Pakistan: Information on the Jammu and Kashmir People's National Party (JKPNP) and the differences in ideology with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

The following information was provided in a 4 April 1995 telephone interview with the national spokesperson of the UK Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) (pro-Rauf Khan branch) in London. He is in close communication with the JKLF groups in Kashmir and Pakistan and, on occasion, functions as the spokesperson for Yasin Malik in Srinagar. The spokesperson had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir People's National Party (JKPNP) while in Pakistan during December 1994 and January 1995. He wished to state, however, that the following information provided on the JKPNP is based on his understanding and knowledge of the organization as an outsider, and is not to be taken as an official inside view. He knows many of the UK JKPNP members personally, as well.

The JKPNP was formed by former members of the JKLF in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir between 8 and 10 years ago as a result of internal policy differences with the JKLF. Shaukat Kashmiri was General Secretary. The majority of JKPNP members in Azad Kashmir are also former JKLF members.

About two or three years ago, the JKPNP split into two groups, one led by Shaukat Kashmiri, the other by a barrister named Qurban Hussain. Both groups have branches in Azad Kashmir and in the UK. The majority of JKPNP members in the UK are also former members of the JKLF. The national spokesperson stated that it is possible that Shaukat Kashmiri's group has or had an office in Srinigar, in Indian-held Kashmir, as documentation had been received from an office there, although no one has since been able to locate the organization's office in that city.

The JKPNP is not funded by the Pakistani government. Kashmiri's and Hussain's groups are both as equally opposed to the Pakistani government as they are to the Indian government. Both governments are seen as occupiers of Kashmir. The JKPNP is the sole Kashmiri group to refer to Pakistan as "occupier" and "enemy" of Kashmir.

With regard to differences in ideology between the JKPNP and the JKLF, the national spokesperson stated that the sole difference is that the JKPNP calls the Pakistani government "occupier" outright, whereas the JKLF views the Pakistani government as an occupier, but is not as outspoken or direct in its criticism, and thus continues to receive support and funding from Pakistan.

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

For additional, though brief, information on the JKPNP, please consult Response to Information Request ZZZ19818.E of 20 February 1995. Please consult Responses to Information Requests PAK19061.E of 6 January 1995, PAK19133.E of 6 February 1995, PAK18507.E of 4 October 1994, PAK18510.E of 29 September 1994, and PAK18505.E, PAK18506.E and PAK18509.E of 30 September 1994 for additional information on the JKLF. These Responses are all available at all Regional Documentation Centres.

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.

Reference

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), London. 4 April 1995. Telephone interview with national spokesperson (pro-Rauf Khan branch).