Kashmir | News & Discussions.

[fawwaxs]

Female Protesters in J&K put Security Forces in Fix

Srinagar: Breaking News! The Jammu & Kashmir government and the security forces are in a tight fix, as the mass protests in the valley now comprise of women. The women protesters have come to the streets, leaving thesecurity forces anxious.

At least 46 people were killed in Jammu & Kashmir in the last two months or so. Although only two women were killed in the violence, the rising number women joining the demonstrations these days, has been a matter of concern.

According to AFP, women protesters had a message - "Kill us before you kill our young boys and girls". Most of the victims in J&K violence were youth.

Surprisingly, the young women and girls are now leading the protests in several places. They wear salwar kameez dresses and even carry sticks and stones. They look fearless and demand freedom with a slogan "blood for blood".

The protesters wanted to exploit the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. They put the women and young boys in front of the demonstrations so that thesecurity forces don't hit back hard.

 

[Hulk]

Definetly it means more work to done by us and we will do it.

About land even if we have to scarifice/kill millions let's be prepared for it. Better Kashmir's understand Independence is not an option for them else they are one who will suffer.

 

[Justin Joseph]

I think these current foreign funded protest are good for India.

As govt will be forced to act. It will boost India as 26/11 Mumbai attack have being a catalyst to strengthening our security and military.

Or chinese incursion are helping as they are forcing govt. to prepare the infrastructure and military for china.

 

[GreenStar]

I think these current foreign funded protest are good for India.

As govt will be forced to act. It will boost India as 26/11 Mumbai attack have being a catalyst to strengthening our security and military.

Or chinese incursion are helping as they are forcing govt. to prepare the infrastructure and military for china.

The issues you have brought up Justin, I believe will not solve the problem at hand. There is no reason to start an arm race......as that will be following in the footsteps off the cold war......it would cause unnecessary tension in the region. India is not attacking the core issue of the problem, which seems to propell people to start rioting.......I think you need to engage in more dialogue with the Kashmiri people and try to answer there grievances

 

[EjazR]

Hmmm, where are the protests? I don’t see any

For your info, AJ&K, parliamentary system was introduced and Prime Minister, as the Chief Executive of the State, was elected by the majority of the votes of the Legislative Assembly. They have their own independent Supreme Court and High Court. The Ministry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan affairs serves as a link between the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Credibility seems to be no issue, since it isn’t our policy to oppress and subjugate them to curfews and extra-judicial killings.

Maybe time to go visit AJK and visit the common people instead ofthe army barracks?

FYI, and there are many such articles and reports fromHR organisations. Just because they are not highlighted in the Pakistani media doesn't mean they don't exist.

There is a reason why HR organisations cite Pakistani Kashmir as not free butIndian Kashmir as partly free.

The Other Face Of ISI By Zafar Iqbal

28 January, 2010
Countercurrents.org

It has become an established tradition and social custom in Pakistan controlled Kashmir to express the solidarity with the people of other side of divided State through public processions on different occasions which are considered basic feature and necessary demand of local politics. Since the beginning of insurgency in Indian Kashmir, all major cities and towns in Pakistani part of the State have witnessed hundreds of enthusiastic demonstrations ‘to condemn human rights violations in Indian Kashmir’. These men- led processions rarely show any participation of women , except scant events arranged by non governmental organizations and other campaigners, which occasionally include school children and university girls, but, recently Muzaffarabad-the capital of Pakistan administrated Kashmir sparked with protest demonstrations against the human rights violations by Pakistan’s security agency- Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) whom officials were blamed for detention and torture of four local citizens. Hundreds of veil- clad old aged women and young girls took protest rallies against, what they called ‘atrocities of the ISI by tortoruring and kidnapping our sons and brothers’. At the first time in the history of the region, streets and roads of Muzaffarabad echoed with the feminist but vociferous slogans against the ISI and government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Previously, a rise of demonstrations of traders, students, lawyers and civil society groups were witnessed in the area. The protestors alleged that officials of the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan, which during the recent years have been criticized in home and abroad for its alleged extra judicial activities, have started harassing and abducting locals in Pakistani part of Kashmir. They blatantly accused the agency for interference in private matters of the public and also the intervention of Pakistan’s another security force-the Frontier Constabulary(FC), which has powers of working only in the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s troubled northern province, NWFP.

Profound resentment and anger in the citizens of Pakistani Kashmir started when a Lieutenant Colonel of ISI based in Peshawar, NWFP in Pakistan detained and tortured four Kashmiri youths following a petty financial dispute between a local citizen and one of the relative of the former, it was accused by the family and agitators. As per details obtained by this writer, On November 21, 2009 Lt Col Hamza, accompanied by ten staffers of the FC, went to the residence of Pervez who has borrowed money from a family member of the former. The agency’s senior officer took one young nephew to local police station and then made him hostage in Peshawar when Pervez was not found at home. Lately, four other young friends of the abducted boy -Ali Rathore, Raja Qayyum and Shafiq Butt were also taken away by the Colonel who lately informed the family on telephone that abductees would only be released if Pervaiz is handed over to Colonel.

After few days of the incident one of the abductees- Ali Rathore-22, was released in ill health who revealed shocking details of brutal treatment which was committed under the custody of the ISI officials. He was warned against publicising the details of his friend's capture by the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the Colonel repeatedly continued threatening the family members that remaining prisoners would be tortured more ruthlessly if details of the arrest were released in the media or to the public, however, the news of arrest of locals spread in the town like a fire and people started agitation against the state torture and abduction. Officials of both ageincies have been contacted to know their vision about the issue; however, any reply is not received till filing this script.

Meanwhile, people’s anger and animosity engulfed other cities like Bagh, Mirpur and Rawalakot in Pakistani Kashmir where furious speakers, especially dissent nationalists groups criticized ‘the excessive measures’ of Pakistani intelligence agencies against the people of Kashmir. Some observers term this development as a dangerous blunder of Pakistan’ stalwarts in security regime, which are already, engaged in a deadly war in NWFP and Baluchistan regions against the Taliban militants and Baloch separatists.

After this incident a large section of local population in Pakistani Kashmir believe that this fresh ridiculous clanger of Pakistan’s security spies has turned Muzaffarabad into Srinagar. Local political parties, human rights groups and defenders of civil liberties also have written letters and appeals to the premier of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Chief Justice of region’s highest court to intervene the matter but these appeals went in vain.

According to observers, this situation questions the so called indpendent status and authority of local administration and government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir which constitutionally holds a separate position in Pakistan’s state system, nevertheless, Islamabad has overwhelming influence and powers in the political affairs and administrative matters of the area.

Here, it is pertinent to quote the recent observations of Hong Kong based Asian Human rights Commission, which, denouncing anti people activities of the ISI in Pakistani Kashmir says that this recent occurrence “exposes the limit to Kashmir officials' authority over the ISI”. The AHRC is also calling for intervention of UN Special Rapporteur over detention and torture of these missing persons in Pakistani part of Kashmir.

(The writer is Executive Director of Press For Peace (PFP). He can be accessed via: Press for Peace )

 

[GreenStar]

Why do Pakistanis always get so jumpy on Kashmir developments in India.

That's because many Pakistanis have relatives in India held Kashmir.....so they have concerns for there well being.......that is understandable, in my opinion.

 

[sensenreason]

I have a great idea! Hold a plebicite, let the people decide their fates; and then peace may prevail!

WoW! Sounds like a great ''trade'' to me

Im sure you understand that its unacceptable to India...for various reasons....so whats your second solution?....or lets say a Win-Win solution...plebiscite..only one side wins.

 

[Peshwa]

‘India’s claims of Pakistan ceding territory in 1963 are false’

NEW DELHI: Prominent lawyer AG Noorani has rebuffed the impression created by the Indian government, and widely accepted by Kashmiri leaders, that Pakistan ceded some Kashmiri territory to China in 1963.

At an Indo-Pak peace conference on Monday, People’s Conference Chairman Sajjad Ghani Lone had accused Pakistan of “gifting” Kashmiri territory to China. A few years ago, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Amanullah Khan had levelled similar allegations. Separatists have recently picked up the issue and demanded Beijing’s involvement in the Kashmir dispute. “Based on documentary and archival evidence, Pakistan did not cede any land. On the contrary, it was China which ceded 750 square miles of administered territory to Pakistan under the Pakistan-China boundary agreement of March 3, 1963,” Noorani told Daily Times.

He said according to Article 2 of the agreement, after the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India, the sovereign authority concerned will reopen negotiations about the boundary with the Chinese government of the People’s Republic of China. iftikhar gilani
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-1-2010_pg7_40

Wonder what happened to the concept of neutral links that Pakistanis harp on 24-7?

Heres an article from a neutral source....though Im sure CNN too Im assuming is anti-Pak, Zionist and RAW controlled....nevertheless....

(CNN) -- It may be nothing but an ice desert with little geographical, economic or military value but the dotted red line of disputed territory still encompasses a slice of Tibetan plateau known as Aksai Chin.

This area, which is about 20 percent of the whole of Kashmir, belongs neither to India or Pakistan but the region's other nuclear superpower -- China.

As Beijing's southern neighbors mass troops in a potentially explosive standoff, China peers over the towering peaks and glaciers of the Himalayas nervously.

Chinese foreign policy spokesmen have been careful not to take sides in their statements on Kashmir -- the memory of a brief but brutal war in 1962 was precipitated by China's actions in this very sector.

It culminated in China seizing about 38,000 square kilometers (14,670 sq mile) of Indian territory in Aksai Chin, as well as another 5,180 sq km (2,000 sq miles) of northern Kashmir that Pakistan later ceded to Beijing under a 1963 pact.

Regional analysts say that the area is so remote that India's intelligence service didn't learn that China had established a road through the area until the following decade.

CNN.com - Aksai Chin: China's disputed slice of Kashmir - May 24, 2002

 

[Amit12]

their is nothing gonna happen by this protest ....
first of all these protest are funded by terrorist .... and none of the country have dare to say about Indian internal matter so how much Pakistan want to cry they can but outcome is a big 0

 

[EjazR]

The Associated Press: Flash floods kill 103 in Indian-held Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India — A sudden downpour and flash floods swept away houses and killed at least 103 people in Indian-controlled Kashmir's normally arid, mountainous region of Ladakh, officials said Friday.

At least 370 people were injured, and troops were pulling survivors from knee-deep mud and rubble Friday in the popular Himalayan tourist destination. The deluge came as neighboring Pakistan suffered from the worst flooding in decades, with millions displaced and 1,500 dead.

The airport in Leh, the main town in Ladakh, was damaged, most communications were cut and rescue efforts were being hampered by gushing water and debris, state police chief Kuldeep Khoda said.

It was still unclear how many people have been left homeless, but Khoda said at least 2,000 displaced people had been housed in two government-run shelters.

"Mud and water is everywhere," said Kashmiri businessman Kausar Makhdoomi, who was on holiday in Leh.

Makhdoomi said the rainfall started before midnight and that water later started coursing down mountains. The flooding had damaged several homes and other buildings by Friday morning, he said.

"There was utter confusion and people started to panic," he said.

Ladakh, about 280 miles (450 kilometers) east of Srinagar, is a popular destination for Western tourists, particularly hikers, mountaineers and adventure sports enthusiasts. August is peak season with thousands flocking to the area.

Troops have rescued at least 100 foreign tourists, mostly Europeans, from Pang, a village about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northeast of Leh town, army spokesman Lt. Col. J.S. Brar said. No tourist deaths have so far been reported.

The flooding also damaged telephone towers and highways leading to the region, Brar said in Srinagar, the main city in India's portion of Kashmir.

One of the worst hit areas was low-lying Choglamsar village on the outskirts of Leh, where houses and buildings have been swept away and soldiers were pulling survivors from mud, Brar said. Floods had badly affected villages within a 60-square mile (150 sq. kilometer) radius of Choglamsar, he said.

The floods damaged highways leading to Leh, making it difficult for trucks with relief supplies to enter Ladakh and tourists to get out of the area.

"Roads have been washed away and wherever they are intact, sheets of mud have covered them making them difficult for use," Brar said.

At least three army bases were hit by flood waters. Two soldiers were missing and nearly 14 were injured, Brar said. Khoda said that at least three policemen had been killed during rescue operations.

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, with a stark moonscape-like terrain, about 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) above sea level. It normally experiences very low precipitation.

A largely Buddhist area, it has been untouched by two months of anti-India civil unrest by Kashmiri Muslims that has gripped large swaths of Indian Kashmir for nearly two months. At least 49 people have died in the violence.

Explaining the devastating impact of the sudden rains, Prof. Shakeel Romshoo, a geologist at Kashmir University in Srinagar, said new rivulets had cut deep channels in the mountain gorges and flood waters had inundated low-lying areas.

"It's a challenging topography with steep and unstable slopes. Water flow and velocity being very high, the flash floods have caused huge damage," he said.

Telecommunication towers across the region have either fallen or been badly damaged. The main highway linking Leh to the nearby holiday resort of Manali was blocked by landslides. Poor weather has made it impossible for even helicopters to fly into Ladakh with relief supplies.

Khoda said police and the army have launched a massive rescue operation but were also trying to restore communications.

 

[Iggy]

^^^ this is going to hurt some people here

 

[GreenStar]

Im sure you understand that its unacceptable to India...for various reasons....so whats your second solution?....or lets say a Win-Win solution...plebiscite..only one side wins.

Why can't you hold a plebiscite......doesn't India claim to be a democratic country.....if so then have a referendum and let the people chose in what they want, wheather it be joining Pakistan, or staying with India......it's as simple as that, its nothing to do with who win's.....as the people opinions matter the most.

 

[BATMAN]

Why indian security agencies are clearly breaking the rules and than blame it on ISI!

 

[karan.1970]

The issues you have brought up Justin, I believe will not solve the problem at hand. There is no reason to start an arm race......as that will be following in the footsteps off the cold war......it would cause unnecessary tension in the region. India is not attacking the core issue of the problem, which seems to propell people to start rioting.......I think you need to engage in more dialogue with the Kashmiri people and try to answer there grievances

i think India needs to do both. The 2nd one, more urgently.. It seem to have begun too..

 

[GreenStar]

first of all these protest are funded by terrorist

Do you have proof to back up this statement.