Bradford, 12th September, 2000

Leaders of the UK chapter of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front JKLF have warned against experimenting with Kashmiri freedom movement by forces hostile to the independence movement in Kashmir. JKLF leaders outlined the dangers of 'solo flights' in a specially convened meeting of their Central Committee over the weekend to take stock of the recent developments in Jammu Kashmir including the offer and subsequent withdrawal of the 'Hizb Ceasefire' and the 'autonomy proposal' by the puppet state legislature.

The meeting presided over by its UK president Shabir Choudhry was told by general secretary Azmat Khan that forces hostile to the idea of an independent Kashmir were busy in their attempts to undemine the JKLF ideology and that it was clear from some of the statements, which appeared in the press that certain forces were at work to this end. The timing of the 'cease-fire' announcement was questioned and it was revealed that while Majeed Dar went to Srinagar via Dubai on a Pakistani passport the fact that he waited until the APHC chairman election was over before making his announcement pointed to the fact that there was a more sinister plan beneath this 'noble cause'. Azmat Khan quoted sources as saying that Majeed Dar had been sent to Srinagar to announce the cease-fire on Ali Shah Gelani's de-selection as the chairman of APHC in order to undermine its popular public mandate.

"Its interesting to see that Mr Dar went ahead and implemented the plan anyway once he became aware of the 'ground realities and the aspiration of Kashmiris including the difficulties faced by the common people", Mr Khan said. JKLF leader warned that a dangerous trend had already been set by those claiming to be friends of the Kashmiris and any further attempts to undermine collective leadership could pose grave consequences which would only help India consolidate its position and hard lined attitude.

The JKLF Central Committee members and office bearers which included former president Mohammed Younis, Cllr Masoom Ansari, Munir Khan, Ahsan Ul-Haq , Liaqat Ali, Liaqat Choudhry, Abbass Butt, Asim Mirza, Sarwar Hussain, Cllr Qazi Sadique, Talab Hussain and Sagir Ahmed and Khalid Mahmood, renounced the 'autonomy resolution' of the puppet state assembly as a none-issue but said that the puppet state assembly in Azad Kashmir had no right to condemn or condone the act of an equally imposed and disliked body.

The central committee appointed Barrister Majeed Tramboo in London as UK spokesman of the organisation. Other organisational matters were also discussed and decisions taken. The meeting hailed the APHC and particularly JKLF chairman Yasin Malik's efforts to unite the Kashmiris under one banner and hoped and prayed for his speedy recovery from ill-health. JKLF members condemned the extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by Indian forces and hailed Amnesty International's timely intervention in this regard. Ends