AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan. PHOTO: AFP
AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan on Wednesday hinted that Pakistan was ready to talk with India on the option of carving out an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are ready to consider the option, if India comes to the negotiating table and puts forward the idea of giving Indian Held Kashmir (IHC) independent status,” the president remarked in what appears to be a major policy shift.
He was speaking with a group of reporters after his meeting with Muhammad Afzal Khan, who is contesting the upcoming elections of the European Union from the UK, and Manchester Lord Mayor Naeemul Hassan.
The option of an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir had always been a contentious issue amongst the Kashmiris themselves and in India and Pakistan. Under the AJK interim constitution, even those who believe in the idea of an independent Kashmir were barred from taking part in the AJK legislative assembly elections.
The AJK president said Pakistan was sincere in wanting to resolve the Kashmir issue. “These things (discussing options) are only possible when India comes to the negotiating table and admits that Kashmir is a disputed territory,” he added. “If India agrees to give IHC independence status, we can also think (along these lines),” he told another questioner.
To a question about the possibility of the BJP coming to power in India and its impact on the Kashmir issue, the AJK president said he was more hopeful of a resolution to the issue with the BJP in power. “Congress has never shown any seriousness (to resolve the issue),” he remarked.
He said once NATO forces begin drawing back from Afghanistan, the Kashmir issue will once again become important. He said Afghanistan had overshadowed the Kashmir issue for the past 10 years.
Earlier, Afzal Khan, a British Pakistani who is one of the promising candidates to secure a seat in the European Parliament, said the EU should play its role to resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.
He said the EU should appoint a focal person on Kashmir just as it appointed Catherine Ashton, the EU’s top foreign policy official, to lead talks that led to the current deal over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2014.
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Kashmiris are being used.
@faisal: If we have kept it for 66 years, what makes you think we can't keep it for another 166? As for people like Syed Kashmiri, average life span for Indians is 65 years, even shorter if you are a terrorist so we won't mind their rant. Moreover, if people like him really like "Sharia" laws, they are as free as birds to fly to countries ruled by "Sharia" like Saudi Arabia. If they have a fear of flying , then I would recommend to wait a year or two, to have Sharia imposed on Pakistan. Then they just need to cross the border.
I totally agree with Syed Jalal Kashmiri. India can't subjugate kashmir forever n they have tried every tactic. As for Rex Minor, he is wrong in comparing kashmir to KPK where army is fighting the taliban, not the locals, and baluchistan where indian funded rebels r creating trouble.
Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan and the UN Resolutions mandate a plebiscite only as a part of the unfinished agenda of Partition
Independent Kashmir is no more than wishful thinking AJK enjoys too many concessions already
India and Pakistan have both sacrificed so many of their civilians and soldiers only to give "freedom" to Kashmir? No way !! Kashmir belongs to whoever prevails in this war of attrition. There has to be honor even among enemies. I am sure Indians and Pakistanis will both go on a hunger-strike if the "leaders" even consider this option !
@gp65: Kashmiri people are 97% Muslim, there is no doubt about it. You are trying to dilute our identity and faith to deprive us of our legitimate aspirations for freedom. Hindu migrants from Gujurat and Buddhist Tibetans refugees are not part of our region, but pushed into Kashmir by Indian state policy. Kashmiris oppose the theft of our land by India or Hindus, it is illegal under international law.
Kashmiris are a Muslim nation which desires Islamic law and government on the basis of Islam, something which Pakistan agrees with in spirit. The partition was a division of British territory into Muslim and Hindu countries, and Kashmir being a Muslim majority land rightfully belongs to Pakistan.
Free elections. Don't make me laugh. You do not allow the leaders of the Kashmiri people to attend friday prayers or protests and jail anyone who utters any word for Azadi or Pakistan in Indian occupied Kashmir. India is holding the Kashmiri Muslim nation in perpetual subjugation and denying our legitimate right to express ourselves. Not only that, India bans and censors all media in Kashmir.
You cannot prevent the freedom of my people forever. No nation can subjugate another forever. Long Live Kashmir, Long live Pakistan.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri: Sir, you and your family's opinions stand against the opinions of one and a quarter billion Indians and therefore you don't stand a chance. Kashmir is an integral part of India and none of us are in any mood to give it up. It will be easier for you and the likes of you to move to Pakistan. It was created for your convenience.
Kashmir is a dead issue. New generation of Pakistanis doesn't care about Kashmir. We need power, jobs and decent living. Instead we should focus on keeping whatever is left Pakistan together. If we keep pressing for Kashmir, we will keep loosing more territory. World powers have already made a plan to disintegrate Islamic countries.
Independent Kashmir, oh yeah!.. It will simply end up as strategic height added to the strategic depth
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
Enough with your cacophony and emotional rhetoric and kowtowing the line of Pakistan military! Your claim of muslimhood has no longer the legitamacy of being a part of Pakistan, whose army is suppressing the citizens of KPK and Baluchistan coincidental with the Indian army suppression of kashmiri citizens. You must free yourself and gain independence from your so called muslim Army of Pakistan before you demand to join your second hal f across the border. Your political leadership is sincere but has not made the right decisions in the past. It is time that they realise this and free themselves of the fatality. No one is going to rescue you from your current status, You must yourself take the initiative to demonstrte that you are an Independent Nation, I am not an Indian and fully support the rights of people who seek independence.
Rex Minor
only one option There is only one solution to this issue and that’s for the Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Pakistan gifted to China Kashmir to be returned to India and all Pakistanis there be sent to Pakistan no other way.
There is only one solution to this issue and that’s for the Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Pakistan gifted to China Kashmir to be returned to India and all Pakistanis there be sent to Pakistan no more option.
Kashmiris are Kashmiris and we are also Muslims, 97% of us. If you Hindus cannot accept the right of our people to practice our faith and religion, then you have no right to claim Kashmir as Indian territory. I personally, along with most of my people, support the view that Kashmir should be a province of Pakistan on the basis of our Islamic religion, racial origin and culture as we are related to both indigenous Pashtoons and Punjabi Muslims.
Kashmiris do not want to be a part of India. Hypothetically, if we had accepted Indian domination, then we would not resist to this day. 66 years, if you don't understand Kashmiris want to separate from India, you are either in denial or out of touch with reality. Kashmiris will gain freedom soon, in sha Allah, I strongly believe oppression cannot last forever.
@pakistanis and Indians, ONLY pakistan and India are fighting for kashmir, when time is right china will simply act and send its troops in. At that time AJK people, pakistan and other separatist of Kashmir will have one big beautiful choice and that will be only one choice, being part of CHINA. So suggest these separatists and pakistan think over clearly, even if pakistan gets full kashmir control, still china will send in troops, even then pakistan will have one and only choice, cede kashmir to china.
For India this will not come, we are not going to negotiate on the present status of control as we have already given control of kashmir to kashmiris by democratic elections. only the uncontrolled areas to be seen for autonomy.
why no one talks about Kashmiri pandits in refuge cams? why? why? because they are not muslims? or vote bank? yesterday farukh abdulla said he is a kashmiri pundit but Muslim by religion
Kashmir is an inseparable and integral part of India. The disputed territories of Gilgit Baltistand= & Azad Kashmir belongs to India
President AJK Sardar Yaqoob Khan U doing Awesum Job Best Of Luck We Support Ur Vision Hope Kashmir Will Get Freedom InshAALLAH
How Pakistan can one hand given the portion of Kashmir to China and now allowing China to build road through Kashmir , Now on other hand talking of allowing it Independent country.
Both India and Pakistan need to come to their senses and think about letting go of Kashmir to the people of Kashmir. Let them live their lives independently. Make Kashmir an independent country.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
And what is the origin of the Gujurati and other hindu migrants Sir? Are you by any chance a racist? The Kashmiris are usualy not!
Rex Minor
"Under the AJK interim constitution, even those who believe in the idea of an independent Kashmir were barred from taking part in the AJK legislative assembly elections." Wow - some 'Azaadi' that is!
In India, those who wanted independence or merger with Pakistan stood in the local elections and were defeated!
@Last Word:
That IS right of self determination. Kashmiris decide what they want.Guy making statement is a Kashmiri and if exercising his right to determine the future of his homeland he calls for independence. He can do so. Question is, if India and Pakistan would put aside their egos and listen to them.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
" Anyone whose family has lived in Kashmir for generations in peace is welcome in this land"
Is this consistent with two-nation theory and the "fact" that Muslims and other communities cannot live together as philosophized by Jinnah ?..Does the word "anyone" include Kashmiri Hindu Pundits who actually speak Kashmiri language like the AJK people who don't ?
According to you - Does Kashmiri Hindu Pundits have only native blood (or) they also have arab/persian/afghan blood ?
If Kashmiris are also of arab/persian/afghan blood ..do they need to go back to Arab/persian/afghan ? in other words much % of their blood is "native indian" and how much is mixed(arab/Persian/afghan...)
I think these Politicians of PoK and Pakistan in general , are a laughing stock of the world. First they claim it to be Azad J and K and then they say that AJK may become independent state if Pakistan agrees to it?? What kind of "Azadi" is that?
@Bala: Kashmiris (just like Pakistanis) are a mixed race which includes people of Arab, Turkish, Persian, Pashtoon, Punjab, and native blood. Anyone whose family has lived in Kashmir for generations in peace is welcome in this land. Gujurati and other Hindu migrants should back to their place of origin.
Yawn.
which world are they living in?! :(