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So, is new media only reinforcing old stereotypes?


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Does P0K militant want to lead a normal life?

Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir: The Army has captured a senior militant commander, Liaqat Hussain, with his family at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Thirty five-year-old Liaqat, who once dreamed of an independent Kashmir, now wants to live a normal life with his family but is not sure what the fate of his children born in Pakistan Okupied Kashmir (P0K) will be.

The militant was caught infiltrating arms along with his family including three children. He would have been eligible to surrender but the police say Hussain cannot benefit from the state's surrender policy since he was arrested. Also, he was returning with an AK-47, a pistol and ammunition that doesn't help his case.

Husain joined the Hizbul Mujahideen 10 years ago and was trained in P0K to fight for an independent Kashmir. He returned to fight in Poonch. In 2001, he got married to a woman from Poonch and tired of being on the run, went back to P0K.

According to intelligence reports, 2000 men from Jammu and Kashmir are in P0K for arms training but some want to return to lead a peaceful life.

Liaqat too admits this. Speaking to NDTV, he said, "There are a lot of people who want to return to normal life."

The fate of the couple's children aged eight, six and two hangs in balance as they were born in P0K and are not Indian citizens.

"Right now we can't say anything about the children. That will be decided according to the law of the land," said Jugal Manha, Additional SP, Poonch.

It is still not clear what prompted Liaqat to return with his family and whether he has actually cut all the links with militancy, but the way the case will now be handled will also serve an important message to militants across the LoC who want to return to lead a normal life.


Read more at: Does *** militant want to lead a normal life?
Read more at: Does *** militant want to lead a normal life?
 
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Crunch time in Kashmir

By Irfan Husain

Slowly, ever so slowly, the ongoing crisis in Kashmir is seeping into the world’s consciousness.

For years, this unfolding tragedy was explained away through Indian charges of Pakistani involvement in the freedom movement. Much of this was true, as official and unofficial players supported an armed insurgency. But what is happening now in the Valley has nothing to do with cross-border incursions by jihadi militants.

The ongoing protest movement is spearheaded by teenagers armed with nothing except stones and the strength of their convictions. The only shots that have been fired have been by Indian security forces who have caused scores of deaths and injuries among these unarmed protesters. The problem for an uncaring Indian government is that this movement shows no signs of flagging.

If these protests have placed New Delhi in a quandary, they have also marginalised Islamabad. Suddenly, shadowy spooks and Islamic militant groups in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir find themselves sidelined by an amorphous, popular uprising that has no time for home-grown or Pakistani terrorists.

In a recent article (London Review of Books, July 22), Tariq Ali wrote: “Now a new generation of Kashmiri youth is on the march. They fight, like the young Palestinians, with stones. Many have lost their fear of death and will not surrender. Ignored by politicians at home, abandoned by Pakistan, they are developing the independence of spirit that comes with isolation and it will not easily be quelled. It’s unlikely, however, that the prime minister of India and his colleagues will pay any attention to them….”

The Palestinian analogy is apt. There, young stone-throwing protesters have forced their struggle on to the international agenda, as the latest American effort to promote a settlement of the dispute gets under way in Washington. However, the difference lies in how these two conflicts are viewed by the world: the death of a Palestinian protester makes headlines, while several Kashmiris can be killed without any media attention.

Why this difference in how the global media covers these two freedom movements? One reason lies in the fact that while Palestine is viewed as Israeli-occupied territory, Kashmir is considered an integral part of India. Another factor is that India is seen as a reasonable, humane country. As home to Mahatma Gandhi, most people in the West have been influenced by India’s hugely successful projection of its soft power. So much so that people are often blind to its use of hard power.

New Delhi’s crude attempts to crush the movement have resulted in thousands of deaths over the last two decades. An Indian reader recently asked me how the government should deal with the uprising. I suggested that it needs to talk with Kashmiri leaders, and not just lock them up or shoot them. The problem is that the Indian establishment views the ongoing protests as a security issue, not a political one. Indians often see protesters as traitors, and treat them as such.

However, the situation has changed with Pakistan’s virtual absence from the equation. For years, India had accused Islamabad — often with justification — of trying to force a change in the status quo by force. This no longer holds true. Now, even the most rabid Indian nationalist concedes the indigenous nature of the movement.

So what are the options open to the Indian government? The truth is that there is little sympathy in India for the Kashmiri protesters. Left and liberal forces are largely silent on the issue. They may feel uncomfortable over the use of lethal force against unarmed teenagers, but do not really want to confront the core issue of azadi, or freedom, the Kashmiris are demanding.

To be sure, India is not going to give an inch on the question of Kashmiri independence. Over the last 60 years, the Indian position has hardened to the point of becoming a central plank in its national consensus. No Indian politician is prepared to make any concessions. So does this mean an endless use of force to crush a popular, largely peaceful movement? The Economist sees a glimmer of hope. In its Banyan column, the UK weekly says:

“Eventually, however, India may have to contemplate a political solution, for two reasons. One is that small cracks are already appearing in the national consensus behind its repressive policies. So long as it was fighting Pakistan, even liberal Indian opinion seemed ready to tolerate a heavy hand in Kashmir. Less so now that its troops are killing children armed only with stones. Secondly, without change, the cycle of protests will resume.…”

Given India’s refusal to countenance any changes to the political frontiers of Kashmir, and the popular demand for azadi, how can these extreme positions be bridged? Thus far, little attempt has been made to improve life for the impoverished people of the Valley. Civil unrest and two decades of terrorism have kept tourists away. There is an acute and chronic power shortage in the disputed territory that generates a lot of hydro-electric power, most of which is taken elsewhere. Very little private investment comes to the troubled Valley. Unemployment is rife.

Under these conditions, nobody should be surprised that young people have risen in revolt. But even more than economic factors, it is the oppressive presence of over half a million security personnel in the disputed territory that infuriates Kashmiris. Indian officials point out that most of their soldiers are deployed along the Line of Control to counter the Pakistani military presence there.

All the greater need, then, to talk to Pakistan and sort out outstanding border issues, and discuss autonomy issues with Kashmiri leaders. In the original agreements between Britain, India and Pakistan, states at the time of independence only had the option of joining India or Pakistan. But after years of indifference, downright neglect, and repression, Kashmiri attitudes have hardened, too. Now, it seems that the young protesters want nothing to do with either India or Pakistan.

However, in the real world, we seldom get exactly what we want. If India wants to resolve this intractable issue, just wishing it will go away on its own is no longer an option.
 
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Jammu& Kashmir: 1 terrorist killed in ongoing encounter in Poonch

Poonch: One terrorist has been killed in a raging encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

It is joint operation of the police and Army.

One more militant is believed to be holed up.

More details are awaited.



Read more at: Jammu& Kashmir: 1 terrorist killed in ongoing encounter in Poonch



EDIT: Heard that the holed up terrorist has surrendered
 
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Well done freedom fighters.......keep up the good job:pakistan:

The ones killed by the indian butcher forces are more then likely innocent people who the indians have framed as normal.
 
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I have been following the events that are unfolding in Kashmir very closely and trying to understand the situation. I must admit it took me long time to understand the problem. I am trying to put my argument here as to why people are asking for Azadi, what they really mean by that and what can India do to make things better.
My analysis says that the main cause of irritation amongst the Kashmir’s is the caged life they are living. Their movement is restricted they are often asked to show their ID cards and failure to produce one can lead them to unpleasant situation. The CRPF men and policemen are also irritated by long duties which they do not enjoy; also facing stones from Kashmiri’s must be building anger against them. I therefore do not doubt that CRPF might be little rude to people at times. I am not blaming CRPF it is natural of them to behave that way. The requirement of carrying ID cards adds to their feeling of Kashmiri’s are not being trusted. Another example is that they find difficult to get passports, when people of valley find it difficult to get a passport and feel that they have been discriminated this feeling is alienated even further. Add to this the regular strikes, while India can do little to prevent these strikes but it adds to frustration against India, very few people actually would like to blame this to separatist, a lot of people feel that it is India due to which they are living a life of misery. The most important factor that alienates this feeling is deaths caused by riot control. Some of these deaths are accidental E.g. only a naive person will feel that death caused by tear gas shell was ill intended. There are groups of people sitting in Kashmir with whole intention of creating resentment against the GOI and they do not want to let an opportunity go. The death from tear gas shell is a perfect opportunity for these hawks, it is blessing in disguise for them. If you look at some of the past instance of people trying to blame CRPF for deaths/rapes that they have no involvement into E.g. Shopain **** of two sisters 2009 (Later found doctor fabricated ****) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Sh...nd_murder_case , Murder by friends blamed on Armed forces IBNLive - Page Not Found . The above examples clearly show that people are waiting for opportunity to malign the security forces.
I feel that the call for Azadi is driven primarily by feeling caged and what people actually means is not separation from India but getting Azad from the life living in cage. To understand little more think for example if similar restrictions are there in any other state in India and they continue for 20 odd years. What will the public feel, the present government is not capable for solve the problem and hence we do not want to be govern by them. The citizen of Kashmir feels that if they remain part of India they have to continue living this caged life. Some people in India think that Kashmir’s would get attracted towards India looking at their economic progress, they should understand no one loves a golden cage, freedom is supreme and if people do not feel free economic prosperity will not help. A similar analogy can be seen in Iraq where US initially welcomes as liberators where hated towards there end, basically it is responsibility of governing body to provide better life to its people and it they fail after someone time it will lose public support.
What is the solution to this and what India can do? I feel India should start reducing troops ASAP. The violence in Kashmir has decreased and this should be taken as opportunity to reduce the troops. I know a certain section will say, it might increase the violence. We have to take the risk; if violence increases and common people die they will understand why security forces are present in the valley and should be able to appreciate them. If violence does not increase, this is possible as Pakistan is not currently actively pushing ultras, then we might move one step towards demilitarization. This should be followed by reducing troops every six months till we reach an optimum level. We should defiantly have a roadmap to peace in Kashmir. The reason people are angry is they do not see any roadmap from us, without which life is miserable for them.:pdf:
 
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I think force should be reduced in living areas and should be increased in border..more radars,satalite,warning systems,night vision,more snipers etc should be there to prevent cross border terrorism.
number of kashmiri police men should be increased,Greater autonomy should be given,i am not mentioning development because they says doctors and engineers are out in the streets,
 
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No curfew: Kashmiris shop for Eid a week in advance

2010-09-05 22:50:00
Kashmiris Sunday started their Eid shopping a week before the festival as there was no curfew in the Valley. Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani modified his call for a shutdown Monday and asked the people to resume normal activities in the afternoon.

In a statement here Sunday, Geelani said in view of the Shab-e-Qadr being observed Monday night, Kashmiris must resume their normal life from 2 p.m. onwards on Monday.

As per the earlier protest calendar issued by him as part of his group's 'Quit Kashmir' campaign, Geelani had appealed for a complete Valley shutdown Monday and asked the people to resume normal activities only Sunday. A shutdown has also been announced for Tuesday and Wednesday.

'The calendar has been modified to enable people make purchases for the holy Shab-e-Qadr tomorrow (Monday),' Geelani said in his statement Sunday evening.

Muslims throughout the world engage in nightlong prayers thronging mosques during Shab-e-Qadr which is the holiest night as per the Muslim belief.

The hardline leader had also asked people to resume normal life Sunday to facilitate Eid shopping, which Geelani stressed should be done with utmost austerity because of the death of 65 people in the ongoing unrest in the Valley that started June 11.

Till late Sunday evening, almost all the markets in the Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar and other towns of the Valley were abuzz with shoppers as they picked up essential items for Eid-ul-Fitr which falls around Sep 11 after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Most of the roads in Srinagar witnessed traffic jams as police tried to regulate the movement of vehicles.


People were seen shopping and some educational institutions were open despite it being a Sunday.


'This happens only in Kashmir. Who would believe it is a public holiday today? Shops, other businesses, public transport and some educational institutions are functioning here,' said Abdul Gani Bhat, 51, a local businessman.

'Anyway, it's nice to see people going around to shop for the coming Eid-ul-Fitr,' Bhat added.

Pavement vendors were out in strength to to sell merchandise like woollens, garments, fruits and dates.

'One never knows whether we would be able to sell goods tomorrow or the day after. It is better to make hay while the sun shines,' said Mehraj-ud-Din, a fruit seller on the Residency Road.

Even poultry and mutton shops did some brisk business after almost three months of shutdowns, curfews and protests.

The hardline separatists have been issuing protest calendars on a weekly basis for the last three months and the authorities have responded to these by imposing curfews and restrictions in most parts of the Valley.

With the separatists withdrawing their protest programme for a day, authorities did not impose curfew anywhere in the Valley Sunday.

'This has happened after almost three months. For the last three months, there were curfews in certain parts and restrictions in other parts to prevent violence by stone pelting mobs here,' said Bashir Ahmad, 58, a veterinarian.

'The magic of Eid-ul-Fitr could be seen at work everywhere in the Valley today as the people went about their daily chores without any fear,' he said.

Ahmad himself had come with his family form Kashmir's Ganderbal district for Eid shopping in Srinagar.

The separatists have also appealed to the people that they should not buy any fire crackers because of the unrest in the Valley.

'That is definitely going to deprive the children of some of their fun this Eid. But, it is fair enough not to use fire crackers this Eid. After all, 65 locals, including teenagers and youth, have lost lives in the last three months,' said Ahmad.

Ahmad's 15-year old son, Wasim, did not insist on buying any fire crackers this Eid.

'He understands the pain and suffering which is written on every face in the valley,' Ahmad said.

Authorities did not impose any curfew or restrictions here Saturday as well to ensure people could preparing for Eid festivities


No curfew: Kashmiris shop for Eid a week in advance
 
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According to me the following steps should be taken....and i am from J&K.

Firstly,make Jammu,Kashmir and Leh Ladakh a seperate state.

People from Jammu region are suffering because of Kashmiris coz their friends from across the border carrying AKs roam all over Jammu region thinking that J&K wants freedom or whatever.

Seperatists need to realise we dont want any freedom and we dont waste our time pelting stones coz we are proud to be a part of India.

Jammu is a region where hindus,muslims,christians,sikhs and now buddhists live peacefully without fighting...there is a tale that a ruler named Jambhu Loachan came to what is now jammu city to hunt...and he saw a goat and a leopard or tiger driniking water in the same pool and decided to make a city there as he believed in this place if a goat and a tiger can live peacefully then why not humans..so he named it Jammu...we are not like kashmiris where a majority asked the minority to leave.

Because of Kashmiris my region is suffering...so i dont want my region to be a part of kashmir.



Secondly..having being lived in kashmir..i think best possible step is to withdraw CRPF completely.

Then slowly move the Army out of anti terrorist operattions and give the responsibility to the JK armed police.

And slowly motivate Kashmiri hindus to return to kashmir as soon as the environment is right...coz if pandits are there then it would be harder for seperatists to ask for freedom.
 
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How about the counting given below? It says only of 1990s.


Rocks, YouTube undergird J&K protests
Sunday, September 05,2010

SRINAGAR: During the 1990s, more than 60,000 people died in a struggle between militants, trained and funded by Pakistan, and security forces. India largely stamped out the rebellion using hundreds of thousands of troops.

Even if we ignore his counting back from 1948 to wherever he wants to go, seems he's still not finished maybe stuck in 10,000 BC :lol: ...

Kashmir insurgency started in late 80's before that there was no protests...so extrapolating death rates of 90's back to '47 is incorrect.


SRINAGAR: During the 1990s, more than 60,000 people died in a struggle between militants, trained and funded by Pakistan, and security forces. India largely stamped out the rebellion using hundreds of thousands of troops.

The insurgency itself....I hope you appreciate some pertinent points in your own posts...obviously we are not solely responsible for the whole mess and deaths in Kashmir...people that have used them to further their own interests are equally to blame.
 
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If i am correct, these people want to be free from Indian occupation and have their own land?

And why is Pakistani Kashmir not up in riots?
 
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