World Kashmir Freedom Movement
Encyclopedia
The World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM) is an umbrella organisation of expatriate Kashmiris from Indian administrated Kashmir
working internationally for the promotion of the Kashmir cause. It was set up on 17 June 1990 with Dr. Ayub Thakur as it president and has offices in Europe
, Americas
and Middle East
.
In July 1991, the World Kashmir Freedom Movement organised an international conference on Kashmir issue
in Washington, D.C. A large number of US congressmen, members of British Parliament and European Parliament as well as distinguished intellectuals and academicians participated in the conference and supported tri-partite talks for the resolution of Kashmir dispute
. During his address to the conference, Dr. Ayub Thakur, urged Kashmiri militants to renounce the misuse of force no matter how compelling the self-determination
aspiration. He was the first Kashmiri leader to offer conditional and issue-based moral support to the Kashmiri militants. The conference was a great success and generated a lot of debate in media and political circles much to the annoyance of India
.
The Indian Government took the success of the conference very seriously, and accused Dr. Ayub Thakur of sending money to the Kashmiri freedom fighters for terrorist activities. Under the directions of various Indian intelligence agencies, many cases ranging from terrorism to sabotage were registered against him. The Indian Government booked him under infamous Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act
(TADA). This case later formed the genesis of the famous Jain Hawala Corruption Case
, in which 38 prominent Indian politicians were charge sheeted and later discharged.
Dr. Ayub Thakur also attended the 1991 Organisation of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) Foreign minister meeting in Istanbul
, Turkey
, the 1993 OIC summit meeting in Dakar
, Senegal
and World tactics did not yield the desired result. On this occasion Dr. Ayub Thakur led a delegation and highlighted the Indian intransigence and the massive human rights violations. World KKashmir Freedom Movement also joined other Kashmiri groups and attended March 1993 session of United Nations Commission on Human Rights
(UNCHR) and later the World Conference on Human Rights
at Vienna
, Austria
in June 1993. As the World Kashmir Freedom Movement activities were growing, Indian Government tried to extradite Ayub Thakur on charges of financing 'terrorism' and secessionist plotting. He became India's chief nemesis. Indian government twice sought his extradition from the UK in 1992 and 1993. After its failure, they finally impounded his passport in 1993. This left Dr. Ayub stranded in United Kingdom
for about four years along with his family. However, in 1997 the British government issued him with a travel document, which he used till his death.
On 17 August 2009, in an attempt to re-activate the organisation a round table on Kashmir was organised by World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM) here, which was moderated by eminent Kashmiri American physician, Dr. Qazi, member of General Council, WKFM. Leaders of all the major diaspora, political parties, councillors, intellectuals and a cross section of community leaders living in Britain participated in it. America based leaders of WKFM including President Dr. G.N.Mir, Secretary General Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai attended the meeting. Senior Vice President Mr. Nazir Ahmed Qurashi welcomed the participants and urged the audience to brainstorm a workable, pragmatic and joined strategy for taking the moment to the logical conclusion.
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
working internationally for the promotion of the Kashmir cause. It was set up on 17 June 1990 with Dr. Ayub Thakur as it president and has offices in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
In July 1991, the World Kashmir Freedom Movement organised an international conference on Kashmir issue
Kashmir conflict
The Kashmir conflict is a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, the northwesternmost region of South Asia....
in Washington, D.C. A large number of US congressmen, members of British Parliament and European Parliament as well as distinguished intellectuals and academicians participated in the conference and supported tri-partite talks for the resolution of Kashmir dispute
Kashmir conflict
The Kashmir conflict is a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, the northwesternmost region of South Asia....
. During his address to the conference, Dr. Ayub Thakur, urged Kashmiri militants to renounce the misuse of force no matter how compelling the self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
aspiration. He was the first Kashmiri leader to offer conditional and issue-based moral support to the Kashmiri militants. The conference was a great success and generated a lot of debate in media and political circles much to the annoyance of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The Indian Government took the success of the conference very seriously, and accused Dr. Ayub Thakur of sending money to the Kashmiri freedom fighters for terrorist activities. Under the directions of various Indian intelligence agencies, many cases ranging from terrorism to sabotage were registered against him. The Indian Government booked him under infamous Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act, commonly known as TADA, was an Indian law active between 1985 and 1995 for the prevention of terrorist activities in Punjab. It came into effect on 23 May 1985. It was renewed in 1989, 1991 and 1993 before being allowed to lapse in 1995 due to increasing...
(TADA). This case later formed the genesis of the famous Jain Hawala Corruption Case
Hawala scandal
The Hawala scandal or hawala scam was an Indian political scandal involving payments allegedly received by politicians through four hawala brokers, the Jain brothers...
, in which 38 prominent Indian politicians were charge sheeted and later discharged.
Dr. Ayub Thakur also attended the 1991 Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Upon the groups's renaming, some sources provided the English-language translation "Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation", but and have since indicated the preferred English translation omits the "the". is an international organisation consisting of 57...
(OIC) Foreign minister meeting in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the 1993 OIC summit meeting in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and World tactics did not yield the desired result. On this occasion Dr. Ayub Thakur led a delegation and highlighted the Indian intransigence and the massive human rights violations. World KKashmir Freedom Movement also joined other Kashmiri groups and attended March 1993 session of United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
(UNCHR) and later the World Conference on Human Rights
World Conference on Human Rights
The World Conference on Human Rights was held by the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, on 14 to 25 June 1993. It was the first human rights conference held since the end of the Cold War...
at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in June 1993. As the World Kashmir Freedom Movement activities were growing, Indian Government tried to extradite Ayub Thakur on charges of financing 'terrorism' and secessionist plotting. He became India's chief nemesis. Indian government twice sought his extradition from the UK in 1992 and 1993. After its failure, they finally impounded his passport in 1993. This left Dr. Ayub stranded in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for about four years along with his family. However, in 1997 the British government issued him with a travel document, which he used till his death.
On 17 August 2009, in an attempt to re-activate the organisation a round table on Kashmir was organised by World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM) here, which was moderated by eminent Kashmiri American physician, Dr. Qazi, member of General Council, WKFM. Leaders of all the major diaspora, political parties, councillors, intellectuals and a cross section of community leaders living in Britain participated in it. America based leaders of WKFM including President Dr. G.N.Mir, Secretary General Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai attended the meeting. Senior Vice President Mr. Nazir Ahmed Qurashi welcomed the participants and urged the audience to brainstorm a workable, pragmatic and joined strategy for taking the moment to the logical conclusion.