Kashmiris have a duty to interfere: Nazir Gilani
JKCHR accuses Pakistan of proxy politics
By: Gowhar Nazir Shah
Srinagar, June 06: Accusing Pakistan government of playing proxy politics in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights today said that “short listing of a section of Kashmiri leadership by Pakistan for a maiden trip to Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK) via Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road was not an encouraging sign.”The Council for Human Rights said that it took more than half a decade for India to understand that proxy politics was not workable in Kashmir, but unfortunately it was now Pakistan that has started playing proxy politics by extending invitation for PaK visit only to a “chosen few”.The secretary general of JKCHR and chairman of International Kashmir Alliance (IKA), Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani said this in a press conference held here at a local hotel, Monday.The JKCHR secretary general, however, expressed contentment over the Kashmir-centric confidence building measures taken by India and Pakistan and stated that any forward movement toward peace and reconciliation was welcome.Dr. Gilani termed the trans-Kashmir bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad as a good step. He, however, said that the time has come when every individual Kashmiri needs to play a pro-active role in the peace process.“We’ve to position ourselves in the interest of all the three administrations of Jammu and Kashmir. We can’t afford to sit back and watch the proceedings,” Gilani said.“It is our common duty to interfere or otherwise we will be negotiated and short-listed by others,” he said while urging that atmosphere for self-determination ought to be violence-free.“Whenever a Kashmiri dies on a street, one vote is lost to self-determination,” Gilani said.The JKCHR expressed its concern over the daily loss of human lives and property in Kashmir and asked both India and Pakistan to re-visit their claims about Kashmir.He accused both India and Pakistan of not honouring their respective pledges about Kashmir.“As per the provisional accession (disputed by people), India has an obligation to protect life, dignity, honour and property of every Kashmiri individual but she has failed to live up to her pledge,” he asserted.While Gilani was hard on Pakistan, he did not spare Hurriyat leadership too from his scathing attack.“Life in Kashmir, unfortunately, is hostage to proxy war and politics,” he said.Gilani questioned constitution of Hurriyat Conference and dared to ask its leadership: “Who is culpable for the loss of life in Kashmir?”“What was wrong in your constitution that we’ve lost a generation in the last 16 years of armed resistance?” Gilani sought to ask Hurriyat leadership.“The constitution of Hurriyat has failed,” Gilani claimed. (Kashmir Images)
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Beautifying the Bunkers
Srinagar, Kashmir Apr 16, 2006:
The 'ugly' security bunkers of Indian armed forces dotting every nook and corner of Indian administered Kashmir are being 'beautified'. The government says the facelift is aimed at making the bunkers appear people friendly (and presentable to tourists). Separatists prefer to describe the act as camouflage. Gowhar Nazir Shah reports.
Security bunkers made up of piled up sand bags became a common sight in Indian administered Kashmir after the outbreak of armed rebellion in 1989. Making the region look like a battlefield these bunkers created an aura of fear.
At many places the sand bunkers later gave way to concrete ones constructed in brick and mortar– a signal that the troops were here to stay.
Encroaching the busy roads with a barbed wire fencing around them, these bunkers are bottlenecks for the traffic besides creating an ugly landscape.
Admitting their ugly appearance the bunkers are now being remodeled by the state police to make them "presentable" to visiting tourists in Srinagar. In a phased manner the old structures will be replaced by new ones, with a beautiful wooden-hut like exteriors and concrete structures or sand bags on the inner side for security. In the first phase, the bunkers lying in the area from Airport Road to Shalimar will be modernized.
The construction of each unit would cost the state exchequer over 20000 INR taking the first phase investment to nearly rupees 300,000 INR.
Some political commentators and the hard-line separatists fighting Indian rule in Kashmir see a "conspiracy" behind the move. Separatists say it is being done to "camouflage the prevailing situation in restive Kashmir ".
Director General of Tourism department, M Saleem Beg also believes the place would be better off without bunkers.
"There should be no bunkers, the question of ugly or beautiful does not arise," Beg says.
The government calls the drive "beautification of bunkers" to attract more tourists and the Police believes the volatile situation in Kashmir is returning towards normalcy but say "bunkers can't be removed".
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) K Rajendra Kumar told Kashmir Newz that the construction wing of J&K Police is constructing new bunkers to make them "visually people friendly".
"We don't want to make tourists think of Kashmir as a battlefield," Rajendra says. The new bunkers are not only good looking but very safe as well, he adds.
Old and New: An old sand bag bunker and a new concrete bunker coming up. Calling the "beautification of bunkers" as a move equivalent to that of "rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiri people", the separatist leader of right wing women's separatist outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (daughters of faith) Asiya Andrabi says, " India wants to make tourists believe that all is well in Kashmir, which is not true. The step of constructing new bunkers is aimed at making the roots of illegal Indian occupation more strong in Kashmir."
Quite in tune with Dukhtaran-e-Millat are the views of Muslim League, another hard-line separatist organization operating in the region.
"We believe Indian government is doing this to misinform outsiders about the real situation in Kashmir. The Indian forces have unleashed a reign of terror in every nook and corner of the Valley and for us this move is a proof of India 's imperialistic attitude towards oppressed Kashmiris," a senior Muslim League leader Mian Manzoor Ahmad says.
After observing that the old bunkers were creating bottlenecks in smooth flow of traffic and occupying undesired space, the government's decision to give bunkers a facelift came into force.
A new type bunker with a wooden exterior coming up in Sriangar. Each such unit will cost the state 20000 INR. "The idea is to make the bunkers appear less ugly to tourists and the wooden design from outside is innovative," The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Asgar Samoon says.
In the eyes of many a political experts and commentators, the new look of bunkers does not make situation in Kashmir any better for people.
"The new look of bunkers may have a soothing effect for tourists and visitors but for the people living here the situation remains the same. This step taken by the government is nothing but an attempt to camouflage the real situation." says Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, an expert in international law and a teacher at law department at the University of Kashmir.
Encroaching the busy roads with a barbed wire fencing around them, these bunkers make the region look like a battlefield. Asim Khursheed, a student at University of Kashmir has a different view about the new bunkers. "This step of government is a slap on the face of those moderate separatist leaders who are parroting that India has exhibited flexibility in its stance vis-à-vis Kashmir dispute and its resolution."
Although the government has been saying that the situation in Kashmir is coming back on rails but the Police officials maintain they can't afford to take any risks either.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Farooq Ahmad told Kashmir Newz "Well, the fact remains we can't remove the bunkers as we don't want to take any security risk but at the same time we want to make the bunkers presentable and beautiful, hence the beautification drive."
For many people the beautification drive makes no difference. "We will still have to face humiliation at the hands of the troopers. They will stop us for questioning especially in late hours," says Shabir Ahmad Dar, a businessman in Srinagar. "Beautification of bunkers won't make the troopers any sober. They will still be rude to people. They will still be trigger happy," he adds.
Srinagar, Kashmir Apr 16, 2006:
The 'ugly' security bunkers of Indian armed forces dotting every nook and corner of Indian administered Kashmir are being 'beautified'. The government says the facelift is aimed at making the bunkers appear people friendly (and presentable to tourists). Separatists prefer to describe the act as camouflage. Gowhar Nazir Shah reports.
Security bunkers made up of piled up sand bags became a common sight in Indian administered Kashmir after the outbreak of armed rebellion in 1989. Making the region look like a battlefield these bunkers created an aura of fear.
At many places the sand bunkers later gave way to concrete ones constructed in brick and mortar– a signal that the troops were here to stay.
Encroaching the busy roads with a barbed wire fencing around them, these bunkers are bottlenecks for the traffic besides creating an ugly landscape.
Admitting their ugly appearance the bunkers are now being remodeled by the state police to make them "presentable" to visiting tourists in Srinagar. In a phased manner the old structures will be replaced by new ones, with a beautiful wooden-hut like exteriors and concrete structures or sand bags on the inner side for security. In the first phase, the bunkers lying in the area from Airport Road to Shalimar will be modernized.
The construction of each unit would cost the state exchequer over 20000 INR taking the first phase investment to nearly rupees 300,000 INR.
Some political commentators and the hard-line separatists fighting Indian rule in Kashmir see a "conspiracy" behind the move. Separatists say it is being done to "camouflage the prevailing situation in restive Kashmir ".
Director General of Tourism department, M Saleem Beg also believes the place would be better off without bunkers.
"There should be no bunkers, the question of ugly or beautiful does not arise," Beg says.
The government calls the drive "beautification of bunkers" to attract more tourists and the Police believes the volatile situation in Kashmir is returning towards normalcy but say "bunkers can't be removed".
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) K Rajendra Kumar told Kashmir Newz that the construction wing of J&K Police is constructing new bunkers to make them "visually people friendly".
"We don't want to make tourists think of Kashmir as a battlefield," Rajendra says. The new bunkers are not only good looking but very safe as well, he adds.
Old and New: An old sand bag bunker and a new concrete bunker coming up. Calling the "beautification of bunkers" as a move equivalent to that of "rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiri people", the separatist leader of right wing women's separatist outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (daughters of faith) Asiya Andrabi says, " India wants to make tourists believe that all is well in Kashmir, which is not true. The step of constructing new bunkers is aimed at making the roots of illegal Indian occupation more strong in Kashmir."
Quite in tune with Dukhtaran-e-Millat are the views of Muslim League, another hard-line separatist organization operating in the region.
"We believe Indian government is doing this to misinform outsiders about the real situation in Kashmir. The Indian forces have unleashed a reign of terror in every nook and corner of the Valley and for us this move is a proof of India 's imperialistic attitude towards oppressed Kashmiris," a senior Muslim League leader Mian Manzoor Ahmad says.
After observing that the old bunkers were creating bottlenecks in smooth flow of traffic and occupying undesired space, the government's decision to give bunkers a facelift came into force.
A new type bunker with a wooden exterior coming up in Sriangar. Each such unit will cost the state 20000 INR. "The idea is to make the bunkers appear less ugly to tourists and the wooden design from outside is innovative," The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Asgar Samoon says.
In the eyes of many a political experts and commentators, the new look of bunkers does not make situation in Kashmir any better for people.
"The new look of bunkers may have a soothing effect for tourists and visitors but for the people living here the situation remains the same. This step taken by the government is nothing but an attempt to camouflage the real situation." says Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, an expert in international law and a teacher at law department at the University of Kashmir.
Encroaching the busy roads with a barbed wire fencing around them, these bunkers make the region look like a battlefield. Asim Khursheed, a student at University of Kashmir has a different view about the new bunkers. "This step of government is a slap on the face of those moderate separatist leaders who are parroting that India has exhibited flexibility in its stance vis-à-vis Kashmir dispute and its resolution."
Although the government has been saying that the situation in Kashmir is coming back on rails but the Police officials maintain they can't afford to take any risks either.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Farooq Ahmad told Kashmir Newz "Well, the fact remains we can't remove the bunkers as we don't want to take any security risk but at the same time we want to make the bunkers presentable and beautiful, hence the beautification drive."
For many people the beautification drive makes no difference. "We will still have to face humiliation at the hands of the troopers. They will stop us for questioning especially in late hours," says Shabir Ahmad Dar, a businessman in Srinagar. "Beautification of bunkers won't make the troopers any sober. They will still be rude to people. They will still be trigger happy," he adds.
Monday, May 29, 2006
SEPARATISTS, WAKE UP!
A wake-up call for those who claim to represent Kashmir
Gowhar Nazir Shah
This refers to the recent by-elections held in three assembly segments of Kashmir valley and the lessons it carries for separatists.
Something has gone wrong somewhere and they need to put their heads together to find out. Plagued by fissures within and outside, the separatist politics has failed people during the last sixteen years or so. Except motivating rather forcing people to observe strikes on certain days, they have done nothing spectacular. Those who do nothing, as they say, do amazing things. “Jo Kuch Nahin Karte Voh Kamaal Karte Hain”?. And “doing nothing is the most difficult thing to do!” Separatist alliance All Parties Hurriyat Conference has failed people, miserably. Both factions of the amalgam are lost in the claims of their representative character. A faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has a claim that it represents the sentiments of Kashmiri people. It also boasts about the so-called purification process which it started after announcing his separation from Mirwaiz and his brigade. Mirwaiz Farooq has his claims too. Though it will take heads of both factions some more time to figure out and decide which one is the real Hurriyat, people have shown them what they can do to those who think can take them for granted. [b]In this backdrop, no way can one ignore the large queues of both men and women in the recently held by-elections in Rafiabad, Sangrama and Pattan assembly segments of Kashmir Valley that went for polls on April 24. People came out, and came out enthusiastically to cast votes. At certain polling booths females dominated queues. There was no coercion this time. Not a single complaint. Overall, official poll percentage in all the four assembly segments, including that of Bhaderwah constituency, stood at 59.Was it a vote for India and against popular uprising that erupted in 1989? Well, not necessarily. But it was, for certain, a wake up call for separatists who had been taking people’s will for granted. If one uses the right words and phrases, it is safe to write and conclude that the brisk polling in these by-elections was a “warning” for all separatists? `If you forget us, we too can and we will’.All “credit” goes to separatists and their “immature” politics. Now they will definitely fall short of words because words like “coercion” and “troop threat” are gone from their dictionaries. Like Hurriyat conglomerate, other separatist outfits like Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference, Jammu Kashmir Muslim League, Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference and the like have used almost all the letters of English alphabets describing who leads which faction. Hurriyat (G) (M), JKLF (Y) (J) (A), JKPC (S) (B), so on and so forth. The balloon of ‘boycott campaign and appeal’ held by Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah has already been deflated. And there seems to be no chance in sight to undo the damage. Instead of leveling accusations and blaming state government for not allowing them freely to go ahead with their anti-poll campaign, separatists should wake up they have taken refuge in, and take some time to do a little bit of introspection, a little bit of homework. Boycott of the boycott call can prove “food for thought”. Gowhar Nazir Shah Correspondent Deutsche Welle Voice of Germany - Urdu Service
Gowhar Nazir Shah
This refers to the recent by-elections held in three assembly segments of Kashmir valley and the lessons it carries for separatists.
Something has gone wrong somewhere and they need to put their heads together to find out. Plagued by fissures within and outside, the separatist politics has failed people during the last sixteen years or so. Except motivating rather forcing people to observe strikes on certain days, they have done nothing spectacular. Those who do nothing, as they say, do amazing things. “Jo Kuch Nahin Karte Voh Kamaal Karte Hain”?. And “doing nothing is the most difficult thing to do!” Separatist alliance All Parties Hurriyat Conference has failed people, miserably. Both factions of the amalgam are lost in the claims of their representative character. A faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has a claim that it represents the sentiments of Kashmiri people. It also boasts about the so-called purification process which it started after announcing his separation from Mirwaiz and his brigade. Mirwaiz Farooq has his claims too. Though it will take heads of both factions some more time to figure out and decide which one is the real Hurriyat, people have shown them what they can do to those who think can take them for granted. [b]In this backdrop, no way can one ignore the large queues of both men and women in the recently held by-elections in Rafiabad, Sangrama and Pattan assembly segments of Kashmir Valley that went for polls on April 24. People came out, and came out enthusiastically to cast votes. At certain polling booths females dominated queues. There was no coercion this time. Not a single complaint. Overall, official poll percentage in all the four assembly segments, including that of Bhaderwah constituency, stood at 59.Was it a vote for India and against popular uprising that erupted in 1989? Well, not necessarily. But it was, for certain, a wake up call for separatists who had been taking people’s will for granted. If one uses the right words and phrases, it is safe to write and conclude that the brisk polling in these by-elections was a “warning” for all separatists? `If you forget us, we too can and we will’.All “credit” goes to separatists and their “immature” politics. Now they will definitely fall short of words because words like “coercion” and “troop threat” are gone from their dictionaries. Like Hurriyat conglomerate, other separatist outfits like Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference, Jammu Kashmir Muslim League, Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference and the like have used almost all the letters of English alphabets describing who leads which faction. Hurriyat (G) (M), JKLF (Y) (J) (A), JKPC (S) (B), so on and so forth. The balloon of ‘boycott campaign and appeal’ held by Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah has already been deflated. And there seems to be no chance in sight to undo the damage. Instead of leveling accusations and blaming state government for not allowing them freely to go ahead with their anti-poll campaign, separatists should wake up they have taken refuge in, and take some time to do a little bit of introspection, a little bit of homework. Boycott of the boycott call can prove “food for thought”. Gowhar Nazir Shah Correspondent Deutsche Welle Voice of Germany - Urdu Service
Kargil Lessons
Daily Kashmir Images
Gowhar Nazir Shah
Daily kashmir Images, Oct 6, 2005
Perhaps learning its lessons well from 1998 Kargil episode, the Indian Army has decided to take no chances with the communication in today's information and networking age. And the 'necessity of effective communication' gave birth to 'Mercury Streak'- a project which has now connected Srinagar with Karu in Ladakh region through Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network.The project which is a joint venture of Indian Army, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Border Road Organization (BRO) was completed on August 28 this year after 16 months of working time in three seasons, precisely in a period of three years. Dedicating the project "Mercury Streak’ to the nation during the inaugural ceremony held in the auditorium of Badami Bagh cantonment here on Wednesday afternoon, the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Thiru Dayanidhi Maran described the event as historic. T D Maran said: "Dedication of Mercury Streak, the strategic alliance OFC network from Srinagar to Karu, to the nation, is indeed a historic event and a matter of great national pride".Lauding the "commitment of Army in defending the country" Maran said: "It is only Army personnel who can sacrifice life for the sake of nation. Our Army needs better communication to serve the nation better".After clicking the mouse button to dedicate the project, Maran also made an inaugural mobile call to Ladakh from Srinagar.Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who was supposed to be present on the occasion could not make it to the venue due to some "unavoidable circumstances".Speaking on the occasion the Lt. Gen. Davinder Kumar who represented Army's communication wing as signal officer-in-chief said: "The high capacity optical fiber route (474 kilometres) will provide the much needed broadband connectivity to the strategically important locations of Srinagar, Sonmarg, Leh and Karu". Lt. Gen. Davinder Kumar had conceived the idea of linking Srinagar with Leh through OFC. After the Kargil war, Kumar said that the resolve to make Indian Army network savvy got stronger."Besides the Army, the network will bring to the masses of Jammu and Kashmir the power of OFC", he added.GOC of sensitive 15 corps Lt. Gen. S S Dhillon said that project was an effort by the Army to participate in the infrastructure development of J&K."This is yet another feather in the cap of IT warriors of Indian Army", said Dhillon.Secretary Department of Telecommunications and Chairman Telecom Commission Dr. J S Sarma, Chairman and Managing Director BSNL A K Sinha also spoke on the occasion.
Gowhar Nazir Shah
Daily kashmir Images, Oct 6, 2005
Perhaps learning its lessons well from 1998 Kargil episode, the Indian Army has decided to take no chances with the communication in today's information and networking age. And the 'necessity of effective communication' gave birth to 'Mercury Streak'- a project which has now connected Srinagar with Karu in Ladakh region through Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network.The project which is a joint venture of Indian Army, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Border Road Organization (BRO) was completed on August 28 this year after 16 months of working time in three seasons, precisely in a period of three years. Dedicating the project "Mercury Streak’ to the nation during the inaugural ceremony held in the auditorium of Badami Bagh cantonment here on Wednesday afternoon, the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Thiru Dayanidhi Maran described the event as historic. T D Maran said: "Dedication of Mercury Streak, the strategic alliance OFC network from Srinagar to Karu, to the nation, is indeed a historic event and a matter of great national pride".Lauding the "commitment of Army in defending the country" Maran said: "It is only Army personnel who can sacrifice life for the sake of nation. Our Army needs better communication to serve the nation better".After clicking the mouse button to dedicate the project, Maran also made an inaugural mobile call to Ladakh from Srinagar.Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who was supposed to be present on the occasion could not make it to the venue due to some "unavoidable circumstances".Speaking on the occasion the Lt. Gen. Davinder Kumar who represented Army's communication wing as signal officer-in-chief said: "The high capacity optical fiber route (474 kilometres) will provide the much needed broadband connectivity to the strategically important locations of Srinagar, Sonmarg, Leh and Karu". Lt. Gen. Davinder Kumar had conceived the idea of linking Srinagar with Leh through OFC. After the Kargil war, Kumar said that the resolve to make Indian Army network savvy got stronger."Besides the Army, the network will bring to the masses of Jammu and Kashmir the power of OFC", he added.GOC of sensitive 15 corps Lt. Gen. S S Dhillon said that project was an effort by the Army to participate in the infrastructure development of J&K."This is yet another feather in the cap of IT warriors of Indian Army", said Dhillon.Secretary Department of Telecommunications and Chairman Telecom Commission Dr. J S Sarma, Chairman and Managing Director BSNL A K Sinha also spoke on the occasion.
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