New Delhi, 11 December, 1998

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Univesal Human Rights Day, a 48-hour hunger strike to highlight human rights violations in Jammu-Kashmir was observed by JKLF chief Yasin Malik and his deputy Javed Mir and other APHC leaders including former Hizbollah group commander Shahid-ul-Islam who is out on bail. against gross human rights violations. APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was also present at the camp.

International HR Day : APHC demonstration in New Delhi

New Delhi, December 10

Kashmiri leaders and activists staged a protest demonstration on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. . Several indian political, social and human rights activists also participated including MPs in Rajya Sabha, Kuldeep Nayyer and Nirmala Deshpande, columnist Prem Shankar Jha, women activist Madhu Kishwar and human rights activists Tapan Bose, Gautam Navlakha and Balraj Puri. Meanwhile the Kashmir Valley today observed a total shutdown on occasion of the World Human Rights Day in protest of world silence against the Indian atrocities. The strike had major impact in the capital city as well as other major towns where most shops, businesses, banks, financial and educational institutions and even Government offices remained closed. Kashmiri Pandits who have migrated to Jammu also held protest meetings organised by Punan Kashmir and vowed to fight alleged violations against their community.

Earlier APHC held a photo-exhibition and distributed literature in near Red Fort in Delhi about the Indian forces' human rights record. Over a 100 people from Srinagar including top leaders such as Yasin Malik, Ali Shah Gelani, Abdul Gani, Abbass Ansari, Bashir Ahmad, Gulam Nabi Zaki, Dr Gulam Mohammed Hubi, Javed Mir, Ashraf Sehraie, Shiekh Zahoor Ahmad, Gulam Nabi Sumji, Jaffer Kashmiri and some victims of the atrocities were present at the protest. Similar protest functions were planned held in AK and in the UK.

Srinagar, 9 December, 1998

A hand grenade thrown at some people standing at a bus stop in Bandipura village killed three people including a woman and children. Kashmiri Mujhahid meanwhile clashed with Indian security forces in Kapwara.

Srinagar, Dec 7

While Indian forces and police were put on maximum alert in J &K a powerful explosion rocked fashionable Boulevard Road last night during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to the occupied State. The explosion took place just 3 km away from the guest house where Vajpayee was staying. The impact of the explosion was felt for 10 km. During his two day maiden visit to J & K the Indian premier announced that the Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which gives special powers to the state would not be tampered with. Rejecting his claims of J&K being integral part of India the Kashmiri All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said in a statement that the issue of Kashmir was taken to the UN by New Delhi and the worlds highest body had accepted the disputed status of Kashmir a where peoples right to self determination is an issue. APHC also rejected the notion of retaining of Article 370 or offers of 'internal autonomy' or changing of LoC into International border and said that solution could be possible if tripartite talks could be held.

"New Delhi must accept the reality and go for an early solution so that it helps them on politicaland economic issues", APHC chairman said. JKLF chairman Yasin Malik also condemned Indian government claims over Azad-Kashmir. Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Secretary General of the Kashmir Bar Association also condemned Vajpayee’s 'integral part' rhetoric on Kashmir. He said the Kashmir has its own political and historic identity and the state was a disputed territory on both sides of the cease-fire line.

Jammu, 2 Dec 1998

Two top Hizbul Mujahideen guerilla's were today killed in a by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Quila Mohalla, Bhaderwah. Indian Army claimed that arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.

Rajouri: Powerful bomb was blasted in Surankote, Manjakote no one was reported hurt. The explosion near SSB offices caused minor damage to adjoining buildings. Further clashes took place between Indian army and Kashmiri guerilla's in Nadiala Kredi in Rajouri last night.

Srinagar: Four members of the f Hizbul Mujahideen fighting Indian army were martyred during a fierce encounter with Indian forces at Doodhnallah, Kathus village in Pahalgam yesterday. They were identified as Nissar Ahmad Khan alias Arif of Livar village, Ghulam Hassan Bhat alias Umar, Abdul Salam Hajam alias Zahid and Mohammad Younis Waza.

London, 1 Dec 1998

British Home secretary, Jack Straw yesterday refused to release the two Kashmiri prisoners Mohammed Riaz and Qayyum Raja and confirmed that their jail terms, which were arbitrarily extended by a former home secretary will remain in tact. Both had denied their involvement in the murder of an Indian diplomat in Brimingham, UK, in 1984 but were found guilty by the court in February 1985 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Riaz and Raja were recommended to serve 10 and 15 years imprisonment respectively by the trial judge. However, using his discretionary political powers, Douglas Hurd, the home secretary, arbitrarily extended the jail terms by 10 more years against the recommendation of the Lord Chief Justice. In 1992 when Qayyum and Riaz came to know that of their 'tariff' they immediately challenged the home secretary's decision in the high court which was upheld in Dec 1994. The new Home Secretary then undertook to review the case under pressure from from MPs, Peers and human rights organizations but later refused to reduce their tariff.

The Labour home secretary's decision has caused distress amongst the Kashmiri community living in Britain, which was assured by the Labour leader before the general elections that if voted to power he would review the case sympathetically.

Delhi, 28 November, 1998

A prominent supporter of the Kashmiri cause in the House of Lords, Liberal peer Lord Avebury vice chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights group completed his visit of J & K to assess the situation for himself. He met with top Kashmiri leaders, opposition and government personnel during his 6 day tour which had been denied to him for the last 10 years

Rawalpindi, 23 Nov1998, JKLF CONVENTION IN AK

JKLF in AK held a historic Unity Convention here on Sunday. Several hundred JKLF members and district office bearers from Azad-Kashmir, Gilgit and Pakistan took part. Resolutions were passed and a new administrative body was duly elected with Dr Farooq Haider as the Zonal President and Zubair Ansari as the general secretary. Abbass Butt from JKLF in UK supervised the election process upholding the spirit of democracy in JKLF ranks. The JKLF in AK was split into several factions years ago but most had recently re-united under the leadership of chairman, Yasin Malik. Speaking through telephonic link from head office in Srinagar, Mr Malik reiterated his party position on the future of Jammu Kashmir and said that JKLF fight for re-unification and independence will continue at any cost.

"We are the torch bearers of the freedom movement and we pledge to our people again that we shall see the struggle through, come what may. We (JKLF) started the current movement and we shall see that its carried through to a logical conclusion". He emphasised that JKLF was fighting for a complete independence for the Kashmiris. "One day there will be a new country on the world map, where all people in J&K will be able to live in peace and harmony."

Other guest speakers included APHC leaders, Yousaf Naseem, G M Safi, Altaf Qadri and Majeed Tramboo from UK who commended JKLF efforts in the freedom movement. Hundreds of JKLF delegates from Azad-Kashmir, Gilgit and Pakistan including women participated in the emotional oath-taking ceremony. Anti-independence elements and an opposing faction had earlier attempted to sabotage the convention by having fictitious statements printed in the local press to add confusion by claiming that the Convention had been cancelled.

November 19, Sringar HAMEED SHIEKH REMEMBERED

Special commemorative meetings were held in Srinagar, Rawalpindi, London and New York to pay tribute to the JKLF founder/guerrilla leader, Shiekh Abdul Hamid and colleagues Mushtaq lone, Jameel Chaudhary, Fayaz Ahmad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad Kuttay, Manzoor Ahmad and Ghulam Ahmad Gujri on their 6th anniverary. They were martyred when their boat was bombarded by Indian security forces near Alikadal.

Large numbers visited the Idgah martyrs graveyard to offer fatiah today. JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and senior party leaders Bashir Butt, Javed Mir, Mohammad Salim Ghulam Rasool Dar, Shakeel Bakhshi attended the ceremony in Srinagar. A special book in Urdu and English was released today and Hamid Blood Bank, founded in the memory of Shiekh Hamid organised a donation camp at Idgah.

Meanwhile, APHC paid glowing tributes to Shiekh Hamid on his death anniversary. Similar tributes were paid by Kashmiris in meetings held in London, New York and Rawalpindi. Tributes were also pid to another stalwart, Ghulam Nabi Butt, younger brother of Maqbool Butt who was killed in an apparent road accident 2 years ago.

Hamid Shiekh, was the 'H' in the popular HAJY group of JKLF, which took on the Indian occupation forces with a storm in 1988. He was a former member of Islamic Students League took an active role in the MUF campaign in 1986. He was injured and arrested in early 1989 but released in return for Rubia Syed, daughter of the then Indian Home minister. After his release he went underground but was re-arrested in August, 1990, along with other JKLF top brass including the then chief commander of the JKLF, Yasin Malik. Hamid Shiekh was released in early 1992 but killed in November that year.

SRINAGAR, Nov 18

The crisis in Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) of Kashmir deepened as its senior leader and former Ameer, Ali Gelani made his differences with the current chief of Jamaat, G M Bhat, open in a press conference. He claimed that the new Ameer-e-Jamaat did not consulted him before addressing a press conference about Jamaat policy on armed struggle. In a 2-page statement issued by Ali Shah Gelani, he said, "I have expressed my differences with the policy adopted by Bhat Sahib at every level and I have written a number of letters to him in this regard which, when need arises could be published". He reiterated that Jamaat supported the armed struggle.

9 Nov. 1998

Latest reports from Srinagar suggest that Shariq Bakhshi brother of JKLF leader Shakeel Ahmad Bakhshi has been martyred during a fierce encounter with the special operations group (SOG) and 35-Rashtriya Rifles yesterday. Four other Mujahids belongings to Harkatul Mujahideen were killed in Peerbagh on the highly guarded Srinagar Airport road. Another was identified as as Altaf Ahmad of Batamaloo the other two were believed to be of foreign origin fighting with Kashmiri brothers.

JKLF members in UK and USA paid glowing tribute to Kashmiri Mujahideens and Shaheeds and saluted great sacrifices of the Bakhshi family in the current struggle. Shakeel Bakshi's elder brother Shoukat is still in custody and his house was blasted by the Indian army two weeks ago.

Srinagar 5 Nov 1998. DR WANI MURDERED

A prominent Kashmiri scholar, and a former JKLF activist Dr Ghulam Qadir Wani was assassinated by unidentified gunmen who burst into his home in Arin, Bandipura. Dr Wani and a niece were killed instantly while his daughter and a servant badly injured. No one has claimed responsibility but APHC source blamed the Indian army. Thousands of people gathered at his funeral including JKLF/APHC leaders and MLAs from Srinagar and paid rich tribute and hailed his contributions for the movement. Dr Wani was a former editor of a weekly newspaper associated with Jammat-e-Islami. He joined JKLF in 1988 as its publicity secretary. He was the founder general secretary of the Muslim Muthida Mahaz, which opposed Dr Farooq Abdullah in 1986 state Assembly elections. Dr wani stayed in Pakistan for 2 years and visited the UK 4 years ago using a Pakistani passport. When he went back to his home town, 3 years ago, he is said to have displayed disillusionment with many aspects of the movement and decided to stay out of politics, which many believe may have been the cause of his killing. His murder came as a shock to Kashmiris all over the world.

A JKLF spokesman paid tribute to Dr Wani and said that Kashmir had been deprived of another intellectual soul and that it was a sad day for Kashmir today. A spokesman for the Kashmir Watch in UK said that despite presence of sizable number of security forces in the area, gunning down of a person of Dr Wani's stature is bound to give rises to suspicions. Other Kashmiri groups in UK and USA, including KAC, JKHRC, JKDLP, NLF, Kashmir Freedom Movement also condemned. The AJK 'prime minister' Sultan Mahmood and opposition leaders also condemned the killing of Dr Wani. An APHC leader, Qazi abdullah, stated that Dr Ghulam Qadir Wani was "a greater writer and forceful orator and his death has created a vacuum in the Kashmiri leadership".

New Delhi, 3 Nov. 1998

A senior Kashmiri pro-independence leader, Abdul Ghani Lone was admitted to hospital today for major heart heart surgery. APHC leaders including JKLF chairman Yasin Malik were at his bedside today praying for his speedy recovery.

SRINAGAR, Oct 27

Life was paralysed in most parts of Kashmir as APHC called for an all out strike to mark the 51st anniversary of Indian troops landing in J&K today. Kashmiri leaders Yasin Malik, Javid Mir led a protest demonstration in Kokerbazar area but as they entered Lal Chowk, police burst smoke shells and resorted to cane charge and arrested them. Earlier another Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah was arrested during a similar protest when his DF Party supporters reached Lal Chowk raising pro-freedom slogans. Lal Chowk area was tense and extra troops were posted there. Strong protest demonstrations were held in Maisuma locality after the arrest of JKLF leaders. Police sealed all exits from APHC Offices at Raj Bagh and placed its Chairman A S Gelani under house arrest the night before. Similar protest marches were held in Pakistani controlled Muzafarabad, Rawalpindi and in London. Kashmiris in London held pickets at the Indian High Commission and at the House of Commons and called on the British government to play its part in resolving the Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, at least 14 people were reported killed in occupied Kashmir over the last 3 these days during clashes with Indian security forces.

Srinagar, Oct 22:

An APHC visited Bijbehara to pay tributes to 1993 martyrs (43 people were killed by Indian security forces during a procession to protest against the Hazratbal Shrine siege on this day). The delegation lead by JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik comprised of Javid Mir, Dr Ghulam Mohammed Hubi, Gulam Nabi Sumji and Ashraf Sehraie. Hundreds of locals converged on the cemetery and shouted anti-India slogans as the APHC leaders arrived early in the morning.

October 21:

An APHC statement condemned the raid on the house of senior Huriyat leader, Abdul Gani Lone at his Lonharie residence. Mr Lones colleagues and relatives were threatened by Special Task Force earlier.

Islamabad, 18 October 1997

The JKLF in AK held protest demonstrations, pickets and symbolic hunger strike in front of the Pakistani foreign office in Islamabad during the 3 day Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks over the peace situation in Jammu-Kashmir. They were protesting against the unwillingness of India and Pakistan to invite the Kashmiri leaders to the political dialogue in order to resolve the Kashmir issue.

On Friday 16th October, hundreds of JKLF members which included women and childern, lead by Dr Farooq Haider, Zubair, Ansari, Raja Latif, Sardar Qadir Khan, Khawaja Ghulam Mohammed and other office bearers held a mass demonstration in Islamabad. They were holding placards and banners shouting pro-independence slogans which included the calls to reject any proposals to divide the Jammu-Kashmir territories comprising of 84000 Sq miles area. On Saturday, 17th October leading JKLF members Raja Latif Tahir and Khawaja Ghulam Mohammed sat on a symbolic hunger strike for the day and on Sunday 18th October, the last day of Indo-Pak talks JKLF members picketed the Pakistani foreign office and distributed leaflets and handbills to domestic and foreign media correspondence, which condemned the Indian attitude and warned Pakistan against complacency and said that it was hurtful for the Kashmiri people that after many thousands of sacrifices Kashmiris were not being invited to discuss the possible solution for the crisis which had lead both India and Pakistan into nuclear arms race. JKLF demands included that all three parties should be invited to a meaningful internationally supervised dialogue in a neutral country. They also demanded that all foreign troops should be recalled from the J&K territories immediately if progress was to be made towards peace.

London, 14th October

Heads of JKLF branches in AK, UK, and USA issued a joint statement condemning the recent Indian task force attacks on the residence of chairman Yasin Malik and his colleague Shakeel Bakhshi in Srinagar. Dr Farooq Haider, M Younis and Haleem Khan said in a statement that it was another cowardly attempt to harass JKLF leadership. They reiterated that JKLF struggle for re-unification and independence shall continue at all costs.

Srinagar, 13 October 1998

A Badgum unit of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Indian police today arrested seven family members of a surrendered kashmiri 'militant' who deserted the Indian forces alongwith two of his accomplices today. Informed sources said Nazir Ahmad Malik, a former guerilla leader, was working with the district SOG unit after his surrender but had escaped from the SOG camp along with two of his associates and a large quantity of arms and ammunition. When the SOG personnel could not find Malik and his associates they raided his house at Kralipora and arrested seven members of his family. Witnesses said that they were mercilessly beaten up by the raiding party and looted the house contents and valuables.ENDS

Umar seeks US help in Kashmir settlement

JKLF headoffice raided, Malik family beaten

Srinagar, Oct 1, 1998

Late September News

September 29, 1998

JAMMU, Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged fire for about an hour Tuesday, killing nine armed men allegedly trying to cross into Indian held Kashmir at a border post is in the Ramgarh area, about 30 miles Southwest of Jammu.

Washington

Azad-Kashmir prime minister, Ch Sultan Mahmood, reportedly met deputy head of the US state department in his official capacity. He apprised Karl Inderferth of the political situation in the area and of the potential threat by Indian troops of another attack on Azad Kashmiri civilians. Mr Mahmood briefed his host of Indian armed personnel involvement in killings of innocent Kashmiris within A-K territory. He urged upon US government to exert pressure on India to resume a meaningful dialogue to resolve the question Kashmiri independence, where over 50,000 lives had been last.

Srinagar, September 28, 1998

JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik called for a tripartite dialogue on the issue of Kashmir and said that it was foolish and immature to think that Indian and Pakistani representatives could sit down and resolve the long-standing issue without the participation of Kashmiri leadership who represent 13 million people. In his statement issued in Srinagar, the JKLF chairman said that the paramount question was not about who should own what part of Jammu-Kashmir but how to seek to test the will of Kashmiris as to how they wished to determine their political future.

"All those who think that Kashmir issue is about a dispute of territories are absolutely wrong and should re-think about their position if that want to see a swift solution to the conflict. Kashmiris, he repeated warned, will not accept any decisions taken during such negotiations where Kashmiri leaders were not invited on equal terms ass the real party and the real victim in the despute", he said

Those sentiments were echoed by former APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq during a reception hosted in his honour by a JKLF branch in New York. Speaking at the JKLF fucntion in the city the visiting Kashmiri leader made it clear that there was no point in India and Pakistan carrying on with a political dialogue without the Kashmiri participation and that APHC would not be prepared to endorse such a futile excercise. Others speaking at the New York fucntion included Majeed Banday, APHC representative from Delhi, Raja Muzafar Khan, JKLF spokesman in AK and JKLF president in North America , Sardar Haleem Khan and others. Kashmiri leaders urged the American state departement that threat of a nuclear clash over Kashmir could not and should not be taken lightly. They also re-affrmed their commitment to continued struggle for their national cause and urged for unity amongst Kashmiri groups working abroad.

Hundreds of Kashmiris based in New York including leading 0members of the JKLF and other pro-independence groups held a picket at the UN headquarters as the Indian prime minister arrived to address the UN general assembly.

September 17, 1998

A 10 year old boy, Sajad Ahmed s/o Khazir Muhammad of Tehsil Sopore, a student of Public School Nowpora Jagir, died was killed when forces indiscrimnately opened fire. 12 other were injured in the action. One Ghulam Mohammad Lone was arrested and dragged by his beard.

16 Septermber,

Four Kashmiri girls were sexually molested by BSF soldiers in the busy Gonikhan Market. Shopkeepers rescued them and identified the culprits as R. S. Mathur and C Gosh from the 13 Garhwal army camp. Police SP South, Showkat Malik assured agitating protesters that an investigation will be carried out and those responsible will be punished.

Kashmir news: June, July & August 1998

August 25, 1998

JKLF chairman, Mohammed Yasin Malik, announced the names of the office bearers in AK (Zonal Convening Committee) for an interim period, today. The committee comprises of prominent JKLF leaders in AK including former members of Rauf Group, Amanullah Group and prominent activists of National Liberation Front and Mahaz Rahe-Shumari all of whom have come together to strengthen the independence movement under the JKLF banner lead by Yasin Malik. Following office bearers names were announced.

*President: Dr Farooque Haider (Rawalpindi), Senior Vice President: Sardar Qadeer Khan (Rawalakot) Vice President:Choudary Shabir, Secretary General: Zubair Ansari. (Mirpur), Deputy Secretary General: Nazeer Wani Advocate (Muzafarabad) Asst. Secretary General: Rafiq Asif Ch. (Kotli), Cheif Organiser: Kh. Ghulam Ahmed Butt (Muzafarabad), Publicity Secretary: Raja Latif Tahir ( Rawalpindi), Auditor: A.A.Malik, Finance Secretary: Mushtaq Ghazali ,Head Policy & Planning Committee: Kh. Kamal Ahmed Khan (Ex S.V. Chairman Rauf Grp). Former JKLF vice chairman Raja Muzaffar Khan was assigned as Zonal spokesman and will also be responsible for re-organising Middle East Zone. Elections will also be held for the IHK and overseas branches of the JKLF in due course. A sub-committee comprising of members from AK, IHK and UK has also been set-up to amend the JKLF Constitution. The Aims and Objectives of the party shall remain the same to further our goal for re-unified independent homeland.

Adding to his statement, Yasin Malik, said that it was unfortunate that despite the historic sacrifices of many thousands the dream of our martyrs has not yet been realised but we are committed to the cause of national freedom and shall not rest until the dream of Maqbool Butt, Ashfaq Majeed Wani Shaheed and Hameed Shiekh Shaheed is fulfilled.

The JKLF in UK /Europe and America have also welcomed the new setup in AK and pledged to work together closely under the proposed new constitution. UK president Mohammed Younis and North America president Haleem Khan said that time had come for JKLF workers to re-unite and regain independence.

August 24, 1998, Rawalpindi

London, 20 August 1998

Reports of Indian army laying siege in various districts reached here yesterday. Two people were reported killed in custody in Kupwara and another one in Handwara district. One Major Gupta reportedly entered a house in Anantnag and harassed women folk. Others towns that came under military siege included Kattua and Doda districts in Jammu.

 Srinagar, August 19

While appreciating the conferment of Hilal-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on late Syed Jalil Andrabi, Advocate, JKLF leader Yasin Malik called upon the international community to take cognizance of grave human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces in occupied Kashmir. He praised the contribution of Jalil Andrabi in the field of human rights and for the cause of the Kashmiri liberation. Meanwhile, Umar Farooq today received Hilal-i-Imtiaz from government of Pakistan on its Independence Day for his father Molvi Umar Farooq who was brutally murdered in May 1991. Mir Waiz Muhammad Farooq's killers have never been caught. The Indian police blamed his killing on Kashmiri dissidents.

Meanwhile, Indian troops destroyed a house in Kanihama by shelling. Three dead bodies were recovered from debris later. Two other innocent persons, Bashmir Ahmad and Shaukat Ali were also killed in Baribehak in Kupwara. Another Ghulam Nabi Sufi was killed in Handwara.

August 17, 1998

The house of a veteran pro-independence Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah was reportedly ransacked by unidentified gunmen in Anantag. His supporters claim it was the handy work of forces opposed to the independence option. Mr Shah was not at home at the time but his elderly mother was frightened off. Shah, founder leader of the Democratic Freedom Party had apparently criticised an earlier statement attributed to APHC chairman which seemed to favour accession to Pakistan.

Delhi, August 13, 1998

Two Kashmiri human rights activists were detained at IGI Airport in Delhi by Indian authorities in order to prevent them from going to Geneva to attend a UN Conference there. Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, secretary general of the Srinagar Bar Association and Ghulam Rasool Dar of JKLF were arrested at the airport despite having valid travel documents and visas from Switzerland Embassy in New Delhi. Both had been boarding cards but stopped from taking up their seats in KLM flight. Later, in a letter to the Chairman of the UN Sub Commission on human rights both complained of Indian government's 'undemocratic, unlawful and unwarranted' decision and called for international condemnation of the incident. Later reports said that New Delhi based Indian Human Rights Commission served a legal notice to Indian government challenging the detention of the two Kashmiri rights activists in the supreme court.

Srinagar, 10 July, 1998

JKLF chairman and his deputy Javed Mir and 14 other APHC activists were arrested in Srinagar earlier this morning as they lead a procession to Hazratbal. Curfew was imposed in Srinagar. Several APHC leaders were put under house arrest yesterday but both the JKLF leaders went into hiding and re-appeared this morning to lead a mass rally to the Hazratbal shrine. Reports of minor clashes were also received but no one is reported injured or killed so far. An All Party Hurriyat Conference spokesman has condemned the latest arrests and said that the police detained more than one hundred people in connection with the procession. Two days ago, Javed Mir was injured by the police when he tried to lead a procession on the occasion of Eid-Milad Nabi in Srinagar.

 SRINAGAR, 26TH JUNE 1998

APHC chairman, S A S Gelani and twenty of his colleagues were arrested in Pelawma distric after Friday prayers as a protest processions was taken out by visiting leaders to demand withdrawal of Indian troops. Hundreds of Kashmiri supporters gathered at a local mosque to greet their leaders but the police opened fire and tear gas to disperse angry crowds. The police has admitted that several APHC supporters were injured.

London, 18 June 1998

A letter from the JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was delivered to the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, yesterday by Azmat Khan. He was attending a reception at the prime minister's official residence of 10 Downing Street to celebrate Labour Party's historic election victory last year. Contents of the letter have not been made public. This was the first time a Kashmiri campaigner had been invited to a Downing Street reception.

15 June, 1998

Indian Special Operation Group (SOG) (J&K Police) arrested Mohammad Ramzan Wani alias Aajiz on Saturday 13 June 1998 at 8pm from his residence Shalimar Srinagar, his dead body was handed over to his family within 24 hours. Aged 68, Mr Wani S/o Abdul Razak R/o Nai Bagh Tral District Pulwama presently resident of Shalimar Srinagar, - a retired teacher was associated with Jama`at-e-Islami and active in welfare of Widows and Orphans field. His son and a son-in-law were also arrested with him but their whereabouts are not known.

Newly elected Chairman of the Kashmiri APHC, A S Gelani, has written to the foreign ministers of the G-8 nations, meeting in London, urging them to help resolve the Kashmir issue which he said had lead to dangerous nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. Highlighting the root cause of the conflict between the two neighbors he called for a "purposeful diplomatic exercise in order to achieve a permanent solution to the problem in accordance with the wishes of people of Kashmir".

The APHC leader rejected the calls for bilateral talks between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue said that emphasis should be placed upon trilateral talks, which would be a way of acknowledging the Kashmiri struggles for freedom and would also yield results. He also emphasised that a just and peaceful solution would also ensure peace and stability in the region and could result in disarmament of nuclear weapons in the sub-continent. Other Kashmiri groups based in Srinagar, Muzafarabad and various other countries also wrote to G-8 foreign ministers. The members of the JKLF in London held pickets at Lancaster House, the venue of the conference, and handed in memorandum to the individual ministers of the G-8 demanding tougher action by the international community.

Srinagar; 9 June, 1998

Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a prominent political figure was re-arrested within 48 hours of his release from the Central Jail in Srinagar after five and a half years detention. He was re-arrested from his Pampore residence on the intervening night of 9/10 June 1998. His arrest led to wide spread protest demonstrations in and around Pampore where nearly 10,000 supporters took to the streets. 

5 June, 1998

The UN security council reaffirmed its commitment to seek a solution to the Kashmir Issue during a meeting today. Five security council members met in Geneva today to discuss the security situation following Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests. In a two and a half page statement issued by the foreign ministers urged both India and Pakistan to cease any further tests and reduce tensions between the two countries. The statement said that India and Pakistan should resolve their differences over Jammu-Kashmir.

4 June, 1998

Life in the Kashmiri capitol Srinagar came to a standstill when a total strike was observed to coincide with the UN meeting in Geneva. The Kashmiri all party Hurriyat Conference called for one day strike to impress upon the world leaders that the Kashmir problem should be given priority in the wake of nuclear arms race in the subcontinent. The APHC has demanded that Kashmiri representatives should be given a seat at any possible dialogue between India and Pakistan and that the question of Kashmir should be resolved on the basis of internationally recognised principle of self-determination which includes the right to independence.

June 2, 1998

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Gauhar Ayub Khan has expressed the hope that Pakistan won't have to use nuclear weapons in case of an attack by India on Azad-Kashmir.

"Any military operation in a mountainous region, God willing, we shall be able to contain it by using (conventional) weapons and not nuclear weapons," Khan said in an interview with a Saudi daily. The minister was quoted as saying that with both India and Pakistan now possessed nuclear weapons and that Kashmir was the flash point.

In a CNN interview two days ago Khan said that "Pakistan was not after Kashmiri territory but was simply seeking that the people of Kashmir be given the right to self- determination. He said after settling the Kashmir issue the military confrontation would be reduced in the subcontinent. "We have no dispute with India on our international borders, and we can live in peace as good friends," he said.

BRITISH MPs URGE FOR KASHMIR RESOLUTION

ISHFAQ MAJEED WANI SHAHEED REMEMBERED

BLOODY CLASHES CONTINUE IN SRANAGAR

Geneva - March 20

News agencies expose polls farce in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Feb 29 (Reuters)

Kashmiris in USA protest against sham elections in Kashmir

AZAD-KASHMIR MINISTER DIES OF HEART ATTACK, HIGH COURT DISMISSES PETITION

MUZAFARABAD, 23 FEBRUARY, 1998

While the Indian government is trying to hold elections at gunpoint in the area under its control to legitimise its occupation of Kashmir, the Azad-Kashmir high court has ruled that the area under Pakistani control is nothing more than a province of Pakistan and that its much acclaimed 'autonomous status' is only a myth and that its Intrim Constitution as well as the position taken by the UN on Azad-Kashmir status does not make it an independent state.

Justice Manzoor Gelani ruled that the Articles 31-33 and 58 of the Azad-Kashmir Constitution-1974, surrendered Foreign, Communications, Defense and Trade powers to federal government of Pakistan and that Azad-Kashmir government was no more 'powerful' than any other Pakistani provincial government. His ruling came in response to a legal petition entered by Mirpur based Amin Shipping Corporation which questioned the legitimacy of Foreign Imports Tax Duty charged to them by Pakistan Customs Offices.

The Azad-Kashmir region, which some perceive as a semi-autonomous country with its own prime minister and president, has effectively been ruled by Pakistan since 1947, and since 1974 most decision making powers have gone to the chair of the Kashmir Council - Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, another writ petition seeking to disqualify the MLAs elected in the AK Assembly on 'foreign party' ticket in the 1996 elections is still pending in AK High Court. The petitioner in this case, Sardar Sayab Khalid of Muslim Conference and a former law minister, entering the plea that members of non-Kashmiri parties, i.e. Pakistan Peoples Party and Muslim League (J) are not State parties and that in accordance with the A K Interim Consititution- 1974 (Section 44) cannot claim to represent the State subjects. Ironically, Muslim Conference, which thrives on Ilahaq-pakistan stance in AK, has always opposed to allow pro-independence candidates to contest Azad Kashmiri Assembly elections.

Commenting on this situation, a JKLF spokesman in London regretting the lack of real power in AK said that moves to soften public opinion against permanent division of the state were underway and the courts were being used to that effect.

The pro-independence JKLF called for concerted effort by Kashmiri nationalist groups to join forces to fight 'imperialist designs' to divide Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The statement also claimed that JKLF contention of Azad-Kashmir adminstration being subservient and unrepresentative was upheld by the court and that its true character as a puppet regime to look after the interests of Pakistan was contradictory to Pakistani claims and postures on the issue at the international level, which, it claimed, was not helping the Kashmiris win international sympathy for their movement.

Meanwhile, Azad-Kashmir minister of Information, Hameed Mufti, who died of heart attack has been buried in Muzafarabad. Mufti, a former jounalist, who migrated from Bandipura (IOK) in 1973, joined the Pakistan Peoples party in 1991 and was given ministerial portfolio in AK cabinet in 1996. END

POLITICIANS CRY WHEN KASHMIRIS TELL HARROWING STORIES

Srinagar, 20 February 1998,

The chairman of Kashmiri APHC, Umar Farooq, told a news conference in Srinagar that unless the Kashmiri Pandits adopted a positive attitude, the problems of the migrants would not be resolved. According to a BBC report about 100,000 Pandits have fled their homes since 1990. Umar Farooq reiterated APHC call for an outside investigation into the massacre of 23 Pandits and also criticised political parties across India for failing to condemn the killing of nine Muslims by the Indian army.

Reacting to the latest arrest of two APHC activists, Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar and Abdul Hamid Pandey, APHC said that Indian government was showing signs of nervousness on the success of anti-polls campaign in Kashmir. Senior APHC leader, A Ghani Lone, G M Habbi and Shakeel Bakhshi are still in police custody since their arrest in late November last year.

Meanwhile, Yasin Malik invited world media to send reporters to see for themselves the poll's hoax in the name of democracy. In a statement from Srinagar, he said, that people enthusiastically supported the anti-polls rallies despite threats by military authorities and were turning up in large numbers at his rallies.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar papers decided to go on defying the government warning of dire consequences, if publication of anti-Indian material was not stopped. The puppet state government, last week, sealed the printing press of the daily Alsafa newspaper.

India's former home minister and senior Congress leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed daughter Mehbooba Mufti escaped unharmed today when a bomb attack was made on her life. No one has claimed any responsibility. Mufti and his MLA daughter, while visiting a remote village of Khirhama 20 kms away from southern district of Anantnag, earlier broke down in tears on hearing the stories of atrocities by India's Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and pro-India militants commonly known as 'renegade gunmen'. The Jammu based daily, Kashmir Times reported yesterday that villagers shouted pro-freedom slogans and started mourning their fate to Mehbooba Mufti who had come to visit them. The pair was told that a 14-year old girl Jabeena, daughter of a schoolteacher Ghulam Hassan Parray, was allegedly gang raped on the night of Feberuary 12-13. Villagers said that the RR Commander involved was identified as Sharma who was accompanied by renegade gunmen Tariq. Everyone had harrowing story to tell, reported KT. Ayesha 28, with her two months old baby in her lap cried before the visiting politician. Her husband Mohammad Iqbal was arrested on Feberuary 13, as he failed to attend the routine 'army court'. "They (army) are demanding two lakh rupees", the weeping women told the Mufti. Rahti, an elderly women of over 80, had her shoulders fractured because she had intervened when army men thrashed her sons. After hearing her full story Mufti broke down in tears. ENDS

KASHMIRI EXPATRIATES COMMEMORATE MAQBOOL BUTT ANNIVERSARY

Following the JKLF demo in London, Kashmiri expatriates, in New also commemorated Maqbool Butt anniversary here yesterday and pledged to continue with their struggle to achieve his goal of independence. A joint meeting was organised by the JKLF in New York to mark the fourteenth anniversary of the execution of Mohammed Maqbool Butt, the founder leader of the Kashmiri independence movement who spearheaded the Kashmiri campaign against foreign rule as early as 1963.

Several heads of Kashmiri organisations, activists and members JKLF renewed their commitment for independence during this unique gathering which was chaired by Dr Abdul Rehman Ubd, in Brooklyn. Kashmiri and Pakistani intellectuals and writers paid rich tributes to Maqbool Butt and condemned the Indian army's atrocities against innocent Kashmiris. They also condemned the brutal murder of 23 Kashmiri Pandits and demanded that both India and Pakistan must stop interfering in Kashmiri affairs and let the people of all areas of Jammu Kashmir decide their national destiny, which the sole objective their martyred leader.

Amongst the participants, members of the JKLF, Mahaz-RayeShumari, NLF, Peoples Party, PNP and Liberation League and speakers included, Dr Abdul Rehman, Haleem Khan, Dr Shafi Bezar, Dr Shafique, Faiq Saddiqee, Mujtaba Bahtti, Rizwan Hameed, Maqbool Sheikh, Zahoor Wani, Advocate, Ch Hukam Dad, Sohail Ansari, Rehmat Bahtti, Rauf Mustafa, Javed Anayat, Raja Tariq Agrwal, Sardar Nazam Khan. The rally was organised by Zaid Khokhar, Munir Baig, Nadeem Ansari, Khawaja Sadiq, Hajji Shafi Khan, Sardar Murtaza, Qasim Khokhar, Raja Nawaz, Javed Bhatti, and Saeeda Khan.

Kashmiri expatriates in New York also held a protest rally in Front of the UN headquarters, today, to protest against the holding of Indian elections at gunpoint in Jammu-Kashmir. They plan to hold further protest demonstrations on Friday 27^th February and on 6^th March at the UN buildings where Indian mission is housed in Ralph Bench Park. END

KASHMIRIS REMEMBER MAQBOOL BUTT, PLEDGE TO CONTINUE WITH HIS STRUGGLE FOR INDPENDENCE.

Indian army kills another 9 Kashmiris, 30 injured

JKLF condemn the cold blooded murder of 23 Kashmiri pandits

Indian repression continues amid poll campaign

 Srinagar, January 21, 1998

A prominent politician and social activist from Jammu, Master Bhagat Singh, who successfully contested the Assembly elections on a BJP ticket, has joined the All Parties Hurryiat Conference (APHC). He announced his decision during a function Rehari, in presence of senior Kashmiri leaders A G Lone and Yasin Malik last month. Mr Lone and other APHC activists Shakeel Bakhshi and G N Habbi have since been imprisoned by the puppet state authorities.

The Kashmiri APHC, an alliance of over two dozen freedom fighting groups in Jammu Kashmir have called for a total boycott of the Lok Sabha (Indian parliamentary) polls in Kashmir to prove to the world that Kashmiris will have nothing to do with Indian elections.

Mohammad Yasin Malik, the JKLF leader who was recently released from prison, along with Abdul Ghani Butt and Maulvi Abbas Ansari, addressing an anti polls rally in Milgund, Pattan appealed to the world community to pressurise India to stop its repression in occupied Kashmir. They reiterated their demand for internationally supervised plebiscite in the state instead of holding elections under Indian constitution.

In another rally held at Chotta Bazaar in Srinagar another JKLF leader, Javed Mir, said that the Indian government will not be able to conceal from the world that Kashmiris want no forced marriage with India and that election exercise was another excuse to increase military repression and persecution.

An APHC spokesman denounced Indian troops for increased acts of repression in occupied areas during the holy month of Ramzan. Pointing to the arrest of a Muslim woman by the Task Force in Batamalu, he condemned their heavy handedness. It was reported last week that another woman was gang-raped by CRPF men at the ancestral home of former Sadre-Riaysat , Dr Karan Singh in Srinagar.

Yesterday, a delegation from four villages in Islamabad (Anantnag) district told newsmen in Srinagar that the Indian troops had unleashed a reign of terror in their villages. They complained that not only violence was used by armed troops but they had switched off electricity to town and stopped villagers from going to town to purchase food and other essential commodities. They also said that four innocent people were killed by troops in Islamabad (Anantnag) and Rajouri areas.

Meanwhile, Kashmiris have criticised the puppet chief minister for not taking any concrete action following the burning down of historic Shah Hamdan mosque last month which was alleged to be an act of Indian troops. END

Kashmiri woman raped as India and Pakistan talk