The fire of freedom against the tyrannical and despotic Indian rule (at times remote controlled through their Kashmiri stooges), seething in the hearts of Kashmiris over decades, erupted into flames because of the non-implementation of UN resolutions on the Kashmir issue, the sham polls of 1987 as well as the wave of democracy, which swept the globe in the eighties. Kashmiris took to the streets for peaceful demonstrations. As India tried to quell the protests by force, Kashmiris per force had to opt for militancy. Just to break the will of Kashmiris to fight for freedom, India has unleashed a reign of terror in the occupied Kashmir by deploying over 7 hundred thousand soldiers and imposing draconian laws, which give unlimited powers to them. Kashmir is bleeding and the Kashmiris are crying for help.

However, Kashmiris are continuing their struggle for the right of self-determination, promised to them by the United Nations, India and Pakistan. The sacrifices offered by the Kashmiris in terms of life and property are unprecedented in history. Kashmiris are writing their tales of woe with their blood. The current phase of their struggle, summarized in this brochure, encapsulating major events and the reaction of the world community, has indeed added a remarkable chapter to the history of freedom of nations.

The flames of this fire can engulf the whole region, thus creating an unmanageable situation. It is, therefore, high time the world community intervened and had the issue resolved. The tragic odyssey that is Kashmir, is a clarion call for all of us. It is an acid test of the will of the people of the free world.

HAMID NASIR CHATTHA
CHAIRMAN
SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARLIAMENT ON KASHMIR

Unfortunately, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been victim of tyranny and highhandedness for centuries. The despotic rulers not only illtreated them but they were made to pay many taxes also. According to Sir Walter Lawrence, then Settlement Commissioner in Kashmir: ‘Nearly every thing, save air and water, was brought under taxation in Kashmir’.

Kashmiris started resisting collectively the tyrannical Sikh rule in early nineteenth century. Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent his Commander, Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu, to quell the rebellion in 1832. He skinned the Kashmiri leaders alive. After purchasing Kashmir from the British Government of India in 1846, Gulab Singh treated the Kashmiri people as chattels. He made their life miserable and crushed any resistance from them with a heavy hand. After him, his successors followed suit. When the workers of a state-run silk factory agitated for an increase in wages in 1924, their leaders were tortured to death. Thirteen Muslims were killed in a shoot out on 13 July, 1931 outside the Srinagar Jail, where a Muslim was being tried for making a speech against the ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh. The same year, an All India Kashmir Committee was formed in Lahore, led by Allama Iqbal, Poet of the East, to organize support for the hapless Kashmiris. In 1947, his soldiers killed hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris. India also sent its troops and occupied the State of Jammu & Kashmir forcibly on 27 October, 1947. Kashmiris revolted and got some areas of the State liberated, which are called Azad (Independent) Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) in their resolutions called for holding a plebiscite in the State to ascertain the wishes of Kashmiris, whether they want to join India or Pakistan. India accepted these resolutions but, on one pretext or the other, did not implement the same. This further frustrated Kashmiris, fuelling the fire of their resentment.

In 1986, Muslim political parties in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK) formed the United Muslim Front for the elections of 1987. As in the past, these elections were also rigged. Wide spread rigging and rise in the power tariff in 1988 stoked the ambers of hatred against India, entailing agitation by Kashmiris. Demonstrators were fired at, leaders arrested and curfew imposed.

The liberation of Afghanistan from the occupation of the Soviet Union and the wave of democracy, spreading across the world, especially in the Eastern Europe, ignited fire of freedom amongst Kashmiris, simmering in their hearts for centuries. All this further triggered protests and demonstrations in IOK, which continued over the last 17 years, as encapsulated here year wise.

1989

• The Kashmiri youth started clashes with the Indian security forces; the latter resorted to desecrating mosques, thrashing the Muslims during prayers.


• Daughter of the Indian Home Minister Mufti Saeed was kidnapped, who was released after 5 days.


• Curfew was imposed intermittently in the entire valley.

• Jagmohan staged his comeback as Governor and ordered house to house search.


• Protests of Kashmiris continued.


• The State Assembly was dissolved.


• Mass exodus of the Kashmiri pundits was started to give the freedom movement a religious and communal colour.


• Mir Waiz Moulvi Farooq was killed; his funeral procession was fired at, killing over 50 persons.

• The Indian soldiers dishonoured 23 women in the presence of members of their families in village Kunan Poshpora in one night, evoking strong world-wide condemnation.


• The Indian troops killed 73 Kashmiris, besides killing 50 others by firing at a funeral procession.

• 14 innocent Kashmiris were killed at one spot by the Indian troops, besides killing 12 in another violent incident.


• Molestation of women continued. The Indian security forces started using rape as a weapon of war as a strategy to break the will of Kashmiris.

• 30 parties joined hands, forming the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).


• Entire town of Sopore was burnt by the Indian troops; 40 residents were also killed.


• The Indian security forces besieged Hazrat Bal shrine for 32 days, where 65 Kashmiris were captivated.


• The US Assistant Secretary of State Robin Raphel cast doubts about the instrument of accession of the State to India.

• The freedom struggle gained momentum.


• There was no let up in the reign of terror, unleashed by the Indian authorities, despite condemnation by human rights activists and organisations.


• The Indian Government kept harping on the old tune that the State was an integral part of India.

• The International Commission of Jurists voiced concern over the continued state terrorism in IOK.


• The Amnesty International also clashed with the Indian Government over atrocities perpetrated by its security forces.


• The Indian National Human Rights Commission asked the Indian Government to let the representatives of the Amnesty International visit IOK.


• Chairman of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group, Eric Avebury termed the situation in IOK as one of the greatest tragedies of modern times.


• The Indian soldiers gutted the shrine of Nooruddin Wali (Charar Sharif), causing a great anguish among the Muslims.


• The OIC Contact Group on Kashmir condemned the military operation in Charar Sharif.


• The United States described Kashmir as a disputed territory.

• The sham elections of Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) were widely boycotted. Hundreds of thousands of government employees, detailed for the election duties, went on strike for three weeks.


• World media blasted the polls as sham and farcical. Twelve US Congressmen, in a letter to the Indian Government, expressed concern over the abuse of electoral process.


• The Security Council Working Group recommended to retain the Kashmir issue on the agenda of the Council.

• India extended the operation of two draconian laws: Arms Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in IOK, giving free hand and immunity to the Indian troops.


• Two NGOs: WSV (German), IFSO (US) and 4 member delegation of the European Union voiced concern over the human rights abuses in IOK. The Human Rights Watch said, human rights situation in IOK has aggravated due to the new policy of India to arm and support irregular militias for the purpose of its counter insurgency operations.


• The Clinton administration reiterated that Kashmir was an outstanding issue.


• Lord Avebury, Chairman, Human Rights Group, House of Lords urged the Indian Government to allow the human rights organisations to visit IOK.

• India sent more troops into the State.


• The Indian troops desecrated the shrine of Daud Khaki in Srinagar.


• The US Department and the Human Rights Watch confirmed wide spread killings and abuses by the Indian troops.


• The European Union condemned the human rights violations in IOK, urging the Indian Government to allow international organisations to visit IOK.


• The Indian soldiers in disguise started target killings of Kashmiris.


• British Parliamentarian George Galloway said, it is the responsibility of Britain to resolve the Kashmir issue.


• President Clinton said, India posed a major problem by refusing to accept any mediation on the Kashmir issue.


• British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said, the Kashmir issue is on the top of British Government’s agenda.


• Addressing the NAM Summit, Nelson Mandela voiced support for the movement of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.


• The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said, Kashmir is one of the causes of concern world-wide.

• Extremely low turn out was witnessed at the general elections.


• Protests of Kashmiris against the Indian occupation and repression continued. However, India not only increased its forces but also enhanced atrocities.


• Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif agreed in Lahore to settle all issues, including the Kashmir issue peacefully. However, tension between Pakistan and India remained high.


• During the Kargil crisis there was an apprehension of war.


• World leaders at G8 Summit meeting expressed concern over the continuing military confrontation in Jammu & Kashmir.


• More than 40 members of the US House of Representatives urged President Clinton to appoint a special envoy on Kashmir.

• Besides killing numerous Kashmiri Muslims, the Indian soldiers killed 35 Sikhs in village Chatti Singpura and blamed militants for this heinous act, which triggered wide spread protests.


• 100 shops were burnt in Pattan.


• Liberation activists Javed Zargar, Farida Bahenji and Manzoor Sufi were released after illegal detention of 5, 11 and 10 years, respectively.


• The UN Human Rights Commission in its annual report 1999 observed, India is among those countries, which are inaccessible to human rights organisations.


• The Amnesty International, in its annual report, expressed concern over massive human rights abuses in IOK. It demanded release of the Kashmiri detenus and withdrawal of draconian laws.


• Member of the British Parliament Tom Cox condemned world powers for not stopping the Indian aggression in Kashmir.


• The OIC Contact Group decided to appoint an envoy on Kashmir and a team to monitor the situation in IOK.


• The Special Representative of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury (London) called for an international conference to settle the Kashmir issue.

• The Indian forces besieged the shrine of Shah Ahmad Kirmani (Budgam) for many days.


• Six districts of Jammu were declared disturbed areas, giving sweeping powers to the Indian soldiers.


• The Indian troops gutted numerous houses, shops and other buildings in Kupwara and Kulgam.


• Lawyers boycotted courts, protesting against the draconian laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) and human rights abuses.


• India increased its military forces in IOK. Youm-e-Aseeran (Day of Detenus) was observed on 2^nd November throughout the State.


• The Indian National Human Rights Commission asked the puppet regime of the State, federal ministers of defence & home to explain the rise in custodial killings.


• The Human Rights Watch called for withdrawal of POTO.


• The UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson termed the human rights situation in IOK very gloomy.


• The Amnesty International expressed grave concern over the grant of amnesty by the Indian Government to the Indian soldiers involved in human rights violations.


• 36 British Parliamentarians signed a resolution, supporting the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination.


• The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said, the US is bound to take notice of the human rights violations in IOK.


• India deployed an unprecedented number of troops on Pakistan borders to bully the latter on the Kashmir issue.

• The Indian soldiers continued killings of innocent people in indiscriminate firing and in disguise.


• APHC Leader Abdul Ghani Lone was shot dead.


• India banned the Kashmiri Women’s Liberation Group, Dukhtaran-e-Millat.


• India further increased its forces in IOK.


• India refused to allow foreign observers to monitor IOK Assembly polls. Kashmiris boycotted the elections.


• India rejected Pakistan’s proposal for an international force to patrol the Line of Control (LOC).


• The APHC in a statement said, Kashmiris’ struggle is indigenous and Pakistan is not involved.


• The APHC rejected the LOC as international border or internal autonomy as solution of the Kashmir dispute.


• President Pervez Musharraf assured moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.


• The World Bank, British Foreign Secretary and the French Foreign Minister warned, Kashmir crisis can culminate in a nuclear war.


• The NATO leaders also expressed concern over the tension in the Sub-Continent.


• The US Secretary of State Collin Powel said, the Kashmir dispute is on the international agenda.


• The US Secretary Defence said, the US did not have any evidence of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir.


• The European Union Foreign Policy Chief J. Solana said, elections in IOK are no permanent solution to the Kashmir issue.


• The UN Secretary General observed, the international community has a role to play in resolution of the issue.


• The Amnesty International voiced apprehension that the persons accused in Indian Parliament attack case might not have a fair trial.


• British Foreign Secretary J. Straw observed, we committed serious mistake by not demarcating the boundaries between India and Pakistan properly.


• Canada offered mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue.

• The Indian troops killed 17 Kashmiris in Damhal Hanjorpora and 18 in Gurez (Baramola).


• 10 Kashmiris were sentenced to life imprisonment under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).


• During Prime Minister Vajpayee’s visit to IOK, there was a complete strike.


• Many Kashmiri leaders were arrested. The APHC Chairman urged the UN to stop the Indian state terrorism.


• Indian Defence Minister G. Fernandes said, there is no Al-Qaeda in Jammu & Kashmir.


• In a reply to the Indian propaganda of infiltration across the LOC, Pakistan proposed posting of observers by the UN Security Council and 2 Islamic States to verify the infiltration. However, India barred even the UN Military Observers Group for India & Pakistan (UNMOGIP) from visiting the LOC to perform their duties.


• President Pervez Musharraf said, Pakistan will withdraw its troops from Kashmir if India agrees to do the same.


• The UN Secretary General once again offered his good offices to resolve the Kashmir issue.


• The US stressed, there is no change in its policy on Kashmir.


• The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage observed, besides Palestine, Kashmir is the most dangerous place in the world.


• The OIC urged India to allow its delegation to visit IOK.


• Five British MPs moved a resolution in the House of Commons, demanding implementation of the UN resolutions for self-determination in Jammu & Kashmir.

• Indian Premier Vajpayee and the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf resolved to initiate a dialogue to settle all disputes, including Kashmir.


• As was done in the past, the Republic Day of India was observed as black day by Kashmiris.


• Instead of responding positively to the goodwill gestures shown by Pakistan, India erected fence on the LOC and started target killing of the Kashmiri leaders.


• Kashmiris boycotted the sham elections of the Lok Sabha.


• Former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, India has forcibly occupied Jammu & Kashmir.


• Black day was observed on 27 October, (the day when India forcibly occupied Jammu & Kashmir) and on the visit of Indian Premier Manmohan Singh to IOK.


• Addressing the Parliamentarians of AJK, President Musharraf reaffirmed Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.


• President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to explore possible options for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue.


• The Amnesty International urged India to be more serious about probing the human rights violations in Kashmir.


• Iranian President Syed Muhammad Khatami urged for resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris.


• Chairman, Kashmir Committee in the European Parliament James Ellis and British MP Goodman said, the best settlement of the Kashmir issue lies in the UN resolutions.


• Kashmiri leader Shakeel Ahmad Bakhshi released after 4 years of detention.


• Delegation of the European Parliament, after its visit to IOK, denounced the human rights abuses there, calling it “the most beautiful prison of the world”. It recommended appointment of a Rapporteur on Kashmir by the European Parliament. It also urged India to let the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) play its role. At a press briefing, a member of the delegation observed, struggle in IOK is indigenous, adding that the custodial killings of innocent Kashmiris by the Indian troops stand at 17 per day.


• Special Committee of the Parliament (of Pakistan) on Kashmir repeatedly called for resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris, in the light of the UN resolutions. It also reiterated moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of Kashmiris for their right of self-determination.


• The US Congressman Pitts moved a resolution in the House of Representative, urging the US President to appoint a Special Envoy on Kashmir

• Shut down strike was observed all across IOK on the Republic Day of India.


• The drama of local bodies polls was replayed in IOK. However, on the call of the APHC, Kashmiris not only boycotted the elections, but a paralyzing strike was also observed on the occasion.


• President Pervez Musharraf, in his message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day (February 5), emphasised that peace in the region was not possible nor could the confidence building measures proceed unless the Kashmir issue was resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, while addressing the Kashmir convention held to mark the day, reiterated that Pakistan would never compromise on its principled stand on Kashmir. Addressing a solidarity rally, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Chairman, Special Committee of the Parliament on Kashmir, assured Kashmiris of moral, diplomatic and political support of Pakistanis in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.


• Condemning gross human rights violations by the Indian troops, the US State Department, in its annual report, said that the Indian security forces committed abuses with impunity, killing civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. It also castigated the police for extra-judicial killings, staged encounter killings and custodial deaths.


• India and Pakistan re-started Kashmir bus service across the LOC with effect from April 7 after around half a century.


• Most of the participants of the conference, organized by a think-tank, PUGWASH, in Srinagar on April 24, demanded an internal ceasefire, withdrawal of troops, involvement of Kashmiris in the Indo-Pak dialogue process and release of political prisoners.


• The Amnesty International (AI) condemned the human rights abuses in IOK. It also criticized the puppet regime of IOK for its failure to bring to justice those responsible for the death of Jalil Andrabi.


• During his visit to European countries Hamid Nasir Chattha, Chairman Parliamentary Kashmir Committee called upon the world community to pressurize India to resolve the Kashmir issue.


• A nine-member delegation of the APHC, headed by Mir Waiz Umer Farooq, visited Pakistan for a fortnight. During its stay, the delegation discussed the Kashmir issue with the Pakistani and AJK leaders.


• The US law makers, politicians and intellectuals from the South Asia, who attended the International Peace Conference in Washington (July 14-15), held the conversion of ceasefire line in Jammu & Kashmir into permanent international border un-acceptable and stressed inclusion of Kashmiris into talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute.


• British High Commissioner to Pakistan Mark Lyall Grant confessed that Britain truly had made a mistake, holding the settlement of Kashmir issue in abeyance at the time of partition of India.

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