 1st 1998 that the formula was presented by Kashmir Studt Group
,headed by Farooq Kathwari , and the group members are various representatives
of House of Representatives and academics.The group proposed ""that
a portion of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir be reconstituted
as a sovereign entity (but without an international personality) enjoying
access to and from both India and Pakistan ". You may very well understand
why the suggestions came first from the US and why US Govt. hails the four
point formulaIn 1999 Farooq Kathwari met Dr Farooq Abdullah in Jammu and immedietly
after that the National Conference demanded more autonomy and proposed the
creation of the Pir Panjal region comprising the Muslim-majority Rajouri-Poonch
and the Chenab valley region comprising Muslim-majority Doda district and
the Muslim parts of Udhampur district, thus dividing Jammu province on religious
lines. Similar proposals were made for bifurcating the Ladakh region into
the Muslim-majority Kargil region and the Buddhist-majority Leh.The controversial
report of the Regional Autonomy Committee (RAC), tabled in the J&K Assembly
by National Confrence and now maybe in the process of being implemented, bears
striking similarities with the KSG proposals. And its no matter of accident
that hush hush trips are supposedly being made by Kathwari to Islamabad and
New Delhi.And I would like to add that Mr Kathwari is one of the most successful
Kashmiri Businessman who supports independance of Kashmir. Kathwari owns Ethan
Allen , an upmarket furniture company ,which among other high profiles has
White House as its customer.Farooq Kathwaris two sons had died in Afghanistan
when they had joined the "Jihad"
WHAT PAKISTAN GOVT SPOKESPERSON STATES:"
Pakistan never claimed Kashmir to be integral
part of Pakistan. What we said is Kashmiris should be able to decide their
future. We hope they would opt for Pakistan. This is what they have been saying,"said
Tasleem Aslam
WHAT MUSHARRAF HAS IN MIND FINALLY :
September 2006 ,General Musharraf while speaking
in Governors house in central London ,was spelling out his vision of Pakistan
and how Pakistan has progressed during last few years, he was greeted with
emotionally charged slogans of Pakistan zindabad. But suddenly some of the
Kashmiri invitees started shouting Kashmir Banega Pakistan to which first
General Musharraf said 'zaroor' (certainly) in a slow voice which was heard
only by those on front rows.But as the the slogans grew thicker and louder
he smiled and then said ' naroon say bhi banega aur aqal say bhi banega' -
Kashmir will become Pakistan through slogans and through wisdom' suggesting
subtely that his government's Kashmir policy is based on wisdom.
INDIAS RESPONSE :1 ) Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, said he welcomed "all
new ideas with an open mind" and that it was time both countries work
together for a new future. "In the last few days, many suggestions have
come and I welcome all of them with an open mind. We can create an atmosphere
of peace and tranquility through mutual consultations and co-exist peacefully,"
he told a public meeting here. 2 ) Pranab Mukerjee , Minister Of Foreign Affairs
,India : The fact that the Lok Sabha had passed resolutions declaring the
two states as an integral party of India did not make them non-negotiable,
Mukherjee said .( Dec 14th 2006 )3 ) Ghulam Nabi Azad , Chief Minster J&K
: Mr Azad has urged Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss opening of
more cross-border points when he visits Pakistan .Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad said here on Thursday that there was no problem with the President Pervez
Musharraf's idea of "joint management" of the divided state of Jammu
and Kashmir.Presently Mr Azad is talking of limited joint management. WHERE
DOES THAT LEAVE KASHMIRI PANDITS ?The picture on the wall is becoming clearer.
One should be ready for more Musharraf proposal during Mukhejis visit to Pakistan
and then a blue print of Indias compromise on Kashmir when Manmohan Singh
visists Pakistan. The pressure is visible and what surprises me is that the
media underplays all these events . Is Media being gagged or being maneuvered
to do so ? In all this situation , the only possibility left for Kashmiri
Pandits is to assert them to be the party of the dispute . Come with their
strongest demands which include a separate Homeland for them. If Kashmiri
Pandits still wait for the day when Kashmir will be signed off, they would
have only history to look at. Time has come when the battle lines have to
be drawn . With rest of Kashmiris , with the Indian Govt and with the different
negotiating parties. A solution should not be possible without aspirations
of Kashmiri Pandits demand for Homeland , else we would have "visitors"
with free passage ,whom we once termed as "Qabaalis".
Join Hands, Indians, if not now…. you
will be the villains in history books of Kashmiri Pandits.
