Resolve Kashmir dispute: Shah

Srinagar, June 03: The president of Democratic Freedom Party , Shabir Ahmed Shah has stressed the need for resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions. “If the referendum was carried in South Sudan and East Timor, why it cannot be held here? If the resolutions of UN are not practicable, then tripartite talks between Kashmiris, India and Pakistan should be initiated for resolving the issue,” Shah told the Kashmir Committee delegation led by Ram Jaitmalani here on Friday . Shah told them that civil society groups of India, Pakistan could build pressure on their respective governments to resolve the dispute in sync with the sentiments of people. He told the delegates that hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris have laid their precious lives to achieve the cherished goal. Rejecting the Indian contention he made it clear that Kashmir issue was primarily the issue of right to self-determination, which he said involves the life of billions of people of South Asia. "Kashmir is not a law and order problem, it is not an issue relating to the transition of power or seeking concessions rather it is an issue of  right to self-determination of more than 15-million people of Kashmir", he said. While thanking the delegates Shah said that KC can play an important role by paving a way for a peaceful settlement of K-dispute. He, however, maintained that Kashmiris were not averse to talks but dialogue should meaningful, result oriented and Kashmir centric.

the DFP chief meeting with students

 DFP chief meeting with students

Exclusive interview to Kashmir Times-Islamabad based Urdu Daily

Kashmir conflict will last for 100 years: Cohen

Kashmir conflict will last for 100 years: Cohen

INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

Jammu, May 31: A leading American expert on South Asia feels that the India-Pakistan conflict over Jammu and Kashmir would last for 100 years -- or perhaps even more.


 Stephen P. Cohen, author of "The Idea of Pakistan" and a senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn: "My prediction is that the India-Pakistan conflict, which includes Kashmir besides many other problems, will last for 100 years or even more."


 "I am very pessimistic about a solution between the two countries. They should cooperate over trade, for instance. Kashmir will eventually find its way (to a solution),” he said. "The US should have only a silent role which should be limited to providing ideas and suggestions as we often do in the Middle East peace process."


 Cohen said he was writing a book about the India-Pakistan rivalry and that he would call it a "hundred year old war".


 He was asked if the Pakistan Army can ever overcome its obsession with India and how the US can help the two countries resolve their dragging row over Jammu and Kashmir, which is divided between them.


 Cohen said the Pakistan Army was today more anti-American than radical. He traced the radicalization of the Pakistan Army to the days of the movement which led to the break up of East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh.


 That was when the army recruited people for outfits such as Al-Badar and its death squads.


 This, Cohen said, became more systematic during the regime of Zia-ul-Haq both in Kashmir and Afghanistan. "Now, it is a full-fledged strategic alliance for the Pakistan military."


 Cohen also felt that the Pakistani Army was more anti-American than anti-India. "It has become more anti-American. Some sections of the army are more anti-American than they are anti-India,” he said.


 "The obsession with India, on the other hand, is weakening Pakistan rather than strengthening it. Pakistan has a huge list of reforms that it should have made," he added.

Shah arrested in Kellar

	Srinagar, May 30 : Indian police on Sunday arrested senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Shabir Ahmed Shah along with his associates while he was on his way to Kellar to condole killing of the youth recently martyred by Indian troops in the area. Later, he was scheduled to visit the families of two women who were molested and murdered by men in uniform in Shopian two years ago. However, when the APHC leader and his associates reached Kellar, the police took them into custody and shifted them to unknown destination.
	Shah shifted to JIC Jammu
	Srinagar, May 27 : Senior APHC leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah who was unlawfully detained by the authorities last night from Thathri in Kishtwar, has been shifted to Joint Interrogation Centre Jammu. It may be recalled here that DFP Chief's tour to the region was a part of the public awareness campaign intended to educate the masses regarding the socio-political, humanitarian as well as the economic impact of the unresolved Kashmir dispute.
	Rich tributes paid to Mirwaiz and Lone
	Unity key to success Nisar A Thokar Islamabad, May 21: While paying eulogizing tributes to Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Khwaja Abdul Gilani Lone, Kashmiri leaders at a seminar organized by APHC-M here on Saturday stated that the slain leaders’ indomitable role and peerless contribution to the ongoing struggle would be remembered for a long time in the history of Kashmir. Chaired by the amalgam’s convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, the seminar was attended by Hurriyat leaders, as well as the representatives of Kashmiri community based in the twin city Rawalpindi/Islamabad, whereas Executive Directors of Kashmir Centre in London and Washington, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl and Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai were the chief guests on the occasion. Speakers on the occasion highlighted the supreme sacrifices of the Kashmiri martyrs renewed their pledge to uphold the mission of martyrs who they said “have sacrificed their today for our better tomorrow”. They also denounced the unabated human rights violations in Kashmir and appealed the international community to impress upon India to put an end to rights violations in the territory. Terming unity as key to success they said that it was high time that Kashmiri leadership should burry their hatchet and forge a broad based unity so as to take the people out from the dark prospects of despondency and chaos. Describing dialogue as a civilized way to resolve dispute they said that Kashmiris were not averse to dialogue, however, they maintained that bilateralism had miserably failed to resolve Kashmir dispute and emphasized the need for associating genuine Kashmiri leadership with the dialogue process to settle Kashmir dispute once and for all. They urged the Indian government to withdraw its troops, revoke draconian laws, and release all illegally detained pro-liberation leaders and activists to create a conducive atmosphere for talks to settle long-outstanding issue of Kashmir peacefully. Referring to the changes sweeping across the world KAC chief Dr. G Nabi Fai and Professor Nazir Shawl said that owing to the unprecedented sacrifices of Kashmiri people the long-pending issue was now echoing all around the diplomatic corridors of Washington, Europe and other power centres of the world. Referring to an article published in the New York Times on Sunday last Dr. Fai said that the article unfolded some of the private views expressed by Late Richard Holbrooke, the Obama’s point-man on south Asia, which he said were an eye-opener for the entire world. The NYT article he said that Holbrooke believed that the resolution of Kashmir dispute was must to reduce radicalism in Pakistan. “The views of Holbrooke are indeed acknowledgment by an acclaimed diplomat that resolution of Kashmir dispute is must for success of the US-led war against terrorism in this region,” professor Shawl said. Of those who addressed the gathering included Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai the Executive Director Kashmiri American Council, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl Executive Director Justice Foundation London, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Faiz Naqshbandi, Ghulam Nabi Nowshehri, Tahir Masood, Altaf Wani, Abdul Majeed Malik, Manzoor-ul-Haq, JKLF leader Rafiq Ahmad Dar and Sheikh Waleed Rasool.
	Glowing tributes paid to Kashmiri martyrs
	Srinagar, May 19 : The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a constituent of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, has paid glowing tributes to Kashmiri martyrs including liberation leaders, Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone. The DFP organised a function in connection with the Martyrdom Week at the party office in Srinagar with its President and senior APHC leader, Shabir Ahmed Shah in chair. Addressing on the occasion, Shah reiterated the pledge to continue the mission of Kashmiri martyrs till its logical end. He maintained that the people of Kashmir would not allow the sacrifices of their martyrs to go waste and they would not rest till they achieved their inalienable right to self-determination.
	India not serious in resolution of Kashmir dispute: Shah
	Srinagar, May 18 : Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Shabir Ahmad Shah has said that India is not serious in bringing about an amicable resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Talking to prominent Indian social activist and political analyst, Shahid Siddiqi, who met him at his party office, today, Shah said that the dispute was still pending due to unrealistic and rigid approach of India towards Kashmir. He said that, on one hand, the Indian government wanted talks with Hurriyet leaders and, on the other, it had illegally detained pro-freedom leaders and activists. He said that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations. Shah urged the Indian government to realise the ground reality in the occupied territory and come forward to settle the Kashmir dispute once and for all so that permanent peace could be established in the South Asia region.
	Kashmiris sacrifices not to go waste: Shah
	Srinagar, May 17 : Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Shabir Ahmad Shah has said that the unprecedented sacrifices of Kashmir people they have rendered for securing their inalienable right to self-determination would not be allowed to go waste. While addressing a gathering at Banhal DFP chief said that the people of Kashmir have vowed to take the ongoing liberation movement to its logical conclusion at all costs. He said that the Kashmir dispute had been internationalized due to which the Indian rulers were passing sleepless nights. He said that the Indian government and the occupation authorities were using brute force to suppress the just struggle of Kashmiri people but they would never succeed in their nefarious designs and the movement would be taken to its logical conclusion despite all odds. Shah stressed India to initiate meaningful tripartite dialogue for permanent resolution of the Kashmir dispute so that durable peace in South Asia could be ensured.
	Sacrifices centre-staged Kashmir dispute: Shah
	European Union urged to facilitate dialogue on Kashmir Srinagar, May 15: Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Shabir Ahmad Shah has said that the sacrifices of Kashmiri people have centre-staged the Kashmir dispute and international pressure is mounting on India for its settlement. While addressing a public gathering in Bhadarwah  Shah said that Kashmir was not a border dispute between Pakistan and India but was an issue pertaining to the future of millions of Kashmiris. He pointed out that New Delhi would not be able to kill the freedom sentiment of the Kashmiris by resorting to repressive measures.
	‘World recognises indigenous nature of Kashmiris’ struggle’
	Srinagar, May : Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Shabir Ahmad Shah has said that the international community is cognizant of the indigenous nature of Kashmiris’ struggle aimed at securing their inalienable right to self-determination. Shah was addressing a gathering at Chandrigam in Islamabad where he had gone to express solidarity with the family of a missing pundit youth, Sushil Raina. He hailed the efforts being made by the Muslim community of the area to trace the missing youth. He urged the Muslims that it was their moral and religious responsibility to protect the lives, honour and property of minorities. The senior APHC leader said that situation in the occupied territory would not improve till the Kashmir dispute was resolved in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

JKDFP Chairman SHABIR SHAH adressing a huge gathering at BHADERWAH DODA

Shah talks to an aged lady

SHABIR SHAH AT BHADERWAH adressing people.SHAH assured the people of Bhaderwah that we r all one & we will take people of Chenab Valley into full confidence viz a viz Kashmir solution is concerned & no division will be accepted.

Desecration of dead body an act of cowardice

Srinagar, May 06: The Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmed Shah has denounced the desecration of the dead body of Bin Laden by the US administration and termed it as an act of cowardice. "Burring dead body at sea was a desecration and indeed a clear violation of Islamic norms”, Shah said this while talking to media men in Srinagar after attending funeral prayers in absentia for Osma who was killed by the US forces in a covert operation in Pakistan's Abbotabad town on May 2. The funeral prayers were attended by hundreds of people at Sarai-Bala Chowk in Srinagar. Hundreds of angry youth who gathered on the spot raised pro-freedom slogans demanding India to put an immediate end to its illegal occupation on Kashmiris’ soil. Terming it an act of cowardice Shah pointed out that bin laden was shot dead by the US Seals after taking him into custody. He said one can differ with Osma’s ideology, approach and his activities however the way his dead body was treated has hurt the Muslims all-around the world. He said Osama, one of the largest entrepreneurs of the Arab World, had spent his money for the oppressed, poor and downtrodden people.

Kashmir is not territorial dispute: Shabbir Shah

Srinagar, May 04 : Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) and the chairman of DFP Shabir Ahmad Shah has said that Kashmir is a political dispute and should be resolved politically through meaningful talks. Shah in his telephonic addressing to the Fifth Global Discourse on Kashmir in the European Parliament said that Kashmir was not a territorial dispute between Indian and Pakistan but a matter pertaining to political future of 15 million people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that amicable settlement of the Kashmir dispute was in the interest of India and Pakistan as its resolution was pre-requisite for establishment of permanent peace in the region. DFP chief said that Kashmiri people had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for liberation of Kashmir and their struggle would not be allowed to go waste as they had vowed to take the movement to its logical end despite all odds. He urged India to withdraw its troops from the occupied territory, repeal draconian laws and release all illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and activists so that conducive atmosphere could be created for meaningful tripartite talks.

Shah meets IDP Chief

Srinagar, Aprl 20: The Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmed Shah has said that a meaningful and result oriented dialogue between all the stake holders was must bring about an amicable solution to Kashmir dispute.

The DFP chief made these assertions while talking to the International Democratic Party Chief I D Khajoria who called on him at his party office here on Thursday. Shah expressed his gratitude to the visiting leader for lending all support to DFP's public awareness campaign in Jammu region and said that the DFP was set to launch a similar campaign in Chinab valley to educate people about conspiracies being hatched to divide the state on communal basis.

Shah invited Mr. Khajria to be part of the campaign likely to commence in the second week of May. The delegation latter paid a visit to the residence of slain Jammiat Ahale Hadees Chief Moulana Shoukat who was killed in an IED bomb last out side a Mosque in Srinagar last week.

Shah visits Tral

DFP chief addressing public gathering at TRAL

Shabir Ahmed Shah addressing a public gathering at Pinglish TRAL

Padgaonkar’s statement a white lie: Shah

Srinagar, April 11: Senior APHC leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, has rejected the statement of so-called India’s chief Interlocutor, Dileep Padgaonkar, in which he said that he had clandestine links with all pro-freedom leaders except veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. Shabir Ahmad Shah addressing a party meeting in Srinagar termed Padgaonkar’s statement as a white lie. “We are not against talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute but these should be based on some principles,” he added. He said that India was systematically trying to malign the pro-liberation leadership and to create fissures among the Kashmiris but it would never succeed in its nefarious designs. Shabir Ahmad Shah also visited the residence of the High Court Bar Association President, Mian Abdul Qayoom, and congratulated him on his release from illegal detention. On the occasion, he appealed the world community to impress upon India to release all illegally detained Kashmiris languishing in different jails inside and outside the occupied territory

Kashmiri Diaspora’s effort for highlighting the dispute hailed

London, April 05: Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference APHC), Shabir Ahmad Shah has appreciated the efforts of Kashmiri Diaspora for highlighting the plight of their brethren and advocating their legitimate cause.

Shabir Ahmad Shah, while addressing a convention of the Kashmir Centre representatives at Birmingham via phone from Jammu, reaffirmed the resolve of the Kashmir people to continue their struggle till complete success.

He welcomed the latest thaw in Indo-Pak relations but categorically declared that without the presence of actual stakeholders, the representative voices of Jammu and Kashmir, the talks would remain inconclusive. He asked the participants to strengthen Kashmir Centre.

Earlier, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centere London, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl welcomed the participants and briefed them about the work being done at the Kashmir Centre on different fronts. This is being done to keep international community and well-wishers of peace informed about the ground situation and invoking them to facilitate an honourable solution of this long lingering dispute, he maintained.

He hoped that the wisdom of the representatives assembled today would multiply these efforts by getting in touch with their respective parliamentarians in their constituencies.

The Chairman of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barristers Abdul Majeed Tramboo on the occasion said that Kashmiri Diaspora living in Britain was a large populace outside the Jammu and Kashmir, adding that they needed to unite together and converge into a singular voice for highlighting their cause.

Irshad Malik, Secretary General of the Advisory Council, asked the participants to contribute to Kashmir struggle for freedom according to their capacity and wisdom.

Dr Khurshed Ahmed pleaded for conceptual understanding. He also asked the participants to network properly with Universities and think tanks. In this context he pleaded for Kashmir Awareness lectures for the youth who have to become the torch-bearers of the struggle in future.

Chaudhry Allah Ditta asked the participants to learn from the past and focus on the present for better results.

Chaudhry Sabir Hussian, Chief Co-Ordinator of Kashmir Centre Advisory Council thanked the participants for their intellectual inputs and asked them to continue this good work at their respective places.
Asghar Ali pleaded for widening the spectrum of debate and get united on a single point agenda of right to self determination.

Mohsin Nazir and Sajid Yousaf played an important role in managing and organizing this convention in a meticulous way.

At the end of the deliberations a decleration was unanimously adopted which reads as under

1. Declaration
2. This declaration is adopted by the UK wide representative convention of Kashmir centre London advisory council held at Birmingham UK on 3rd of April 2011.
3.  The state of Jammu and Kashmir is a United Nations mandated disputed territory. The political future is yet to be ascertained.
4. United Nations resolutions and the Charter of United Nations guarantee the right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which needs to be redeemed to them under United Nations auspices.
5. The mechanisms of UN needs to be invoked by the international community to hold the promised plebiscite or referendum in the disputed territory.
6. We welcome India Pakistan resumption of talks and putting the peace process back on rails. This process could break the ice and could become result oriented if the basic stake holders the representatives of Kashmir are made an integral part of this process.
7. International community particularly the G8 and P5 should facilitate the process.
8. A conducive environment should be created in Indian occupied Kashmir where gross human rights violations are continuing as a consequence of state violence. 
9. Amnesty international’s latest disclosures should be taken seriously by the International community.
10. The latest report of human rights situation in 26 countries released by Honourable William Hague has ignored the massive human rights violations committed by Indian state in Indian held Kashmir. We would request the APPG on Kashmir to take up the issue with the secretary of foreign Affairs. 
11. All political detainees including Mian Abdul Qayoom, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Ghulam Nabi Sumjee and others should be released.
12. Retired Major Avtar Singh should be brought to justice. He murdered Jalil Andrabi chairman Council of journalists in cold blood. 
13. All draconian Laws like AFSPA and PSA should be immediately withdrawn by Government of India.
14. Government of India and Pakistan should facilitate an intra and inter dialogue between the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the ceasefire line.
15. All the interested parties on the issue of Kashmir will work with Kashmir Centre’s to promote and project the Kashmir cause in the united Kingdom, European Union, commonwealth, united States and others parts of the world. 

Conclusion
Finally we reiterate the pledge that we will remain committed to the legitimate struggle of people of Jammu and Kashmir for self-determination and raise it at every forum and lobby support with our parliament members and policy makers.