Kashmir The Lynchpin of Peace

Kashmir: The Lynchpin of Peace – The Role of

Labour Party in addressing the Crisis

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC) and the Chairman of UK Pakistani and Kashmiri Councillors Forum organised on 23 September 2019 an Interactive Dialogue at the Annual Labour Party Conference in Brighton UK. The event was chaired by Councillor Liaquat Ali, MBE.

Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Executive Member OKC and Chair of South Asia Centre For Peace and Human Rights (SACFPHR) introduced the event on the grave situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) titled "Kashmir: The Lynchpin of Peace - Role of Labour in Addressing the Crisis”.

The keynote address was given by the Shadow Labour Minister Naaz Shah MP. The event was attended by Members of the Labour Party, Members of Parliament and Councillors from all over UK,

Opening Speech by

Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl

In his opening remarks Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl contextualised the recent developments unleashed by the Hindu supremacist leadership in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Following the abrogation of articles 370 and 35A, a lockdown is imposed and all rights and fundamental freedoms are jeopardized. Professor Shawl thanked the Labour leadership for taking a principled stance and hoped that the leadership will fulfil its responsibility by having a full debate at the plenary of the conference with a resolution as promised at the last year’s conference. He hoped that the preventive diplomacy of the UN and the British Government to end the siege and help the people of Jammu and Kashmir to realise their right of self determination.

Shadow Minister Naz Shah MP

Shadow Minister Naz Shah MP, in her address, remarked that RSS Government has a fascist outlook and as such the siege in the valley is part of their genocidal campaign. She continued by comparing the situation in Kashmir to the siege of Srebrenica and Bosnia: “Its aim is ethnic cleansing. Genocide is not a bilateral issue. It is not a Muslim issue. It is an issue for the entire world”, Ms Shah opined that Labour ought to stand in support and solidarity with the Kashmiris. She assured the participants that it will be taken up at the main plenary and a debate on Kashmir will also be taken up in the Parliament. She commented that as a daughter of Kashmir she would fulfil her obligations for the people of the state.

Councillor Liaquat Ali MBE

Councillor Liaquat Ali MBE Chairman of UK Pakistani and Kashmiri Councillors Forum, said in his speech, “As of today, it’s been 50 days that Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) is completely lockdown with no communication with the outside world. Reports of human rights abuses and people’s sufferings, killings, abductions, illegal detention of over 10,000 Kashmiris, rape and use of lethal and prohibited weapons are being reported in the international media with comments that their reporters could have only very limited access. The magnitude of the actual atrocities could be gauged from such restricted reports. A compilation of those reports has been prepared. This situation has been causing deep concerns among the Parliamentarians in the UK, members of civil society and international community and had been heart wrenching for the families of Kashmiris imprisoned in IOK. 

He also said, “Kashmiris have no access to health, education, food, business or livelihood. And this is happening in 21st century, when technology connects the whole world with a click, and amidst mighty protectors of human rights, a so-called democracy brutally trampling rights of defenceless Kashmiri nation with impunity.”

Councillor Ali also thanked the key note speakers and all the participants for debating the crisis situation in Kashmir. He hoped that the Kashmir issue to be included in the election manifesto of the Labour party. At the end a unanimous Declaration has been adopted.

The Brighton Declaration:

• This event held at the Annual Labour Party Conference highlights the extra ordinary situation caused by India's unconstitutional and unlawful action in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K);

• Kashmiris are claimed in the name of Hindutva style democracy and further colonised in the name of development. The lockdown is affecting 8 million people on the 52nd day. It has created a human rights crisis of catastrophic proportions;

• It is not only creating human suffering but also posing a great threat to international peace and security;

• It violates India's own constitution and the UN resolutions 122,123 and 126 passed in 1957; and

• The consequences of the abrogation of articles 370 and 35A are horrendous; It is aimed to demolish Kashmir identity and bring a demographic change.

It is hoped that the Labour Leadership shall play a proactive role as voice of the British people to invoke the preventive diplomacy of UN to save humanity in Kashmir and create an environment for peaceful resolution.

• The current blockade must end with utter commitment for the promotion and protection of all Kashmiris human rights;

• The complete withdrawal of Indian military presence from Kashmiri towns and villages;

• All restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and right of association should be lifted;

• A fact finding international commission should visit the imprisoned Kashmir to take stock of existential realities; and

• International community should facilitate a multilateral engagement among all stakeholders; Kashmiris being the most affected party.