Mirwaiz To PM’s Of India, Pak: Show Statesmanship

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to recognize the vital need for statesmanship at a time when the conditions and situation in Jammu & Kashmir continues to worsen and the dynamics between India and Pakistan appear to be heading on a path of deterioration.

In a letter to Prime Ministers of both countries Mirwaiz said, “We find ourselves compelled to write to you to communicate our concerns and convey an urgent appeal for peace on behalf of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. With great distress we have observed daily military confrontations along the Line-of-Control (LOC) over the past few weeks along with the increasing tensions, accusations and counter-accusations. We believe that the decision to put an end to such hostilities along the LOC in 2003 ceasefire was an act of great wisdom and courageous statesmanship on the part of your predecessors. Except for those who do not want peace to prevail in the region, nobody will gain if the present situation along the LOC is allowed to worsen. It would not only endanger the lives, limbs and property of thousands of Kashmiri civilians who live along both sides of the LOC, it threatens to cause a setback to your intended efforts to work with each other to put India and Pakistan on the path towards peace.”

“In the regards, we are very disappointed to observe that the situation over the last few weeks has already begun to create hurdles for a process of renewed talks between the two countries. In particular, we are saddened to observe the impact that a hawkish media and a type of negative domestic politicking in India are having. It is very regrettable to observe that various sections of opinion in India have been calling for a suspension of peace efforts between the two countries. In these militaristic entreaties and these shrill calls to abandon the path of dialogue, we fear that the foundation for a future war and a potential nuclear catastrophe is being laid,” he added.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman vowed that at a time when mistrust and hostilities are increasing, it is incumbent on the leadership of India and Pakistan to engage more directly, more urgently and more effectively in dialogue with one another. “Given the evolving situation in the region, any decision to abandon the path of dialogue would be a reckless decision. Indeed, it risks pushing South Asia towards the dangerous abyss of renewed confrontation, increased hostility, regional instability and even nuclear crisis,” he said.

“Therefore, we call upon both of you to recognize the vital need for statesmanship. South Asia is poised at a very critical juncture in its modern history. If bold and visionary decisions are taken today they could yield an entirely new reality for the region. If India and Pakistan are able to engage with each other to improve ties and peacefully resolve their differences and if they are able to focus on a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir Conflict, a new era of stability and prosperity could be unleashed,” he added.

Mirwiaz said in a matter of a few years, South Asia could become a much more peaceful and economically integrated region. “Rather than being focal points of violent conflict and human tragedy, places like Afghanistan and Jammu & Kashmir could serve as important hubs for transit and trade along a New Silk Road that would connect the economies of South and Central Asia. Such a scenario of peace would be to the benefit of all – the specter of nuclear catastrophe would be removed from the region once and for all,” he said.

However, the Hurriyat (M) chairman warned that if the path of dialogue and negotiation is abandoned and if India and Pakistan are unable to muster the political will needed to peacefully resolve disputes, South Asia will face a perilous future – one that traps the people of the region in continuing conflict, hostility, ignorance and poverty.

“As Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan you hold the authority and the responsibility to steer South Asia away from such a hostile and uncertain future. It is our request to both of you to take decisions that will ensure that the region does not become ensnared in renewed military confrontation and nuclear insecurity. Instead of allowing disputes to fester and worsen, you must make urgent efforts to address and resolve them once and for all. Instead of trying to resolve disputes through force and instead of engaging in acts of hostility and vengeance, you must resolve disputes through political dialogue and negotiation. You must make maximum efforts to gift our future generations with a bright and peaceful future,” he said.

“Therefore, we urgently appeal to both of you to proceed with plans to meet each other in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. It is very important that you do not allow the recent developments to hold back a renewed effort to engage in a process of dialogue. Even if it involves some political risks and even if there are additional negative incidents, you must proceed ahead and meet directly with each other and start working to reduce the current level of mistrust and defuse the present tensions along the LOC and elsewhere in the region.  Let a process of vigorous dialogue come to the front, not the beginning of a new chapter of violence and instability,” he added.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman appealed to both the Prime Ministers to together commit India and Pakistan to make a new beginning towards a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir Conflict. “Just as the Israelis and Palestinians have resumed talks after years of bitter hostilities and just as talks on Afghanistan are proceeding after years of war and violence, India and Pakistan must also come back to the negotiating table. Relations cannot be governed by force and, ultimately, international disputes cannot be resolved through military means. Instead, visionary leadership and a good faith willingness to negotiate are needed to resolve disputes. The requirements of justice must be fulfilled and creative political solution seeking must be pursued in order to reach peace agreements that are lasting and which are acceptable to all sides,” he said.

“Therefore, rather than avoiding negotiations, you must resolve to initiate more vigorous talks with each other and must agree to work towards the start of a full-fledged peace process focused on Jammu & Kashmir. To create new impetus and momentum for this, a clear framework for such a process must be developed, agreed to and focused on. In this regards, we believe that the two countries must address two critical pieces that have so far been missing in all the previous attempts to resolve the Kashmir Conflict,” he added.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman urged both the PMs to ensure that a renewed peace process on Kashmir is institutionalized and rendered immune to potential spoilers and domestic politicking. “All the major political parties and stakeholders in India and Pakistan must be formally brought on board and a strong consensus must be developed on all sides. In Jammu & Kashmir, there is already an emerging consensus that the Kashmir Conflict must be resolved once and for all. Even the so-called mainstream parties like NC and PDP have come around to the view held by the APHC and others that the Kashmir Conflict must be addressed politically and that it is not an administrative issue. You must work to develop a similar consensus across the spectrum in India and Pakistan. We request you to work together towards a developing a collective commitment by all major political parties for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir Conflict. There should be a shared commitment by one and all to engage in dialogue to achieve a peaceful, political solution to the Kashmir Conflict – one that is acceptable to all and one that is in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. This agenda for peace should be approved in both countries and the initiation of a peace process on Kashmir should ideally be endorsed at the onset with formal declarations by the Senate and National Assembly in Pakistan and by both houses of Parliament in India. The search for peace in Kashmir should become a common objective – shared by all, worked for by all, and risked for by all,” he urged.

“Second, you must engage the people of Jammu & Kashmir as an active and true partner in the search for peace. As masters of our own destiny, Kashmiris have a rightful place at the table and a primary decision-making role in any negotiation process on Kashmir. Neither India nor Pakistan can take a decision on their own in this matter and no lasting solution to the Kashmir Conflict is possible without the involvement, endorsement and acceptance of the Kashmiri people. Therefore, India and Pakistan must evolve a formal mechanism to directly involve Kashmiris in substantive dialogue and negotiations on Kashmir,” Mirwaiz added.

He claimed that if these two pieces are addressed while developing a framework for a new beginning towards peace, ‘we are sure that it will yield a dialogue process on Kashmir that will both sustain and deliver real and lasting progress to the benefit of all concerned.’

“While developing and implementing a solution may take considerable time, the process will become uninterruptible and irreversible and will produce results. It is our hope that you will give careful consideration to the concerns we have expressed and to our appeal for a new beginning. We request you to not abandon the path of engagement and diplomacy and to instead intensify your efforts. You must strive towards a lasting peace. It is our expectation that you will recognize your responsibilities in this direction. You must exercise your authority to take a bold decision on behalf of your countries and you must take a historical step forward for the sake of the region. We hope that you will take decisive actions to create a new beginning for a process of peace and stability in Kashmir and in South Asia as a whole,” he added.

“We remain ready and willing to contribute positively and constructively towards this achievement,” Mirwaiz concluded.

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