London: Chairman Kashmir Voice International ( KVI) Prof. M.A. Rana has said that Maqbaool Bhat was a visionary and proposed an independent state of Jammu &Kashmir as it existed in 1947.
Prof. Rana made these assertions while addressing a function organised by JKLF at Watford UK on the martyrdom anniversary of Mohmmad Maqbool Bhat. “His vision was pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and secular and a tolerant state but an independent state is not possible till people from all the regions and different religious communities as well as ethnic groups agree to it”, he said.
“Moreover, the growing radicalization encouraged by the external elements in the valley is an antithesis of what Maqbool stood for as the radicalization was likely to uproot what Kashmir has stood for centuries”, the KVI chairman said.
“Militancy has failed to achieve the goal of freedom nor has military might succeeded in bringing peace to Kashmir. Their continued conflict could only consume the precious lives of Kashmiris with no progress towards the resolution of the problem”, he added. The KVI he said advocates for the peaceful creation of environment for engagement of stakeholders to explore other options for a solution acceptable to Kashmiris.
He said India and Pakistan have failed to the proposal of plebiscite nor are world powers and UN interested to impress upon the two countries to do so. He further said the pervious dialogues have yielded no outcome and the situation remains unchanged. “A sincerer desire backed by determination of the stakeholders could result into a forward movement”, Prof. Raina added.
“Kashmir has both internal and external dimensions and both need to be addressed. It would be appropriate that the guns should silence and peaceful environment is created for the dialogue process”, he maintained.
