According to a geography professor from the University of Minnesota who has visited top JKLF leaders and who is currently writing a book on Kashmir, the JKLF, whether Pakistan- or India-based, is neither a political party nor affiliated to any political party (29 Sept. 1994). The national spokesperson of the UK JKLF (pro-Rauf) group and the general secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights, both in London, England, corroborate this information (29 Sept. 1994).

The general secretary stated that the Pakistan-based JKLF is a member of the Hurriyat Council, an umbrella organization representing 30 groups in Indian-held Kashmir, and is nationally accepted as a member (ibid.). The geography professor disagreed, stating that the Pakistan-based JKLF is not member to the Hurriyat Council because the line of control, which he likened to the former Berlin Wall, cannot be crossed (29 Sept. 1992; 30 Sept. 1994). He further stated that while the Indian JKLF is member of the Hurriyat Council, the Pakistani JKLF likely has only limited verbal input, if any at all (ibid.). Formed in September 1993, the Hurriyat Council has agreed to hold talks with the Indian government (ibid.).

According to both the national spokesperson of the UK JKLF (pro-Rauf) group and the geography professor, the JKLF is not banned in either Pakistan or in Azad Kashmir, nor are members prosecuted for their membership (29 Sept. 1994; 30 Sept. 1994). The spokesperson stated that the Indian ban against the JKLF is renewed every six months, however, and that occasionally his office receives the written notice of the extension of the ban from the Indian government when it is unable to locate the JKLF office in Indian-held Kashmir (ibid.). Whereas Europa refers to the JKLF in Indian-held Kashmir as the "outlawed JKLF" (1993, 2205), the geography professor stated that the Indian ban against the JKLF has been lifted (29 Sept. 1994). Please refer to Responses to Information Requests PAK18506.E of 30 September 1994 and PAK18510.E of 30 September 1994, available at your Regional Documentation Centre, for further information on the prosecution of JKLF members by the Pakistani government.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Professor of geography with expertise in Kashmiri affairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. 30 September 1994. Telephone interview.

_____. 29 September 1994. Telephone interview.

Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights, London, UK. 29 September 1994. Telephone interview with general secretary.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), London, UK 30 September 1994. Telephone interview with national spokesperson (pro-Rauf Khan group).

_____. 29 September 1994. Telephone interview with national spokesperson (pro-Rauf Khan group).

Additional Sources Consulted

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. 1990-present.

AsiaWeek [Hong Kong]. 1992-present.

Current History [Philadelphia, Pa.]. 1989-present.

The Europa World Year Book. 1992, 1993.

Foreign Affairs. Winter 1990. Sumit Ganguly. "Avoiding War in Kashmir." (NEXIS)

India Today [New Delhi].

Jeune Afrique [Paris].

Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies [Villanova, Pa.]. 1992-present.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge].

On-line search of media sources.