At 78, All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (M) senior leader, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat is as agile as a teenager and highly philosophical in analyzing the political scenario.
The former professor of Persian, who heads the Muslim Conference, one of the major constituents of APHC (M) talks exclusively to The Kashmir scenario with Rameez Makhdoomi & N.A.Qazi.
Why has pro-freedom leadership failed to achieve independence from India?
India has entered into accession with Maharaja in a forceful and aggressive manner and they have historically held that by no means we have to let it go and used aggressive means in this regard, we also have to keep in mind that we are yet to define a Kashmiri and we are a bundle of contradictions. But we have to believe that we are masters of our country.
Pertinently, there are three regions in the Jammu & Kashmir and all the 3 regions viz.. Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh have diverse aspirations.
What is your take on the road map ahead on Kashmir issue?
It is a huge question. We have to keep in mind that Peace in Afghanistan leads via Kashmir. One cannot achieve sustainable peace in this South Asian region, without resolving the Kashmir dispute. Even peace between USA and China is not possible without resolving Kashmir issue. Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have to rise above the occasion to solve this dispute. Leadership of Kashmir, New Delhi and Islamabad has to show much maturity to save this region from catastrophe. I am of firm belief that the saner elements in region will ultimately prevail and long lasting peace would be achieved.
What is the way ahead on Kashmir issue?
Kashmir is a nuclear flash point and witnessing the ground realities, the peace in India and Pakistan will remain elusive until it is not solved and even it endangers the global peace. Kashmiri people and leadership owe a duty to impress these facts upon the concerned stakeholders so as to ensure speedy solution.
Kashmiris consider India as their own country, Pakistan as their own country and we constitute the crown of both countries. We should contribute to build bridges between two countries wherever possible. If both countries usher to prosper for that resolution of Kashmir is must.
Is it true that lack of unity among Pro-freedom leadership is hampering the Kashmir cause or resolution?
Unity may look a very beautiful word but it does not happen so easily and history of entire globe bears testimony to this fact. You look at India how once united Congress has got split into number of factions. Even in Pakistan, Muslim League has got fragmented into several factions. I don’t buy the argument that for achieving resolution one has to achieve the so called ideal unity.
How do you view the growing participation of Kashmiris in Mainstream Parties?
The ability of Kashmiri to adjust to a given situation is remarkable and manages to live and this should never be misunderstood as surrender or change in his political attitude. Which person joins which party is not an issue. The problem is that it is issue between two nuclear armed nations and can wreak havoc on entire region with disastrous consequences. Kashmir is great cause of friction between India and Pakistan. If we chose to rid India and Pakistan from the sentiments governing borders of insanity we shall have to address Kashmir Dispute.
Do you believe that electoral polity has any relevance with resolution of Kashmir?
Elections with reference to Kashmir Dispute are irrelevant and we have been seeing conduct of elections since long and are conducted with very limited objectives having no relevance with reference to the resolution process. Whileas on the resolution has direct bearing on our present and future.
We have to bear in mind that Kashmir is not just historical issue but a political –psycho issue or psycho-political issue. It lives in us. When we ask a boy of 12 years why he is hurling stones and the results that you infer is that this issue has been transformed to our younger generations. You have to understand 5 things in Kashmir 1) anger of Kashmiris against injustices 2) Deeper alienation 3) Uncertainty 4) Collective Discontent within 5) The fire and passion within.
It has nothing to do with you going in this party or that as this issue is related to our genesis. So India and Pakistan need to put heads together to solve this issue.
Is it true that pro-freedom leadership have ignored the large chunk of orphans and widows which are the outcome of the “Kashmir Struggle”?
I would partly agree with you on this observation and partly chose not to buy this. I would partly agree as we have not been able to help and go to people and address their problems. Not all, I am talking of myself. I would partly disagree if you denigrate leadership; some think they have won the battle against Kashmir which I think is wrong as in any case they will have to address the Kashmir Dispute.
How do you express the widespread disenchantment of people towards pro-freedom platform like Hurriyat which was once very popular?
Hurriyat has a mammoth task at hand and has very few resources in hand. We are raising a forceful voice against India which is one of the mighty powers of world and challenging it is a big achievement solely. I don’t deny people their right to agree or disagree with the working of APHC. APHC has proved itself to be an inseparable part of global polity and represent sentiment. All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has proved that it represents sentiments of people not that so called “Change” which is futile.
Hurriyat forms an important component especially with reference to the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Some critics’ state that Kashmiri pro-freedom leadership has failed to learn lessons from other historical leaders of Pro-freedom Movements especially Mahatma Gandhiji’s lessons?
Gandhiji’s times are different than mine as India and Pakistan was involved in fighting with just one country and we as a very small nation are fighting with two nuclear armed nations. You have to also understand that India and Pakistan achieved freedom from British on account of the weakening of British Empire due to cold war. Our dynamics are different than dynamics of other struggles.