GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Police used helicopters to spot armed mobs attacking Muslims in India's troubled northeast on Tuesday, where clashes between indigenous tribesmen and settlers have left 47 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Police said four people died from their wounds overnight. More than 85,000 people have lost their homes and are being sheltered in government camps after the clashes broke out last week between mainly Hindu tribesmen and Muslim Bangladeshi settlers in the oil and tea-rich state of Assam.

"At least 47 people had lost their lives so far," said R.N. Mathur, Assam's police chief. Muslims have responded with some violence as well, he said.

The clashes have reignited a long-simmering conflict as local Assam tribes, mainly Hindu but with some Christians, fear being overrun by Muslim immigrants. More than 40 percent of Assam is now Muslim, mainly immigrant settlers.

The violence is some of the worst since 1983, when more than 2,000 people, mainly Bangladeshi immigrants, were killed in clashes with tribal peoples in central Assam.

The current conflict was sparked by an increasingly strong student movement that has been campaigning against immigrants, analysts say.

Police said fresh clashes were being reported from southern Assam where at least 25 rubber plantation workers were attacked by Muslim settlers in Goalpara district.

Mathur said an additional 500 federal police had been deployed in the state where hundreds of security forces were already trying to control the situation.

He said helicopters were being used to spot movement of mobs in remote areas.

"It is not possible to have static security posts in each and every village, so we have intensified patrolling in remote areas," said Himanta Biswa Sarma, a minister supervising security and relief measures.

These clashes are the latest bout of violence to hit India. In the eastern Orissa state, clashes between Hindus and Christians over conversions have killed at least 36 people.

In Assam, officials have blamed the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a tribal separatist group, for being behind the violence. Security forces have caught four NDFB militants with weapons in the violence-hit area.

The NDFB, a largely Christian group, has held to a cease-fire with New Delhi over the past few years and has denied the charge. Tribal groups blame New Delhi for neglecting their welfare, ignoring development of the region and flooding the area with outsiders.

Ringed by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, India's northeast is home to more than 200 tribes and has been racked by separatist revolts since India gained independence from Britain in 1947.

As already reported, Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan, of the Sudhan tribe, is believed to be related to Lt.Gen.Mohammad Aziz Khan, one of the two Corps Commanders at Lahore, who is the clandestine Chief of Staff of Pakistan's Army of Islam, consisting of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda, the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JEM) and the Al Badr, of the East Pakistan notoriety.

Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan has been operating more from the GHQ in Rawalpindi than from Muzaffarabad, the capital of POK, and has already started imposing his will on the POK administration.  He rejected a proposal from Sikandar Hayat Khan for the inclusion of Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, son of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan of the Muslim Conference, in his Cabinet.

Gen.Pervez Musharraf, the self-reinstated Chief of the Army Staff, the self-styled Chief Executive and the self-promoted President of Pakistan, has been unhappy over the statements issued by Qayyum Khan last year welcoming the initiatives of Mr.A.B.Vajpayee, the Indian Prime Minister, for peace in Jammu & Kashmir. He had earlier ruled out the election of Qayyum Khan as the President of the POK and has now made Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan disapprove the inclusion of his son as a Minister.

The swearing-in of the new Cabinet was delayed by a fortnight since Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan wanted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Muree, Major General Shahid Aziz, to clear all the names before they were sworn in.  Ultimately, a Cabinet consisting of the following eight members was announced on the night of August 13, 2001: Syed Mumtaz Ali Gilani and Mufti Mansoor from Muzaffarabad, Sardar Ameer Akbar Khan from Bagh, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan from Rawalakot, Raja Nisar Ahmad Khan from Kotli, Chaudhry Masood Khalid from Mirpur, Shah Gulam Qadir and Hafiz Raza.  The place of origin of the last two Ministers is not known.

It is reported that while the pay and allowances of the first six Ministers would be paid from the budget of the POK, which is actually prepared by Abbas Sarfaraz Khan, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs, and got approved by the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council presided over by Musharraf, those of the last two would be met partly from the budget of the ISI-run Kashmir Liberation Cell and partly from the zakat fund.  The reasons for this difference are not clear.

Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan, who has reportedly been entrusted with the task of intensifying the terrorist activities of the jehadi organisation in J & K, has already had separate meetings with the United Jehad Council headed by Syed Salahuddin of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the leaders of the constitutent units of the Army of Islam.  Both the meetings were reportedly held in the Kashmir House in Islamabad.

He is also reported to have already ordered a series of measures to revamp the working of the Muzaffarabad-based Kashmir Liberation Cell---such as stepping up its psywar activities through radio, TV and Internet with greater focus on audio recordings and video clips recording the intifada of the Palestinians against Israel in order to motivate the Kashmiris to emulate the Palestinians, greater co-ordination of the ground operations etc.

He has also taken up the priority task of pressurising the local leadership, administration, non-governmental organisations and public opinion to give up their opposition to the proposal initiated by the Musharraf Government last year to increase the height of the Mangla Dam in order to make more water and electricity available to the farmers of Punjab.

There were widespread demonstrations against the proposal all over the POK last year and the previous Government of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) headed by the then Prime Minister, Barrister Sultan Mahmud Chaudhury, had also strongly opposed it.

There was a running dispute between the former POK Government and the military junta in Islamabad over the following questions:

* The Federal Government's failure to share with the POK administration the profits from the Mangla Dam constructed in POK territory for the benefit of the farmers and electricity consumers of Punjab in the 1960s.  A spokesman of the previous PPP Government in Muzaffarabad said: "Mangla Dam, one of the major projects of the country, is constructed within the territorial limits of AJ&K (Azad Jammu & Kashmir) and the net profit earned by the authority (the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan ) from the dam should have been shared with the Government of AJK, but WAPDA did not do so."  He also said that the WAPDA had earned a net profit of Rs 87,772,560 million from the Mangla Dam since its commissioning, but it had not shared a single rupee out of this with the POK Government.

* Reimbursement to the POK Government of the expenditure incurred by it on the construction of the power transmission and distribution network inside the POK. According to the previous PPP Government, "the agreement signed by the WAPDA and the AJK government at the time of the dam's construction had provided that the construction of the power supply infrastructure in AJK was the liability of WAPDA, but WAPDA could not do so. Consequently, the AJ&K government completed this job by incurring an amount of Rs 3500 million from its own pocket and also maintained the same." The previous PPP Government was demanding that this amount should have been reimbursed to it by the Federal Government, which it has not done so.

* The refusal of the previous PPP Government to pay to the WAPDA outstanding dues amounting to Rs 1,567 million for the period ending March 2001.  The WAPDA has been claiming this for the power supplied by it to the consumers in the POK.

* The refusal of the previous PPP Government to pay General Sales Tax on the power supplied by the WAPDA on the ground that the WAPDA had no jurisdiction to levy GST in POK territory.

 In a statement issued on August 6,2001, the President of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation League (JKLL) and former Chief Justice of the POK High Court, Abdul Majeed Malick, said there was no justification for raising the level of the Mangla Dam.  He added:"The people of Mirpur should not be disturbed once again and if there is a water crisis in Pakistan, then the Federal Government should construct the Kalabagh Dam (outside the POK)."He disputed the WAPDA's claim that only 40,000 people would be displaced as a result of the extension and asserted that around 100,000 people would be displaced and two tehsils of district Mirpur would be submerged.  He pointed out that the people of the POK, who were displaced by the original construction of the dam in the 1960s, had not been provided with any relief so far.  According to him, they were promised alternate land in Punjab, but this promise was never kept.

There has been considerable pressure on Musharraf from the Punjabi farmers and from the Punjabi Generals, many of whom come from rich Punjabi land-owning families, for the implementation of the project for raising the height of the dam.  Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan has given indications that he might be inclined to go along with Islamabad on this issue provided effective measures were taken for the relief of the affected people.

In the meanwhile, there were three explosions in POK organised by unidentified elements coinciding with the election of Maj.Gen.Anwar Khan as the President.  One Pakistani Army soldier was killed and two others were injured when a bomb exploded in a bus in POK near Forward Kahuta village on August 3, 2001.  In another incident the same day, three armymen were killed and four others injured when a vehicle in which they were travelling from Muzaffarabad fell into the Jhelum river near village Tandali after an explosion.  The previous evening, there was another explosion on the roof of a passenger bus, killing a soldier and injuring another soldier and a passenger near Tungeri village in Bagh district of POK.  The bus was proceeding to Rawalpindi. 

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from Pakistan that the government of the North Western Frontier Province has banned the booklet on Kashmir titled “Kashmir Ki Pukar” (loud voice of Kashmir) on October 21 by issuing an official notification. The writer was informed through telephone calls that if he enters the province he will face dire consequences, including loss of his life. The writer is receiving threatening calls at his home and to his mobile phone insisting that he denounce the book and make an apology in public, otherwise his family will not be safe. The writer says that most of the calls are from the officials of Pakistan secret services (ISI). When the writer made a phone call to the number from which he was receiving the threats no one answers the call. Even if it was answered by chance, there is just an announcement telling that this number is not in use. The police have not yet registered the author's complaint of being threaten yet.
CASE DETAILS:

Mr. Arif Malik is a prominent journalist from Mirpur, the capital city of the Pakistan territory of Kashmir and has worked in several leading newspaper companies in different cities of the country. He is the editor of monthly magazine “Bharosa” in Mirpur, which was closed down after the ban on his booklet was announced by the government. The book “Kashmir Ki Pukar” (the loud voice of Kashmir) was largely circulated in Pakistan and it has given a different view about Kashmir's stand with the Pakistani government and holy war in Kashmir on the both sides of India and Pakistan.

The writer criticised the Muslim religious Parties and their leaders about their role in holy wars in the book. Mr. Malik accused the government of Pakistan that it had treated Pakistani side of Kashmir as its colony, not as an independent state and claimed that Pakistani Kashmir is run by the ministry of interior of Pakistan. Although Pakistan Kashmir has a parliament, the elected members all have close connections to the government of Pakistan and the military intelligence service including the ISI.

He also pointed out the role of the ISI in the holy war against India by referring to several examples from the past. The audacious greediness of religious fundamentalist parties and its leadership was also criticised by him in the book and he pointed out the privileges that those people had been enjoying over the propaganda that they made during the war, urging youths in the country to sacrifice their lives for the holy war.

In the book he also pointed out a cynicism towards the two-faced attitudes of the religious parties that once fought against Pakistan government for the rights of people in the Kashmir territory and called the youth to sacrifice their life for the so called "holy war" against the imperialism of the United States. The religious parties now are catering to the extremist Pakistani government.  

The writer, Mr. Arif Malik is now facing threats to his life since his book was published. He tried to register the report to the police however the Mirpur police station refused to register the case. Instead the police officials said this is a high profile matter so that only high officials in the rank of Superintendent Police can register this type of case. The writer is receiving continuous threats, not only from fundamentalists groups but also from the army, particularly from the ISI. Mr. Malik and his family cannot move about freely after they started to receive threats and now they are taking shelter in different places. The government of NWFP instructed the police in the province to arrest the writer when they find him in the province.

BACKGROUND INFROMATION:

The government of North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) is purely Islamic fundamentalist and the members are from Islamic religious groups who had started a holy war after the intervention of USSR in Afghanistan in 1980.

The fundamentalist religious parties have won the elections in NWFP in 2002 as an alliance group called Muttehda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). This alliance has also won several seats in different assemblies including National Assembly. In 2002 MMA formed a government in NWFP and announced the Islamic system by introducing the Hisba bill (accountability bill) that allows district Islamic officers to monitor the religious conviction and practice of Islam of all citizens.
SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the concerned authorities and urge them to provide protection for the life of Mr. Arif Malik and his family and take necessary actions to stop the intimidation and take legal action against the perpetrators. Please also demand the governments of NWFP and Pakistan to respect the freedom of speech and movement within the country as it has been guaranteed in constitution of Pakistan that meets the international human rights standards.

Leading actress “Kwan” Ausamanee Waitayanon clarify her recent chain of scandals. She denies all allegations, claiming all of it has no sense of truth. The actress confirms she never went to start trouble with Pok’s real girlfriend “Koy” at Thumasart University and she’s not the one responsible for leaking Pok’s personal photos with his girl.

Recently the leading actress of channel 7 is inundated with bad rumours such as the news that Weir Skulwat pulled out of lakorn “Mue Nang” then there’s the feuding rumours with Pancake’s mom and her own mom as well as news that she ran into trouble with the heir of Central Shopping Centre “Pok” Passakorn Jiratiwat’s real girlfriend. The news says Kwan personally went into the University of Pok’s girlfriend to start trouble. On 27^th September, a group of Reporters went to interview Kwan at an event in Siam Paragon.

Kwan was there with channel 7 crew and her mother who was a distant away. The moment the leading actress made her way down from the stage She was surrounded by reporters, earlier she refused to give interviews at Pirach Sungworabuth’s birthday giving the excuse that she will clarify all rumours at Paragon.

How has the news impacted your emotional health?

“I’m a little stressed. But it’s all nothing. I try to maintain my good spirit by staying close to my mom and my fans. Another thing is I’m getting close to my Exam time and I have to work in a production so I realized that I’m really tired”

There’s a rumour that you’ve been banned from channel 7?

“I don’t know. You will have to ask the channel but from what I know they still adore me like before and they are still giving me good advice”

Another rumour says Weir pulled out of “Mue Nang”

“I don’t know about the lakorn. If it’s regarding work the decision will be up to channel. My job is to take orders and do the best job I can to the tasks that I get given”

Are you serious about the news?

“I’m confused with all the rumours and everything”

How about the rumour that you went to start trouble with Pok’s real girlfriend at her university?

“No I didn’t. I went there to eat and it’s so normal for Bangkok university student to walk to Thumasart to eat”

But a report was filed at the police station about it?

“I don’t know. That’s her business. I don’t want to interfere with her, it has nothing to do with her.”

{Pic of Koy}

That girl is close to Pok?

“Pok has a lot of friends. He’s a friendly person so it’s no unusual for him to have friends who are girls. When he has guy friends you accuse him of being gay. This is just normal, it’s nothing”

Do you get jealous or upset?

“Not jealous, just normal. Do I get upset? Well he’s my brother. He has the right to have other sisters or friends”

There’s a rumour that you tried to make up with Golf?

“No, I didn’t. We’re friends with each other. We don’t need to make up with each other”

Have you spoken to Golf lately?

“No, we haven’t talked to each other. We’re both busy with work”

Are you distant because of the rumours?

 “We’ve been distant before that and it’s also because of you guys”

 People say lakorn “Kwam Lub Khong Superstar” is similar to your story?

 “I don’t know. I don’t really watch lakorns. I’m always tired by the time I get home”

 How about the rumours that your mom and Pancake’s mom don’t get along?

“Don’t talk about mothers. That’s a high topic and neither mothers are in the industry. We are the ones in the industry. Me and Pancake”

Did you and Pancake sort things out with each other?

“No, the last time I saw her was on the set of “7 Karat”. Me and Pancake are good friends to each other”

 SOURCE: Siamdara

Mirza Haider wrote in his ‘Tarikh-i-Rashidi’² : “The Sufis have legitimized so many heresies that they know nothing of what is wrongful …They are forever interpreting dreams, displaying miracles and obtaining from the unseen, information regarding either the future or the past. Nowhere else is such a band of heretics to be found..... (They) consider the Holy Law (Shari at) second in importance to the True Way (tariqat, tradition) and that; in consequence, the people of the Way have nothing to do with the Holy Law.” (Quoted in Sufi 1947-8, pages 19-20). The famous traveler Lawrence in 1895 ascribed the delightful tolerance between Hinduism and Islam to “chiefly the fact that the Kashmiri Musalmans never really gave up the Hindu religion…. I do not base my ideas as to laxness of Kashmiris in religious duties merely on my observations. Holy men of Arabia have spoken to me with contempt of the feeble flame of Islam which burns in Kashmir and the local mullas talk with indignation of the apathy of the people. Again the Kashmiri Muslim historian G.M.D. Sufi writes in ‘Sufi 1947-8, p688’: A number of practices of Kashmiri Musalman are un- Islamic….The Buddhist worship of relics has insidiously crept into India’s Islam….The Kashmiri Muslim has transferred reverence from Hindu stones to Muslim relics”.

Though it may sound incomprehensible, by and large Sufis are not considered true Muslims, by other groups esp. Sunnis. Kashmiri Muslims who follow the ‘Rishis’ tradition are certainly considered misguided and untrue Muslims.

Traditionally, Kashmiri Muslims worship a hair of the Prophet Muhammad, as a sacred relic. Some years ago it was stolen from the ‘Hazaratbal’ mosque, and there was violence directed mainly against Hindus, and the Government. It appears logical that neither the J&K government nor Hindus but recently infiltrated terrorists from Pakistan had carried out this sacrilege not only to malign Hindus, but also to teach a lesson in purification to Sufi Muslims.

Majority of Muslims Are Against Separatist Movement

In India also many Muslim rulers persecuted Sufis along with Hindus. Therefore it should not be surprising to find that neither Shias nor Sufis want to have a truck with the orthodox and intolerant Sunnis, as is the reality in J&K. But a small group of terrorists can force the entire group to tow its line, as has happened in Afghanistan, and appears to be happening in Indonesia and is certainly happening in J&K. In reality Shias and Sufis have openly declared³, at the risk of their lives, that they are not with the demand of separatists, who are mainly Sunnis influenced and joined by the terrorists from Pakistan. Similarly, Vice President of J&K Congress, a highly revered leader of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, Mian Basheer has strongly urged the Prime Minister to “use force to crush the Jamait-e-Islami, a Sunni organization, which wants to have a stranglehold on the minorities by terrorizing them”. Therefore it is mainly Sunnis of Kashmir (valley) who are influenced by terrorists, that are terrorizing and fomenting trouble in J&K and beyond in India.

In the Valley, which has 99% Muslims, Sunnis constitute only 23 % of the population⁴, and yet they call the shots. Even if we were to include the other Sunnis of J&K, Sunnis are not more than 30 % of all the Muslims in J&K. Further not all Sunnis have the same goal. Some want to join Pakistan, and some want an independent Kashmir, and yet some, more autonomy within India. It may be relevant to note here that high corruption in the Sunni dominated Government of J&K, has also been one of the reasons for a feeling of frustration in all Kashmiris. And as war feeds on war, the long unsettled conditions also cause slowing of development and lack of job opportunities. Thus it is clear that a minority, and not a homogeneous minority at that, of less than 30% is terrorizing the whole of J&K, the whole of India, indeed the whole world, and there is a genuine fear of a nuclear war in the region.

India has no need to use nuclear weapons because it is strong enough to frustrate any conventional aggression from Pakistan, and defeat it. The aggressive Pakistan is likely to use its nuclear arsenal in frustration of defeat and for saving its face. Pakistan could be sure to launch the nuclear attack first and thus gain a definite superiority, and may cripple India’s capability to retaliate with nuclear weapons; and also may hope that by that time the world community would manage to impose a ceasefire. Therefore the fear of a nuclear war is rather real, and is staring at us unless we can do something now to prevent it. Therefore it is necessary for the world to understand the reality of the Kashmiris who are suffering an unending misery at the hands of terrorists.

Kashmir: Islamic Territory
Vs Democracy - 2

Historical Background

5000 years of Recorded History. Let us understand the historical position of Islam in U. Kashmir a little more.

Mahabharata epic is one of the two greatest epics of Hindus, and it describes a great war that took place around 3000 BC. In this epic there is a mention of Kashmir’s Kings, the contemporary King was Gonand II. Raj Tarangini is the authoritative history of Kashmir written by the famous author Kalhan. Names of various dynasties who ruled Kashmir then onwards is also available⁵; e.g. Sandiman, Sunder Sen, Nara etc. Emperor Ashok, who ruled from Afghanistan to the Eastern India, and south up to Deccan, established in 250 B.C. the capital of Kashmir ‘Shrinagari’, very near present day ‘Srinagar’. King Kanishka also ruled Kashmir along with major portions of India, during 1st century A.D. He organized a world conference on Buddhism, which has been reported later by the Chinese traveler Hien-Tsang who came in the seventh century A.D. During 724 – 761 A.D. Lalitaditya established another great empire like that of Ashok. He built the famous Martanda (Sun) Temple, ruins of which can still be seen. Ajaatapeeda ruled during 813 – 850 A.D., and the city Pompore famous for Saffron was founded,. Awantiwarman ruled during 855 – 883 A.D., and founded the city Awantipur. Shankarwarman ruled during 883 – 902 A.D., and founded ‘Shankarpura – Pattan’ (now known as Pattan). Chenghis Khan, the well known Mongol warrior during 13th century attacked Central Asia up to Iran, and thus created havoc in those areas because of his brutality. Thousands of Muslim refugees escaped to peaceful Kashmir, and the era of Islamic invasion began. Muslim invaders started attacking Kashmir one after another. In 1320, on the death of King Suhadeva, a Tibetan prince Rinchana, who was given a jaageer, (an area) to rule by the King, became the King by intrigue and sought conversion to Hinduism. When refused, in anger he got converted to Islam and ruled for three years. After his death in 1323, the Hindu Queen Kota Rani (wife of King Suhadeva; the fourth woman in Kashmir to become a Queen) ruled till 1338, when Shah Mir seized the power by defeating the Queen. Shah Mir, who had also been given a Jaageer by the King Suhadeva, established the first Muslim dynasty; and Islam spread quickly.

Muslim Rule (1389 – 1819)

In 1389, came even more brutal King Sikandar⁶ who was so ruthless that all Hindus either got converted or left Kashmir. But during the reign of his son Zain-ul-Abidin (1420 – 1470), who realized his father’s folly, became liberal, and many Hindu families returned. But after him, the persecution continued, sometimes very severe and at others somewhat liberal. According to a tradition, 24000 Brahmin families were converted by the power of sword during one of the proselytizing mission of one of such brutes viz. Mir Shams-ud-din Iraqi in 1492. The Mughal emperor Akbar in 1587 won Kashmir and then it remained with Mughals till 1752, when Afghans won it. Afghans were very inhuman in their proselytizing mission. There 67 years rule was the most tyrannical of all the Muslim rules.

Muslim Rishis : A Unique Blend

While these atrocities, persecution and forced conversions of Hindus in to Islam were going on for 500 years, a unique blend of Hinduism and Sufism was under development in the same Kashmir. In the mid 14th century, a woman saint Lalleshwari (1335-1376) arises from the swamp of persecution, violence and hatred, and sings –

“Shiva⁷ pervades the world
Hindu and Muslim are the same.
If you are wise know your Self⁸
Then you will know the Supreme One

She says that the Supreme One is present in every atom of this world. There is nothing without Him. Therefore Hindus and Muslims are the same as they all are pervaded by the same Supreme. If you want the supreme wisdom, then know who you are, know your Self, which is beyond this mind and body. Once you know your Self, then you will know the Supreme, for then you will realize that the Supreme is nothing else but the same as your Self.

People believed the truth in what she had said –

“I saw my Self in all things
I saw the Supreme shining in everything.
You have heard, stop! See Shiva
The house is His, who am I, Lalla! ⁹

She says, “I have seen mine Self and also seen that Self of mine is in everything. That Self of mine is the Supreme One who is shining in everything”. Then she tells herself, “You have heard what was just said! Then stop, remain still, realize the Supreme One. This house i.e. this mind and body, is His, for He, the Supreme One, lives in this. Who am I? I am not this mind and body; I am the Supreme One living in this mind and body!”

People had tremendous faith in her; they had veneration for her because they could see from her behavior that she had realized the Supreme One. No wonder she had both Hindus and Muslims as her disciples. One of her Muslim disciple Sheikh-ul-Alam became the most revered Rishi for all. Another famous disciple Nur-ud-din (1377-1438) says –

“That Lalla of Padmaapore, she drank
Her fill of divine nectar;
She was indeed an awataar¹⁰ of His
O Supreme One , grant me the same boon!¹¹

He says, “Lalleshwari of Padmaapore had realized the Supreme One and had enjoyed the divine Bliss. She was, no doubt, a realized person who had become the Supreme One herself. O God grant me the same Bliss, same realization.”

People saw that Sheikh-ul-Alam and Nur-ud-din were realized persons, and they had high reverence for them. They had both Hindus and Muslims as disciples. They were given the title of a ‘Rishi’ which means a sage of as high a status as those of Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. And thus started the ‘Islamic Rishi’ tradition in Kashmir. The well known poets who followed in this Rishi tradition are Mali, Habba Khatun (16th century), Rupas Bhawani (1621- 1721), Arnimal (d.1800), Mahmud Gami (1765 – 1855), Rasul Mir (d. 1870), Paramaanand (1791 – 1864), Ghulam Ahmad Mahjur (1885 – 1952), Abdul Ahad Aazaad (1903 – 1948), and Zindaa Kaul (1884 – 1965) etc. The Rishi tradition, despite persecution by Muslim rulers, was followed by Kashmiris for 500 years. Now the intolerance of Sunni-ism is being spread with the weapon of terrorism. Though feeble and mute, Rishi tradition is still surviving now, but is under grave danger of extinction. However it may revive if the terrorism is stopped soon enough. Genocide, though of a different kind, is going on in Kashmir.

Birth of original J&K

In 1819 Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler, won Kashmir from Afghans and appointed Gulaab Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu as his representative for Kashmir. Gulaab Singh won Ladaakh, Baltistan etc and by mid nineteenth century enlarged his Kingdom to that of the pre-partition days (U. Kashmir). British defeated the Sikhs in 1845. In a treaty signed in 1846, the British recognized Gulab Singh as the independent ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. Gulaab Singh had to accept their ‘paramountcy’ and had to pay them 7.5 million rupees (probably annually), for his recognition as the Ruler. That boundary is the boundary of undivided J&K.

Genesis of Kashmir Problem

During the British rule, U. Kashmir was ruled by Gulaab Singh like any other princely state those days. On independence of India, a group of Muslims, under the leadership of Jinnah, with British support, got Pakistan carved out of India. On 15th August 1947, in the British ruled portion of India, Muslim majority areas with contiguity with each other went to Pakistan. The rulers of erstwhile States had to choose between India and Pakistan, subject to contiguity, or independence. All the states chose to join India or Pakistan but not Hari Singh, the then ruler of U. Kashmir. He had full faith on his very small and mostly Muslim army. He obviously was totally out of touch with reality when he dreamt about remaining independent. When he delayed his decision, Pakistan first stopped the route for essential supplies to U. Kashmir, for then main supply routes were in their areas. This was the first violation of the ‘Agreement’ on ‘Partition’ by Pakistan. Then on 22nd October 1947 came the second violation, a disastrous one, which shattered Hari Singh’s dream when a large number of tribals armed and supported by Pakistan Army attacked U. Kashmir. The impractical Maharaja Hari Singh even then delayed his choice, and signed the stipulated, and now famous, ‘Instrument of Accession’ only when the invaders reached close to Srinagar, on 26th October. This signing of the Instrument was supported by Sheikh Abdullah, the leader of the people of Kashmir.

The Governor General of India, Lord Mount Batten accepted the ‘Instrument of Accession’, thus making it legally binding. It is only then that the Indian Forces entered U. Kashmir and, firstly, saved Srinagar and then started driving the invaders back. The Indian Forces got total support of the local people, without which they could not have defended because only a small army could be taken to the airport of Srinagar by air in such a short time, as no proper land route was then existing between J&K and (newly divided) India. The earlier route had been through Lahore which with hair-line-thin majority of Muslim population had gone to Pakistan.

– Continu

Kashmir: Islamic Territory
Vs Democracy - 3

An Idealist’s Solution

As Indian Armed Forces were driving the invaders out, the idealist Nehru, the then Prime Minister, in consultation with the Governor General Lord Mount Batten, decided to take the matter to the UNO. On 31st December 1947 he, in his idealism, also offered plebiscite in the U. Kashmir; although legally and morally India was not bound to do so. Believing in the ideals of democracy, Nehru had offered this so that the people of Kashmir could decide their destiny themselves. Other nations and people may find it difficult to believe that how could a nation ever be so unselfish (foolish?) so as to leave a ‘heaven on earth’ for the sake of an abstract ideal.

As a proof of India’s faith in idealism, may I offer the example of Bangladesh? India sacrificed heavily, both men and material, in getting Bangladesh liberated from the fanatic Pakistan; and then left it entirely free for Bangladeshis to rule their country. As it turned out, this was not in the interest of liberal Bangladeshis because soon the fanatic elements murdered the Father of Bangladesh, and militarily took control of the new-born nation.

Bringing the subject back to Kashmir, on 1st January 1948 Nehru unilaterally declared ceasefire, which was not reciprocated by Pakistan. All such actions should leave no doubt in any body’s mind about India’s intention which was and is that Kashmir should have genuine democracy. But POK continues to be occupied by Pakistan, and J&K is trembling under Pak supported terrorism.

Non-violence : Still An Impracticality?

Today we can easily blame Nehru for being impractical, but let us see the psychological environment at that time in India. India was feeling highly elated for having earned its freedom through non-violence, though at the cost of immense sacrifice of human lives and suffering perpetrated by British Power. This was the first successful major non-violent revolution in the world. It may be worth noting that Jinnah and his Party ‘Muslim League’ had not sacrificed anything, thus they got Pakistan for nothing. At the time of partition, while the populations were transferring themselves from one to the other nation, there was terrible violence almost all over the undivided India. In this inhuman massacre of innocent peoples, Hindus had suffered very much more than the Muslims. This was so because a significant number of Hindus were influenced by the principle of non-violence; and Gandhi went to areas, where Muslims were getting the bad taste of their own medicine, and pacified violent Hindus. Nothing like this happened in Pakistan, on the contrary Pak Government helped the violent Muslims who were killing Hindus. The Muslim League had asked for a separate Muslim nation from secular India, because they were driven by hatred for Hindus. Hindus did not hate Muslims otherwise how could they welcome and invite Muslims to join the non-violent ‘Freedom Movement’ led by Mahatma Gandhi. Obviously a large portion of Muslims had faith in the Hindu’s ‘tolerance’ and in the secularism of India, and they preferred to stay in India rather than go to Pakistan. India has the second largest Muslim population in the world. Nehru thought that both legally and morally Kashmir belongs to India, therefore UNO would do the justice, and another major problem would be solved non-violently. And thus India would set an example for promoting non-violence in the violent world.

Vested Interest of Britain and USA

Obviously Nehru had not understood British machinations against India. British were extremely unhappy to leave their mine of gold – India – and naturally were not friendly to India. They had no desire that India should make technological progress for they very badly needed India to remain a market for British goods, without which they would lose the economic leadership of the world. Unfortunately, in the Kashmir crisis, the US not only supported its long time ally Britain but also had an axe to grind itself. It needed a useful base for its forces against USSR, and Pakistan was suitable from all angles for the purpose. Some flimsy mistakes like dotting of i’s and cutting of t’s etc were found in the ‘Instrument of Accession’ which was signed by Hari Singh, and already accepted by the legal authority - Governor General of India - Lord Mount Batten. Consequently U. Kashmir was not accepted as a part of India although, based on its confession, Pakistan was declared an aggressor by the UNCIP, and was asked to vacate its aggression on 13th August 1948¹² . Pakistan has never complied with that resolution and yet has continuously got support of the UK and the USA.  After a long time, on 1st January 1949 a formal ceasefire was signed between Pakistan and India.

Plebiscite : Pakistan’s Phobia

Almost one year after Nehru’s offer of plebiscite, the UNCIP, on 5th January 1949 passed a resolution which stated : “The question of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided by the democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite.” Pakistan did not vacate its aggression as agreed by it (Pakistan) and also as stipulated in the UN Resolution of 13th August, 1948. This would have then enabled India to vacate its forces to permit free and impartial plebiscite. As Pakistan was deliberately violating the said UN Resolution, the hope for the plebiscite was diminishing. Therefore in June 1949 Sheikh Abdullah¹³, the most popular and important leader of J&K, declared that, “We the people of J&K have thrown our lot with Indian people not in the heat of passion or a moment of despair, but by a deliberate choice. The union of our people has been fused by the community of ideals and common sufferings in the cause of freedom.”

Pakistan attacks India

In 1961-62 India had suffered heavily with a war against China. Pakistan thought that it could take advantage of this weakness. Despite the mutually agreed ceasefire under the auspices of UNO, Pakistan attacked India in winter of 1965, but got beaten. (As per the Agreement of Tashkent (1962), Pakistan got all its territories inclusive of POK back which were won by India in the war.) In 1971 West Pakistan not only refused the legal and moral right to democratically elected Mujib-ur-Rahman of East Pakistan to become the President of Pakistan but also attacked it and committed most inhuman atrocities on citizens of East Pakistan. As a result East Pakistan rebelled, and with the help from India became a new Nation – Bangladesh. (India not only defeated Pakistan badly but also arrested 91000 Pakistani soldiers.) It should be noted that Pakistan was formed on the basis of hatred against Hindus, and on the faith that their religion would keep them united. Result is there for every one to see. In 1972, an agreement was signed between India and Pakistan, in which both nations agreed to respect the line of ceasefire till the issue gets finally resolved. Having lost three wars to India, Pakistan, from early eighties, started sending terrorists in to Kashmir and brain washing the tolerant Kashmiri Muslims, and murdering Hindus, destroying Hindu temples, killing soldiers and police personnel of J&K. Aircrafts were hijacked. Innocent people all over India were killed by the terrorists – some of the terrorists are Kashmiri, some Pakistani and some even from other Islamic countries.

Brilliant But Foolhardy Attack on Kargil

During winter land around most of the ‘Line of Control’ (LOC) gets buried under heavy snow. After Simala Agreement it was expected that Pakistan would respect the LOC, and for many years Pakistan did appear to be doing so. In winters extremely harsh conditions prevail in LOC areas; e.g. Dras near Kargil is the second coldest inhabited place in the world with temperatures going below -50 degrees C. Therefore, normally, in winters the surveillance on LOC is reduced to minimal, by either side. Taking advantage of this fact, Pakistan made a brilliant plan to attack Kargil with maximum surprise. In a few winters they entered the area beyond the LOC in to India, near Kargil, and built bunkers, stored arms and ammunitions, and other logistics materials. And when they thought they could win Kargil they attacked in April-May 1999, before the summer working conditions. Indian side was really caught napping in their blankets. Indian Forces also could not have come in numbers because the only road to Kargil should have remained snow bound, but for an early summer. A question naturally arises as to how Indian Intelligence could fail so miserably! This question is relevant to understand the Kashmir Problem.

Indian Intelligence Failure

During winter, apart from radio and air reconnaissance, the main source of intelligence is Bakerwals and Gujjars living in those areas. They gladly convey the news of Pak infiltration. To counter this, first, the dominating and separatist Sunni Muslims of Kargil area convinced the Governments of J&K and India that they be separated from the Buddhist-dominated Ladaakh administrative control, and be made an administrative region under Kashmir. In Ladaakh area Muslims are not in majority, but in Kargil they are in absolute majority. Then Pakistan deliberately increased bombing in that area, and at the same time the local Sunnis increased persecuting the non-Muslims and non-sympathetic Bakerwals and Gujjars etc to drive them away from that area. So almost no Bakerwals and Buddhists were there to inform about the infiltration, and thus total surprise could be achieved. That is why this plan was brilliant. It is another story as to how bravery, strategy and superior tactics of Indian Defence Forces could repulse the brilliant attack, albeit at a great sacrifice of both man and material. Here again the impractical idealism of Government of India could be seen in their order to the Defence Forces to not cross the LOC, even while defending their area. The impractical strain of idealism in Indians costs them heavily, every time. The surreptitious attack on Kargil Sector beyond the ‘Line of Control’, which was accepted in the 1971 Simala Agreement by Pakistan as inviolable, again confirms that promises made by and agreements accepted by Pakistan are unreliable.

Islamic Terrorism

After fighting three wars, Pakistan has realized that they cannot win a war with India. Therefore they have chosen the most inhuman way – terrorism with support from international Islamic terrorist organizations. This terrorism has not only caused heavy losses to material, military personnel but also more importantly it has dented the tolerant psyche of Hindus. All Hindus have been driven out from Kashmir after a planned chain of murders of many prominent Hindus. This low intensity war is causing a very heavy financial burden to Indian exchequer and thus obstructing the progress that India, specially J&K, could otherwise make. The Hindu-Muslim riots are increasing in India in frequency and intensity. Now Hindus react very sharply and violently to a riot started by Muslims. Gujarat is a case in example. But what is still remarkable is that burning of Hindus at Godara in Gujarat has resulted in a violent reaction in Gujarat only, the rest of India not only maintained its peace but also condemned the violent reaction. Earlier in History, by and large Hindus had not been reacting in such a rage lasting for so long. Now the trend of intolerance is such that even Hindus feel sad.

Security Personnel Vs Terrorists

The fate of military and police personnel safeguarding lives of Kashmiris, and maintaining law and order there would elicit sympathy from any human being. Though armed, they are easily visible and are easy victims. Terrorists are also armed but are not visible for they do not look different from the locals; therefore they always manage a surprise attack. At the same time security personnel are expected to be protecting the locals and not shoot unless reasonably sure of the terrorists. They cannot be trigger happy, and the terrorists can be as trigger happy as they like. The terrorists also kill the locals in sufficient numbers to terrify them in to co-operation. Can the Human rights Commission not see that the dice is heavily loaded against the Security Forces.? They invariably had been blaming Indian security, and seldom Pakistan Government and its terrorists. The loading of the dice can be easily seen in the ratio of terrorists killed to the security personnel killed. This ratio was very disappointing for a long time - about 1 security personnel for 3 terrorists. Since 9.11 this has improved slightly¹⁴ to 1 to 4.

It is beyond my comprehension as to why western media is so sympathetic to Pakistan. Is it because media is not serving the truth but its own agenda, whatever it may be? Then should media command the high respect that it gets? Or is truth so difficult to judge? And, why does Pakistan invariably gain by a third party intervention. Is it because of under-dog sympathy syndrome? Not really, because even when the democracy in East Pakistan was being trampled under the military boots of West Pakistan, the US was sympathetic to West Pakistan. (After every war Pakistan did not have to pay any penalty for its aggression. It got back money and equipment in aid from oil rich nations, and USA etc.) Ultimately despite being an aggressor, it is illegally occupying a third of the U. Kashmir. Was the idealism practiced by Nehru therefore impractical?

What conclusions can be drawn?

1. The U.N. has proved incompetent in finding a solution to the Kashmir problem. The UN has, inadvertently, encouraged terrorism. Terrorism and drug trafficking help each other in increasing misery in the world.
2. The problem of J&K is religious expansionism through terrorism, and not the so called, rebellion against an oppressive and occupational Government. Whereas the reverse may be true in POK.
3. Ideal of non-violence is not yet practicable in the world.
4. Religion does not guarantee unity of any nation, unless the religion is liberal.
5. In a democratic nation terrorism should have no place, but in an open and democratic world terrorism still works. Terrorism can kill a long established culture of harmony and love among people of different religions as in J&K. Having suffered firsthand, the most powerful nation USA is now trying its best to eradicate terrorism, and it may or may not succeed. Successful fight against terrorism demands international cooperation, which US is in a position to get.
6. India is unable to stop terrorism in J&K so long as it is being supported to the hilt by Pakistan through money, arms and ammunition, military training and the most prolific and cheap breeding ground for terrorists viz. madarasaas.
7. Terrorism will not give Pakistan what it wants but will continue to increase misery and losses of innocent humans in J&K. This frustration may make Pakistan bold to wage a full fledged nuclear war. If terrorism is not stopped in J&K, danger of a nuclear war is very real and imminent.

– Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal (Retd)
May 14, 2002

All five regions — the Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan are perceived to be disputed and part of the Jammu and Kashmir state, as they were at the time of partition after the Indo-pak war 1947,  Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto promulgated the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Act of 1974 to virtually annex the POK.

1974 act

AJK act declared Islam to be the state religion of POK, disqualified non-Muslims from election to the Presidency and forbade activities prejudicial or detrimental to the ideology of the State's accession to Pakistan (Article 7).It prescribed in the oath of office the pledge 'to remain loyal to the country and the cause of accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan'. The POK Constitution states: 'No person or political party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir shall be permitted to propagate against, or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to, the ideology of the State's accession to Pakistan'. Under Section 5(2) (vii) of the POK Legislative Assembly Election Ordinance 1970, a person would be disqualified for propagating any opinion or action in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, the ideology of POK's accession to Pakistan, or the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. The same caveat applies to anyone who 'defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary of AJK, of Pakistan, or the Armed Forces of Pakistan'.

Divisions

AJK region of Pakistan occupied Kashmir

see Azad Kashmir for more information

Azad Kashmir is part of PoK.It does not include the other territories of PoK like northern areas and saksham valley.

Northern areas

Pakistan unilaterally amalgamated Gilgit, Skardu and Baltistan regions of PoK with Pakistan by redefining these as the Northern Territories administered directly by Islamabad. The arbitrary takeover by Pakistan of these territories was challenged in the High Court of POK and even the court felt impelled to declare Gilgit, Skardu, Baltistan etc, as part of POK. There were public protests even in the northern territories as well as in (ajk)POK but the Government in Islamabad not only ignored the protests but also the courts verdict. Northern Territories, stretch across 60000 km² with a population of 10,00,000.

Shaksam valley

Pakistan unilaterally arbitrarily transferred parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir without their peoples' consent to China as a goodwill gesture to China.It ceded nearly 5180 km² of the Northern Territories to it

Political status

Misguided hardliners favouring Pakistan never reveal the true picture of POK. Unlike the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir in India due to article 370 of indian constitution, POK does not hold any special status in Pakistan. Wealthy Pakistanis from Punjab, have got land and property in POK. Those asking for azadi are few and the majority want to be with India and are more concerned about jobs, peace and development of the region. Various surveys in the 90s clearly indicated that the 'joining Pakistan option' is not desired by residents of the Kashmir Valley. While India has around 14 crores Muslims, only about 50 lakhs live in Kashmir. Indian Muslims have never asked for a separate nation. Pakistan covets Jammu and Kashmir territory and its water resources, not its people. Pakistan did not vacate the territories occupied by it.

Constitutional status in pakistan

The provision in the 1974 Interim Constitution forbids any political activity that is not in accordance with the doctrine of Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The interim Constitution demands that candidates contesting for a parliamentary seat in PoK, referred to as the Azad Kashmir by Pakistan, must sign a “declaration of loyalty”. Since independence, Pakistan has devised and changed three written constitutions and the fourth one was drawn up in 1985.

Puppet Government

AJK

Although, azad means sovereignly "independent", Pok is a defacto puppet government whose independence is not recognised by any nation including Pakistan. It is administered and controlled by Pakistan. Pakistan has consistently failed to fulfil its obligations to introduce “meaningful and representative democratic structures” in PoK.In this context, the absence of Kashmiri representation in the Pakistan National Assembly and the fact that PoK is governed through the 'Ministry of Kashmir Affairs' in Islamabad. Further that the 'Kashmir Council' is dominated by Pakistani officials and the chief secretary, inspector-general of police, accountant-general and finance secretary in the PoK are all from Pakistan. PoK government was not a provisional regime but a declaration proclaiming POK as an integral part of Pakistan. "Pakistan occupied Kashmir is completely lacking in democracy, people suffer oppression and have no voice,” said BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, citing a 2007 report of the European Parliament to buttress his argument

Northern areas

On 28th May 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan said: 'it was not understandable on what basis the people of Northern Areas can be denied the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution' i.e. right to equality before law, right to reside and move freely, right to vote, right to be governed by their chosen representatives, right to form political parties, right to assemble peacefully, right to freedom of speech and expression, right to habeas corpus and against illegal detention, right to acquire, hold and dispose property, and the right to have access to an appellate court of justice for the enforcement of all other rights guaranteed under the latest constitution of the country.

Comparison with Jammu and Kashmir

The European Parliament report draws attention to the fact that India is “the world’s largest secular democracy” and has “devolved democratic structures at all levels”. In contrast, the report states that Pakistan “still lacks full implementation of democracy in occupied Kashmir and is yet to take steps towards democracy in Gilgit and Baltistan’.

Terrorism from PoK

The report by the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, which was submitted in April 2007, states that “there is considerable evidence that over many years Pakistan has provided Kashmiri militants with training, weapons, funding and sanctuary and has failed to hold militants accountable for atrocities they have committed on the Indian-administered side”.

Terrorism straining relations

If Pakistan was seriously committed in implementing CBM, the terrorists training centres in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) had to be demolished. Terrorism has completely devoured up the perplexed issue of 12,000 POK "unofficial refugees" to the background.

Recent events

On August 13 2008, A Lashker-e-Taiba militant surrendered on Wednesday before security forces at the Line of Control (LoC) soon after he crossed into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Rajouri district.

Foot note

இந்திய ஆளுகைக்குட்பட்ட காஷ்மீரில் இந்திய ஆட்சியை முடிவுக்கு கொண்டுவர வேண்டும் என்று கோரி கல்லெறிந்து போராட்டம் நடத்தியவர்கள் மீது காவல் துறையினர் துப்பாக்கி சூடு நடத்தியதில், குறைந்தது இரண்டுபேர் கொல்லப்பட்டதாகவும், மேலும் பலர் காயமடைந்ததாகவும் அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

ஒருவர் இறந்த பகுதியான ஷோபியான் நகரில் ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இன்றைய வெள்ளிக்கிழமை தொழுகைக்குப் பிறகு, ஸ்ரீநகர் உள்ளிட்ட, முஸ்லிம்கள் பெரும்பான்மையாக இருக்கும் பகுதிகளில் இந்தியாவுக்கு எதிராக புதிய போராட்டங்களில் பலர் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

லத்திகளாலும், கண்ணீர் புகையை பயன்படுத்தியும் பாதுகாப்பு படையினர் கூட்டத்தை கலைத்தனர்.

problem is the indian govt is doing nothing to solve the problem. they want to continue with status quo. pakistan is fighting an indirect war with india. they know they dont stand a chance when it comes to a conventional war with india. even as i type this, there is news of serial blasts in delhi. i suspect the ISIs hand in this. almost every blast in india is the handiwork of ISI. our politicians should do something about this, not just see and critisize. we should take military action. we should lodge a strong complaint with the UN. our PM should give a message on TV (in english) to indian people and also the foreign press about india's suffereing and how pakistan is taking advantage of india's goodness.

india does goodwill gestures like treating pakistan's sick children and this is what pakistan gives us: more blasts.

no country is as glad to give in as india. no other country in the world is so submissive and meek. am running out of words now to describe india's foreign policy. even bangladesh has insulted us many times. they ought to be grateful to us. no wonder that india gets little respect in the international stage. even our president was insulted in brazil. even brazil does not care for our president. no wonder china didnt think twice about not inviting the indian PM or president, but sonia gandhi for the beijing olympics opening ceremony. and sonia gandhi went. why didnt that insult the PM? or wasnt that enough?. how much more should we take? isnt there a limit?.

its time we wake up from this slumber and act before its too late.

To Pakistan, Kashmir is symbolic of its national ethos and commitment to protect Muslim interests against Indian encroachment. It believes that the creation of a separate, strongly sectarian nation is incomplete without contiguous Kashmir.

Kashmir, in brief, symbolizes the enmity that Hindus and Muslims harbor for one another.

The earliest recorded history of Kashmir by Kalhan begins at the time of the Mahabharata war. In the 3rd century BC, emperor Ashoka introduced Buddhism in the valley. Kashmir became a major hub of Hindu culture by the 9th century AD. It was the birthplace of the Hindu sect called Kashmiri 'Shaivism', and a haven for the greatest Sanskrit scholars. (http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa010102b.htm).

Kashmir indeed is a land of learning – or is it? (http://sakooterspeaks.wordpress.com/2007/05/23/kashmir-%E2%80%93-education-at-its-best/)

In the past 61 years of Indian Independence, what has mainland India (and Indians) done anything to help average Kashmiri feel proud of being Indian and feel connected with the mainland India?

Symbolic announcements that Babus and Netas make in New Delhi do not make the day-to-day life of the citizen better. We need action, not of the defense forces, but the human touch. There is no perennial connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India. Probably disputed regions of Kashmir are better connected to Pakistan than with India, how ironic?

I looked up the Internet to find out
* Average per-capita-income of Kashmir vs rest of the states in India
* Education, health care, economic statistics of Kashmir vs rest of the states in India

I wasn't able to find anything worth mentioning.
It has been suggested (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/399026.stm) that India could incur daily expenses of $2.3 million to keep a watch on disputed stretches in Kashmir.

If we can use the same funds (a portion of it, to start with) to foster, economic and social development in Kashmir, most of the issues facing India would be reduced if not resolved completely. Under the given circumstances and also because of geographic conditions, it is difficult to attract heay industries. Generate local employment - Kashmiris are dependent on agriculture, tourism and small scale industries for their livelihood. Create framework to support these activities - use technology to solve to solve problems of transportation, connectivity.

A happy well-fed society would rarely engage in riots and terrorism. Have you heard of a Swiss group engaging in religious war, terrorism or riots? Why do such things happen in Asia, Africa or Middle east ?

Such riots are more to do with growing unrest as a result of socio-economic inequalities (to the extent of seclusion and deprivation) than the religious beliefs.

Jammu and Kashmir is burning since 1947. Its fire has now expanded to Jammu also. It is dangerous especially when this region is already regarded as a disputed territory by so many inhabitants and experts. Current situation is highly volatile in the Indian Kashmir.

Central Groups and Teams: Jammu and Kashmir in India represent such a region where a few days visitors and observers’ groups cannot really grasp its problems and difficulties. One has to spend at least ten years in J&K to understand its nature and peoples perspective. So is the case with Pakistan also. The entire Kashmir issue had started with Muzaffarabad coming under Pakistani occupation in 1947.

The Kashmiri Muslims in India have now again begun their quest for opening the trade route to Muzaffarabad. Very interesting! On the other hand, all communities in Jammu are asking the Indian and State Governments to return the 100 acres of land to Baba Amarnath Shrine Board on the grounds of preserving the concept of freedom of all religions from governmental interference all over the world and for sustaining the constitutional policy of secularism in the Constitution of India.

Origins of Kashmir Issue: Major bone of contention is the so-called ‘Kashmir Issue’ between India and Pakistan since the time of partition. The Pak Occupied Kashmir earlier had Muslim population in minority and Hindus in vast majority. Most of these erstwhile majority community Hindus have now been converted to Islam during the years immediately following the Pakistani Kabaili raiders attack on the Indian Kashmir on 26 October 1947. Had this not happened, leaders and stalwarts like Sheikh Abdullah and others would not have come to the forefront of a democratic setup in the Indian Kashmir from late 1940s to 1950s.

Read Between the Lines: Therefore, it is easy to read between the lines here. Indeed, there could very well have been an understanding between Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Sheikh Abdullah for raiders’ attack on Indian Kashmir and a calculated ‘cease fire’ following the effective retaliation by Indian Army especially when the Pakistani raiders started fleeing and running away from Indian Army and then they were being pushed back. These raiders were running back towards Pakistan due to the attack and fear from the Indian Army. They were literally being thrown back to Pakistan when a premature ‘ceasefire’ was declared by Indian Government on the apparent advise of Sheikh Abdullah! It meant that the Kashmir issue and its related aspects were the craftsmanship of Jinnah and Sheikh Abdullah. Otherwise, there was no Kashmir issue at all because the entire Kashmir then belonged to India only.

1947 Ceasefire and all: From an official and public perspective, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked UN to intervene at a particular stage of this war. A United Nations ceasefire was arranged for the 31 December 1948. A few days before the ceasefire the Pakistani raiders launched another attack disconnecting the road between Uri and Poonch. After protracted negotiations a ceasefire was agreed to by both countries. The terms of the ceasefire as laid out in the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution of 13 August 1948 were adopted by the UN on 5 January 1949.

This required Pakistan to withdraw its forces, both regular and irregular, while allowing India to maintain minimum strength of its forces in the state to preserve law and order. Pakistan never complied with the provisions of the ceasefire resolution. Only on compliance of these conditions by Pakistan, a plebiscite was to be held to determine the future of the territory. As such, Pakistan was able to acquire roughly two-fifths of Kashmir while India maintained the remaining three fifths of Kashmir, including the most populous and fertile regions.

It can, therefore, be said that India has been succumbing to Pakistan’s terrorist ventures into Indian territory since the time of partition – from within and without both. Why Indian Governments are doing this time and again? It is very difficult to understand.

It is clear that the Kashmir issue in reality has never been a tangle between India and Pakistan without the Pakistan’s raiders’ attack on Indian Kashmir in 1947.

Two Nations Theory?: The basis of India’s partition has never been the so-called ‘two nations theory’. Had it been so, all Muslims in India would have gone to Pakistan. This two nations theory could never be applied to India prior to partition because there was no exclusively Muslim and Hindu territory in the entire country. The basis of India’s partition was primarily geographical and administrative and not exclusively religious despite Muslim League and Jinnah saying so repeatedly.

There is more Muslim population India than in Pakistan. The Indian Muslims are never ready to go to Pakistan although there are a number of Muslim citizens in Pakistan who would run for becoming inhabitants of India the moment they are allowed this freedom.

Main Problem with Pakistan: This is the main difficulty with Pakistan especially through its ‘state within the state institution’ like Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan is more occupied with creating disturbance and disorder in other States of the world instead of its own order, peace and development. Pakistani people have never been able have a sigh of relief and freedom from deeply ingrained fear into their psyche after about four coup-de-tats in independent Pakistan. No Pakistani is safe and free in Pakistan. No one can even freely and safely express one’s opinion there – not even President Pervez Musharraf! Terrorists and terrorism reign supreme there. This is what Pakistan wants to export to the entire world. May Allah be with India and Pakistan!

What is wrong if Ms. Arundhati Roy (Booker prize winner for "God of Small Thing") is also requesting freedom for Kashmir? It's not the end of world for India. 

If you go six decades back during India-Pakistan partition, king of Junagarh (Muslim King for majority of Hindu population) wanted to go with Pakistan but Sardar Ballabh bhai Patel threatened to invade his state and took Junagarh forcibly. Similarly, Pakistan invaded Kashmir as and when King Hari singh of Kashmir (Hindu king for majority of Muslim population) declared Jammu & Kashmir as separate nation. If one sees from this point of view then invasion from Pakistan in 1947 doesn't come under unwanted aggression. UN mediated and called for ceasefire between India and Pakistan but no territory was given back by either side. Because of all this, it's only people of Jammu & Kashmir, who suffered because of unwanted separation of this beautiful state. It is also known to everyone that Kashmir can not survive as separate state for long. If Kashmir unites with Pakistan then also condition of Kashmiris will not improve but deteriorate given the condition of Pakistan today. 

I am also aware that separation is not the only solution for all these problems. This is also possible that once we give freedom to Kashmir then Assam, Nagaland and may be Punjab also follows the Kashmiri's way of movement to get separate state. Ideally government should first take the initiative to seed the trust among local communities and then listen, understand their problem. Development should be the only mantra for government to make sure that Kashmiri community connects with whole nation. 

Another option would be to carve three separate state for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. This will alienate terrorist as they can not do terrorism activity in Jammu and Ladakh region for their so called 'freedom struggle'.

 Let's open the debate.

Something seems to be wrong in the 'Kashmir crisis' pattern this time. If my observations are correct then Kashmir has seen much worst in the past in the form of agitations and rhetoric by the separatists but only a handful of people would get influenced and give heed to their agitations.

Pakistan has tried every possible means including the worst ever militancy movements, proxy war, Islamic jihad but all this could not sustain and live up to their expectations .Large majority of kashmiri people though afraid to speak their mind openly had reservation regarding secession from India because the life and the environ which they have been used to is a far dream for POK people and Punjabi dominated Pakistan would at best treat Kashmir as a colony,

in fact kashmiri speaking politicians and leaders would be history.

Kashmiris are very mature politically and they know very well which pot has the honey and all these years India thought that it has been able to keep this part of Kashmir integrated with the rest of country and every Indian thinks that they have been able to retain the Kashmir Crown on their heads, and the cost, several wars and hundreds of thousands killed, trillions and trillions of rupees spent.

The separatist voices in Jammu have never been heard before although they have been ruled by the Kashmiris and did not in any way care who would become the next chief minister of state and what would be the strength of the state cabinet or for that matter which region gets priorities in state affairs, employment, education, fund allocation etc.

Pakistan at this juncture has enough internal problems and would not be able to handle the Kashmir affairs and may be they are no longer interested in creating any unrest along the line of control because their forces are deployed elsewhere and fighting along with other troops.

Indian leadership seems not to be worried enough and that is what baffles an average person in Kashmir that the hysteria with which the Indian government had been reacting to the separatists calls, as and when they had surfaced, is not there any more whereas the damage control measures are merely knee jerk reactions by the equally confused police and state administration.

Is it that 'some one' else has some other plan for the Valley.Is that 'someone' very powerful?.........Maybe ….Yes or No