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| WikiLeaks unveils arguments over former minister’s visa request | | Usman Majid’s reputation worst in Kashmir valley: US embassy | |
Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 18: While Indian democratic system allowed renegade turned politician Usman Majid to be elevated not only as member of Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly but also a minister of the then PDP-Congress coalition government, USA argued against granting him visa stating that his reputation in Kashmir Valley is one of the worst among those associated with security agencies.
According to a secret American cable of 2007 made public by WikiLeaks, the embassy which was at that time being headed by David Campbell Mulford strongly argued against issuing a visa to Usman Majid. Majid is a leader of the pro-India Ikhawan-ul-Musilmeen paramilitary group, which was formed by security forces to combat terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, says the cable dated June 4, 2007 and marked secret.
It has added that group is made up of terrorists who have surrendered to the security forces and agreed to fight against their former brethren. It needs to be mentioned here that Majid had been invited by the US Institute of Peace (USIP)-a Washington-based think tank to attend events beginning June 7, 2007.
The US embassy noted with concern that Ikhawan had a reputation in the Valley for committing brutal human rights abuses including extra-judicial killings of suspected terrorists and their family members, as well as torturing, killing, raping, and extorting Kashmiri civilians suspected of harboring or facilitating terrorists.
Regarding the Majid’s electoral victory, the US cable asserted that Majid won election easily in his Baramullah district of Kashmir. Further, putting a question mark over his electoral victory, US embassy attributed this to minute voter turnout in Bandipora district since the terrorist groups had enforced a boycott of elections. This boycott continued in Baramullah even in 2002, when turnout was much higher in other areas.
Similar to many of the instances of torture and violence surrounding the Kashmir dispute, embassy said that it has been unable to verify with evidence the claims against Majid. Further, while the embassy sought guidance as to how to proceed with Majid’s visa application, it stated that Majid’s reputation in the Kashmir Valley is one of the worst among those associated with the security forces.
It held out that in light of rejection of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s visa request, US will not be able to maintain our record of neutrality in the Kashmir dispute if we grant this visa. The embassy did say that denying Majid’s application may have some repercussions with Indian officials, especially those from India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) who have been close to his case.
The embassy concluded that as with the Geelani case, this will be a very delicate matter, but in light of Ikhawan’s history, embassy recommends that the U.S. government deny the visa. Majid was elected as an MLA to the state legislature in 2002. "Kashmiri paramilitary leader and J&K state MLA Usman Abdul Majid applied for a US visa on May 22, 2007 in order to attend functions held by the United States Institute of Peace starting on June 7th in Washington, DC," the embassy cable said.
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