2009

January 15: The Human Rights Watch in its 2009 annual report released in New York castigates India for ignoring calls to conduct independent investigation to determine the fate of thousands of people who have disappeared during the last two decades in occupied Kashmir. The organization points out that India is continuing to provide extra-ordinary powers to its troops and grant them immunity from prosecution. The report says that the Indian paramilitary forces are responsible for extra judicial killings, arbitrary detention, due process violations, and ill treatment in custody in Jammu and Kashmir and in Indian state of Manipur. Criticizing laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, it points out that these laws p[rovide impunity to Indian police and troops.

January 16: The US Ambassador-designate to the United Nations, Susan Rice in a statement identifies Kashmir as one of the hot spots listing it in conflict-torn regions, including the Balkans and Golan Heights.

January 20: Hundreds of people stage protest demonstrations against the desecration of historic Aali Masjid by Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the Eidgah area of Srinagar. Situation turns violent when the CRPF and policemen use force to quell the protesters.

January 28: A senior Democrat and head of a prestigious US-based think tank says that America can encourage India and Pakistan to work towards a solution of the Kashmir dispute. Lee Hamilton, vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission and now President of the prestigious Washington-based think tank, Woodrow Wilson Centre for Scholars, says that it is in America's interest to see the Kashmir issue resolved, which he says will require diplomacy.

February 11: In New York, Brad Adams, the Asia Director of Human Rights Watch in a letter to the puppet Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir, Omar Abdullah calls for an independent, transparent, and time-bound commission to investigate the enforced disappearances. The letter emphasizes that the troops should be held to account for human rights violations and the draconian laws should be repealed, which provide the armed forces with extraordinary powers to search, detain, and use lethal force.
In London, the speakers at a seminar express confidence that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will finally attain their right to self-determination. They include Lord Avebury, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl, Marsha Singh and Kelvin Hopkin.

February 14: Noted human rights activists and members of The International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir, Pervez Imroz, Khuram Pervez, Gautam Naulakha, Angana Chaterji, Zahir-Ud-Din and Mihir Desai send a memorandum to the puppet Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, urging him to honor his promises to address the human rights abuses taking place in occupied Kashmir.
The memorendum demanded an impartial and full-scale investigation into the enforced disappearances, killings by police firings, fake encounters and extra judicial killings to bring the perpetrators to justice. It seeks protection to the sites of mass graves and revelation of the identity of the people buried in these graves. Stating that the use of torture by military and paramilitary forces on innocent civilians is widespread in occupied Kashmir, the human rights activists demand a comprehensive ban on such practices and closure of unlawful detention and torture centers.

February 16: In Washington, the speakers at a seminar emphasize that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve worldwide support for their right to self-determination and resolution of the Kashmir dispute is a must for permanent peace in South Asia.
In Srinagar a seminar organized by an NGO, Centre for Peace and Progress, the human rights activists, lawyers and intellectuals ask the Indian civil society to play its role in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and to ensure the trial of Indian Army personnel involved in cases of disappearances and killings.

February 27: In Brussels, speakers at a seminar emphasize that India is trying to mislead the international community by holding so-called assembly elections in occupied Kashmir. The speakers include the Chairman of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo and renowned author, Victoria Schofield. 
Senior Republican Congressman of the United States, Dan Burton, while speaking at a congressional hearing in Washington says that the people of Kashmir should be given the right to choose their destiny by holding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

March 3: In occupied Kashmir, the visiting European Union delegation says that it has taken cognizance of the recent killing of two youth in unprovoked firing of Indian troops in Bomai Sopore and will mention it in its annual report.  The Ambassador of Czech Republic and head of the five-member delegation, Hynek Kmonicek, talking to media men in Srinagar says that the Sopore killing has been widely reported and they will definitely mention it in their report. He maintains that they have open talks with people from different walks of life and everyone has a positive attitude towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The other members of the delegation include Lars Olof Lindgren, Ion De La Riva, Jan Kreutee and Bruce Bourdon.

March 4: In Washington, the Executive Director of Kashmir Center, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai while addressing a seminar entitled, “The Role of the United States in Resolving the Kashmir Dispute” at Rumi Forum, says that the denial of right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. 

March 13: The US State Department in its 2009 Human Rights Report expresses concern over reported extra judicial killings of people in custody, disappearances, torture and rape by paramilitary forces and police in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

March 23: The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani meet with Pakistani High Commissioner, Shahid Malik, during the Pakistan Day celebrations in New Delhi. Both the leaders during their meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner discuss the present political and human rights situation in occupied Kashmir. The leaders maintain that stabile Pakistan was imperative for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and pray for prosperity of the country. Other pro-movement leaders including Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi, Dr Syed Sadiq Rizvi, Nisar Hussain Rather, Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar, Ayaz Akbar and Zamruda Habib also attend the function.

March 24: In Geneva, addressing the 10th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Executive Director of Kashmir Institute of International Relations Islamabad, Sardar Amjad Yousuf, says that Indian troops are engaged in gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. He appeals the World Body to impress upon India to repeal black laws in the occupied territory. 

March 25: The UN urges New Delhi to repeal the special powers to its troopers operating in the Valley and probe the cases of enforced disappearances.  The UN commissioner for Human Rights Navnetham Pillay says that India should repeal those “outdated and colonial-era laws that breach contemporary international human rights standards. These range from laws which provide the security forces with excessive emergency powers, including the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.”

April 10: In occupied Kashmir, Indian government decides to install Israel-made spy satellite near the Line of Control to check movement of Kashmiri people. The Satellite Radar 'Imaging', weighing 300-kilogram, has been prepared in Israel and now being brought to India.

April 15: Kathmandu based South Asia Forum for Human Rights in its two hundred page report describes the judiciary in Kashmir a myth, saying it has totally failed to uphold rule of law and people's right to life. The report maintains that the judicial system is not able to provide justice to Kashmiri people particularly in the cases of disappearances and custodial deaths.

April 22: American President, Barack Hussein Obama nominates Tim Roemer as US special envoy to India who is expected to include in his tasks to play role in settling the Kashmir dispute. Indian analysts say that Tim Roemer, former Democrat politician from Indiana and a think-tank security analyst, will mainly focus on the Kashmir dispute.
April 27: The United States Commander-in-Chief of Central Command, General David Howell Petraeus says that the settlement of the Kashmir dispute is vital to abolish terrorism. BBC quotes General David Petraeus, retrieving to the questions of the members of budget committee of House of Representatives, as saying that if the world community plays its role to help resolve the Kashmir dispute; the tension between Pakistan and India can be decreased. 

April 30: In London, a delegation of Kashmir Centre, headed by Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl calls on Chris Allan, deputy head of South Asia Group in Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and discusses the latest situation in occupied Kashmir.

May 02: In London, the member of European Parliament, Jean Lambert visits Kashmir Centre and meets the Executive Director of the Centre, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl. On the occasion, Jean Lambert says that she will effectively project the cause of Kashmiris' right to self-determination at every international forum.

May 12: In Oslo, the Foreign Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre calls upon the international community to mediate between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir dispute to pave way for the start of constructive peace talks between the two countries for its early resolution. Jonas Gahr Støre, while answering a written question in the Parliamentary session, says that the dispute is put at the backburner following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which derail the peace talks between the two countries.

May 19: In Brussels, member of the European Parliament, Liz Lynne in a statement emphasizes that the new Indian government must engage positively with Kashmiri groups and the Pakistan government to find a just solution of the Kashmir dispute. The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in his statement says, the people of Kashmir expect that the US administration will fulfil President Obama's promise of helping Kashmiris in securing their right to self-determination.

May 21: The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Zulqarnain Khan along with Dr Z U Khan and Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl calls on Mr Philip Barton, Director of South Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and discusses the latest situation in occupied Kashmir. Raja Zulqarnain Khan implores the UK government to play a proactive role in resolving the decades-long Kashmir dispute as the UN resolution on Kashmir continued to remain unimplemented. Philip Barton assures the delegation that the British government is aware of the sensitivity of the problem and believes that the problem should be resolved to the satisfaction of the Kashmiris. 

May 24: In Damascus, speaking at a meeting of the Kashmir Contact Group on the occasion of the 36th session of the Organization of Islamic Conference's Council of Foreign Ministers, members of a Kashmiri delegation say that due to the non-settlement of the Kashmir dispute, peace and development of South Asia is at stake. The speakers include the AJK Prime Minister, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and Syed Yousuf Naseem.
The Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu while addressing the meeting says that the OIC is considering taking further steps to develope a mechanism for resolving conflicts in the Islamic countries. He says that in addition to the established policy in the conflicts in Palestine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Somalia and Kashmir the OIC is considering the specific approach, for which a mechanism should be developed.

May 28: The world human rights body, Amnesty International (AI) in its annual report for 2009, says that Indian troops have been using brute force against demonstrators in occupied Kashmir during 2008. The Amnesty says that during July and August 2008 protests in Jammu and Kashmir have risen to the levels unseen in recent years.

May 28: A veteran American diplomat, Howard Schaffer suggests that the US should offer support to India for a permanent seat of the UN Security Council in return for New Delhi's agreeing to genuine and enforceable concessions on the Kashmir dispute. Schaffer in his latest book, "The Limits of Influence:America's Role in Kashmir," says, "Washington needs to look for ways to persuade New Delhi to accept an agreement that does not meet all Indian demands and involves genuine and enforceable concessions on its part."

May 30: Indian men in uniform kill two Kashmiri women Nelofar Jan (22) and her sister-in-law Aasiya Jan (17) in Shopian after molestating them. The tragedy shocks the entire Valley, which leads to the spontaneous protests. After the tragic incident Shopian town observes a complete shutdown for 47 days against the failure of the occupation authorities to identify and punish the killers.

June 02: The occupation authorities take Hurriyet leaders, Shabbir Ahmed Shah and Muhammad Saleem Nunnaji, into custody from Srinagar and shift them to undisclosed destinations. Strict restrictions are imposed in all major cities and towns to prevent people from staging protest demonstrations. The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi and Nayeem Ahmed Khan continue to remain under house arrest.

June 10: The puppet authorities issue detention orders under the draconian Public Safety Act against several Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Aasiya Andrabi, Muhammad Saleem Nunnaji and Masarat Alam Butt.

June 11: Amnesty International in a statement issued in New York denounces sexual assault and murder of the two Kashmiri women by Indian troopers in Shopian. It demands an immediate inquiry into the gory incident and repeal of discretionary powers exercised by the occupation troops. Amnesty says that protesters in Jammu and Kashmir continue to press  the Indian government to pursue seriously the case whether members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have raped and murdered two women Aasiya Jan and her sister-in-law, Nelofar Jan.

June 17: In Geneva, addressing the 11th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Chairman of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo describes India's illegal occupation of Kashmir as a manifestation of racism as per international covenants.

June 18: The Chairman of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo meets with the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari in Brussels. President Zardari assures him that Pakistan will continue highlighting the Kashmir issue at every forum.

June 19: A United States based organization; Yale Law School in its report maintains that the judiciary in occupied Kashmir has failed to deliver justice on the human rights violations by Indian troops. The report says that Indian military and executive authorities undermine the efficiency and equity of the judicial system.

June 20: A delegation from International Council for Human Rights (ICHR) Kashmir Centre EU and the All Party Group on Kashmir in the European Parliament meets President Asif Ali Zardari, in Brussels. The delegation included among others Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Chairman of ICHR Kashmir Centre EU, James Elles, Chairman of the All Parties Group on Kashmir and Victoria Schofield, South-Asia expert and Rapporteur of the Rolling Discourse on Kashmir.

June 24: British Member Parliament and Liberal Democrat friend of Kashmir from Rochdale, Paul Rowan shows concern over the rape and murder of two Kashmiri women in Shopian. During an interaction with Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawal, Executive Director Kashmir Center London, Mr Rowan says that he will also be writing to the Indian High Commission and tabling an early day motion in the House of Commons about the Shopian incident.

June 25: A strong peaceful protest is held in front of Indian Embassy in Brussels to condemn the continued crimes committed by the Indian forces in occupied Kashmir particularly gang rapes and murders of two women in Shopian. Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Chairman of Kashmir Centre, EU, on the occasion says, “After 62 years of enforcing a military occupation on the people of Kashmir, one of the government of India's worst fears is now being realised.  Nourished by memories of years of violent repression in which torture, molestation and enforced disappearances have become common place, the people of Kashmir are reacting only with non-violent protests.”

June 28: The Amnesty International's programme director for Asia Pacific, Sam Zarifi in his letter to the Indian Home Minister, P Chidambaram, says that the World Body continues to receive reports of torture and ill-treatment of individuals in custody in the occupied territory.

July 1: The occupation authorities decide to call in Indian Army to control the Baramulla town after paramilitary forces fail to quell anti-India demonstrations, participated by thousands of people.

July 6: In Washington, European legislators and top experts addressing a seminar urge the United States to step up efforts towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The speakers include Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Ola Lanke, Lord Nazir Ahmed and Dr Ghulam Nabi Mir.

July 9: Calling Kashmir as an extremely sensitive hotspot, the US Ambassador to New Delhi, Timothy Roemer says that America will diplomatically encourage India and Pakistan to talk about the delicate and sensitive Kashmir issue. Timothy Roemer says that Senate Foreign Relations panel on his confirmation hearing in response to a question from the top Republican on the panel, Dick Lugar about the US role on the Kashmir dispute. “I think it is an issue. It's a delicate and sensitive issue,” he says.

July 13: A large number of Kashmiris living in United Kingdom take part in a demonstration staged in front of Indian High Commission to protest against the illegal detention of senior APHC leader and President of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmed Shah. The protest is organized by the representatives of the Kashmiri Diaspora living in the UK and supported by all political groups in Britain and human rights organizations of Jammu and Kashmir.

July 14: The International Federation of Journalists, in a statement issued in Brussels expresses serious concern over intimidation of journalists in occupied Kashmir for their objective reporting on human rights violations by Indian police personnel.

July 16: The Chairman of Pakistan Parliamentary Kashmir Committee, Maulana Fazlur Rehman says that fresh initiatives are underway to highlight the Kashmir dispute at global level. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, addressing a gathering at Kashmir Centre London, says that there is unanimity in Pakistan that Kashmir is the core issue of the region and all routes to peace are linked to its amicable solution.

July 18: In London, a delegation of UK-based Kashmiris presents a petition to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at 10 Downing Street, asking him to help in release of senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah. Members of the delegation included Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Ershad Malik, Dr Zafar Khan and Dr Saboor.

July 24: In Washington, speakers at the International Peace Kashmir Conference emphasize that the Right to Self-determination is an inalienable right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Obama Administration needs to facilitate the resolution of this sixty-two-year-old dispute. The Conference is organized by Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Centre and Humanitarian Lawyers Association. Those who speak on the occasion included Raja Zulqarnain, Ambassador Hussain Haqqani, Dr Karen Parker, Victoria Schofield, Professor Ghulam Rasool Malik, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Gautam Navlakha and Dr Naseem Ashraf.

July 25: The International Peace Conference in Washington on Kashmir concludes with the adoption of a declaration, which demanded that the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir be recognized. It urges the United States to support the appointment of a special United Nations envoy to Kashmir. The Declaration underscores the need to bring about resolution of the Kashmir dispute in conformity with the UN Charter.

August 2: In London, speakers at a roundtable discussion at Kashmir Centre welcome the resumption of Pak-India dialogue process. They include the Speaker of AJK Assembly, Shah Ghulam Qadir, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and Professor Richard Bonney.

August 5: Human Rights Watch, an internationally recognized human rights organization, says that India should take major steps to overhaul its policing system that facilitates and encourages human rights violations. The organization in its 118-page report, says that India has failed to deliver on promises to hold the police accountable for abuses and to build professional, rights-respecting police. The report says that Indian Police has been committing a range of human rights violations including arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and extra-judicial killings with impunity.

August 9: In New Delhi, a resolution passed by the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, an umbrella body of Indian Muslim organizations, in a meeting of its working committee, demands revocation of black laws and withdrawal of Indian troops from civilian areas of occupied Kashmir.

August 11: Complete strike is observed, on the first martyrdom anniversary of senior APHC leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Call for the observance has been given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference which is supported by the forum patronized by senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, the High Court Bar Association and other pro-liberation organizations.

The occupation authorities besiege the Mazar-e-Shuhada, Eidgah, in Srinagar, deploying heavy contingents of Indian troops to prevent people from assembling there to offer Fateha for Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

August 15: Protest demonstrations are staged in front of Indian High Commissions in London and Brussels, where Kashmiri leaders hand over memorandum to Indian High Commissioners, urging Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh to call an immediate end to acts of Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir. The Executive Directors of Kashmir Centre London, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl and Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo lead the demonstrations.

August 18: In London, a resolution is passed at a round table conference, organized by the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, demanding appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir by the UN to hasten the process of securing peace in South Asia. Participants of the conference included Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Dr Ghulam Nabi Mir and Nazir Ahmed Qureshi.

August 21: A prominent rights group discovers in the Kashmir Valley several unmarked graves containing about 1,500 unidentified bodies. Members of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) say that at least eight of the graves have more than one body likely of the innocent people killed by Indian paramilitary forces. "We have found that at least eight are mass graves as they contain more than one body," the APDP's lawyer, Pervez Imroz tells media men in Srinagar.

After the report, the Amnesty International calls for an independent probe into the unnamed graves. Ramesh Gopalakrishnan, a researcher from the London-based rights group's South Asia team, says there have been no responsible and serious responses on the subject by either the Kashmir administration or Indian government. The European Union Parliament also passed a resolution asking India to investigate the matter but New Delhi is yet to pay heed to the appeal.

August 28: A six member Delhi-based team of lawyers, human rights activists, journalists and doctors says in Srinagar that rape and murder incident of two girls in Shopian is shocking. The fact-finding team comprising Uma Chakarwarti, Usha Ramarathan, Varindra Grover, Heema Mishra, Dr Achita and Anuradha Bhasin visited Shopian and sympathised with the victims' family.

August 29: The puppet authorities in a written reply to a question in the so-called Kashmir Assembly admit that 121 persons have been booked under draconian Public Safety Act while 45 civilians have been killed in various violence related incidents during the last seven months.

September 18: Addressing a roundtable conference in Geneva, the speakers draw world attention towards the discovery of unnamed mass graves in occupied Kashmir maintaining that the people of the territory were being continuously deprived of justice. They included Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Professor Alfred de Zayas, Gustavo Franko Perodista, Alan McClue and Ronald Barnes.

September 19: In London, a delegation of Kashmir Centre led by Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl calls on the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. The President assures the delegation that Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris' right of self-determination. A memorandum presented to the President on the occasion hopes that he shall portray the sufferings of Kashmiri people during his interaction with world leaders at the forthcoming UN session in New York.

September 26: The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference in New York says that the Kashmir dispute is the main cause of tension between Pakistan and India, which needs to be resolved without any further delay. He says that the APHC is committed to bring about a peaceful and political solution to the dispute through meaningful dialogue amongst Pakistan, India and the genuine Kashmiri leadership. The APHC Chairman appealed to the leaders of the Islamic countries to use their moral and political influence to help resume the peace process for a just and honorable settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

September 29: The OIC Contact Group on Kashmir demands right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir, declaring that this is the only solution of the Kashmir dispute. OIC Contact Group in its meeting endorses the Kashmiris' demand of their right to self-determination and assures its full support to them. Condemning in strongest terms rampant human rights violations in occupied Kashmir by Indian troops, the Group urges that the conflict over Kashmir should be resolved in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. The group welcomes the Sharm El-Sheikh understanding reached at between the Pak-India prime ministers, which has said that both countries should explore the solution of their problems through talks.

A large number of Kashmiris protest in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York against the Indian occupation and stepped up human rights violations by its troops in Kashmir. Many non-Kashmiri Sikhs also join the protest supporting the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir when Indian foreign minister was addressing the UN General Assembly.

October 4: In Washington, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, talking to media persons says that the appointment of Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir by the OIC will help to bridge the gap between Pakistan and India.

October 9: In London, speakers at a conference call on India to resume the stalled dialogue with Pakistan to allow peace and stability return to the South Asian region. It is addressed among others by Asif Durrani, Paul Rowan, Professor Richard Bonney, Victoria Schofield, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and Shahid Sadullah.

October 15: One of the most powerful and influential royal family members of Saudi Arabia, Prince Turki al-Faisal urges the US President, Barack Obama to push India and Pakistan for resolving the Kashmir dispute for his Af-Pak policy to make any progress. Turki al-Faisal, in an article published in the international Herald Tribune says that Saudi Arabia can play a supporting role in settlement of the dispute.

October 18: A Dutch NGO, IKV Pax-Christi, says that the peace and stability in South Asian region cannot prevail until the Kashmir dispute is resolved. The spokesman of the IKV Pax-Christi, Marjan Lucas, addressing a news conference in Brussels, urges the European Union and the US to play their role to resolve the longstanding dispute. He emphasizes that Kashmir is an international dispute, arguing that the subject has been debated in the European Parliament, which has issued its own report on it.

October 21: A diplomat associated with Japanese Embassy in New Delhi, Mr Takashi Cyarcia Sato meets the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Srinagar. The APHC Chairman apprises him of the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in the occupied territory. He says that the international community needs to come forward in a big way to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

China urges Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through dialogue process. Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, briefing the newsmen in Beijing, says that the Kashmir dispute is a question left over by the history. He makes these remarks when asked about China's stand on Kashmir in the wake of Beijing issuing separate visas to the Indian passport holders from the occupied territory.

October 26: In London, the International Intra-Kashmir Conference in its declaration emphasizes that the freedom struggle in Kashmir is an indigenous, popular and spontaneous movement. Speakers including APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Lord Nazir Ahmed, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Ved Bhasin, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Abdul Rashid Turabi and Muhammad Ghalib call for repeal of draconian laws and release of all political prisoners in occupied Kashmir.

October 27: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control observe black day. The day is marked with a complete shutdown in occupied Kashmir. It was on October 27 in 1947 when Indian troops invaded Kashmir in clear violation of the partition plan of the Sub-continent and the Kashmiris' aspirations.

November 1: The Executive Director of Kashmiri-Scandinavian Council, Sardar Ali Shahnawaz Khan meets the member of Norwegian Parliament and former Minister for Environment, Knut Arild Hareide. In a statement issued after the meeting held in Oslo, Sardar Ali Shahnawaz says that he briefed Knut Arild Hareide about the latest situation in occupied Kashmir and urged the Norwegian government to play its role to find an amicable solution to the Kashmir dispute.

November 5: China urges both Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through peaceful dialogue process. The spokesman of China's foreign office during a press briefing in Beijing reiterates China's resolve to continue issuing stapled visas to the Kashmiris without bringing any change in the policy in this regard.

November 6: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control observe the Jammu Martyrs Day to reaffirm Kashmiris' resolve to accomplish the sublime goal of the liberation movement. The day is observed to commemorate the massacre of hundreds of thousands of innocent Kashmiris including women and children by Dogra armed forces and Hindu extremists in Jammu region during the months of October and November in1947 while they were migrating to Pakistan.

November 13: The Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy calls upon India and Pakistan to hold constructive dialogue for resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The Prime Minister in a letter addressed to Executive Director of Peace and Justice Forum (PJF), Mushtaq A Jeelani, says that Belgium favours amicable solution of the Kashmir dispute. He stresses the need for transparency and to allow the international media and human rights organizations to visit Jammu and Kashmir.

November 14: China says that Jammu and Kashmir is a dispute between Pakistan and India, which should be resolved by both the countries through peaceful dialogue process. The Press Secretary of Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, Zou Yonghong, talking to media men on the sidelines of a function, justifies Chinese action of issuing stapled visas (Visas on a separate sheet of paper) to the Kashmiris saying that China considers Kashmir a disputed territory.

November 15: A committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopts a Pakistan-sponsored resolution reaffirming the people's right to self-determination, calling for cessation of foreign military intervention, occupation and repression. The resolution, approved by consensus, will serve to focus the world's attention on struggle by the people for their right to self-determination in occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
November 20: The Amnesty International asks the US President, Barack Obama to address the issue of human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir during the forthcoming visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to the US. Amnesty's Executive Director, Larry Cox in a letter to the US President writes that the Indian side of Kashmir is an area where Indian forces are committing mass human rights abuses with impunity under the protection of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other similar laws. He maintains that the civilian population of Kashmir has paid a high price for the conflict and thousands had disappeared over the years. He calls upon the US President to secure a meaningful commitment from the Indian Prime Minister to improve human rights situation in Kashmir.
The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in an interview with the BBC says that America encourages India and Pakistan to resume the dialogue process, which is halted after Mumbai terrorist attack.
November 24: The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq briefs a European Union delegation about the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. The delegation comprising New Delhi based diplomats, Mr Olof Lindgren, Ms Daniele, Mr Lon Dela Riva, Mr Jean M Debouller and Mr Oscar Schlyter, meet the APHC Chairman in Srinagar. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urges the delegation that the European Union must play an effective and substantive role in resolving the Kashmir dispute. The delegation assures the APHC Chairman that it will fulfill its responsibilities towards resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris' aspirations.
November 25: In Washington, hundreds of Kashmiri Americans hold a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House on the occasion of the meeting between President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to urge the US Administration to persuade India to initiate meaningful dialogue with Pakistan and the legitimate Kashmiri leadership to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Addressing the demonstrators, the Executive Director of Kashmiri American Council, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai hopes that the US will play an active role in finding a lasting solution to the lingering dispute.
November 26: The Swedish ambassador in New Delhi, Lars-Olof Lindgren, talking to media men in Srinagar, says that the time has come to resolve the Kashmir dispute through talks to begin a new era of peace and prosperity in the region. He is heading an EU delegation on a three-day visit to the valley.
December 2: In UK, member Parliament, Paul Rowen is appointed the new Secretary of the All Parliamentary Group on Kashmir. On his appointment, Paul Rowan says that he is vigorously campaigning for highlighting the Kashmir dispute and will continue to do so.
December 8: The US Military Chief, Admiral Mike Mullen urges Pakistan and India to settle the Kashmir issue, stressing that the resolution of this 62-year-old dispute is important for restoring peace to the South Asian region. He states this while addressing US based foreign correspondents at the Foreign Press Center in Washington. Admiral Mullen says that Kashmir is a principal question, which Pakistan and India need to address.
December 9: In Brussels, speakers at a function organized at the official opening of the new office of Kashmir Center European Union, underline the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute to bring an end to the human rights abuses by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. They include, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Jean Lambert, Richard Howitt, Leonidas Donskis, Carlos Coehlo, Miroslav Mikolasik, Victoria Schofield and Jalil Abbas Jilani.
December 11: The Amnesty International in a statement in London reiterates its call to the Indian government to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which allows Indian troops to violate basic human rights of civilians with impunity.
December 13: The Ambassadors of African Union residing in Islamabad, talking to the journalists, urge India to resolve the Kashmir dispute at the earliest, as it is vital to peace and stability of the region in particular and the world in general. They say that 800,000 Indian troops deployed in occupied Kashmir are torturing the innocent people to suppress their voice for their birthright to self-determination. They also stress for taking African countries into confidence regarding the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
December 15: In London, member of the British Parliament and Secretary All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, Paul Rowen, tables a motion in the Parliament expressing concern over the discovery of unnamed mass graves in occupied Kashmir.
December 16: A New Delhi-based women rights group, Independent Women's Initiative for Justice in Shopian in a statement rejects the report of Indian Central Bureau of Investigations in which the men in uniform involved in Shopian rape and murder case are exonerated.
December 18: In Washington, Congressman, John Conyers in his speech to House of Representatives appeals to the US President, Barack Obama to engage Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute as the resolution will bring long-term peace in the region.
December 21: Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi, Shahid Malik, along with his associates calls on veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani. He visits Syed Ali Gilani's Malviya Nagar residence in New Delhi. During the meeting, the veteran leader apprizes the envoy about the latest situation in occupied Kashmir.
December 23: The World Bank refuses to accept Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. Regarding financing of a key project, the Bank insists on a disclaimer from the puppet authorities that the funding of projects in the disputed area should not be used to endorse India's claim on the territory.