Debate in the House of Lords on 7th April 2010 on Gilgit and Baltistan

Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne as the European Parliament Rapporteur of the  Kashmir report 2007 ,held a meeting on 7th April in the House of Lords to debate the  proposed changes to the status of Gilgit and Baltistan and the wider implications for the region and internationally .

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the various Muslim Organizations, the Hindu Council UK, the Indo-European Kashmir Forum, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Democracy Forum, the Journalists of the Observer, the Nation, the CNN, the Times, the Press Trust of India, the Conflict Resolution Expert, Councillor Chuni Chavda, the Political Conusellor of the Indian High Commission and the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan.

In August 2009 the Pakistan cabinet approved the Gilgit- Baltistan, formerly the Northern Areas, Empowerment   and Self Governance Order.

Krishna Bhan, President Indo-European Kashmir Forum, stated that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan are an integral part of India by virtue of its' accession to India in 1947.Any action taken to alter the status of any part of the territory under the Illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis and is totally unacceptable. The Self Governance Order of 2009 will weaken the Kashmir issue and will distract the International Community from the real cause of dead lock in the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Dr.Raj Pandit Sharma, President Hindu Priest Association UK and Executive Officer Hindu Council UK, highlighted the plight of displaced Kashmiri Hindus waiting to return to their Homeland and live in safety; until then most cannot even participate in any election or referendum which would determine the fate of Kashmir.

Dr.Shabir Choudhry, a leader of Kashmir National Party and Director of the Institute of Kashmir Affairs in his presentation gave a brief background of the disputed areas of Gilgit- Baltistan. He reiterated that these areas are and have always been part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. He further stated that the Government of Pakistan did not carry out any consultations with the people of Gilgit -Baltistan, the appointed Chief Executive or any other members of the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly before issuing the new Package for Gilgit -Baltistan.

Dr Choudhry said the Ordinance on Gilgit-Batistan  has been challenged and filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan by the Kashmir National Party in consultation with the Balawaristan National Front .The Supreme Courts' Muhammad Sarwar, the Chief  Editor of Nation/Kashmir  News, said  that the Gilgit-Baltistan dispute should be resolved through composite dialogue between India  and Pakistan and  by  the  active  participation  of genuine Kashmiri representatives.

 Chuni Chavda, Lib-Dem Councillor for Brent, gave a brief historical background of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  state  and  said   that   before 1947  there   was  existence  of only one country that was  India. Due to the mass  infiltration of  tribesmen  with weapons into  the  state from the North-West  Frontier with  the   knowledge   of  the  Government  of  Pakistan soon   after   the  partition  in 1947  Maharajah  Hari  Singh  asked for help  from  the Indian Dominion  for  the safety of his  state and his  people and  he acceded   to India.

Raveesh Kumar, the Political Counsellor of the Indian High Commission, explained and highlighted the authenticity of the Instrument of Accession document and its functions.

The participants from other organizations joined in the debate briefly and gave reasons for their concerns and disapproval of the Gilgit -Baltistan Order of 2009.

Finally, Baroness Emma Nicholson summed up the debate by reading the extracts from the leasehold agreement of March 29, 1935 stating said territory of Gilgit shall continue to be included within the domain of the Maharaja of J & K. Baroness Nicholson further read the extracts of the Instrument of accession of 26th October 1947 of Jammu and Kashmir and the letter from Hari Singh, the Maharaja of J&K, giving reasons for the accession to the Dominion of India 26 October 1947.

Krishna Bhan

http://hinducounciluk.org/