June 14, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has launched what it called the “JKLF Roadmap for Peace and Prosperity in South Asia,” proposing reunification of the divided Jammu and Kashmir state, independence with democratic, federal and secular system of government, and having friendly relations with both India and Pakistan.

This solution of Kashmir issue, JKLF says, would ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for the entire South Asia.

The ‘roadmap’ was formally launched by JKLF chairman Amanullah Khan here on Friday. A number of Islamabad-based diplomats participated in the launching ceremony and Mr Khan briefed them on this plan, and other aspects of the Kashmir issue.

Mr Khan said India and Pakistan had fought two wars on Kashmir, killing tens of thousands of people and destroying property worth hundreds of billions. The tension between them compels them to spend huge amounts on defence with the result that a big portion of the population of both the countries lives below the poverty line. He also said that this strain had also paralyzed Saarc.

Explaining the stands of India and Pakistan on Kashmir, Mr Amanullah Khan said that both of them were flawed. He said that Kashmir was the main cause of Indo-Pakistan animosity, and that once this issue was solved permanently other problems would also be solved.

He said that a permanent solution of Kashmir issue would herald the dawn of an era of peace, prosperity and tranquillity for the entire South Asia inhabited by over one-fifth of humanity whereas the issue remaining unresolved would subject the entire region and its populace to horrors of war.

He said both India and Pakistan had made Kashmir issue a matter of their national ego. He said that both the countries could not solve the matter through bilateral talks and without international mediation, arbitration or facilitation. Any solution of Kashmir issue not based on Kashmiris’ freely expressed will and aspirations would not last long, he said.