Abdul Hamid Khan, Chairman of Balawaristan National Front presents a peace proposal for J&K to the heads of India and Pakistan from Gilgit Baltistan

His Excellency
Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
New Delhi

His Excellency
General Pervaiz Musharraf
President of Pakistan
Islamabad


Sub: PROPOSAL FOR J & K SOLUTION

It would be an honor if I may be given an opportunity to put forward a new formula to peacefully resolve the conflict over Jammu & Kashmir, including Balawaristan (Occupied Gilgit Baltistan). Some UN member countries, including permanent members of the Security Council, advise India and Pakistan to settle the J & K issue by mutual consensus and according to the will of the people. Some people in Kashmir demand the complete withdrawal of Indian forces from Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK) while remaining silent on the Pakistani forces present in Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit Baltistan and in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). Some people demand a third option independence for the whole J & K), while other parts of J & K demand for their own independence. The people of Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan demand for their own freedom.

All these demands do not coincide with the resolutions of the UN. The UNCIP resolution demands that India withdraw the bulk of its forces. This means that India has the right to keep 3 lakh (0.3 Million) of its forces in whole state of J & K (including Gilgit Baltistan) and withdrawing, say, 5 lakhs (if the Pakistani claim of 8 lakh (0.8 Million) Indian forces in Kashmir is accepted as valid). On the other hand, Pakistan has to withdraw all its forces and civilians, who have entered the state (Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir) after 1947.

There is also flaw of leadership in this long-standing issue because of the lack of, communication, consensus and mutual understanding among all the parts of the disputed region. The state of J & K mentioned in the UN resolution has been occupied by three countries (i.e. India, Pakistan and China). Furthermore the people of Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK) are culturally and ethnically divided into 3 parts viz Jammu (Hindu dominated area) Kashmir (Muslim dominated area) and Ladakh (Buddhist dominated area). The Pakistan-Occupied areas are divided into 2: a) Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit Baltistan, which is 28,000 square miles in area and has a mixed population of Shias, Sunnis, Ismailis and Nurbakshi Muslims dominated area) and b) Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, with an area of 4000 square miles and dominated by Sunni Muslims. Pakistan further divided Gilgit Baltistan in to two by illegally ceding 2500 sq. miles in Shimshaal, part of Hunza, to China in 1963.

All the above-mentioned parts of disputed J & K have different ideas, theories and concepts to solve the issues of J & K according to their own experiences and will. There are many grievances of other parts of J & K against Pakistan and India. But you can judge it yourself and compare the hardships we the people of Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan are facing. I think, we must take an advantage of this dialogue process initiated by India, so as to create a mutual minimum consensus on certain issues, The Kashmir Valley must accommodate the wishes of all 4 parts of J & K by endorsing their demands and taking into account their apprehensions. The conflict can never be resolved if only the wishes of the people of the Kashmir Valley, which occupies only a relatively small part of the state, are considered.

There is no single party or amalgamation of parties that represents all the parts of J & K, including Gilgit Baltistan. Keeping in view the current unrest in the Kashmir Valley, the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference appears to have become popular, but this is due to encouragement by the Indian and Pakistani media and governments. But this conglomerate lacks representation from the other four parties to this dispute, from the other regions and peoples of the state. The other conglomerate which exists in Pakistani occupied parts is called APNA and GBNA, which also lacks representation in the Indian-occupied J & K. Given this situation and the lack of single leadership, the nationalist parties of all the 5 concerned parts of J & K (including Gilgit Baltistan), whose stands differ from their respective occupying regimes, should be engaged in dialogue to finalize different proposals and suggestions. After occupation by both India and Pakistan for 57 years or so, keeping in mind the different views of the people of J & K, besides India and Pakistan, multiple options should be adopted to solve J & K issue.

Before the commencement of settlement of J & K issue, non-local, temporary/permanent residents must be sent back to their respective country or place, who have entered the part of the disputed land after 1947 by violating State Subject Rule (which was imposed by the Maharaja of J & K in 1927 to protect the culture, history and resources of the whole J & K) and UN resolutions. There has been grave violation of this State Subject Rule in Gilgit Baltistan. China should be asked to handover the 2500 square mile area of Shimshaal to Hunza, Gilgit, and the 14000 square mile area of Aksai Chin to Ladakh, so that a new agreement could be signed between China and the new government of Balawaristan (Gilgit Baltistan) and Ladakh to decide the future of the occupied areas. All the 5 parts in the disputed J & K (including, PoK, Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan, Chinese occupied part of Shimshaal in Hunza and Chinese -Occupied part of Aksai Chin in Ladakh, Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu) must be controlled by the UNO OR by both Pakistan and India at least for 5 years. Defense, law and order and Judiciary must be handled by existing British laws of both the countries (Pakistan and India) with the active involvement of the local people. During this period both the rival parties (Pakistan & India) and the people of all the concerned disputed parts must be allowed to campaign freely and peacefully to protect their own interest. In case India and Pakistan jointly control the disputed parts, UN or impartial observers from any country must be stationed there to watch irregularities by both the countries and their supporters, if any, to make the atmosphere conducive for peaceful, transparent exercise of their will in a referendum / election to decide the future of all the parts of J & K.

Defense, law and order and Judiciary should be handled by both the countries with the active participation of the indigenous people of the respective areas. A high ranking General from any impartial country from UN forces should be given the command of the joint forces of both Pakistan and India to avoid any flaw in the future. To run the administration smoothly, both Pakistan and India should share the budget equally. Both the currencies (Pakistani and Indian Rupee) must be accepted as a legal currency for 5 years till the final settlement of the dispute.

The following options can be achieved Phase-wise. In the first phase, the people of all the parts of J & K (including Gilgit Baltistan) should be asked two questions, (1), whether they want to join Pakistan or India (2). OR want independence. If the majority of people vote for merger with India or Pakistan in the first phase from the whole or one or more parts, that part/parts obligation is done and next phase will not come. For example if say Ladakh votes for India and the remaining parts vote for independence, then the next phase for Ladakh for any other option is exhausted and the people in the other 4 parts will be asked next phase question, whether they want to remain individually independent or merge with any one part, 2nd or 3rd part as an independent state. This process will not deprive or compel any part to remain with one country or another or remain with one particular part/parts of J & K dispute. To impose the views of one part of J&K over the others will be more dangerous to the region in future than what we face today.

Pakistan and India must take the following steps to avoid any turmoil among the people of Gilgit Baltistan before the will of the people is ascertained by Election/Referendum.
1. Establish new independent and impartial Judiciary system in Gilgit Baltistan, as in other parts of J & K dispute.
2. Re-establish of administration in Gilgit Baltistan from the local indigenous people consisting of all the ethnic groups in accordance with their population.
3. Re-establish Police force of Gilgit Baltistan consisting of all the ethnic groups and districts on population basis.
4. Northern Light Infantry (NLI) must be deputed in Gilgit Baltistan to help the Pakistani and Indian forces for the safety of the borders.
5. Political prisoners must be released and political cases must be withdrawn in all parts of J & K including Gilgit Baltistan.
6. Those who have been dislodged or forced to flee their homes, must be repatriated /settled in their respective homes without discrimination.
7. Those who have been effected by militancy or by firing/shelling or otherwise of both the sides of LoC and other areas must be compensated.
8. Freedom of speech, writing and peaceful political activities must be allowed without discrimination in all parts of J & K including Gilgit Baltistan.

Now, I would like to conclude my submission and grievances by putting forward the above mentioned formula below in a simple manner, to solve J & K long outstanding issue, according to the will and wishes of all five parts {i.e. Kashmir (Valley), Jammu, Ladakh, POK and Gilgit Baltistan} as per the guidelines of UN and democratic norms and values of the world.

Phase I.
To vote for merger or Freedom.
a). To vote for Pakistan
b). To vote for India
c). To vote for freedom

Phase II
a). To vote for the whole J & K state (Consist of 85000 Sq. miles App.)
b). To vote for merging one part with other one, two, three or four parts.
c). To vote for their own part (individual part).

Elections/referendum should be held stage wise.
Each and every part of J & K unit (i.e. OGB, POK, Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu) should be considered as individual voter (to vote, for Indian, Pakistan or to merge with any 1, 2nd, 3rd or all parts) as well as candidate (to convince other part to vote for merge). But both Pakistan and India should be considered as candidates only (candidate means,
Pakistan & India can convince the people of all the parts like a candidate of any parliament, to vote for Pakistan OR India. Both Pakistan & India should not have the right to grab the whole J&K or any part/parts of J&K by their own vote. It means both India and Pakistan cannot vote for themselves.
After withdrawal of, armed personnel's and foreign citizens, plebiscite/referendum should be held in the presence of both Indian and Pakistani forces under the supervision of UN after 5 years of occupation.
Within the period of 5 years India and Pakistan should be allowed to campaign by media only, but the people of all 5 regions of disputed J&K should be allowed to campaign by all peaceful means.

I think this formula will lead towards peace and tranquility among the people of all 5 parts of Jammu & Kashmir particularly, India and Pakistan and the whole region generally, if this is implemented.

Abdul Hamid Khan
Chairman
Balawaristan National Front (BNF)
Head Off:
Majini Mahla, Gilgit, Balawaristan
(Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan)
EMAIL: balawaristan@usa.com

Related Links:
Balawaristan National Front Website
Third Annual Civic Dialogue on Kashmir

Abdul Hamid Khan, Chairman of Balawaristan National Front presents a peace proposal for J&K to the heads of India and Pakistan from Gilgit Baltistan.