Kashmiri Pandits meet to express grief

London (8 September, 1997)

Leaders of the Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu) organisations from India, Britain, the United States and Canada have held an international 'summit' in London to work out a common strategy to address their social and political problems they face in Jammu-Kashmir.

Vijay Sazawal, National President of the Indo-American Kashmir Forum, welcomed the initiative Indian Prime Minister I.K. Gujral in visiting the refugee camps in Jammu and expressed the hope that it would be followed by "something more positive." Their overriding aim is to return to their homeland in the Kashmir Valley. "We are determined to go back. We will do anything to go back. All our people in refugee camps have a great determination to go back." No concern was expressed for the plight of majority muslims who have fallen victim to India's 600,000 occupation forces. Instead they blamed the 'fundamentalist' and 'foreign agents' for starting a fight for independence with India.

The group has set up a Kashmir Pandit Political Steering Committee (KPPSC), which will be based in Jammu and may be moved to Delhi or Bombay. The London meeting has drawn up a program of action for the next year, details of which will be announced at a mass rally in Jammu next month. Some 40,000 pandits have moved out from Srinagar to Jammu and twice as many have gone to refugee camps in Delhi but have refused to go back when asked by Kashmiri leaders.

Dr. K.L Chowdhury, pleaded with the international community to recognise the Pandits' problems and help them return to their homeland. Answering a question he said the Pandits were not much concerned with the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, though they wished them success. "Our problem is one for the Government of India and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir," he explained.

"The time scale is very critical," he continued, "we are losing people to death, illness and misery. This is the eighth year since we were forced to leave our homes and it is unacceptable." None of the Pandits who claim they were forced to leave their homes have been able to provide any proof of any kind of attacks from freedom fighters. Muslim politicians claim that the Pandits left their homes at the best of Indian government which his ignored their plight since then.

They also expressed their concern with the creation of the Jammu and Kashmir Autonomy Committee but remained silent on the issue of self-determination.

Over a hundred thounsand Kashmiri pandits have left the Kashmir valley in fear of reprisal attacks. Kashmiri freedom fighters and political leaders claim that the pandit community has betrayed their fight for self-determination and are playing in Indian government's hands. Nearly 20,000 Kashmiri muslim, most of whom were attacked by Indian troops have fled the Kashmir valley and have taken refuge in the Azad Kashmir territory. ENDS