Tribal invasion was unprovoked aggression against J and K: Black Day conference

London, Oct.20 (ANI): A "Black Day Conference" arranged by the Kashmir National Party in Watford, England, has said the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir from October 22, 1947 onward was unprovoked aggression against the people of the region, and clearly violated Kashmiri sovereignty.

Over the years, Kashmiris have been holding "Black Day" demonstrations to coincide with the anniversary of the arrival of the Indian Army in Srinagar and the subsequent acession of the state to India.

The Black Day Conference in Watford was the first of its kind and attracted a lot of interest by concerned parties.

Thirteen political parties from the UK, representing various political view points, participated in the conference and declared that the tribal invasion was designed to force the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir to join Pakistan.

Apart from Kashmiris, a number of Pakistanis were also present and expressed their support for the Kashmir cause.

KNP Chairman Abbas Butt welcomed all participants and explained the agenda of the conference.

He said: "Our struggle is not against Pakistan or Pakistani people; it is not against India or Indian people. Our struggle is against injustice and wrong policies of Pakistan and India. If India and Pakistan change their Kashmir policies and people of Jammu and Kashmir get their right of self determination then we can all live in peace and harmony and work for peace and stability of the region."

"We have produced a booklet which explains with historic evidence that the State of Jammu and Kashmir was independent after the end of the British Raj; and that tribal invasion was supported by Pakistani authorities in clear violation of the Standstill Agreement concluded between the Maharaja Government and Government of Pakistan," he added.

Dr Shabir Choudhry, spokesman of the KNP, said: "The tribal invasion was planned and supported by the Government of Pakistan, and the aim was to punish the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir who had refused to accede to Pakistan or India."

"This tragic event changed the course of our history and our destination. It undermined our sovereignty and deprived us of our independence. It divided our beloved motherland and divided families and the nation. It killed innocent Kashmiri men and women. It plundered and looted Kashmiri resources. It is the main cause of our present miseries and troubles," he added.

"If there was no tribal invasion, then there might have been no Kashmir dispute as we see it today. It was possible that both countries in absence of this dispute could have resolved other issues and could have developed friendly and cordial relations; and that could have led to peace and stability in the region," Choudhry said.ardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, the Chairman of the UKPNP, praised the KNP leadership for taking this daring step of having a Black Day Conference.

He claimed that no progress had been visible insofar as the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination was concerned.

"We must not be afraid of criticism and exploring our history which has been distorted by those who occupy us. We must get our facts right and in this regard Dr Shabir Choudhry and KNP has done a considerable work and that must be appreciated by the Kashmiris," he added.

"The Kashmiri struggle is a political struggle. It is not fight against any religion or any community. We have common problems and we have common enemy and that is illiteracy, poverty, and extremism," he added.

Apart from declaring the 1947 tribal invasion as an act of aggression, conference participants passed 13 other resolutions.

It was acknowledged that terrorism should be opposed in all its manifestations and that the struggle for the unification and independence of Jammu and Kashmir would continue. (ANI)