Interview of Hashim Qureshi, Chairman JKDLP with KNS (2011)
Srinagar/ KNS
Terming
both India and Pakistan as occupying countries, Chairman of Democratic
Liberation Party, Hashim Qureshi stated that the farce of bilateral talks has
been going on for Six decades in the past only to keep Kashmiri nation in a
state of suspense. If both countries leave respective parts of the State free,
this could be the only lasting solution to vexed Kashmir problem.
Criticizing
the Hurriyat leaders, he asserted that they are ignorant about the real meaning
and implication of patriotism. By misleading the people they serve only self
interests. Calling last year’s agitation as peoples’ movement, Hashim Qureshi
said that Hurriyat leadership had made the movement a hostage to strike calls. “If
we are to open our mouth and divulge the facts, the whole thing may end up in a
catastrophe of sorts”, he claimed.
In
a special interview with KNS, the Chairman said that Pakistan is an occupying
country like India. As such, she cannot be the advocate of Kashmiri nation. If
Pakistan was truly a sympathizer and advocate of Kashmiris, it would not have
split Azad Kashmir into two parts. He said that on one hand Pakistan
arbitrarily changed the constitution of Azad Kashmir and on the other hand she
feigns to be a sympathizer of Kashmiris. In regard to Kashmir, Pakistan wants
to assume the role of the judge, the jury and the hangman. She supports and
props up those who serve her agenda in Kashmir.
Wishing
success to Indo-Pak talks Hashim said that 10.5 million people of the two
countries have been held hostage to a scenario of fear and trepidation
emanating from prolonged Indo-Pak animosity. He wants the two countries resolve
their differences and improve bilateral relations as that would lead to peace
in the region.
On
being asked why he was not invited to the meeting of Kashmir leaders with Pak
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani, Hashim said that he considered both India and
Pakistan occupational countries in J&K. As such he would not expect to be
invited to the talks. He added that only those separatist leaders were invited
by Hina Rabbani Khar who are for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan and whose all
requirements are fulfilled by Pakistan. He added that Bharat is occupying one
part of Kashmir and Pakistan the other part. Additionally, Pakistan has gifted a
chunk of Kashmir territory to China. Qureshi said that he was only for freedom
of Kashmir and not its accession. Even if Bharat is finished, still it will not
let Kashmir become part of Pakistan, and in the same way Pakistan would not let
Kashmir become a part of India. He reiterated that Pakistan should give up Azad
Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan and India should give up Kashmir, Jammu and
Ladakh. This is the only honorable solution of Kashmir issue.
Responding
to a question about the agitation in past years he said that it was people’s
movement that was initiated by the people and the leadership followed the
people. But later on Hurriyat leaders snatched it from the hands of the public
and then made it a hostage to strike calls. He stated that in regard to Kulgam
incident, silence was observed on its subtleties. Where those euphoric
sentiments have evaporated, he asked.
He
said that though local leadership is ignorant about the philosophy of
patriotism, yet we the people of Kashmir have now become conscious and we can
understand what is right and what is wrong. He reminded that during last year’s
people’s movement he had opposed the strike calls and had suggested that
instead of giving daily call for strike, it should be undertaken in a stage by
stage manner and with propriety so that the future of our children was not jeopardized and our economic condition
did not suffer drastically. Nobody listened to me. He continued that when the
chief of the Muttahida Jihad Council, Sayyid Salahu’d-Din announced that daily
call for strikes was unnecessary his images were set on fire.
Chairman
of DLP said that call for strikes would not make either the Indian government
or the State government acquiesce. Kashmiri people needed to be made to
understand the meaning of freedom through the means of well organized and well
managed seminars. He said it was the misfortune of our nation that it was being
hoodwinked from both sides and the onus of that comes to the doorsteps of local
leadership. One who speaks out the truth is charged with allegations of enemy
agent. Hashim Qureshi said that if he opened his mouth, and made it known who
gets what from where this would spell disaster for them. He said that
intellectuals, lawyers and politicians in Kashmir are under a spell of fear and
that is sheer bad luck of the nation.
Hashim
said if the nation wants to know the whole truth then let us unite and demand
accountability and this will show how much patriotic these people are. He
questioned if it was right to speak of Pakistan that survived on the crumbs
thrown by the US and claims to be the advocate of the interests of Kashmir just
for self-aggrandizement and nothing more. Qureshi claimed that it was Pakistan
that projected Kashmir issue as an issue between India and Pakistan and thus
undercut its importance. Pakistan launched incursion on Kashmir and grabbed its
one part while India managed accession with Maharaja Hari Singh. He said had
Pakistan liberated Gilgit-Balatistan and Azad Kashmir like North Vietnam,
India, long back, would have been forced to renounce her claim on its part of
the State.
Appealing
the Kashmiri nation, the chairman of Chairman of JK Democratic Liberation Party
Hashim Qureshi said that they should first fix the direction of their aims and
objectives and understand clearly what is the sum and substance of Kashmir
issue. He was confident that after both parts of divided Kashmir were granted
freedom, the United Kashmir would emerge a better and more prosperous country.
The world would feel inclined towards it on beholding its vast water resources
and natural beauty. He said the water of Kashmir was as rich as petrol which
has the potential of vastly improving economic condition of the people of the
State. They would no more be dependent on anybody. He asserted that both India
and Pakistan were enjoying huge benefits from transacting our plentiful water
resources and Kashmiris do not have
even electricity for home consumption.
Commenting
on heavy turnout of voters in recent Panchayat elections, Hashim Qureshi said
that participation in elections is a way of improving daily life and this is
for the general good of the people. He said countries that were slaves too
would have elections like these. When the British were ruling over India
elections were held by the rulers and many of our leaders at that time
including those from Congress, Muslim League and others did take part in them.
He said that it was not any crime to take part in elections if the objective
was development and progress. In fact election was a step towards that end.
Before
closing the interview Hashim Qureshi appealed the people to protect the forests
and ensure ecological balance so that Kashmir did not lose her pristine natural
beauty.
