Very little information further to that contained in PAK38537.E of 5 March 2002, PAK37181.E of 26 June 2001, PAK33665.E of 11 February 2000, and PAK33172.E of 15 November 1999 on the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A resolution adopted by the UKPNP at a meeting organized by its president, Shaukat Kashmiri, in Switzerland on 11 August 2002, demanded that "'elements that propagate violence as a solution to the Kashmir problem be banned wherever they exist'" (The Tribune 14 Aug. 2002). The resolution also called for co-operation between the Indian and Pakistan governments in reaching a final settlement to the Kashmir dispute (ibid.). The following UKPNP members, all living in Switzerland, signed the resolution: Sardar Shuakat Ali Kashmiri, Sayed Maqbul Kazimi, Mohammad Abdullah Raina, Gulnawaz Khan, Tahir Naseem Manhas, Chaudhary Mohammad Mushtaq, Khalid Jehangir, Riyaz Punjabi, Mumtaz Khan, and K.N. Pandita (ibid.).

Khalid Perwaize, the UKPNP secretary of foreign affairs living in Scotland, stated in an interview that, while the UKPNP is "fighting for a completely independent Kashmir," the party envisions it becoming a secular rather than a Muslim state, as is the desire of such groups as the Muslim Conference and the Hurriyat (Kashmir Live 5 July 2001).

No reference to a women's wing, its activities or the treatment of active female members by the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, the police and other military and government authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Kashmir Live [Kashmir]. 5 July 2001. Esha Roy. "'The Condition of PoK Is One of Oppression.'" http://www.expressindia.com/kashmir/kashmirlive/int20010705.html [Accessed 31 Jan. 2003]

The Tribune [Chandigarh, Internet version]. 14 August 2002. "'Dismantle' Terror Camps." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020814/nation.htm [Accessed 31 Jan. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

The Herald

IRB databases

Jane's Intelligence Review

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

BBC

Dawn

The Deccan Herald

Kashmir Monitor

Kashmir News

Kashmir Times

Rediff.com

South Asia Terrorism Portal

The Times of India

World News Connection (WNC)

Search engine:

Google