J&K News and Discussion-2011

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 21 Mar 2011 08:29

Separatists are respectable people, should be heard: Soz

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/separ ... oz/765103/

Separatists should shun their rigidity, says Saifuddin Soz

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/21/stories ... 301500.htm

menon s · Post by **menon s** » 21 Mar 2011 09:51

JandK Police, on Facebook! WOW

Some of the high profile officials in the Valley are using the social networking site to interact with general public.
Leading the list of officers who interact with people on Facebook is Inspector General Police, Kashmir Range, S M Sahai. The “SM Sahai IG Kashmir” page on Facebook has 2680 friends. People post different questions on Sahai’s page which range from complaints against erring cops to complaints about arrests of innocent people.
In most of the cases Sahai replies the queries.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011 ... ple-42.asp

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 21 Mar 2011 15:03

Unsurprisingly, we find.... http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/21/stories ... 311500.htm

Interlocutors are biased, allege Kashmiri Pandit women

JAMMU: An organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandit women on Sunday alleged that the Centre's interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir were working as a State-sponsored arm, aiming only to appease a section of people.

“The biased and communal approach adopted by the interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir is evident by their action of ignoring the real victims of terrorism,” said Khema Koul, spokesperson of Kashmira Vahini.

“We are ignored”

Accusing the interlocutors of being biased, Ms. Koul alleged that their report to the Central government highlighted the problems and aspirations of only particular groups in the Valley, ignoring the State's Kashmiri Hindu women.

State-sponsored arm

“The interlocutors are working as a State-sponsored arm aiming only to appease a section of people, ignoring the Kashmiri Hindu women who have suffered immense trauma in last 20 years of exile,” senior leader of Kashmira Vahini Rama Shah alleged.

The meetings and seminars organised by the interlocutors in the Valley ensured participation of only Kashmiri Muslim women, the group claimed. — PTI

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 21 Mar 2011 20:58

Discussion on J&K Autonomy on Times Now right now

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 21 Mar 2011 21:11

Amazing state of India where the top leadership is deliberately trying to break-up the country

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 21 Mar 2011 22:22

Jarita wrote:Amazing state of India where the top leadership is deliberately trying to break-up the country

We have known here for long that leadersdhip is the most deracinated element in Indian society. Electing "Indian"leadership is the most crucial issue in front of civil society.

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 22 Mar 2011 02:55

^^^
Just a thought but are all these exposes on UPA and finally Wikileaks a warning to the ruling powers of India to raise the ante on Kashmir or else there will be more to come.
Everyone knows that the Indian politicians love their gaddi more than anything else.
The interlocuters and Amnesty simultaneously raised the ante.
Especially in light of what is happening in ME, the US has to move from the neighbourhood and leave hafta behind for the RAPE mafia.
I wonder if all this is connected. Instead of a slow build-up, it has all been expedited.
The revelations started coming at rapid intervals - even Massa funded papers like TOI brought out the Vadra story. Now add Wikileaks to the mix. There is nothing unusual about this happening through "The Hindu". US and China have been known to align when it suits their interests (remember 1970's).
This has put sufficient pressure on the ruling class to give way to the interlocutors who probably had little opinion (they will get their western awards, of course).

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 22 Mar 2011 03:30

Jarita Ji,
More than Gaddi they love their life and luxurious living. Dont mean to condone MG's assasination but if great MG could not escape the wrath then current crop of Congressi kanjars have no chance. Lets not forget that more than 100 Million Muslims will loose their privilege to live in India in such suspected scenario.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Mar 2011 04:39

Pak team to travel to Europe to lobby on Kashmir
This is an annual sojourn. The last time Fazlur Rehman went to Europe, didn't he run into some trouble ?

Pakistan's parliamentary panel on Kashmir led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will soon visit Belgium, Germany and Poland to lobby for support on the Kashmir issue.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved visits to the three countries by a six-member delegation "to win their support on the Kashmir issue," said a statement issued by his office on Monday.

Besides Rehman, the other members of the delegation are parliamentarians Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, Attiya Inayatullah, Ayaz Sadiq and Ramesh Lal.

A member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference will also be part of the delegation, the statement said.

Noting that the European Union is gaining political and economic importance in world affairs, the statement said the delegation will "proactively highlight the Kashmir issue and Pakistan's principled stance as supported historically by the UN resolution".

ManishH · Post by **ManishH** » 22 Mar 2011 09:48

CLAWS article on IA's "Operation Sadbhavana" in Kashmir.

Ironical that the "autonomy leak" by interlocutors happened on the balidan diwas of Maj Mohit Sharma two hears ago. I don't know how these armchair budhijeevis forget that J&K is crucial to national survival and the sacrifices made by soldiers to which we owe our freedoms. These drohis need a lobotomy not autonomy.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Mar 2011 12:04

I had an opportunity (thanks to Avarachan, a BRfite) to attend a national seminar titled, "Conflict in Kashmir - Challenges Ahead' sponsored by HQ - ATNK&K and Deptt. of Defence & Strategic Studies, University of Madras yesterday. The seminar was well attended by armed forces personnel (a bus-load of officers, both men and women) as well as students from the Defence Studies deptt and others like me.

Dr. Gopalji Malaviya, HoD, Defence & Strategic Studies, in his welcome address, described how stone pelting was profitable to various people (stone collection, transportation, storage, distribution, pelting, recollection etc.) He was sceptical that it would be possible to satisfy the various stake holders, whose number has multiplied now, in arriving at a solution for Kashmir.

The first speaker was Maj. Gen. N.S. Jamwal VSM, GoC, ATNK&K area, a person from the state of J&K. He gave a comprehensive overview of the problem and its genesis. He clearly stated that Pakistan will not let go of its approach to India and we should be prepared for that. He grahically illustrated how, over a time period, terrorism engulfed the whole of the state of J&K. While tackling this external factor, GoI and the J&K government must also redress the grievances of the people.

In his keynote address, Lt. Gen. Dr.Prakash Menon, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Army HQ Delhi spoke about the futility of expecting any change in Pakistani attitude towards terrorism or resolving the Kashmir issue. He said that terrorism has been effectively contained in J&K and Pakistan knows that. However, it could be Pakistan's calculation that when the Americans leave the scene in Afghanistan, Taliban could come back to power and full-scale attention could again be turned to India. Therefore, Pakistan keeps the pot boiling or simmering depending upon the situation. He said that if there was instability in Pakistan, geography and terrain dictate that the population will end up in India, a situation we do not want. He, however said that there is also a parallel voice within J&K itself for good governance. He said that the Kashmiri voice for 'azaadi' should not always be misconstrued as a demand for independence from India, but more often than not it was a demand for cleaner and better governance.

Then followed a lively talk by Prof. Dr. J.A.K.Tareen, presently Vice Chancellor of the Pondicherry University. He narrated his experiences as the VC of Kashmir University, a position which he held from c. 2002 to 2007. He said that on the first day when he met Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Chancellor of the Kashmir University, the latter confessed that for two decades then he had not set his foot on the Campus. But, to his surprise Prof. Tareen found that over 50% of students in the university were women. But, the labs etc. were dilapidated and there was not a single course on IT/Comp. Science. He initiated wide ranging reforms and introduced new courses, sent the students to various parts of India to complete certain courses etc. When these students returned, for example those who went to Mysore for a course on Mass Communications, they were impressed by the facilities in other Indian universities and opportunities available. One of Prof. Tareen's drawbacks was he had never visited J&K before and so decided to extensively travel the Valley to understand what people needed. He travelled in cognito and mixed with people in remote villages etc. He asserts that there is no sympathy for Pakistan anywhere and villagers know that their future is bright with India. However, they unanimously complained of poor infrastructure, corruption and bad governance. He also gave an interesting nugget that almost 10000 (ten thousand) students from various parts of Western India (mainly) go to Kashmir for doing their B. Ed. (Bachelor of Education) course, a year long affair. This is happening every year and they have had no cause for complaints. He was quite critical of the media for not highlighting positive aspects. He was particularly severe on a media-woman of 'your terrorists . . .' fame {he mentioned her name a few times even later when answering a question about negative media} for demanding an interview with him while a serious security operation was going on and upon refusal by the Professor, trying to tarnish the image of the Kashmir University by picking up a man with the longest beard as though that defined Islam (these were Prof. Tareen's own words) and a lady with a burqa slit open only for the eyes (again Professor's own words) and interviewing them with malicious intent. Prof. Tareen also echoed the opinion that 'azaadi' meant a voice for development largely. He warned against China & Pakistan joining together now to create a problem in these areas a decade or so later and hence it was important for us to invest in Kashmiris now. He has now admitted about 50 students from Kashmir into Pondicherry University in various courses (a score of them attended the seminar, some of them are doing Ph.D. and others post graduation). He got the loudest applause from the audience.

The next was a panel discussion chaired by Maj. Gen. UM Rajavelu SM, Dy. Commandant, OTA, Chennai. He has seen several tenures in the valley between c. 1990 and 2005. He said he was commanding the unit that saw action at Charar-e-Shareif when Mast Gul escaped, but they caught an Afghan who was an accomplice of Gul and who also happened to be an Islamic scholar. He very much regretted having accompanied Gul because he was given the impression that Muslims were killed and Islam was in danger but he found things to be contrary. Maj. Gen Rajavelu also regretted the fact that the press do not publish positive work being done by the armed forces. For example, he said, just the previous week, 38 students from J&K came to Tamilnadu and they were hosted in Chennai & Ooty but there was not a word in the press in spite of communication to them. Similarly, last week's passing out parade at the OTA, Chennai was given a go-by. Maj. Gen. Rajavelu also felt that infrastructure and governance were important to win the 'heart & soul' of Kashmiris. He specifically cited two instances. One was that in the area he was commanding in the Valley, there were about 40000 (forty thousand) Kashmiris and several thousand armymen. Yet, ther was no telephone facility and he took up that issue with Dayanidhi Maran who arranged for an exchange to be setup in three months' time. Another was about Gurez where there are no proper roads at all and only the Kishenganga project has now resulted in some development. The panel consisted of Brig. Rajbir Singh, Sr. Instructor (Army Wing), DSSC, Wellington and Air Cmde. A. Subramanium, Air HQ, Delhi. Brig. Rajbir Singh had an extensive presentation (that could have taken half a day if it had been gone through) but he just took the portion, 'Way Ahead' as he had just 20 minutes. He detailed the various measures that should be taken, most of which we would pretty much want in every Indian state. He also highlighted some specific Army-initiated measures such as Op. Sadbhavana. Both Brig. Rajbir Singh & Air. Cmde. Subramanium spoke about how armed forces are sensitized to human rights etc. Air. Cmde. Subramanium also wondered why Geelani should have been given so much of airtime recently. Maj. Gen. Rajavelu said that today all operations are based on very specific information alone. He also spoke about how Srinagar bypass (travelling through which once was sure to be fired upon by terrorists once upon a time) is now seeing a real-estate boom.

All the officers who spoke warned that Indians must not delude themselves of the Pakistani problem going away any time soon, nor Pakistan withdrawing its support to terrorism. Nobody wanted a war or dismemberment of Pakistan for fear of leading to worse problems than now.

There was a Q&A session where the Kashmiri students generally raised the issue of betrayal by India or dilution of article 370 etc. One of them also asked why a mighty India was unable to catch hold of just 500 militants who were supposed to be in camps across the LoC. Yet another question was what did India do wrong for the eruption of this problem in 1989 (Brig. Rajir Singh said that it was the rigging of the 1987 election and very poor governance for two years immediately after that which led to disaffection which was later exploited by Pakistan). There was another question on the AFSPA (Brig. Rajbir Singh said that the armed forces were being asked to handle the enemy in the way they are trained to operate. In such circumstance the operational units needed protection from ceratin laws. He said they would not be operating in these places if the situation was normal) Avarachan asked as to why the IA was not thinking of using Twiiter/FaceBook etc. to propagate its PoV as the Israeli armed forces do (The answer was that in India these technologies were not so widespread and limited only to urban and affluent sections).

menon s · Post by **menon s** » 22 Mar 2011 12:20

Corruption basic problem in Kashmir
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Che ... 559539.ece

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Mar 2011 12:31

menon s wrote:Corruption basic problem in Kashmir
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Che ... 559539.ece

From the above,

“Kashmiris are not protesting for water or roads. It is not a socio-economic problem. We want a political solution. It may not be independence, or even autonomy. But India has to be bold enough to offer us a remedial formula to heal the wounds,” said a student.

The Kashmiris, betrayed time and again post-independence and caught in the circle of violence for long, were still a confused lot, the students said. Instead of talking to Pakistan, India should be talking to the Kashmiris to find a solution, they added. These students, growing up in an atmosphere of violence in the valley in the 1980s and ‘90s are firm in their belief that Kashmir continues to be caught in the “conflict of interests” between India and Pakistan.

The above was not raised during the seminar. It might be that The Hindu correspondent spoke to them separately.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 22 Mar 2011 13:36

SS,

Thanks for the report.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 22 Mar 2011 16:40

SS thanks for that... Very useful

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 22 Mar 2011 18:48

SSridharji,
I have honest questions.Please take them in that spirit.
1)What is the purpose of such meetings other than to show that a certain dept in Madras University is alive?
2)The entire emphasis seems be India has to do more and more for Cashmere.No reciprocity from the other side.For instance students from Cashmere to do courses at Mysore and Puducherry.Joy rides to Ooty.The Cashmeres are never at fault.How many Kashmiri pandits are in Kashmir University.Did the faculty of Kashmir University speak out again the exodus?Is their admission/recruitment policies fair?

menon s · Post by **menon s** » 22 Mar 2011 20:52

Mr. Venkat Why R you holding the entire Kashmiris for ransom, for the fault of a few? Imagine the difficulties that our nations fathers endured during integration of states!

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 22 Mar 2011 21:07

menons,
I have ignored your rants.Cant you ignore me?

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 22 Mar 2011 21:54

menon s wrote:Mr. Venkat Why R you holding the entire Kashmiris for ransom, for the fault of a few? Imagine the difficulties that our nations fathers endured during integration of states!

Can you compare the two difficulty levels with actual comparisons? Take it state by state (early efforts at integration after formal accessions) and compare with "Kashmir".

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Mar 2011 06:32

svenkat wrote:1)What is the purpose of such meetings other than to show that a certain dept in Madras University is alive?

Frankly, I don't know. I simply attended the seminar. Again, frankly, I would have liked had the discussions been at a higher plane. But, then, I realize that at least for two reasons it is not possible. One, GoI or even the IA, cannot discuss policy matters in the open. Two, the audience. In this case, the audience was not well equipped for that. People did not know the origin of the J&K problem. Most of them were born in the 80s. It also gave an opportunity for the Kashmiris to ask the same questions that we have heard them ask before, both youngsters and the elders alike.

2)The entire emphasis seems be India has to do more and more for Cashmere. No reciprocity from the other side. For instance students from Cashmere to do courses at Mysore and Puducherry. Joy rides to Ooty. The Cashmeres are never at fault. How many Kashmiri pandits are in Kashmir University. Did the faculty of Kashmir University speak out again the exodus? Is their admission/recruitment policies fair?

These are very valid questions, no doubt. There are many more as well. Such things we have discussed here many times before. I do not find fault with admitting Kashmiri students elsewhere in the country or taking school children from there on a Bharat Darshan. These must continue. But, there is no vision and determination within GoI. Kashmiris do not feel they are part of India. GoI has been perpetuating this feeling of alienation by continuing with special laws. To add to the problems, the new interlocutors suggest pre-1953 status. If GoI now rejects this demand, Kashmiris will once again talk of betrayal and unkept promises. If we agree, we will not be letting the Kashmiris get the feeling of participating in the Indian nation building process. We are now caught in a bind. Were the interlocutors given a free hand that they can talk any nonsense ? They could have even suggested a pre-1947 solution to the problem or even letting Kashmir seceede. Would GoI accept that ? Forget about Pakistan; we are our own worst enemy.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 23 Mar 2011 06:47

SSridhar wrote: Avarachan asked as to why the IA was not thinking of using Twiiter/FaceBook etc. to propagate its PoV as the Israeli armed forces do (The answer was that in India these technologies were not so widespread and limited only to urban and affluent sections).

Interesting point.

Using Twitter in India is a sign of affluence and literacy because you need both computer and education. A lot of people are surprised at this because in a society such as the US both basic education and computer.internet are available to everyone (almost everyone)

Sorry OT.

saip · Post by **saip** » 23 Mar 2011 07:06

I thought we already spend a lot of money in J&K. Is there any statewide per capita expenditure comparison by central govt?

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 23 Mar 2011 07:20

shiv wrote:
SSridhar wrote: Avarachan asked as to why the IA was not thinking of using Twiiter/FaceBook etc. to propagate its PoV as the Israeli armed forces do (The answer was that in India these technologies were not so widespread and limited only to urban and affluent sections).
Interesting point.

Using Twitter in India is a sign of affluence and literacy because you need both computer and education. A lot of people are surprised at this because in a society such as the US both basic education and computer.internet are available to everyone (almost everyone)

Sorry OT.

Shivji,
A small correction. You don't need a computer to access twitter. A cellphone is enough and with the deluge of low budget smart phones, esp with android phones, twitter and facebook access is no longer restricted to computers alone. Twitter is a lot faster than news media and with phone access is a lot more widespread. Therefore its speed and reach are a lot more than what you might have thought. Just a thought.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 23 Mar 2011 07:50

Prasad wrote: You don't need a computer to access twitter. A cellphone is enough and with the deluge of low budget smart phones, esp with android phones, twitter and facebook access is no longer restricted to computers alone.

Saar a cellphone that accesses twitter is a computer with internet access.

You require:
1) Education (English)
2) Budget of Rs 6000 for a phone plus 300-500 a month usage

The percentage of the Indian population that qualifies is small. Certainly the average Indian army recruit is not a person who can be relied upon to use Twitter on a smartphone like Israelis or GIs from Amrika

negi · Post by **negi** » 23 Mar 2011 07:51

All the officers who spoke warned that Indians must not deludde themselves of the Pakistani problem going away any time soon, nor Pakistan withdrawing its support to terrorism. Nobody wanted a war or dismemberment of Pakistan for fear of leading to worse problems than now.

The truth is IA has no voice/opinion of it's own it still operates the way it used to during the British Raj (Do or die don't ask why), in this case it is the GoI which does not want to deal with the TSP for obvious reasons.

Avarachan asked as to why the IA was not thinking of using Twiiter/FaceBook etc. to propagate its PoV as the Israeli armed forces do (The answer was that in India these technologies were not so widespread and limited only to urban and affluent sections).

Why is then IA bothered if Gilani is given more airtime by the media after-all even Cable TV can only be afforded by urban and affluent sections. Pretty lame. Also the stone pelters in the valley are affluent types onlee they had facebook groups and twitter feeds running a few months back during the height of the tamasha.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 23 Mar 2011 15:53

Does having IA on FB and Twitter really help anyone in anyway? What is the value addition I ask?

sum · Post by **sum** » 23 Mar 2011 16:02

^^ Will only make the Pakis and assorted well known "activists/liberals" spam the pages about big bad 7000000000 troops of the IA are creating mayhem in J&K..

negi · Post by **negi** » 23 Mar 2011 19:09

Huh one does not have to post stuff on FB and Twitter with a real identity the facts do their own talking, as for the fear of spamming it is highly misplaced to say the least (do you guys see major spams on AfPak tweets ?). Coming to value addition , I am surprised that people ask such questions, while not everyone on ground might have access to internet and associated platforms what is noteworthy is the opinion forming/changing process is always initiated by the affluent/resourceful people heck the entire print and the electronic media is run by folks who have the moolah and there is a reason why the same bunch hangs around on twitter even the numb nuts in the parliament realize that and are hence active on twitter. The very fact that IA complains about DDM not highlighting the good work done by the IA in the valley should force the former to think about the alternatives. Finally IA should realize that it is operating amongst it's own countrymen in the valley it is an uncomfortable situation for any Army so it makes even more sense to have some sort of a platform to broadcast it's key activities and achievements in the region.

menon s · Post by **menon s** » 24 Mar 2011 04:30

LOOT! Afterall who`s money is it any way?

Jammu and Kashmir government has incurred a whopping sum of Rs 56.90 crore on the on renovation, extension of residential flats and buildings of Chief minister Omar Abdullah tops the long list of beneficiaries of this largesse with over 4 crore rupees having been spent on the renovation of his palatial residence at posh Gupkar road.

http://www.kashmirdispatch.com/headline ... -jammu.htm

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 24 Mar 2011 16:21

Farooq Abdulla. Mohammad Arif Khan and Syed Ali Shah Gilani in India Conlave, Listen to all

http://conclave.intoday.in/videos/india ... /61/0.html

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 26 Mar 2011 18:29

Cross LoC travel: India unilaterally increases stay period to six months

2011-03-26 18:10:00

Based on the recommendation of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Union External Affairs Ministry has extended the stay for cross-Line of Control (LoC) travel to six months.

"To encourage more people to people contacts across the Line of Control (LOC), Government of India has unilaterally decided to increase the stay period for the persons visiting Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan occupied Kashmir to six months with multiple entries," an External Affairs Ministry statement said.

"At present, the validity of the entry permit is for four weeks and the Designated Authorities for cross-LoC travel (Passport Office, Srinagar and Passport Office, Jammu) extend the stay period by another two weeks," it added.

India and Pakistan had agreed to allow cross-LoC trade and travel as part of confidence building measures during the composite dialogue between the two countries from 2003 to 2007. (ANI)

http://www.sify.com/news/cross-loc-trav ... iifee.html

sum · Post by **sum** » 27 Mar 2011 11:59

^^ So, one by one, we see more and more of the demands of the "interelocutors" being brought into play!! Wonder how soon before we have the renaming of CM as sadr-e-riyasat etc?

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 27 Mar 2011 14:06

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usembassyn ... otostream/

Ambassador Roemer welcomed Senate Foreign Relations Committee Professional Staff Member Atman Trivedi to India March 21. Trivedi advises Senator John Kerry on foreign policy matters. They discussed the Ambassador's recent travel to Jammu and Srinagar.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 27 Mar 2011 17:23

Human Security And Protection Of Rights Of Kashmiri People Under Pakistani Administration

Human Security And Protection Of Rights Of Kashmiri People Under Pakistani Administration

By Dr Shabir Choudhry

18 March, 2011
Countercurrents.org

Speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry in Geneva on 17th March 2011, in a Seminar arranged by Interfaith International.

Title of the seminar: Human security and Protection of Rights of Kashmiri people under Pakistani Administration.

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues aslamo alaykam and good afternoon.

I am grateful to Saradar Shaukat Ali Kashmir and Interfaith International for inviting me to express my views to this august gathering.

Mr Chairman, it is the prime duty of every civilized government to protect life, liberty and property of its citizens. The government has to ensure that there is a rule of law and all citizens are treated in accordance with law of the land. No citizen should be discriminated on grounds of religion, ethnicity, colour or a region.

We people of Jammu and Kashmir are forcibly divided and suffer with varying degrees on both sides of the Line of Control. The title of the seminar is specific and I will focus on that region only; and try to enlighten my audience about the human rights situation on the Pakistani side of the divide.

Pakistan controls two regions of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Whereas the former is indirectly ruled through their proxies, Lent Officers and secret agencies; the latter is directly ruled and people of that region are still, in many ways, living in Stone Age, as they are deprived of fruits of democracy and fundamental human rights.

In October 2010, Kashmir National Party arranged a study tour of Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad Kashmir. We have compiled a report of that visit and a survey which we conducted during our trip. It is difficult to accurately explain the plight of the people over there. People suffer, they are denied of their basic rights, their economy is controlled and managed by Pakistanis, their resources are looted and plundered, but they are not even allowed to protest. If they protest against injustice and oppressive rule they are arrested, imprisoned and tortured; and in some cases killed by labeling them as an Indian agent.

On the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir, people protest against the Indian rule. They even use foul language against India. They burn Indian flag, use bad language against forefathers of India and the rulers; and now new trend is to use bad language against Hindu religion and their holy people. I have seen some Kashmiris shouting disgraceful slogans like: ‘Indian dogs out of Kashmir’. Despite that Indian forces only use their guns when they are attacked; and when their lives are under threat because of violence and terrorism; of course, there are some exceptions where some people in uniform committed human rights abuses.

While in Gilgit City we saw men in uniform with guns at every roundabout and every street corner. Gilgit looked like a city under siege. We were travelling in a car and when we approached one roundabout I said to my colleague Abbas Butt: ‘People on the India side shout Indian dogs out of Kashmir and Indian butchers out of Kashmir, and they claim India has been brutal and they commit human rights abuses.’ I said, ‘We have Pakistani soldiers here in Gilgit with their guns; shall I shout Pakistani dogs out of Gilgit and Pakistani butchers out of Gilgit and see their response?’

Fearing that I might shout that slogan, Abbas Butt immediately said, ‘Please don’t do it. They will kill us and throw us in river Indus and no one will know about it as there is no independent media or human rights organistations. But if you want to become a martyr then I suggest you come here on your own and shout what you like.

This shows the difference between two places, and sense of fear prevailing in Gilgit Baltistan. People were not willing to talk and express their views openly, but in private they told us that they were not happy with the Pakistani rule and the way they were exploited and oppressed by the rulers of Pakistan. They were worried that they could be picked up by Pakistani secret agencies and their love ones will never see them again.

Mr Chairman

When people use this slogan, ‘Indian dogs out’, they are spreading hatred and intolerance. It is disgraceful that the entire nation is insulted like this. No civilized person can use this kind of language against another fellow human being. There are many Indians who want the Kashmir dispute to be resolved through a process of dialogue. They know gun and violence can only aggravate the matters. But brains behind these negative slogans want to ensure that people are divided on religious, ethnic and sectarian lines. What we need is a positive attitude that we can promote tolerance and respect for others. We cannot resolve the Kashmir dispute and have peace and stability by use of force or by promoting hatred and extremism.

Mr Chairman

Our struggle is essentially a struggle to determine our future without any fear or intimidation. Right of self determination should not be confused with right of accession which Pakistani governments have been promoting over the years. The right to self-determination is the right of people to determine their own destiny without any conditions attached to it. It allows people to choose their own political status that they can formulate their own strategies for economic, cultural and social development.

In place, I live in is called Azad Kashmir, meaning independent Kashmir. The fact, however, is that it is not azad. To call this region azad or independent is an insult to the word independence. But Pakistani authorities try to make us believe that we are independent, just because we can go to mosques and kill cows in accordance with Islamic laws. In fact, going to mosques over there and in Pakistan is not free of risks to life, because of suicide bombs and bomb blasts.

A retired senior Pakistani official, Bakhtiar Qayyum, who now runs a Think Tank called, ‘Pak International Friendship Forum’ wrote about the situation in Pakistan and I quote:

‘The law and order situation in the rest of the country is also not satisfactory. The terrorists and criminal seems to be rampantly taking the population hostage. Fear and insecurity are prevalent everywhere. Influential personalities and government functionaries living in metropolitan cities have build fortress around their living places. It looks that Pakistan has gone back to the tribal period, where each family has to take up arms for their protection. The bomb blasts, suicide attacks, target killings, kidnapping for ransom, looting, arson are rampant everywhere. Police and law enforcing agencies are more involved in security of important government functionaries instead of controlling law and order or curbing crimes from the society.’

He further writes:

‘Power shortage, gas load-shedding, price-hike, unemployment, protest and demonstration by masses have become the order of the day. Hardly any day passes when there is no mass demonstration, turned violent against long and unscheduled power shutdowns and outage of gas supply to domestic consumers. Prices of essential commodities are now raised by hours and government seems to have no control over profiteering, hoarding and unlawful price-hikes. The people of Pakistan are facing the worst shortages of everyday commodities and services in our history; no gas, no electricity, no petrol, no sugar, no flour, no onions, ever rising prices and inflation, new taxes, more factories being closed or going bankrupt, unstoppable judicial corruption, injustice, rising unemployment, rising energy costs, more people dying every day for no fault of theirs, police killing those whom they are protecting, mullahs inciting everyone to kill those who do not conform to their thinking, newly unleashed black mailing and self serving electronic media on the loose only caring for their ratings, hoarding, looting, black marketing, touts, pimps and plunderers having a ball of a time and most important a total breakdown of law and order anywhere and everywhere.’ Unquote

Mr Chairman

This is the situation in Pakistan in eyes of a Pakistani who served his country for decades before he retired; and Pakistani officials and their secret agencies urge us people of Jammu and Kashmir to join this Pakistan. When we show our disagreement we are oppressed and denied of our fundamental rights.

It is right of every individual to get a job and live in peace and join a political party. But that is not the case in this region called Azad Kashmir. Before we can apply for any government post we have to declare that we will be loyal to Pakistan and Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. In other words just to become a candidate for a job, I have to declare that I sign away my right to become independent, I sign away my right that I will have no control over my economic resources, and that I will allow Pakistani officials to loot and plunder those resources and deprive myself and my future generations of those resources and fruits of democracy.

It must be understood that so called Azad Kashmir is administered under an interim Act 1974, which was prepared by a Pakistani Minister of Law Abdul Hafeez Peerzada and adopted by the puppet Assembly of Azad Kashmir without making any changes or even debating it. This Act set up a Kashmir Council which takes all major decisions with regard to Azad Kashmir, even promotions of senior officials are decided by the Kashmir Council and Pakistani Prime Minister is its Chairman. He is entitled to appoint 6 Pakistanis to this Council and Azad Kashmir Assembly which consists of all pro Pakistan Kashmiris elects 6 people; and at all times Pakistan and their officials have numeric majority in the Kashmir Council.

I think this explains everything. People of Jammu and Kashmir living under the Pakistani administration are ruled by Pakistan through their proxies and with help of their secret agencies; and they are denied of their basic rights. Resources of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan are systematically looted and plundered; and we cannot even protest against that because of reprisals.

It must be understood that if Pakistan cannot provide good governance to their own people, and look after them, what can they provide to us? We people of Jammu and Kashmir should understand that and formulate policies which protect and promote a Kashmiri interest, and adopt such strategies that our future generations can live with dignity and honour.

I thank you Chair for your patience.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 28 Mar 2011 09:04

Ahead of Home Secys’ meet, Mirwaiz meets Malik

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Ahead ... ik/768222/

Pak militant posing as Kashmiri held

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Pak-m ... ld/768204/

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 28 Mar 2011 10:41

SSridhar wrote:I had an opportunity (thanks to Avarachan, a BRfite) to attend a national seminar titled, "Conflict in Kashmir - Challenges Ahead' sponsored by HQ - ATNK&K and Deptt. of Defence & Strategic Studies, University of Madras yesterday. T

Then followed a lively talk by Prof. Dr. J.A.K.Tareen, presently Vice Chancellor of the Pondicherry University. He narrated his experiences as the VC of Kashmir University, a position which he held from c. 2002 to 2007. He also gave an interesting nugget that almost 10000 (ten thousand) students from various parts of Western India (mainly) go to Kashmir for doing their B. Ed. (Bachelor of Education) course, a year long affair.

Bulk of B.Ed colleges are in Jammu, not Kashmir. They are not even affiliated to Kashmir University.
A guy who worked for 6 years in the state should know better

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 28 Mar 2011 12:46

Might have been deliberate disinformation.

ajit_tr · Post by **ajit_tr** » 29 Mar 2011 03:18

kashmiri women speaking for india, at National Security Convention Open Session 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjFLk-zF ... re=related

shaardula · Post by **shaardula** » 29 Mar 2011 03:35

sridhar thanks.

wig · Post by **wig** » 29 Mar 2011 10:49

Argentine Football coach to leave Kashmir due to death threat

Argentine football coach Juan Marcos, who started an International Football Academy Trust to train the Valley's youth four years ago, has decided to leave following death threats and attacks on him over the past three months.

"I got a threatening phone call few days back. The caller said that I and my family will be killed in three days. So, I have decided to leave Kashmir," Marcos told.

He said he had passed the information to the local police but they have not been cooperative.

Marcos said it all started in January when one of his dogs was mysteriously killed a couple of days before the Republic Day celebrations.

"The next day my second dog was poisoned and a couple of days later, my vehicle was vandalised and the brakes failed," he said.

Marcos claimed that the authorised service dealer for his Mahindra vehicle told him that the 'brake failure' was not accidental but a deliberate act of sabotage.

"I had come here to teach young people football but when my security and that of my family is compromised, I better leave this place," he added.

Marcos arrived in Kashmir four years ago on a short visit but decided to set up a permanent base after being impressed by the raw talent here.

He set up an academy and sent three players to Brazil for training with some leading clubs under an exchange programme which saw some upcoming players from the Brazil visiting Kashmir as well.

"They have been carrying out a false propaganda against Marcos that he is preaching Christianity in Kashmir, which is a bundle of lies," an official of the JKFA said on condition of anonymity.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/