This is perhaps for the first time that any organization based in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a serious initiative to search an amicable way to get out from the problem state has been facing for the past six decades . Though, there are scores of political and social organizations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which have been crying for Kashmir issue for the past sixty three years , but each organization has always projected its own point of view on the issue without caring about their acceptability among those who have entirely an opposite view on the issue.
Indus Research Foundation (IRF) a Jammu based non governmental organisation which came in to being only few months back has tied up with some more organisations across the sea, particularly a London based non governmental organisation namely Conciliation Resources headed by a globally known social activist , Tahir Aziz on the principals of common minimum programme (CMP). The aim an objective of IRF has been told only to facilitate the interactions between all stake holders of Kashmir issue residing both the sides of LOC. The IRF has no personal view about the resolution of Kashmir issue but it believes that if the people to people contact across the regions and LOC is established at broader level and common people are allowed to sit together and debate their interests freely , there is large scope of bringing the people on an amicable solution of the problem due to which both India and Pakistan have always been on war front in the past 63 years .
Honorary director of IRF, Zafar Choudhary says that none of the governments of India and Pakistan can ever take any unilateral decision on Kashmir issue with out taking their part of Kashmiries in to confidence . Choudhary says, “ the national level politics of the both the countries has always been seen connected with the Kashmir policy of the parties . Therefore, none of the national party of any of the country can afford to show any flexibility on Kashmir, because it goes against their political interests in their respective countries . This is the only reason that Kashmir issue remained tangled and was kept boiling for the past sixty three years by the politicians of both the countries”, says Zafar Chudhary . “ Leaving aside the political views and compulsions of different political parties on both the sides of LOC in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, we have noticed an unavoidable bindings between the people of both the sides .If in some parts they differ in religion but at the same time they have similarity and commonality in culture and language . If in some parts, they have linguistic difference , they have similarity in religion and customs . And we have seen the people only want to meet each other and want to recapture and establish their pre 47 social relations. Keeping in view this urge of the people we have taken an initiative to work like a bridge between the people of both the sides of LOC and facilitate interactions between them”, added Zaffar Choudhary . For this, he says, his organisation Indus Research Foundation(IRF) has tied up with some more organisations based in Mirpur and UK.
The effort of the Chudhary’s group and friendly organisations seems to have been bearing fruit which is evident from the recent Istanbul (Turky) agreement signed between trade and industry organisations operating from both the sides of the LOC. Facilitated by these civil groups, an agreement was signed between trade organisations of both the sides of LOC on 28th November 2011 at Turky in which a joint chamber of trade organisation was announced with its first president from Kashmir valley . As per agreement , the second term after one year will be given to other side of LOC . And on rotational basis, in the third year the president will be elected from Jammu . This can be described as biggest development of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the past sixty three years when the common people came to close each other at their own with out the involvement of government at any level .
Moving ahead with the same mission, second such interaction between the different shades of the society was organised by IRF at Jammu on 11th of December . In this interaction cum one day seminar, the people belonging to different professions participated and discussed the internal dimensions of Jammu and Kashmir with special focus on the mutual interests of the various regions of the state . Interestingly, no politician of any belief was allowed or invited in this interaction which was sufficient proof that the organisers were strict to their principal of keeping their organisation away from the political motto and intentions . During the day long interaction, various angles and aspects of mutual interest were discussed and it was agreed by all participants that an unnecessary mistrust has been created among the various sections of society and regions .
This is perhaps for the first time when a Kashmir based organisation has taken an initiative to resolve the problems being faced by them . Earlier, we have been witnessing only Delhi based and other out side organisations doing such efforts on behalf of Kashmiries . This is a well come step and must be encouraged at all levels .
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