Islamabad, 24 Sep, 2011: The Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People's Freedom League Muhammad Farooq Rehmani has termed the visit of the former Prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry to the traumatic and wounded valley of Kashmir ominous, as the visit of any former or sitting PM or President will amount to encouraging a regime which has been thrust over the heads of the Kashmiris by terror-laws and, and is manufacturing terrorism across the state. "The former Prime minister may call his first visit to Kashmir--the heart of the struggle a private one, but it is unbelievable and his words can't be taken at their face value," he remarked.
Muhammad Farooq Rehmani said his first visit to Kashmir was a part of a secret dialogue under the cover of marriage diplomacy. Barrister Sultan Mehmood Choudhry during his stay in the valley didn't abstain from talking on solutions other than the UN resolutions, and discussed cross-LOC trade- cum- travel situation with Umar Abdullah, a CBM which has benefited a few, but harmed the cause of freedom. It is said that the ex-Prime minister's visit was for the purpose of attending a marriage-ceremony of his business- friend. Does it mean that these rich politicians and bureaucrats of the divided (by LOC) State are business partners and how long the unfortunate Kashmiris will suffer and the politicians, traders and bureaucrats will thrive their ambitions and celebrate cross-LOC visits by exploiting the slogan of peace. Is it a trap or mirage or both for the Kashmiris? How sad is this situation?"
He said, "The rulers and politicians of AJK should see the dispute of Kashmir from the eyes of the Kashmiris, and not from the prism of bloody rulers, who wash their hands with the blood of Kashmiris. No one should deviate from the aims and objectives of the freedom movement as ingrained in our people's blood and incorporated in UN resolutions and in the constitution of AJK. The rulers must not dare to dishonor and demolish the edifice of this holly struggle, built upon the glorious sacrifices of the people. The bridge of understanding can't be built in air. The rulers or other ambitious politicians of AJK must not act as intermediaries between Kashmir and India. It never suited them as spokesmen of the base-camp. Remember the atrocities being perpetrated on the Kashmiris in every form and manifestation by India and her agents are unprecedented and unabated, and their unrelenting face is the latest discovery of unmarked mass graves in Poonch and Rajori sectors.
The ruling People's Party coalition should not keep its eyes shut from the Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, etc. Unfortunately, many political and media visitors from this part of the state, to that part have disappointed the people by their overtures and meetings in Srinagar and Delhi, or their silence on atrocities has increased India's intransigence and has only perpetuated terror of the regime against the people of Kashmir. The visit of the ex-Prime minister of Azad Kashmir to Srinagar gives an inkling as to what could develop in future, especially when at the same time the interlocutors of Delhi in Srinagar did not conceal their intentions under soft diplomacy, describing the history of Kashmir issue "contentious," and stating categorically their decision to submit their proposals for a solution to the government of India within Indian constitution.
Muhammad Farooq Rehmani said that these developments turned tour and marriage diplomacy into mere gimmicks, adding that the tour and trade CBMs were only meant for selected people across the LOC. It was all futile for millions of the Kashmiris who had been groaning under worst police rule for the last two decades; subjected to enforced disappearances, custodial killings, gang rapes, imprisonments, etc. Moreover, thousands of Kashmiris from the valley and Jammu had taken shelter in Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and some western countries; awaiting a safe, and an honorable return to their solitary and desolate homes.
Muhammad Farooq Rehmani has selected the following queries for the advocates of this superficial diplomacy which goes contrary to our interests and aspirations; "Have these visits of AJK rulers, politicians, academicians, Journalists, artists, singers/dancers, and traders to Jammu and Kashmir, since 2004, helped the inhabitants of that 'beautiful prison' in any manner? Will the leadership of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir review their policy and approach in the light of these conditions and aspirations of the Kashmiris under India's occupation, and at the same time act upon our common national interests for the sake of God and people?" Instead of wasting their time, money and energy in such trivial, futile, fragile, and self-deceptive exercise; was it not practical and productive to take a leaf from a recent debate on Kashmir in the British House of Commons, and not only launch a similar campaign from Azad Kashmir to Pakistan in all the assemblies, but also create the same awakening in some other parliaments of the world, at least in countries where law makers are highly conscious about human dignity and concerned over human rights violations. Let us not fool ourselves by Bus Diplomacy, or Marriage Diplomacy, or Cricket Diplomacy, or other puppet-show based upon the modern world disorder."
