Taking a strong pro-Kashmiri stance, acting Chairman of Hurriyat Conference, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat said that Kashmiris are the masters while as India and Pakistan are just two parties to Kashmir issue.
“Attacking ambulances and vehicles carrying ailing and thus resulting into their death can’t be part of resistance movement. If it is, I better distance from it.
The stone pelting incidents in Kashmir lack discipline and direction and therefore can’t be equated with the Intifada of Palestine where discipline is the hallmark.”
“You can’t equate owners with the claimants,” Prof Bhat said in an interview, “Kashmiris have their own history; own culture and have been making sacrifices for their cherished goal and therefore no talks or agreement, where Kashmiris are not a part, could solve Kashmir issue.”
Advocating that the dialogue is the only civilized institution to resolve conflicts in contemporary world, Prof Bhat said that even after waging wars, people had to settle issues through talks.
“History doesn’t have many examples where wars have resolved conflicts, but yes, dialogue has,” Bhat said.
Negating the impression that the recently restarted dialogue process between India and Pakistan has no focus on Kashmir, Bhat said that whenever India and Pakistan talk, Kashmir is there and it will be there in any future negotiations.
“They (India and Pakistan) are entangled in Kashmir issue since six decades; they have fought three wars; Pakistan has got bisected. How could they afford to discuss anything without Kashmir,” Prof Bhat said.
Prof Bhat believes that unresolved Kashmir issue is hampering the progress and prosperity of the two regions and the entire sub continent.
“India has more compulsions to resolve Kashmir,” Bhat said, elaborating: “Growing influence of China in politics and economy; linking of Kashmir and Afghanistan and India’s urge to secure a seat at United Nations Security Council and to emerge as a world power will force it to talk and resolve Kashmir.”
When asked that at the moment the two countries seem focused on other issues (water and terrorism) and not Kashmir, Prof, in his typical philosophical style said:
“Kashmir Koi Gudya Nahin Ki Hindustan Aur Pakistan Iss Ke Saath Kheel Kheel Kar Apna Dil Behlain; Kabhi Iss Ko Sar Pe Bithain, Kabhi Jaib Main Rakhian Aur Kabhi Paoun Ke Neeche. (Kashmir is not a doll which India and Pakistan will play with for fun; resting it on head at one time, putting it in pocket and then trampling over it the other time).”
When asked that reports are suggesting that Pakistan was inviting the leaders of its choice to Islamabad for talks and have dropped some, including him, from the list, Prof said: “Talks invitation, from Pakistan or India, comes to the Chairman and then it is his discretion to choose his team, there is no dictation.”
Hurriedly adding that his passport has already expired and therefore he may not be in a position to visit Pakistan, Prof Bhat stressed that it was the right of Kashmiris to decide who goes to talk and there was no scope for dictation.
“Kashmiris have to assert their position, keep their heads high and not bow before anyone,” he added.
When asked that should there be an autonomous nationalist voice in Kashmir, Bhat said: “My point is that Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris. Kashmiris should neither thrust themselves on others nor allow others to thrust upon them.”
Dispelling the notion that Pakistan was dictating the agenda to Kashmiri separatist leaders, Bhat said: “Pakistan has all along been our advocate; it has suffered loses for our sake; it has all along helped us and hopefully will continue to do the same but not as a master.
“We have aversion to masters. India tries to be master, we are fighting against it and therefore Pakistan too is acceptable only as a friend.”
Responding to a question that Pakistan was seen as giving more leverage to Syed Ali Geelani, Bhat said that both factions of the Hurriyat stand for the same cause. “The difference is of the approach and strategy,” he said, adding, “Pakistan, like us, too believes in the institution of dialogue and is therefore trying to rope in all voices for the purpose.”
Prof Bhat said that hard stances would not help anyone as it is the flexibility, without compromising the basic principles that could help find Kashmir resolution.
He made it clear that attack on senior Hurriyat leader, Fazal Haq Qureshi has not cowed down him and his colleagues.
“Though I too am a man of flesh and bone, but once you are in the midst of a revolution, such attacks don’t scare you away,” he said. (Source SANA March 06, 2010)
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