Kashmiri seminar KARGIL SAGA and the KASHMIR DISPUTE

Over 50 delegates from a UK based community organisations who participated in a seminar held in Watford town hall under the auspices of JKLF (UK &Europe) expressed deep concerns over the situation on 'LoC' in Kashmir and declared that the underlying cause of tension was the unresolved issue of Kashmir, which had to be tackled in order to avert a war between India and Pakistan. Kashmiri speakers at the seminar said that India and Pakistan should resolve their differences through dialogue but must involve the Kashmiris in the final decision to resolve the longstanding issue.

Delegates repeatedly pointed out that Indians and Pakistanis did not enjoy the basic eminities of life and billions were living below the poverty line and yet both countries were engaged in developing military hardware to destroy each other. It was pointed out that the Kashmir Dispute concerned the inherent and inalienable right of the people of Jammu-Kashmiri to determine their future without conditions but the history of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan is evident of their inability to resolve this or any other issue and therefore outside mediation was imperative which would accommodate the Kashmiri leadership as a prime party to the dispute.

The Seminar was attended by representatives of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Kashmir Freedom Movement, J&K National Liberation Front, Muslim Conference (Q and S groups), Peoples Party Azad Kashmir, Muslim League, Al_Ansar, India Forum, Council of Khalistan, Liberal Democrats and the Kashmir Human Rights Movement. Some scholars, writers and members of the Pandit, Sikh, Pakistani communities were also present.