Voices from Kashmir

[Indian Tiger]

Sajjad Hussain, 19, is a student in a polytechnic in Kargil, Kashmir. His family is originally from Baltistan, which lies in Pakistan's disputed Northern Areas. Passionate about the issues that confront his generation he is involved in student politics. He has lived in Kargil all his life and lives at home with his parents and two sisters.
I grew up in Kargil and have lived here all my life. I am proud to be a Kashmiri.

This is a state rich in its cultural heritage. We have Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists living side by side and in harmony for generations.

Unfortunately, everything in Kashmir today has become associated with the religious divide. The Hindus and Buddhists who have lived with us for generations want out.

That is because their minds are being poisoned by interest groups and political parties - not because of any inherent problems between us.

Standing by India

The people of this part of Kashmir have always stood by India. When Pakistani intruders tried to cross into Kargil in the summer of 1999, we alerted the Indian army.

But look at our living conditions. We don't have proper roads, hospitals or schools. Kargil is the poorest corner of Kashmir - our markets are falling apart, our streets are ******.

But even more than the Delhi government, we blame our state administration and the ruling National Conference.

They have done nothing to improve our lives. They get a huge amount of funds from the federal government.

The money passes from Delhi to the state government, ministers, bureaucrats and local administrators. After they have all taken their cut, what's left for us?

What this state lacks is leadership. We need somebody with vision and somebody who will look our for us.

I don't blame Delhi for all that's wrong with us. But I blame them for banking on Kashmiri politicians who only enrich themselves and care for no-one else's welfare.

We are being asked to vote and choose our representatives. Who do we pick? I haven't seen a single party or politician with a programme that talks about our problems or deals with issues close to our heart.

Divided and isolated

Kargil is an isolated town. We used to part of a larger state with close links to Baltistan and Gilgit, as well as the Kashmir Valley. Historically, we even had ties to Central Asia and Tibet. Our ancestors came from Iran.

But look at us today. We are split into three units - and divided between India, Pakistan and China. And now people want us to be divided further.

There are proposals, internationally-backed, to turn the Line of Control into an international border between India and Pakistan.

How can plans be made to divide us without consulting those who live here?

We don't like Pakistan. We live in constant fear of being shelled by the Pakistani army. They destroy our homes and our lives.

Today we were shelled for hours. Our new airport, which is yet to open, was targeted.

India has yet to get us an air link which will connect us to the rest of the country. Pakistan wants to ensure we stay unconnected. That's our reality.

India is a democratic country and we have faith in its democracy and its commitment to a multi-faith society.

All we ask for is for somebody to stand up for us and our aspirations. There are many young people in Kashmir today who are frustrated and disillusioned.

They need something to look forward to and someone to look up to.

We have dreams as well but at the moment we have no hope of turning them into a reality.


BBC NEWS | Voices from Kashmir

 

[SQ8]

Reminds me of the video with Saddam and the kid during the gulf war..
almost scripted.

I'd rather listen to the Kashmiri in person whose views are quite different.

 

[UKBengali]

Hindu India should give Muslim Kashmir to Muslim Pakistan.

Kashmir being part of India is like Gujarat being part of Pakistan. It makes no logical sense

 

[janon]

Hindu India should give Muslim Kashmir to Muslim Pakistan.

Kashmir being part of India is like Gujarat being part of Pakistan. It makes no logical sense

Your first two words show your fallacy.

India is not hindu India - it is a secular democratic republic, with equal rights for all, where everybody is free to practice and profess their religion of choice. There is no hindu India.

Pakistan may be an Islamic republic, but declaring itself so doesn't give it any right to demand muslims majority regions from its neighbours. If India declares itself a Christian nation tomorrow, she won't have any right to demand California from USA.

What Pakistan or any neighbours follow is not India's concern. Just because her neighbouring countries deny some people many rights on the basis of religion does not mean that we do. India is, and will be, a secular nation where the state does not distinguish on the basis of religion, and where all religions are equal in the eyes of the law. Equality, fairness for all.

 

[ssethii]

If kashmiris want independence they can earn it themselves. They don't even need our assisstance in this regards.
But alas the most damage to the Kashmir cause is done by kashmiris themselves.

 

[chhota bheem]

Hindu India should give Muslim Kashmir to Muslim Pakistan.

Kashmir being part of India is like Gujarat being part of Pakistan. It makes no logical sense

There are many things which dont make sence take for example your post.

 

[shiv]

Hindu India should give Muslim Kashmir to Muslim Pakistan.

Kashmir being part of India is like Gujarat being part of Pakistan. It makes no logical sense

no we will declare ourselves to be muslim republic and annex Bangaladesh and pakistan first chance ! Then we gonna convert them and declare ourselves as hindu republic to annex nepal ! After that we gonna declare ourselves as shia republic and annex Iran !

Then we gonna complete our akhand bharat

 

[UKBengali]

Your first two words show your fallacy.

India is not hindu India - it is a secular democratic republic, with equal rights for all, where everybody is free to practice and profess their religion of choice. There is no hindu India.

Pakistan may be an Islamic republic, but declaring itself so doesn't give it any right to demand muslims majority regions from its neighbours. If India declares itself a Christian nation tomorrow, she won't have any right to demand California from USA.

What Pakistan or any neighbours follow is not India's concern. Just because her neighbouring countries deny some people many rights on the basis of religion does not mean that we do. India is, and will be, a secular nation where the state does not distinguish on the basis of religion, and where all religions are equal in the eyes of the law. Equality, fairness for all.

Hindu India periodically massacres minorities since independence in 1947. Sikhs, Muslims and Christians have all been massacred by Hindu India.

Do not use the silly example of claiming California if India becomes Christian to counter this argument.

A lot of the problems in the subcontinent can be traced to Hindu obsession on holding onto Muslim land that they have no right to. If Kashmir was rightfully with Pakistan from 1947, then the subcontinent would have been a much more peaceful and prosperous region.

 

[SQ8]

Its a fact hard to digest for some people on other side of border.

They don't want to hear any good news about India or Bangladesh or Muslims living in peace and prospering with the nation they just want to pose pain, anguish and loss just to satisfy their ego or to jusify their suffering in the so called land of pure........pakistan.

We from Jammu are wrong...people from Leh Ladakh Kargil are wrong..but gentlemen from Pakistan are right.

Why should the whole state be handed over to Pakistan for a minority...and if this is the great logic you imply in life why not give all of Balouchistan freedom?

Basically shows that both you are unable to give a befitting reply and rather are reduced to off topic diversions to answer the questions. Whether these opinions are genuine or coerced?

Shall I repeat the rules on off topic derailment as well? on balochistan and otherwise?

 

[shiv]

^ offtopic : It's a fact that till 1956 balochistan was an independent state before being annexed by PA unlike Kashmir .. True there is no parallel !

 

[janon]

Hindu India periodically massacres minorities since independence in 1947. Sikhs, Muslims and Christians have all been massacred by Hindu India.

Do not use the silly example of claiming California if India becomes Christian to counter this argument.

A lot of the problems in the subcontinent can be traced to Hindu obsession on holding onto Muslim land that they have no right to. If Kashmir was rightfully with Pakistan from 1947, then the subcontinent would have been a much more peaceful and prosperous region.

Hindus have been massacred as well, in India. You ignore that because you are not secular.

Anyway, the fact remains that India is a secular nation, not a hindu one.

 

[UKBengali]

Hindus have been massacred as well, in India. You ignore that because you are not secular.

Anyway, the fact remains that India is a secular nation, not a hindu one.

- Nothing to say but this.

 

[janon]

- Nothing to say but this.

Yea, I know.

 

[Jade]

Reminds me of the video with Saddam and the kid during the gulf war..
almost scripted.

I'd rather listen to the Kashmiri in person whose views are quite different.

I can honestly say, I had lot of Kashmir students at my University in India who voiced similar sentiments and some of them were from Valley.

 

[SQ8]

I can honestly say, I had lot of Kashmir students at my University in India who voiced similar sentiments and some of them were from Valley.

I based my opinion on Kashmiri students who studied in Dehli and their sentiments are different.
Again, such sentiments are of similar policy of appeasement tried by states to quell a population.
However, arguments as to why it might not work well base it on the concept that Kashmiri uprising is based on an idea and not resources(even though most of northern India is supplied with power from hydro in Kashmir and only 2% of the revenue goes to Kashmir) which is much more difficult to subdue(as recent resurgences have shown). Attempts have been made to provide better economic conditions to Kashmiris by India to both students/ rebels and intellectuals.. but if Kashmiri papers and their voices are to be taken into account.. then not. I am trying to get a Kashmiri writer to post here.. but suffice to say that he tears apart Indian viewpoints everytime.