1023hrs:
Under the public policy subject of 'security' lies the very thorny subject of demilitarisation. It has finally come to the fore given the prevailing circumstances in AJK. Most of our co-citizens have tried to 'cushion' the imperative by insisting that demilitarisation take place simultaneously on both sides, which more than anything else keeps us stuck in the quagmire we find ourselves in and indeed even lays the ground for a back door agreement to permanently divide our territory between India and Pakistan, with tacit international sanction.
In 1947, our co-citizens in Poonch didn't make such 'cushioned simultaneous' calculations when they rebelled against the autocratic king while being militarily bolstered by Pakistan under the carefully monitored eye of colonial Britain. In 1987, our co-citizens in the Valley of Kashmir likewise didn't make such 'cushioned simultaneous' calculations when they rebelled against the Indian State while being militarily bolstered by Pakistan, supported with life, effort and resources by most citizens in AJK under the carefully monitored eye of the international community (including Britain and the United States).
So, when the 'boot is on the other foot' so to speak and where logical as well as strictly peaceful initiatives to force the Pakistani State gradually out of AJK are imperative (for all public policy goals to convert this region from a 'conflict economy' to a 'peace economy') we seemingly hesitate to take responsibility to act. Yes, this is an internally created and driven political process using peaceful, ethical, democratic and legal means without taking any tacit or open support from the rest of the world; however we tend to hesitate, prevaricate and foolishly rely on others to fulfill responsibilities that are essentially our own.
Now, do we only act when directed and supported by others for ends that suit them while destroying the diverse character of our territory and enforcing us to lose generation after generation to conflict while also making us economic migrants throughout the world or do we 'take the bull by the horns' and assert our sovereignty and neutrality over AJK?
This is the challenge right before our eyes!
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Meanwhile, we reiterate our stance that whatever we wish for the people of AJK (fundamental rights as equal human beings on par with the best standards practiced in the world) is what we wish for the people of Gilgit Baltistan, Ladakh, the Valley of Kashmir and Jammu. There can be no compromise on the freedom of expression & movement, right to assembly & association and recourse to law, including international law.
Hence, we have signed the following letter to the Indian ambassador in London via Amnesty International UK:
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