Arshed Saued Khosa
Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal
.........................................................
South Asia, one of world’s most
important regions, with almost one fifth of the world’s population comprises
most ancient cultures, traditions and values in the world. It has also become a
democratic region. In the last two years every country of the region passed
through the process of elections. General elections were held in Pakistan,
Nepal and Bhutan in 2013. Elections were also held in India, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka and Afghanistan in 2014. Almost everywhere we have new governments firmly
in place. The new government in Nepal, which came to power after the November
2013 elections, successfully organized the summit of the South Asian leaders,
last year in November. All SAARC heads of state/government were here in
Kathmandu for the 18th Summit of the SAARC states. The hall mark of
the summit, we all know, was the handshake between the Prime Ministers of
Pakistan and India, which was duly acknowledged by all.
Pakistan is of the firm view that
without peace, in and around our region, there can be no lasting stability,
which is essential for achieving economic and social prosperity in South Asia.
We are convinced that South Asia has the potential to become a region of
economic and social prosperity. However, this would only be possible if we are
able to resolve the disputes that afflict our region. We all agree that pursuit
of domination or hegemony, by a state, in a region, is often responsible for
regional conflicts.
A major dispute, which has impeded
development in our region, is the Kashmir dispute. In the post World War II
era, Kashmiris were among the first to be promised their right of self
determination by the international community, through unanimously adopted UN
Resolutions. However, more than half a century later these commitments remain
unfulfilled. As a consequence, peace has eluded South Asia and it will continue
to be evasive, till the international community honors its pledges.
5th February, the Kashmir
Solidarity Day, is commemorated as a day when Pakistani populace, across the
world, re-news their pledge to support the peaceful struggle of freedom of
their Kashmiri brethren. This day stands as a pledge for those millions of
Kashmiris who have been engaged in the struggle to win their right to self
determination. The day, observed since 1991, highlights their right to choose
their fate themselves, as guaranteed by UN resolutions. This right of their’s
must be acknowledged.
Seminars and conferences are organized on this day to highlight important
aspects of the Kashmir dispute and the gross human rights violations being
perpetrated there. At the same time, the world community is reminded that
resolution of the Kashmir dispute is imperative for ensuring peace and
stability in South Asia.
5th February also makes
us recall the basic facts that revolve round the UN Security Council
resolutions on the dispute. Some of the important facts of the matter are:
·
The issue of Kashmir was initiated by India in
the UN Security Council;
·
The UN Security Council explicitly and by
implication, rejected India’s claim that Kashmir is legally Indian territory.
·
The UN resolutions established self –
determination as the governing principal for the settlement of the Kashmir
dispute. This is the world body’s commitment to the people of Kashmir;
·
The resolutions endorsed a binding agreement
between India and Pakistan, reached through the mediation UN Commission for
India and Pakistan, that a plebiscite would be held, under agreed and specified
conditions.
·
Pakistan continues to adhere to the UN
resolutions, which are binding on the other side, as well.
5th of February, Ladies
& Gentlemen, also translates into an act of promise in which the people of
Pakistan vow to uphold the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self
determination, in conformity with the resolutions of United Nations Security
Council, which call for impartial and above-board plebiscite in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Here, I would like to remind you of a few quotes of the Indian leaders,
related to promises to grant the right of self determination to the Kashmiris:-
·
Mr. Ghandi, during a speech, at a Prayer Meeting
on 26 October 1947 had said, “If the people of Kashmir are in favour of opting
for Pakistan, no power on earth can stop them from doing so. They should be
left free to decide for themselves”.
Allow me to also quote Jawahar Lal Nehru, as well. In his statements and
messages Mr. Nehru had said, and I quote:
·
“Our view, which we have repeatedly made public,
is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or state must be
decided in accordance with wishes of people and we adhere to this view” (27
October 1947).
·
“Leave the decision regarding the future of this
State to the people of the State. It is not merely a promise to your Government
but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world” (31 October 1947).
·
“And let me make it clear that it has been our
policy all along that where there is a dispute about the accession of a state
to either Dominion, the accession must be made by the people of that state” (2
November 1947).
·
“We have always, right from the beginning,
accepted the idea of the Kashmiri people deciding their fate by referendum or
plebiscite……” (16 January 1951).
·
“We had given our pledge to the people of
Kashmir, and subsequently to the United Nations; we stood by it and we stand by
it today. Let the people of Kashmir decide” (12 February 1951).
·
“We have taken the issue to the United Nations
and given our word of honour for a peaceful solution. As a great nation, we
cannot go back on it. We have left the question for final solution to the
people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision” (2 January
1952).
·
“If, after a proper plebiscite, the people of
Kashmir said, ‘We do not want to be with India’, we are committed to accept
that, we will accept it though it might pain us. We will not send any army
against them. We will accept that, however, hurt we might feel about it, we
will change the Constitution, if necessary” (26 June 1952).
The above quoted statements of Mr. Nehru were made in the Indian
parliament and for the media.
There are a number of legitimate and
genuine reasons for the people of Pakistan to express solidarity with their
oppressed Kashmiri brethren. Both share special bonds of history and religion,
cultural heritage and geography and goals and aspiration. The number of
Kashmiris who migrated to Pakistan, from occupied Kashmir, in 1947, are in
hundreds of thousands. This is a clear manifestation of the emotional
attachment of the Kashmiris with Pakistan.
Pakistan desires a peaceful
environment in the region. The biggest impediment, however, on the path to
lasting peace in South Asia is the Kashmir dispute. Its effects are not limited
to Pakistan and India only, but instead the repercussions are felt in the
region as a whole and as well as on the world at large.
On its part, Pakistan has been
consistent in giving all out moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of
Kashmiri people. It has acted as a strong advocate of the Kashmir cause at the
international fora. The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,
had termed Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan. Former Prime Minister of
Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, had
vowed to wage a thousand-year war for Kashmir. Former President, Asif Ali
Zardari, in his address to the
UN General Assembly in September 2012, deplored that Kashmir remained a symbol
of failures, rather than strengths of the UN system, while stressing the early
settlement of the dispute. The incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad
Nawaz Sharif, right from assuming office in June 2013 has been calling for
settling the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council.
Pakistan
would continue to vigorously pursue a peaceful solution, based on the wishes
and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We have no doubt that ultimately,
Kashmiris would be the final arbiters of their destiny and no plan would
succeed that does not reflect this reality.
5th February is a
reminder to the international stake holders that they should employ reason and
solve this dispute which has human proportions. The supreme sacrifices of the
Kashmiri’s must not go unheard and waste.
The way to everlasting peace in the region, Ladies and Gentlemen, lies in
the resolution of Kashmir issue, as per aspirations of the Kashmiris. This
would no doubt bring about regional peace and greater prosperity in South Asia.
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