Kashmir | News & Discussions.

[Halaku Khan]

Former militant’s father killed in Kashmir
September 13th, 2009 - 12:07 pm ICT by IANS

Jammu, Sep 13 (IANS) A 50-year-old man, the father of a former militant, was shot dead in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district by terrorists, police said Sunday.
Three militants led by Mohammad Amin, the area commander of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) separatist outfit, barged into Ghulam Mohammad Chaupan’s house in Sigdi village, some 250 km from here, Saturday night and shot him dead, an official said.

Chaupan was the father of Raquib, a HuJI militant who had surrendered before the security forces in 2007.

“This appears to be a revenge killing. Families of militants who have surrendered are soft targets of active militants and they intimidate them,” the official said.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Whats the authenticity that these murders have been done by the separatists ???

In the 2nd report, the reported separatist leaves the organization in 2007, and after 2 years the other colleagues take revenge on him ?? That's laughable. If they had wanted revenge where were they for the last 2 years ?? Plus how does the "official" knows that it was the area commander of HuJI who came into the house, would they be leaving eye witnesses or don't such separatists cover their faces when attacking anyone ??

 

[EjazR]

Kashmir woman minister heals scars of rebel violence | Lifestyle | Reuters

By Sheikh Mushtaq

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Her father and uncle were gunned down by militants and she has survived at least 10 attempts on her life, but the violence has helped Indian Kashmir's lone woman minister to understand the pain of victims.

Sakina Itoo, 36, is helping heal the wounds of thousands of orphans and widows, innocent victims of a two-decade anti-India insurgency in the disputed Himalayan region.

"I know their pain and that is why I have pledged to wipe away their tears. Inshallah, I will achieve successes," the soft-spoken Social Welfare Minister told Reuters in an interview.

"Major steps have been taken to rehabilitate them. Initially, we have identified 5,000 widows and 3,000 orphans."

There is no official data on the number of widows and orphans of the insurgency involving separatist Muslim militants and Indian troops in Kashmir.

Social activists put the number of orphans as high as 60,000 and say an equal number of widows live in the scenic valley of five million people.

Social activists say the number of women and children left without a breadwinner in their families is mounting with only a fraction of them receiving financial support from the government.

Her ministry has spent about $600,000 through the Militancy Rehabilitation Council in last six months for the rehabilitation of widows and orphans, Itoo said, adding the schemes included monthly pensions to widows and parents of slain militants.

Help also included scholarships for professional studies and school-going orphans, besides financial assistance to handicapped or disabled people.

"It is true the number (of widows and orphans) is increasing day by day. Most of them do not come forward," said Itoo, who is single.

UNACCOUNTED MISSING

Itoo is the oldest of five sisters, she gave up her medical studies to enter politics after her father, a former speaker of the state legislature, was killed by Muslim militants in 1995.

"But we cannot punish families of the slain militants. These widows and orphans are innocent," Itoo said.

Not everyone is convinced of the government's intentions.

Parveena Ahanger head of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), an independent group in Kashmir, is skeptical of the ministry's programs and says it has not accounted for all those missing during the years of insurgency.

"They only announce schemes. Despite tall claims, government has failed to provide us the whereabouts of 10,000 people who disappeared during militancy," Ahanger, also the founder of APDP, said.

Itoo, basing her estimates on a Ministry of Social Welfare report, said 2,367 people have disappeared, a figure which is lower than Ahanger's estimates.

More than 47,000 people have been killed since a revolt against Indian rule broke out in 1989. Separatists put the toll near 100,000.

The disputed region, the trigger for two of the three wars between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both countries but ruled by them only in part.

 

[EjazR]

Her father and uncle were gunned down by militants and she has survived at least 10 attempts on her life,

For those who think militants don't attack women and civilians, this should help you realize why militants are unwanted in J&K

 

[Spring Onion]

Kashmir woman minister heals scars of rebel violence | Lifestyle | Reuters



Social activists put the number of orphans as high as 60,000 and say an equal number of widows live in the scenic valley of five million people.

And these kids are orphans and these women are widows because Indian army had killed their fathers and their husbands.

Not everyone is convinced of the government's intentions.

Parveena Ahanger head of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), an independent group in Kashmir, is skeptical of the ministry's programs and says it has not accounted for all those missing during the years of insurgency.

"They only announce schemes. Despite tall claims, government has failed to provide us the whereabouts of 10,000 people who disappeared during militancy," Ahanger, also the founder of APDP, said.

Itoo, basing her estimates on a Ministry of Social Welfare report, said 2,367 people have disappeared, a figure which is lower than Ahanger's estimates.

More than 47,000 people have been killed since a revolt against Indian rule broke out in 1989. Separatists put the toll near 100,000.
.

And you forgot to highlight the above part.

Who is going to heal the scars of these victims of Indian army's barbarism?

 

[EjazR]

@Jana

IF there is a human rights violation by IA or Para-military corps, you can go to the courts and get the army officers or para military troops prosecuted. At least there is a process and many officers who have committed such acts have been prosecuted. I am not trivializing this. And I'm sure many have not got justice.
The payments are given to any one affected in the rebel violence. As far as I know, only if the person killed was an active militant (involved in killing civilians) his family will not get payments. These tend to be very few as most of them have families across the border.

What I wanted to highlight was the fact that LeT and Hizb groups commit murder and destroy property blow up shrines and govt. buildings. Thats why there is hardly any local support to these guys. And its mostly local informers that let the Police know about any suspicious activities.


As a muslim country, Pakistan signed the LoC agreement that says that both India and Pakistan will honor this border. As a muslim country and as per international law, Pakistan is bound to honor this agreement. You should know how important honoring agreements and promises are for muslims.
If militants are using Pakistani soil and infiltrate into Indian Kashmir in violation of this agreement, there should be opposition among Pakistanis for these terrorist groups, because they are breaking this muhaida/agreement. Moreover, they are causing suffering for the average Kashmiri.
This is just another TTP clone causing mayhem Kashmir. If you don't want TTP to rule in NWFP. Why should their clones LeT/Hizb do that in Kashmir?

 

[EjazR]

Pakistan's Ordinance Giving Internal Political Autonomy To Northern Jammu, Kashmir

The Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Ordinance 2009 was approved by Pakistan's Federal Cabinet last week. The Ordinance is directed towards granting internal political autonomy to the Northern Areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ordinance, however, falls short of local demands and is only a change in nomenclature rather than genuine political reforms.

The 1949 ceasefire line resulted in the division of J&K with Pakistan gaining control over some portion of the disputed territory. Pakistan administered region of J&K was subsequently divided in 1970 into two administrative zones: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Northern Regions. AJK is constitutionally not a part of Pakistan and is governed by an elected President, Prime Minister and Legislature. Northern Areas are under the direct control of Islamabad and is ruled through a Northern Area Council headed by Pakistan's Minister for Kashmir Affairs.

The Empowerment Ordinance 2009, introduced as a replacement of the Northern Areas' Legal Framework Order 1994, completely overlooks the basic demands of the local population. The Northern Areas have been struggling to free itself from the control of the Pakistani Government for several decades. After years of judicial and legal ambivalence, the Government of Pakistan seeks to extend and reinforce its control over the Northern Areas through the alleged "reform package". The treatment meted out to the people of the Northern Areas for decades have made them skeptical of federal control.

The constitution of Pakistan and its map don't show the Northern Areas as belonging to Pakistan. At the same time Pakistan is not prepared to give the region an independent status or to enable its people to adopt a modern, transparent democratic system. Northern Areas thus have no politico-constitutional status. K2, the only weekly published in the Northern Areas, carries a message on its mast-head which succinctly summarizes the emotional state of the people in the Northern Areas; it reads 'Sarzamin -Be - Ain Ki Awaz' meaning "the voice of the constitution-less."

The people of Northern Areas do not have any justifiable fundamental rights since they are technically not citizens of Pakistan. The Frontier Crime Regulations is in force in the region under which every resident of the region has to report regularly to local intelligence personnel. The locals need an exit permit for moving out of the area.

Until 1994 the region had no elected assembly or even municipal bodies. In October 1994 first elections to the Northern Areas Executive Council were held and the Council continues to remain an advisory. In 1999 the Pakistan's Supreme Court in a landmark ruling directed the Pakistani government to extend basic rights to the people of Northern Areas within six months and treat them as Pakistani citizens. The judgment has not been implemented and in the 2001 elections across the country, the residents of Northern Areas were not granted voting rights. Thus the people of the Northern Areas do not have any representation in the Pakistan National Assembly.

Balawaristan National Front, under the Chairmanship of Abdul Hamid Khan has been protesting against the illegal Pakistani occupation of the Northern region while the Yasin Malik faction of the JKLF demands that the Northern areas, along with rest of J&K, be given the right of self-determination. According to Amir Humza, a leader from Gilgit, "It is a fact that people of this region (Northern Areas) are facing more human rights violations and whenever the official media talks of repression in Indian Kashmir, people with strong hearts laugh at this hypocritical attitude and people with weak hearts cry."

The local population was not consulted at any stage of drafting the Empowerment Ordinance. A committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Kashmir and Northern Areas has prepared the "reform" package. Post of the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA) will continue to co-exist with newly created position of the Governor. Thus the executive authority of the newly christened Gilgit-Baltistan region will continue to rest with federal agents. No concrete commitment has been made with regard to the timing of the elections to actualize a large part of the reform package. The move could also impact Pakistan's stand on the wider Jammu and Kashmir dispute with India. Pakistan has always emphasized on resolving the J&K dispute by ascertaining the wishes of the people of J&K, making the unilateral transformation with regard to the politico-legal status of the Northern Areas a diplomatic gaffe.

Amanullah Khan, leader of the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, rejected the package, saying it appeared to be aimed at merging the disputed areas into Pakistan. According to Jammu and Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP) president Liaqat Hayyat, the Empowerment Ordinance is "nothing but a little joke to the people of this region and the state of Jammu (and) Kashmir."

Pakistan's move is doubly problematic: apart from under-addressing the anxiety of the people of the Northern Areas, the Empowerment Ordinance has further complicated the politico-legal dimensions of the J&K dispute. Complete silence on the part of the international community and India on the issue gives the impression that the LOC has been accepted as fait accompli and Pakistan sovereign right over Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas is implicitly accepted.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Gilgit-Baltistan autonomy

By M. Ismail Khan
Wednesday, 09 Sep, 2009 | 10:37 AM PST |

The ‘autonomy package’ introduced by the government for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is a mix of good and bad news. The good news is that the area will now have an autonomous status with a chief minister and a governor. The bad news is that it has been given only a province-like status and has no institutional link with the four provinces or the Pakistani constitution.

It is not yet clear how the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009 signed by the president will affect the area’s denizens and other stakeholders. What is obvious, though, is that this is an entirely new experiment in statecraft where a democratically elected government has created a province-like entity through an order.

Prime Minister Gilani’s statement that Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be given constitutional status and representation in parliament because of Pakistan’s commitment to a UN resolution is a lame excuse as there is nothing in it that forbids Pakistan from providing legitimate constitutional rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. After all, Azad Jammu & Kashmir operate under an interim constitution enacted by the AJK Legislative Assembly in 1974.

Only recently President Zardari signed a memorandum of understanding with China for a 7000-MW power project in Gilgit-Baltistan. Then there’s the border agreement between Pakistan and China which is also provisional and subject to revision upon resolution of the Kashmir dispute. If the Pakistani government can enter into an agreement concerning Gilgit-Baltistan territories with a third party, there is hardly any justification for not entering into a constitutional accord, even if a provisional one, with the region’s people.

There are two clear strands of thoughts regarding a possible way forward. The pro-Pakistan majority supports the area’s inclusion in the federation of Pakistan as a province by adding Gilgit-Baltistan in Article 1 of the 1973 constitution as a territory of Pakistan — it could be subject to revision upon a final resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Others inspired by Kashmiri nationalist leaders call for an independent united states or confederation of Kashmir. Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik is talking about this and prefers that the status of Gilgit-Baltistan remain in limbo, followed by the option that the local assembly draft an interim constitution to enable the region to have a legitimate and comprehensive judicial, executive and legislative structure.

Prime Minister Gilani failed to admit that there has been tremendous pressure from Kashmiri nationalist leaders whenever the government has taken a policy decision on Gilgit-Baltistan. It is correct that the predicament goes back to the Kashmir dispute. The demand for a plebiscite on Kashmir may appear erroneous but it would be doubly wrong to make the innocent population of Gilgit-Baltistan (whose future was tied to the plebiscite) pay for someone else’s blunder.

The people insist that their area, as large as the NWFP, is not a territory awarded to Pakistan by the Radcliffe Boundary Commission. According to them, neither were they freed from foreign tribes as in AJK’s case. Gilgit-Baltistan, they argue, was liberated as a result of a spontaneous local revolt. Denizens opted to become a part of Pakistan and hence they believe that by getting rid of Dogra occupation, which predates the Amritsar treaty through which the regime acquired Kashmir from the British, they severed whatever symbolic relationship existed between Gilgit-Baltistan and the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir.

On the other hand, the Kashmiri leadership has had difficulty in understanding Pakistan’s dilemma as, over the years, Gilgit-Baltistan’s geo-strategic importance has risen to a level where the area cannot be ‘donated’.

There was no Karakoram Highway in 1947 and the water and power crises in Pakistan have never been so acute as now. Policy circles realise that in a region beset with conflict and intense competition, Gilgit-Baltistan is crucial as a trade, water and oil corridor for South, West and Central Asia. With the Kalabagh dam off the table for the moment and climate change looming large, upstream water projects have become crucial for the survival and development of the country.

Containing some of the world’s largest freshwater resources on which the irrigated agriculture of Punjab and Sindh depends, the estimated hydroelectric potential of the eight rivers and countless streams in Gilgit-Baltistan goes beyond Pakistan’s current needs.

Ongoing mega projects like the Bhasha-Diamir dam further necessitates that Gilgit-Baltistan be brought into the mainstream and that its people be given a voice in national decision-making so that the region’s public representatives can also take part in inter-provincial deliberations to safeguard socio-economic interests.

Renaming the Northern Areas as Gilgit-Baltistan is perhaps the most significant part of the deal as far as the locals are concerned as this change in nomenclature will help people regain their lost identity and go a long way in resurrecting the tourism industry in an area otherwise devastated by the Taliban.

Moreover, the creation of the offices of an auditor-general, public service commission and chief election commissioner are positive steps that should have been taken years ago. But the increase in the list of subjects for the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly to legislate would mean little if the powers of the governor to discard edicts are not curtailed. Similarly, while the provision allowing the local assembly to debate the budget is a positive move what is also needed is to build the administration’s revenue-generation and financial-management capacity.

True, province-like status given to the region may have saved it from a situation similar to the one in restive Balochistan. However, if the reforms prove only cosmetic, the reaction of the people there could turn violent. If this happens, it would not only hurt the patriotic sentiments of nearly two million locals but also harm the country’s interest in a strategic and resource-rich region currently surrounded by the Indian military, the Chinese army, Nato forces and the Taliban.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Gilgit-Baltistan autonomy

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Elections on Gilgit-Baltistan LA on Nov 12: Governor Kaira ​

GILGIT, Sep 15 (APP): Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Qamar Zaman Kaira announced Tuesday that elections for new Legislative Assembly would be held on November 12. Addressing his maiden press conference after taking oath as Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Kaira said that new delimitation of the constituencies was not being done because it would on the one hand would result in delay in elections, and on the other would result in allegations of pre-poll rigging by the transitional set up.

Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is also Minister for Information said that purpose of the introduction of Gilgit-Baltistan empowerment and self-governance package was to empower the people of the area.

“Empowerment of the people is the manifesto of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and by implementation of this package, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would get internal autonomy”, he added.

He said that it is the credit of the PPP that it has always worked for empowerment of deprived people of Gilgit-Baltistan, and the third generation of the PPP has turned this dream into reality, the minister added.

Governor, Qamar Zaman Kaira said the present government of Pakistan Peoples Party has transferred all powers to the local people to fulfill the dream of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

He said now the legislative assembly will be able to legislate in 61 areas. The elected representatives of the people will made annual development programme and the local people will be the master of their resources.

He said to hold fair and transparent elections, an independent election commission has been set up. After November 12 election, new government will come into being.

He said women will get due representation in the new assembly while the seats of technocrats have been reduced from six to three. The seats of women and technocrats will be under the proportionate formula.He said Gilgit-Baltistan Council is also being set up.

Qamar Zaman Kaira referred to the steps taken by the PPP for granting rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan rejected the impression that the issuance of the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order would in any way harm and cause of Kashmir.

He said Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the Line of Control was consulted and the Kashmir Committee of the Parliament was briefed. The Committee expressed satisfaction over the decision, he added. He pointed out that members of the AJK cabinet are also present in today’s ceremony as a mark of solidarity. Hurriyat Conference too has supported the move, said Kaira.

Qamar Zaman Kaira announced that apart from the two FM Station already launched in Gilgit and Skardu, Radio Pakistan would establish nine more FM Stations next year. With this, Radio broadcast would cover the entire region. He said that two medium wave 10 kilowatt transmitters presently operating in Gilgit and Skardu would be replaced with 100 kilowatt transmitters in two years.

He also announced that four new boosters of PTV would be established in Gilgit-Baltistan within this year. Three more boosters would be established by July next year. He asked PTV to set up its bureau in Gilgit by December this year.

Bureau offices of APP and PID would also be established in Gilgit, he said.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Elections on Gilgit-Baltistan LA on Nov 12: Governor Kaira

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

we recognize it as disputed territory. indians view their occupied territory as 'indian'

if that were the case, why do they have so many soldier there in otherwise peaceful places like Sri Nagar (where, incidentally, the locals all wave Pakistani flags)


Inshallah all Kashmir will be united. And they will determine their destiny.

Allah in ke Shadat kabool farmai. Inshallah Kashmir Azad ho ga, aur india ko zulam ka hisab dena pare ga. Allah Azadi ki tehrik main Kashmiri peoples ki madad farmai.

 

[EjazR]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Kashmir takes first step to bring back Pandits

Srinagar, Sept. 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government today formally launched the process of bringing migrant Kashmiri Pandits back.

The government has constituted a committee, headed by revenue minister Raman Bhalla and including senior Pandit leaders, to monitor the implementation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Rs 1,618-crore package meant to facilitate their return.

“The government wants an early return of Kashmiri Pandits and the committee has been constituted to speed up the process of bringing them back,” Nasir Aslam Wani, minister of state for revenue, said. “We want the Pandits to suggest measures about how fast we can achieve that goal, (that is) the reason (why) we have included various Pandit voices in the committee,” he added.

Around 35,000 families are registered as migrants in Jammu and more than 20,000 outside the state. Most of them are Pandits. More than 15,000 families receive a cash compensation of Rs 4,000 per family in addition to 9kg of ration per person a month.

The Prime Minister’s package envisages financial assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh per family for renovation or reconstruction of houses located in the Valley.

The migrants will also be given temporary accommodation till they complete the reconstruction of their houses. In case any family wishes to stay in their chosen rented accommodation, the government will reimburse the rent.

“The package has also allowed different families who have sold their houses to form cooperative societies and accordingly each member family of the society will be given financial assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh for purchasing land and constructing house,” an official spokesperson said.

Besides, 6,000 Pandit youth will get jobs in the government sector in the Valley.

All the Kashmiri Pandit migrants will continue to get the relief for two years and their children will also be given a monthly stipend

 

[dabong1]

There not migrants......... there kashmiri refugees.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Perfect - one less excuse for the Indians to avoid holding a plebiscite.

I suppose all those Mirpuris and other Kashmiris settled abroad would also be registered to vote in such a plebiscite:

It is estimated that over a million people of Kashmiri origin are settled in Britain, USA, Canada, Middle East and in various European countries. They come from different parts of Jammu Kashmir State. However, an over whelming majority originates from the areas that formed part of Jammu province in the United Kashmir. And are now officially known ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’

At least half of this a million strong diaspora are settled in Britain where over 99% have roots in ‘Azad’ Kashmir.

The latest literature on British Kashmiris shows that around three hundred families originate from the Valley. Most of the Valley Kashmiris in Britain are professionals, predominately doctors followed by lawyers. They live either in London or in the suburban areas of various towns across Britain where many work as General Practitioners or GPs. Or ‘APNA doctors’ as GPs are commonly known amongst older generation of ‘Azad’ Kashmiris. Although they are smaller in numbers but can be more influential in effect as they are batter located within the British system.

KNIC - Diaspora and Development: the case of British Kashmiris from Azad Kashmir by Shams Rehman

Not to mention the million(s)/hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri origin settled in Pakistan.

 

[bandit]

Perfect - one less excuse for the Indians to avoid holding a plebiscite.

I suppose all those Mirpuris and other Kashmiris settled abroad would also be registered to vote in such a plebiscite:


Not to mention the million(s)/hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri origin settled in Pakistan.

The issue is contingent upon removal of Pakistani troops from Kashmir completely. When the Pakistani troops go back to Pakistan, then we'll talk about plebiscite.

 

[bandit]

we recognize it as disputed territory. indians view their occupied territory as 'indian'

if that were the case, why do they have so many soldier there in otherwise peaceful places like Sri Nagar (where, incidentally, the locals all wave Pakistani flags).

Srinagar is a peaceful place because of those troops. It is peaceful because the army kicked out the terrorist bastards from there.

And no, all locals do not wave Pakistani flags there.

Inshallah all Kashmir will be united. And they will determine their destiny.

Allah in ke Shadat kabool farmai. Inshallah Kashmir Azad ho ga, aur india ko zulam ka hisab dena pare ga. Allah Azadi ki tehrik main Kashmiri peoples ki madad farmai.

Listening too much to mullahs is bad for health.