NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

"We want plebiscite and we will have it one day"

— MR ZAFAR AHMAD

Mr Zafar Ahmad Butt (name changed to hide identity) is a Kashmiri refugee living in Kathmandu, Nepal for more than two decades. He goes to Kashmir every two or three years to meet his friends and relatives. He spoke to SPOTLIGHT recently about the plight of the Kashmiri people. Excerpts :

Why did you choose to come to Nepal?

Some of my friends and relatives had come to Nepal before me. They told me that Nepal was a peaceful place and the Muslims also could live without any kind of discrimination. And it was a good place to do business. The foreign tourists liked to buy Kashmiri handicrafts. Thatís why I decided to come here.

Are you going to settle down here for ever?

I have been living here for twenty one years. I have many friends and close relatives in Kashmir. Even though I have done well I long to go back. After all, Kashmir is my motherland. And it is no less beautiful than Nepal. I am waiting for the day when she can gain freedom from the Indians.

The Indians say Kashmir is an integral part of India. How do you think you can be free?

Some day the Americans will have to make Kashmir free from the Indians.

Can you describe the actual situation of Kashmiri Muslims?

In proper Kashmir the Muslim population was more than 90% before 1947. After the Indians grabbed it, the well to do Muslims have fled, either to Pakistan, the U.K., the U.S.A., the middle-east countries and even toNepal. Those who could not leave had to stay back. The Indian government has settled a large number of Hindus to reduce Muslim majority. Still Kashmir has overwhelming majority of Muslims. But they are living in dreaded scare. The security force rape Kashmiri Muslim girls and kill innocent Muslims but blame the mujahideens. Life has become like hell. And now they have clamped draconian rules, what will be the fate of the poor Muslims, only Allah knows.

But there are Kashmiri Muslim leaders who seem quite happy to make Kashmir a part of India. Do you mean they are not honest?

Absolutely. If they do not toe the Indian line, they will disappear one fine morning. And the Indians will blame either Pakistan or the mujahideens. And all those Kashmiri Muslims who support India enjoy big perks from the Indians. You must understand, India is spending big money to buy their loyalty.

How about the big majority of Indian Muslims? Do you believe they are sympathetic to your cause?

Indeed, they are sympathetic. And if necessary they will also support us. Even all the Muslim nations of the world will support us.

India blames Pakistan for training the mujahideens and sending the terrorists into Kashmir. Do you think what they say is true?

I cannot say it is hundred percent baseless. But what the Indian security forces are doing in Kashmir is hundred fold terrorizing and horrifying. Why the human rights activists are not doing anything to save the poor Kashminis I cannot understand.

How long are you going to tolerate?

As long the United Nations and the Americans do not come to our rescue. We want plebiscite and we will have it one day. We have to have great patience.