AFP - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A prominent Kashmiri separatist on Wednesday accused the Indian government of turning traditionally “non-violent” residents of the divided territory to armed revolt.
“The majority of Kashmiris are followers of Sufism,” said Yasin Malik, referring to the more esoteric and mystic branch of Islam. “We believe in non-violence but were forced to take to guns by India after our repeated attempts to get the dispute resolved peacefully failed,” said Malik, chairman of the political wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Malik was among the first rebels to take up arms against India when the Kashmir insurgency broke out in 1989 and was at the top of a list of “most wanted militants” until he renounced violence in 1994.
“We Kashmiris weren’t used to killing a chick. We had no alternative left but to take to guns,” he told a news conference in summer capital Srinagar.
Malik hailed an ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan, but warned “nothing would be achieved until Kashmiris, (and) militants in particular, are part of the process”.
“If you want negotiations to succeed, the militant leadership has to be taken on board,” said Malik, the former head of JKLF’s armed wing.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
“We Kashmiris Weren’t Used to Killing a Chick"
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A prominent Kashmiri separatist on Wednesday accused the Indian government of turning traditionally “non-violent” residents of the divided territory to armed revolt.
“The majority of Kashmiris are followers of Sufism,” said Yasin Malik, referring to the more esoteric and mystic branch of Islam. “We believe in non-violence but were forced to take to guns by India after our repeated attempts to get the dispute resolved peacefully failed,” said Malik, chairman of the political wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Malik was among the first rebels to take up arms against India when the Kashmir insurgency broke out in 1989 and was at the top of a list of “most wanted militants” until he renounced violence in 1994.
“We Kashmiris weren’t used to killing a chick. We had no alternative left but to take to guns,” he told a news conference in summer capital Srinagar.
Malik hailed an ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan, but warned “nothing would be achieved until Kashmiris, (and) militants in particular, are part of the process”.
“If you want negotiations to succeed, the militant leadership has to be taken on board,” said Malik, the former head of JKLF’s armed wing.
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AFP - Daily Times - Lahore, PakistanThursday, April 19, 2007
A prominent Kashmiri separatist on Wednesday accused the Indian government of turning traditionally “non-violent” residents of the divided territory to armed revolt.
“The majority of Kashmiris are followers of Sufism,” said Yasin Malik, referring to the more esoteric and mystic branch of Islam. “We believe in non-violence but were forced to take to guns by India after our repeated attempts to get the dispute resolved peacefully failed,” said Malik, chairman of the political wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Malik was among the first rebels to take up arms against India when the Kashmir insurgency broke out in 1989 and was at the top of a list of “most wanted militants” until he renounced violence in 1994.
“We Kashmiris weren’t used to killing a chick. We had no alternative left but to take to guns,” he told a news conference in summer capital Srinagar.
Malik hailed an ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan, but warned “nothing would be achieved until Kashmiris, (and) militants in particular, are part of the process”.
“If you want negotiations to succeed, the militant leadership has to be taken on board,” said Malik, the former head of JKLF’s armed wing.
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