BY: FT Correspondent:
Washington, D.C., July 20: The World Kashmir Awareness Forum (WKAF) has stated that the campaign for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir cannot substitute for the people’s right to self-determination, describing the two as fundamentally different concepts.
In a statement issued on Sunday, WKAF said the demonstrations in New Delhi demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood do not address what it considers the core political issue—the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their own political future through peaceful and democratic means.
The forum said the constitutional changes introduced on August 5, 2019, including the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, significantly altered the political landscape of the region. It maintained that administrative or constitutional changes alone cannot resolve the broader political dispute.
WKAF criticized the National Conference’s campaign for statehood, arguing that it shifts attention away from the larger issue of self-determination. According to the forum, restoring statehood would concern administrative powers within India’s constitutional framework, whereas self-determination relates to the people’s right to decide their political future.
The organization reiterated its commitment to peaceful, democratic and non-violent advocacy, emphasizing that a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue requires meaningful dialogue, respect for human rights, protection of civil liberties and an inclusive political process.
WKAF called on all relevant stakeholders to engage in sincere dialogue aimed at achieving a peaceful, just and durable resolution that upholds the dignity, rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
