The UN has no internationally agreed definition of terrorism and the reason is that some organizations (OIC, Arab League etc.) define terrorism to exclude "armed struggle for liberation" and "self-determination". The member countries (of these organisations) won't accept any definition of terrorism which may declare Palestinian Freedom Fighters as Terrorists. This Dead Lock continues to this day and the UN has not adopted the convention on international terrorism.
So, as long as the UN does not "define" terrorism, the Kashmiri Freedom Fighters cannot be declared Terrorists, nor can be their insurgency declared legitimate (In case the UN chooses to define terrorism to exclude "armed struggle for liberation" and "self-determination") .....
As far as International Law is concerned, the Statute of the International Court of Justice does recognize the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations as a valid source of International Law. This category may also include the work of organizations and private institutions. Opinions expressed by experts carry significant weight in International Law.
And here is what some experts on International Law have to say regarding the Kashmiri Freedom Fighters:
(The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is an international human rights non-governmental organization based in Geneva. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists(including senior judges, attorneys and academics) dedicated to ensuring respect for international human rights standards through the law. Commissioners are known for their experience, knowledge and fundamental commitment to human rights.)
ICJ sent a fact finding mission to Kashmir in 1995. The final report published not only challenged the accession of Kashmir to India, it went on to say "If as the ICJ mission has concluded , the people of Kashmir have a right for self determination, it follows that their insurgency is legitimate " ... (p.84-98)
http://www.icj.org/category/publications/reports/page/33/
And they are not gospel truths, especially this report which was extremely biased and was rejected outright by India.
UN do not recognize any freedom fighter. Or else present the definition.
You have continuously based all your debates on this particular report and such fact finding missions allegiance depends upon then prevailing geo political influences.
The Premises are false, Your argument fails.
Without going into details of Right of Self Determination and its recognition under the UN and International Law, I will just point out that In case of Kashmir, the right to self-determination has been given to the people of Kashmir by the United Nations Security Council itself. The U.N Security Council passed 23 resolutions in this regard. The relevant UNSC Resolutions, as clarified by the UN Representatives on several occasions, are still valid.
India was partitioned on the basis of Indian Independence act 47 with no provision of right to self determination apart from North West Frontier province.
If India offered a referendum to solve the issue with Pakistan, that doesn't grant any right to Kashmiri people or impinge upon the instrument of accession of Kashmir to Indian state.
Anyways Resolutions were non binding under Chapter VI and conditional in nature and India and Pakistan have rejected many of them.
However 72 Simla agreement is binding on Pakistan.
So lets not go back in circles again.
@Joe Shearer
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