War Between India & Pakistan Not An Option: KAC

Washington, D.C: The Board of Directors of the Kashmiri American Council (KAC) in its 4-days meeting agreed to the following 12-points “Policy Statement.”
1. For comprehensive and lasting peace in South Asia, and a politically secure and democratic future, the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir be recognized and respected;
2. There must be an early, just and durable resolution to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the international agreements & the wishes and the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir;
3. War is not an option and all the parties to the dispute must work for a comprehensive cease-fire and bring every form of violence to an end to improve the environment for a constructive and progressive dialogue;
4. India and Pakistan alone cannot solve the 64-year-old Kashmir conflict, it requires the deeper engagement of the international community with both these neighboring countries;
5. The resolution must be with the participation of all the three parties to the dispute i.e. India, Pakistan and the leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir;
6. The non-violent, civil disobedience, including the prolific peaceful processions since 2008 until today enacted by the people of Kashmir has been repeatedly met with brutal force and collective punishment by the Indian state;
7. The militarization in Kashmir has induced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, unlawful detentions, torture, phenomenon of half-widows, orphans, displacement, migrations, and mass graves;
8. The recent discovery of more than 2,700 mass graves on August 22, 2011which have been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Kashmir Human Rights Commission, New York Times, International Educational Development, International Tribunal on Kashmir and many others, need to be investigated by an international impartial agency;
9. Kashmir specific confidence building measures should be adopted, which will help in conquering fear and creating a congenial environment for a positive movement forward;
10. Following steps need to be taken by the Government of India to make the peace process meaningful, i.e., Immediate and complete cessation of military and paramilitary actions; gradual withdrawal of the military presence from the towns and villages; dismantling of bunkers, watch towers and barricades; release of political prisoners; annulling of various special repressive laws; restoring the right of peaceful association, assembly and demonstrations; and freedom of expression;
11. The long-standing policy of the United States towards Kashmir is satisfactory as confirmed by President Obama on November 8, 2010 in New Delhi that “Kashmir is a longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan”; and that “the resolution of Kashmir is in the interest of the two countries, region and the United States”; however, the concrete steps need to be taken to articulate this US policy into a tangible plan of action;
12. An appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir by the United Nations, and an independent global leaders forum, ‘The Elders’ will hasten the process of peace and stability in the region of South Asia.