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Kashmiri groups welcome cease-fire

H S Rao in London

Two Kashmiri groups, including the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, have welcomed the unilateral cease-fire declared by the Indian Government for the holy month of Ramadan.

"We compliment Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for personally announcing the unilateral declaration of cease-fire in Kashmir to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan in a bold gesture of recognition of Kashmiri sentiment," M Anwar Khan, chairman, Jammu Kashmir Peace Committee, Europe, said.

Describing it as a "good gesture, which should be reciprocated accordingly," Shabir Choudhry, president JKLF, UK and Europe said: "People of Kashmir want much more than one month of cease-fire. They want to resolve the Kashmir dispute which has greatly affected their lives and live with peace."

"Some of the Kashmiri groups may think one month of cease-fire with no intention to seek resolution of the dispute is not what we want. It must be noted that in the atmosphere of mistrust and state of war, no one action on its own, no matter how great, can lead to resolution of the Kashmir dispute," Choudhry said.

Stating that the previous cease-fire declared for a month by the Hizbul Mujaheedin could not hold because of different pressures, he said: "We should use this month of cease-fire and take some confidence building measures to prove that we want to resolve the Kashmir dispute through dialogue. We want peace and stability in Kashmir but without compromising on our stand - we want peace and dignity and honour," he said.

Anwar Khan, in his statement, also called upon all Kashmiri groups to "defy the diktats of the desperate Pakistani armed forces, who derive their sole legitimacy from the continued state of conflict in Kashmir, and grasp this opportunity with the same spirit to facilitate the creation of a peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir."

"We have no doubt that such a response would lead to restoration of trust and early commencement of the dialogue process for resolution of the problems of Kashmir," Khan said.

Such a step, he said, would not only prevent unnecessary violence and bloodshed but also enable the Kashmiri people to resume their normal lives and create a favourable environment for peace, stability and prosperity of the entire region.

Choudhry, however, cautioned that if this offer were not "reciprocated accordingly then we could be providing India with a propaganda idol to tell the world that India is willing to make moves towards peace but it is the opposite side which is not responding appropriately."

"Others may have different agenda, but it is in the interest of the Kashmiri groups that they take this offer seriously and use this time to make this cease-fire into a permanent one, he said, adding that "by accepting a cease-fire during the holy month of Ramadan we could demonstrate that we respect the sanctity of Ramadan and that we are not in favour of unnecessary violence."

PTI

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