Full Text of Yasin Malik's Press Conference held at Rajbagh, Srinagar on Dec.12, 2001
Respected Ladies and Gentlemen,

Most people know that I recently returned from the United States and that I had gone to the USA to seek medical care and had a second surgery in continuation of the treatment I received in my first visit to the USA earlier this year. By the Grace of God, the medical treatment that I received in Washington, D.C. was successful and I have recovered my health after many years of difficulties.

What most people don't know is that my second visit to the USA offered me yet another serious opportunity to propagate the message of our struggle for independence and to educate the international community about the Kashmir conflict and the plight of our people. And opportunity to learn more about international diplomacy and present perceptions on Kashmir. For too long, despite all of our sacrifice as a people struggling for freedom we have not been able to raise our voice loud enough at the international level. The perception of the international community about Kashmir has not been
in line with the realities on the ground.

When I was abroad in the Spring I had already been able to make some diplomatic inroads starting with the first ever international symposium on Kashmir held at Harvard University. And I had been able to continue that awareness work at a number of universities such as Yale University and other schools. I was also able to address all of the major think-tanks and foreign policy institutes such as the Center for Strategic International Studies, the Stimson Center, Brookings, and Amnesty International. I was also able to meet with a wide-range of policy makers, public opinion makers, academics
as well as students and the general American public. I was very pleased with the unprecedented diplomatic success in the effort we undertook last Spring to gain support for the cause of Kashmir's independence.

This time, as I reached just two days before the tragedy of September 11, I was very much present in the United States at a crucial and tense time which was a time when the United States became faced with very difficult situations and dilemma's and at a time when many started re-thinking their approach to international peace and security. On the day of September 11, I was actually in Washington D.C. when the dreadful and horrific attacks took place. After I had seen the terrorist attacks, I immediately condemned this along
with each and every Kashmiri as brutal attacks.

I was not sure what might happen in the first few days, but then I found a tremendous interest of very key people in the United States and the public at large in learning about Kashmir and in wanting to hear what is the Kashmiri perspective on this dispute and about how paece could be brought to our region.

What ensued after requires a long and involved discussion, but what is key is to understand is how Kashmir and the Kashmiri people have been affected or might be affected by September 11th and its aftermath. In the wake of September 11th Kashmir has definitely come back on the radar screen of the international community. In the War Against Terrorism there is a growing appreciation that its long-term success depends not only on military battles but of combating the roots of terrorism by combating the factors that
create an atmosphere of severe poverty and prolonged injustice. There is no doubt that after September 11 the world realizes that burning international conflicts like Kashmir should not be left to fester. I have no doubt that Kashmir, with its nuclear dimensions and with its strategic location, is being watched very closely and there is serious international concern for peace here.

At the same time, after Sept. 11th India started attempting to manipulate world perceptions and tried to link the Kashmiri struggle to terrorism and the happenings in Afghanistan. In a very cunning way, India directly and indirectly encouraged a few insignificant people to go for emotional gestures that would link Kashmir to Taliban or terrorism in the eyes of the world community.

I was very concerned that I should be able to expose this diplomatic strategy that India was attempting. After my surgery, I focused my diplomatic efforts on creating a proper understanding of Kashmir in the current international scenario. With help of my close colleagues in the United States we worked hard to convey our views. And I believe we were able to open eyes and change attitudes of many key people.

We had more than three dozen meetings with key people from such institutes as Amnesty International, Brookings Institute, Henry L. Stimson Center, Woodrow Wilson Center, Center for Strategic International Studies, the National Democratic Institute, Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and many others. On Capitol Hill I was able to meet with a number of key congressmen and senators, especially those on the committees related to U.S. foreign policy and South Asia. In fact, on November 9th I was invited to speak at a briefing of the Congressional Committee on International Affairs a day after Prime Minister Vajpayee had been there. I was also able to address some national news shows in the USA and Canada.

Further, my interaction with U.S. students and academics was successful in creating more international sympathizers of the cause of Kashmiri independence. It was a great honor for me to be invited as a guest lecturer in the yearlong Colloquium on Strategic Nonviolence organized by the internationally renowned Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. I also had the honor of speaking before a gathering of the South Asia Task Force of the Asia Society who hosted a reception for me. It was again another opportunity to speak to a prestigious gathering of two dozen experts, former U.S. ambassadors and officials and inform them about the plight and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

I believe that we were successful in convincing people that the time has come for the international community to work to resolve the Kashmir Dispute and I think that we have been able to make people understand in what way Kashmiris are suffering and in what atmosphere Kashmiris find themselves squeezed between India and Pakistan. We were also able to suggest a way forward.

Without offering all the details, I would like the people of Kashmir to know that my interactions in the United States were thorough and were at all levels of the U.S. socio-political framework and with those who really matter. And I say this because I want the people to know my honest and clear perception of where we stand today as a people struggling for independence, justice, and peace. I want Kashmiris to know that there are people in the United States who are concerned about our plight and have completely humanitarian concerns for us.

I am quite encouraged by the direction the international community seems to be heading on Kashmir. I think the visit of Collin Powel, the statements of a number of heads of state like Germany and Japan, other statements from the UNMOGIP chief in Srinagar, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson have all focused attention on the need to solve the Kashmir dispute. I am particularly encouraged that all of the major mentions of Kashmir by heads of state and heads of international organizations like the UN have re-focused attention on the people of Jammu & Kashmir. I believe the statement of U.S. ambassador Richard Haass, Director of Policy Planning, a few days ago in Delhi was quite in line the flow of the new international approach as he stated "The situation is not good in Kashmir, it is not good for the people of Kashmir, it is not good for diplomacy in Kashmir, and it is not good for India and Pakistan as it can always escalate into major conflict.

I believe the international community can be of great help in solving Kashmir and I believe it is worth it for the international community to get involved. Particularly, the United States has a role to play since it is for the first time in its history having good relations with both India and Pakistan. It is the belief of the JKLF that maintaining and building these relationships will give the US a better chance at taking a crack at Kashmir and helping all three parties to come to the negotiation table. I think the United States is concerned about peace and stability in the region and about the
suffering of our people here in Kashmir. While the dust is settling in Afghanistan, there also seems to be positive changes in Pakistan also that will help resolve Kashmir soon. The Need of the Hour for Kashmiris

If we are to achieve independence, I would like to tell the people that in the wake of the new international and regional situation that a real opportunity for peace and justice has come. The international focus is on Kashmir and in such a way that will help India and Pakistan realize that it is time to resolve this bloody conflict. I would like to state that the need of the hour is that people of Jammu & Kashmir speak out with unity of mind, heart, and purpose. We must not weaken our diplomatic strength - which is the
ability to give a clear direction to our cause.

If we can focus our energies in a constructive way we can bring pressure on India to read the "handwriting on the wall" and take measures to resolve this dispute once and for all. But if we are disunited how will we put such pressure on India and how will the world take us seriously as a people?

Appeal to President Musharaf and Prime Minister Vajpayee I would also like to make an appeal to President Musharaf and Prime Minister Vajpayee, who both seem to be leaders who wish to bring peace and stability to the region but who have till now have been unable to find a way to do so. Making peace will take courage and would be a display of tremendous
political will and vision. I would like to tell them just three things:

First, Kashmir - resolving the Kashmir dispute - is the direct and clear path towards permanent peace and stability for South Asia.

Second, Now is the time to start a real, sincere, and meaningful peace process on Kashmir and both leaders should start thinking about how to start such a process.

And Third, The people of Jammu & Kashmir cannot be by-standers anymore. Any successful peace process will have to involve the people of Jammu & Kashmir in a meaningful, direct, and effective way. It is our destiny at stake and it is our motherland in question.
Thank You.

Srinagar, Oct 29: In an unprecedented development, the chief observer of United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) today accused both the countries of playing political games in Kashmir and hinted at a possible American intervention in solving the conflict. He acknowledged that Kashmir solution was a tough task but refused to accept the cease-fire line as the international border and feared an escalation in situation in Kashmir. He called Kashmir a ' tormented country'.

Maj Gen Loidolt, while talking to media persons at Srinagar said that "All of us are aware of the situation in Kashmir and the games both parties (India and Pakistan) are playing with this tormented country. We all know there is no easy solution and especially war is absolutely no solution for Kashmir. It will be an issue for the US to solve it". He was briefing a group of reporters on the 50th Anniversary of the close-down of UNMOGIP HQ here for the next six months. Conceding that the United States had a role to solve Kashmir, Maj Gen Loidolt said that there were reasons for playing political games with the dispute in India and Pakistan.
"May it be diversionary maneuvers on the Pakistani side, to make India the real enemy instead of the US, or may it be the dawning of next election in India. It is an issue for US to solve it. And here (Kashmir problem) is fixing in black and white absolutely not possible. This problem is multi-layered," he stressed.
Answering a question he said that UN considers the Indo-Pak border as cease-fire line whose sanctity should be strictly maintained. "We don't call it the international border but border between Pakistan and Jammu-Kashmir. It's the official stance of UN," he added. The UNMOGIP chief's statement is significant as it's for the first time since its landing in Kashmir that comments have been made to openly question the Indian stand on Kashmir and signaled the scope for US intervention. The Observer Group has rarely interacted with the press in the past.

Loidolt said India and Pakistan fought three wars and the cease-fire line has now metamorphosed into actual Line of Control though, he insisted, it was yet to become the International Border. He said the relations between the two countries continue to revolve around those temporary agreements some of, which had the UN involvement. "And at the moment it seems to arise as an important issue again. This time presumably under the auspices of the USA". Apprehending deterioration in Kashmir situation in the coming days, he said it implied the added importance of the UNMOGIP in Kashmir. "My assessment is that situation will become more tense in the time coming, not only along the LoC but also in whole Jammu and Kashmir State. That means for us to continue implementing our tasks in the same correct manner as we did before."

The UNMOGIP chief, whose organisation is accused of maintaining a 'meaningful silence' on the human rights situation in Kashmir, said the Group cannot investigate the allegations but only forward them to UN headquarters. "It's not in our mandate and we have no right to investigate."
He admitted petitions and memoranda from separatist organisations continue to flood the UNMOGIP seeking larger UN engagement in Kashmir. "But we forward them to New York and dismiss any memorandum dealing with the involvement of the UN, wherever it may be," he added.
Then what is the role of UNMOGIP in Jammu and Kashmir? "Answering this question I have to be very careful and stick to realities and stand with both legs on the ground. India refuses any third party mediation and doesn't recognize the mandate of UNMOGIP. At the same time the situation on the ground changes day by day". He, however, refused to undermine the importance of the UN in Kashmir and demanded a greater control on the field activities in Kashmir. He said the mere presence and showing the UN flag was as important as the rest of their mission. "And the activity of UNMOGIP in the field must be controlled by us and not by the parties of the Kashmir conflict. Without UN presence, the development on the situation could be unpredictable. If there would be no UNMOGIP here, in my opinion, in case of a new conflict, a new UNSC resolution and Peace keeping mission, in the light of the standing Indian view, would be almost unimaginable."

He clarified that the task of UNMOGIP was to observe the developments pertaining to the strict observance of the cease-fire of 17 December 1971 and to report to the UN. "That means, we do not report to any party involved in the dispute over Kashmir and we are not reporting to the US, let alone we are part of the US." The UNMOGIP chief, who hails from Austria, made no bones about the restrictions imposed on his Group by the government of India. "Yes there are restrictions on us. We cannot visit the LoC as we get no cooperation from the Indian side. Though escort is provided, they cannot guarantee our security. India is very concerned about our security. So we don't go to the LoC." He said in Pakistan no security was required for the Group's visit to the border, but they cannot approach the notified area.

A special TADA court in New Delhi impounded his 'country specific' passport and denied permission to go abroad again on his return from the UK earlier last month where he spent several weeks following the completion of first phase of his surgery at Johns Hopkin Hospital in Washington. His arrested was condemned by leading Kashmiri as well as Indian and Pakistani human rights groups who protested strongly against the inhuman treatment of Mr Malik in prison. Earlier the judge rejected Malik's plea for a modification order which restricted his movement within and outside J&K. However, a Jammu court on Wednesday granted him permission to visit the USA to continue with the 2nd phase of life saving medical treatment.

He was received at JFK airport by a large number of Kashmiris and leading JKLF figures in the USA. He is staying with senior JKLF leader Raja Muzafar, in New York until he is moved to John Hopkins hospital in Washington next week for an operation.

Srinagar, 14 August, 2001

Srinagar 13 August, 2001

Indian government today took another draconian decision to jail a Kashmiri independence leader, Yasin Malik, after allowing him to go abroad to seek medical treatment. Yasin Malik was arrested and sent to jail today by a Special TADA court judge, V. K. Jain, in New Delhi.

He was at the court to answer questions regarding his earlier non-appearances over the past 4 months while on medical treatment in the USA. He had voluntarily appeared before the said court on July 30 on his return from London but the said judge ordered him to attend again on August 13. The same judge ordered his arrest and sent him to Tihar jail for an indefinite period. Malik's lawyer, Raja Tufail advocate, argued that the Indian government granted him a passport to travel abroad to seek medical treatment and that no restrictions were imposed on his leaving the country. He presented relevant medical and other document demonstrating that Yasin Malik had in fact been abroad for medical treatment for a number of ailments and underwent a major surgery in Washington DC in April. Raja Tufail argued that it was impossible for Malik to appear before the court while he was undergoing medical treatment and appealed to court to cancel his warrant for arrest but the judge dismissed his plea.

The 35 year-old Yasin Malik, who leads the campaign for independence from India, was visibly unfit and running a high temperature at the time of his arrest. He is suffering from a number of ailments as a result of torture and strenuous conditions he faced during lengthy periods of detentions in Indian jails over the past 10 years. Malik underwent a major life-saving head surgery this May in the USA and was scheduled to undergo a second operation in the first week of September.

A JKLF spokesman condemned the arrest of their ailing leader and said that the order to arrest him now was politically motivated. A human rights lawyer and JKLF's Diplomatic Bureau member, Barrister Majeed Tramboo in London condemned the Government of India for the politically motivated arrest and stated that the Government of India was persecuting Mr Malik for his views about the human rights situation in J&K during his stay abroad. He said that an international campaign for Malik's immediate release will be launched and human and civil rights organizations based in India and in Geneva will be approached to pressurize India to release Yasin Malik immediately. Ends

Srinagar, 1 Aug: Senior APHC leader and chairman of the pro-independence JKLF, Yasin Malik arrived to a warm welcome after completing his four months tour of USA and UK. Hundreds of JKLF activists received Mr Malik at Srinagar airport in the afternoon and greeted him with pro-freedom slogans.

JKLF leaders Bashir Bhat and Javed Mir, APHC chairman Ghani Bhat accompanied by Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Awaami Action Committee delegation led by Ghulam Nabi Zaki received him.

He was taken in a motorcade to JKLF headquarters, where thousands were waiting to catch a glimpse of their leader. They shouted pro-independence and anti-India slogans.

He briefly addressed the gathering and gave some details of his foreign tour and his medical condition. Malik's visit of America and England was in connection with medical treatment, for which he was granted a country specific passport for a limited period by the government of India after a prolonged campaign by human rights activists.

JKLF chairman addresses Harvard University symposium on Kashmir

In his speech on the subject of "Independence of Kashmir: Dream and Reality", Yasin Malik outlined the case and the remedy in its historic perspective and explained that the Kashmiris had exhausted all peaceful means to achieve their freedom and were compelled to take up arms when pushed against the wall. In an emotional appeal JKLF chairman emphasised that the US and the international community had a moral obligation to show human solidarity and help the people of Kashmir.

The event organized by the Human Rights Program at the Harvard Law School, headed by Professor Henry Steiner with the co-operation of various think tanks and institutions such as the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the John F Kennedy School of Government. Other panellists who presented their papers at the symposium included some of the top-most American experts and scholars on Kashmir as well as Kashmiri, Indian and Pakistan scholars. The speakers included Peter Rosenblum of the Human Rights Program at Harvard, Professor Robert Wirsing of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii, Dr. Siddiq Wahid from Ladakh, Professor Hassan Abbas at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Canada, Ms. Patricia Gossman Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Michael Krepon (U.S.A), President Emeritus, Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, Professor Stephen P. Cohen of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, Washington, Professor Hassan Askari Rizvi of the Political Science Department at the University of Punjab (Pakistan),Usmaan R. Ahmad of the Council for an Independent Kashmir USA (CIK-USA) also of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Roger Fischer of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard, Terasita Schaffer Director of the South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Professor Hurst Hannum Director of the Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Center at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Professor Sumantra Bose of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Howard Schaffer Director of Studies, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University.

The common consensus developed by each and every panelist was that the Kashmir dispute was a serious threat to international security that warranted increased and creative efforts by India, Pakistan, the leadership of Jammu-Kashmir, the international community, particularly the American administration to resolve it. The discussions also focused on the cultural and history aspects of Kashmir,
human rights abuses, building of a peace process and the viability of a re-unified independent state of Jammu Kashmir as a solution to the 54 year-old dispute. The conference also focussed on the constraints, limitations and acceptability of various options by India, Pakistan, China and the people of Jammu-Kashmir. Political history and present socio-political, economic and strategic concerns held by the various parties to the Kashmir were also debated.

Yasin Malik was introduced as a 'freedom fighter' when called to the podium and hundreds of American students and academics attending the conference greeted him with cheers. Political observers at the symposium called the discussing a major break-through for Kashmiris as their voice achieved eminent position as a prime party in the Kashmir dispute.

New York, 11th March 2001

The protesters were demanding action against army and Special Operations Group personnel who had arrested Jalil Shah from his shop. Known as Dr Jal to the locals, Jalil Shah a respected JKLF office bearer who gave blood for Indian earthquake victims a week ago and participated in Maqbool Butt anniversary day on 11^th February in Srinagar.

A police eyewitness said that RSS convoy from Srinagar reached the village on hearing the news of thousands of protestors and opened indiscriminate fire on the demonstrators killing six people. The IGP Kashmir range, Dr Ashok Bhan has told a local news agency CNS that the army opened fire on demonstrators at Hygam without any provocation. Those killed thus far include Jalil Ahmad Shah s/o Abdul Kabir Shah who was also killed two years ago by the army. Others have been identified Safder Ali s/o Ali Muhammad Dar r/o Bulgam, Manzoor Ahmad Parra s/o Muhammad Sultan Parra r/o Panzipora, Bilquees d/o Muhammad Maqbool Shah r/o Hygam, Atiqa w/o Muhammad Maqbool Shah, Haneefa w/o Muhammad Maqbool Rather r/o Hygam. Jalil Shah's sister Nusrat later succumbed to her injuries at Soura Medical Institute.

Those injured include Khatija, GM Dar, Muhammad Sultan Khuroo, Nayeema, Muhammad Rustam Dar, Shabir Ahmad, Showkat Ahmad, Javed Ahmad, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, Showket Ahmad Parray, Sajjad Ahmad Dar, Zahoor Ahmad Najar, Aijaz Ahmad Kaloo and Sweety. The injured were rushed to SMHS and Soura Medical Institute, Srinagar where the condition of some is stated to be critical. A JKLF spokesman strongly condemned the killings and called for a nationwide strike on Friday 16^th Feb. An APHC delegation lead by Javed Ahmad Mir was stopped on its way to Hygam near Pattan by troops opened fire on them narrowly missing Mir and Bashir Bhat. Daughter of India's former home minister Mufti Saeed, Mehbooba Mufti, MLA, was also arrested while taking out a procession in Srinagar against the killings. The puppet state legislatures also demanded judicial inquiry.

The State government has ordered a judicial probe into the killings but APHC have demanded an independent inquiry. The local police have lodged an FIR against one Captain Tewari at the Sopore police.