IoK News: President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, while terming the Kashmir dispute as one of the oldest disputes pending on the United Nations (UN) agenda, said on Friday that it was high time that the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) must come forward to support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
The president expressed these views while addressing a special meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC at the UN on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, while referring to India’s traditional intransigence, he said that India’s perpetual denial to grant the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir was the main reason that the issue continues to linger for the past 75 years.
He also said that it was long overdue that the UN should come forward in a big way and influence the government of India to implement the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that guarantee the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir.
Referring to the worsening human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the president pointed out that in addition to police and paramilitary forces the Indian government had deployed over a half million armed forces in Kashmir to quell the Kashmiris’ legitimate political struggle for their right to self-determination.
He said that the massive troops’ concentration in the region was one of the main causes of human rights violations in the disputed territory.
Since August 5, 2019, he added, the deployment of additional forces had further worsened the human rights situation in Kashmir.
Citing the Modi government’s political and administrative machinations in Kashmir, Chaudhry said that in the aftermath of 2019, the Indian government had intensified its efforts to change the region’s demography to convert the Muslim-majority state into a minority.
He said that changing the region’s electoral map through reorganization of constituencies was a deep-rooted conspiracy to bring a Hindu chief minister in the state.
He, however, maintained that India’s policy of oppression and suppression could not dampen the Kashmiris’ spirit and their passion for freedom.
The AJK president made a passionate appeal to the international community, in particular the UN and OIC, to play their much-needed role to resolve the Kashmir issue to mitigate the unending sufferings of Kashmiris who have been reeling under India’s belligerent military occupation.
He said that it was high time that the UN and OIC must openly support the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and use their influence on India to resolve the Kashmir issue and stop the ongoing violation of human rights in occupied Kashmir.
London (IoK News) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday once again raised the Kashmir issue during his address to world leaders at the high-level UN General Assembly session.
“India and Pakistan, after having established their sovereignty and independence 75 years ago, still haven’t established peace and solidarity between one another. This is much unfortunate. We hope and pray that a fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir,” he said.
In recent years, the Turkish leader has referred to the Kashmir issue in his addresses to world leaders at high-level meetings of the UN General Assembly, which has led to strained relations between India and Turkey.
India has in the past termed his remarks as “totally unacceptable”, saying that Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and think more deeply about its own policies.
A Kashmiri Twitter user, Salman used the phrase “chai, barfeeli waadiyan aur hum”, which summarises a typical Kashmiri style welcome to the winter. Cold weather and hot tea in almost all parts of Jammu and Kashmir suggest a unique blend of cultural, social, and traditional offerings.
Popular Kashmir tea Noon Chai- also known as Sheer Chai is a traditional tea of Kashmir and is an essential part of Kashmiri breakfast.
It is prepared in a different way than regular tea. Kehwah is another traditional tea of Kashmir.
It is prepared by brewing green tea, then other ingredients are poured into it such as saffron, cardamom seeds, and cinnamon sticks. Some people also like to add chopped dry fruit.
Marryam, an Instagram user loves “two types of bread (the barely visible one is made with cornmeal) and salt tea served in a drinking bowl without a handle”.
She thinks that in the days before global warming, you would cradle your bowl in the palm of your hand so that the warmth of the chai took the chill out of your fingers. Today, we need fans and coolers in summer.
Sass_Wati, an Instagram user, wrote “Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea at these beautiful places, I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the cup to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?
/London/: Members of the British Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir have exchanged heated views while discussing a motion on human rights in Kashmir.
British parliament member Imran Hussain said that the UK should send clear massage to United Nations for solution of Kashmir as he said the Kashmiries also have equal rights to live on earth.
Labour MP Tahir Ali, while speaking to the House of Commons, called for the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom to be barred from the Parliament because of the military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
MP Tahir Ali
The Minister for Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Amanda Milling, responded to the debate on Thursday by reiterating the UK government’s unchanged stance on Kashmir as a bilateral issue.
The government takes the situation in Kashmir very seriously but it’s for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political solution, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
It’s not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator, said Milling.
Raheel Malik Tweeted that the backbench business debate was put forward by MPs Debbie Abrahams and Yasmin Qureshi.
According to Qureshi “the situation on the ground is deeply troubling” and as the “conflict is a colonial legacy” UK has a responsibility to help resolve it.
The debate, which was scheduled to be held in March 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, was opened by Opposition Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams.
She said that the Pakistani government allowed them unfettered access. We used our meetings to ask pointed questions related to human rights issues highlighted in United Nations reports, said Abrahams.
Kashmiris must be at the heart of a trilateral peacebuilding process, she said, reiterating that Thursday’s debate was not pro or anti any country and only speaking in favour of human rights.
Srinagar (PR) The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party leaders offered tributes and fateha to late Sheikh Abdullah on his 39th death anniversary.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and other prominent leaders were among those party functionaries offering Fatiha and floral tributes at Sheikh Abdullah’s grave.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was born on 5 December 1905 and died on 8 September 1982. He was one of the most influential Kashmiri politicians who played a pivotal role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir for decades.
In Indian held Jammu and Kashmir and among his followers, he is commonly referred to as “Sher-e-Kashmir” or “Baba e Quam”.
Sheikh Abdullah was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference. However, he later renamed this party as Jammu and Kashmir National Conference.
Photo Credit : Ummer Rahim
Among scores of other party functionaries, delegates and workers party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi were present on the occasion. Other senior leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mubarak Gul, Shameema Firdous, MP Anantnag Hassnain Masoodi, Nazir Ahmed Khan Gurezi, Mir Saifullah, Irfan Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Ali Mohammad Dar, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Peer Afaq Ahmed, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Javed Dar, Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Mir Ghulam Rasool Naaz, Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, Dr. Sajad Shafi Uri, Ahsan Pardesi, Tanvir Sadiq, Imran Nabi Dar, Salman Sagar, Mudassar Shahmiri, Ifra Jan, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Pir Muhammad Hussain, Ghulam Mustafa Sofi, Shabir Ahmed Kullay, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Mohammad Yaqoob Wani, Shafqat Watali, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Manzoor Wani, JS Azad Nisar Ahmad Nisar, newly elected block presidents, YNC functionaries also offered floral tributes and Fatiha on the occasion.
The leaders while offering glowing tributes to late Sheikh Abdullah said that he was one of the titans of the freedom movement for the restoration of people’s democratic rights.
Party Leaders pledged to offer every sacrifice for upholding and preserving the rights of the people of J&K.
Defending, upholding and preserving the unity of the people of J&k will be a befitting tribute to Sher-e-Kashmir, said the party leaders while paying tributes to Baba-e-Quom Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah.
The life and struggle of Sher-e-Kashmir, the functionaries said, was emblematic of people’s genuine aspirations and that on his anniversary the best tribute to him would be to tread the path which he had left behind for all of us to follow.
Lauding his vision of discarding communal politics, Party leaders said Sheikh Sahib’s ideals have universal acceptance.
He wished for a society where equal opportunities are available to all, irrespective of religion, region, caste, creed or color, the party leaders said.
Recalling the immense contribution of Sheikh Sahib, like revolutionary Land Reforms Act, Single Line Administration, free education, adult franchise, party leaders said that after independence, the state rose to achieve new heights in terms of human development index and that the overall growth of the state on other vital development indices was also far ahead of other states in the country.
Women in both parts of the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir have been active participants in political movements.
The trend is as old as the region’s political identity as an independent state. Historically, women played a pivotal role during the agitation and political strife against the Dogra regime and various other movements.
Begum Akbar Jehan was the head of Red Cross in Jammu and Kashmir after the Jammu Massacre
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, most women have been active in politics after taking comparatively an easy route of reserved slots in the Legislative Assembly.
From a total 4 million population, Azad Jammu and Kashmir has over 50 per cent female population.
However, traditionally and culturally the region dominates the conservative trends when it comes to give women equal opportunities to participate in electoral process.
As a matter of fact, during the recent elections of the AJ & K Legislative Assembly, out of a total of over 700 candidates only 20 women were contesting on general seats.
In 2016 polls, out of 423 candidates, only eight were women who contested elections on the general seats. Of them, only one woman managed to win.
PML-N’s Noreen Arif, PPP’s Farzana Yaqoob, and PTI’s Taqdees Gilani are the familiar faces in local political circles in Azad Kashmir.
However, during the recent elections, women challengers of the status quo have proved that peoples’ behaviours and priorities about women participation in politics are changing.
JKDP’s Nabila Irshad and PTI’s Gulzar Fatima can be considered challengers to a majorly male dominant political setup in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Gulzar Fatima is among one of those Kashmiri women politicians who are mesmerised by the political ideology of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
She is an active member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Before stepping into the politics, she has been actively participating in the movements of social change in the society .
In past, she has worked as Secretary Pakistan Red Crescent –AJK chapter. Her political career spans over two decades. She has been a member of the AJK legislative assembly.
She has been advocating for good governance, fighting against injustice and corruption besides highlighting the silent role of AJK Government for the Kashmir cause.
She is a true believer in transparency and fair practices in politics. She is a fan of the charismatic leadership of her party head Prime Minister Imran Khan and fully supports his Political vision, ideology and struggle. The charisma of Imran Khan motivated her to join the PTI.
Ever since she decided to part ways with Pakistan People’s Party to join PTI she has been very active and vocal in politics of Azad Kashmir.
As soon as she joined the party , she was nominated as the president of the women wing to organize the party in AJK.
This was not an easy job to organize a party on gross root level at such time when Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was governing party in the centre and Pakistan People’s Party in AJK.
Moreover, it was difficult to mobilize women of AJK and persuade them to participate in the party’s politics because of local tribal customs and bigotries.
Gulzar Fatima with Dr Nosheen Hamid, Senator Seemi Aizdi, Reema Imran (Wife of the governor Sindh) and others during a visit of Karachi.
However, despite the absence of a strategic plan and a conducive environment for launching the party besides a poor relationship with the central command of PTI, she successfully enrolled women of every age group in the party in every district.
She managed to organize the party on a grass root level by establishing basic units of the party despite the general public was uncertain about the future of the Party.
She arranged the oath-taking ceremony of central body AJK in Muzaffarabad.
In the election year of 2016, apparently everything was set for PML-N, but Gulzar Fatima campaigned door to door for the success of her party candidates.
During the 2016 election of AJK, she was also nominated member of the “Election Manifesto Committee” of PTI.
Despite of the hurdles and challenges facing a woman politician in a highly patronising and conservative social environment, she regularly participants in all meetings of the party.
He recommendations were incorporated in PTI’s election manifesto of 2016.
During the protests in Islamabad , a heinous propaganda campaign was launched by the opposition parties to malign her party’s image and distance women from its struggle, she played a positive leadership role by not bowing in front of the pressure.
Soon after her party head came to Muzaffarabad to address a public gathering, she ensured maximum participation of women in the program to counter the opposition’s propaganda.
She participated in Imran khan’s program of “Islamabad Chalo” and reached Banigala along with many people despite hurdles placed by the then government.
She attended almost all rallies, protests and jalsas on call of the leadership.
Gulzar Fatima has been vocal on various issues of political and social importance. She has been regularly appearing on various national television channels to spread her party’s vision at the grass-root level.
During the 2021 election campaign in AJK, she organized a women convention for the support of the party’s candidate in her constituency.
She has been travelling extensively in all three divisions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and participating in every public gathering.
She has successfully mobilized women in Bagh, Hajeera, Dhirkot, Neelum and Jhelum Valleys.
He Could Never Go Back To his Birthtown But Mother Nature Carried His Wishes
He could never go back to his place of birth, the home of his childhood and youth years in the racial-mixed company of his friends: Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs.
Mr. Kundan Lal Bakshi always wished and prayed to visit, at least once, the warm and friendly town of Kotli in Azad Kashmir- the Pakistan-administered part of the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir.
He wanted to roam the streets of his birth-town, speak his mother tongue ( Mirpuri) freely, and get the nostalgic feel of the neighbourhood where he grew up.
The family moved to Jammu, and so did Mr. Bakshi during the horrific and deadly communal riots of 1947.
The Line of Control (LoC) bars the region’s citizens from crossing the other side from where they got uprooted just in a matter of days and hours.
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but serves as the de facto border.
A simple folk with jolly good nature, Mr. Bakshi spent the rest of his life in the city that gave shelter and a new beginning to most refugees from the region that was once part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The religious divide of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 gave rise to two nations, but it crushed humanity in genocidal and brutal waves.
What people on both sides of the divide got? A never-ending hostility. Caught in this hostility between the two neighboring nations was Mr. Bakshi, who died recently in Jammu.
He lived a long life till the age of 103 years. Perhaps he waited for the opportunity that one day he would see the place of his childhood again. But it never happened.
The family immersed his body’s ashes as per Hindu customs in the flow of mighty river Chenab in Akhnoor, a small border town near Jammu.
It was Mr. Bakshi’s sentimental wish that let mother nature carry his ashes through the waters of Chenab entering Pakistan, the land of his birth and home of his ancestors for generations.
(Promod Puri is a journalist, writer, and author of Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs, And Traditions. Originally from Jammu, now resides in Vancouver, Canada.)
Since India and Pakistan have finally embarked on the path of reconciliation and dialogue, it is time to reflect upon and identify the major roadblocks which have the potential to hinder forward movement once again.
These hurdles include: a top-down approach, limited infrastructure for peace-building and, more importantly, the absence of Kashmiri representation and limited support of all the stakeholders. It is a sad reality that, despite periodic engagement in dialogue, both India and Pakistan have remained unable to yield any tangible results, particularly in the context of the Kashmir dispute and Siachen.
In the present circumstances, it is imperative to find the key entry points which might help both countries initiate a continuous, uninterrupted and insulated dialogue process, ensuring the involvement of all stakeholders in the process including the political and civil society representatives.
A major obstacle is the tendency of a top-down approach. Most of the time, the top leadership initiates talks which is a top-down approach, with its own limitations. The civil-military bureaucracy plays a vital role in constructing the contours of the dialogue process which is conservative in terms of generating fresh thinking and is also averse to new ideas for the engagements. A well thought-out and properly structured peace process, involving citizens and multi-layer stakeholders, has not been formulated so far.
Additionally, seven decades-long acrimonies and rifts among the leaders resulted in the creation of some permanent infrastructures meant to undermine and compete with each other at the diplomatic level for economic gains.
Secondly, the institutional structures for the peace process have not been created so far; these could have served as a platform for dialogue and cooperation. Instead of creating institutions to promote dialogue and reconciliation, prevent conflict and enable mediation; heavy investment is made to prevent each other’s socio-political growth and damage international standing.
Third, several accounts acknowledged the significant role played by the secret backchannel set up by the two governments to resolve contentious issues and find a common ground for the settlement of the Kashmir issue during 2004-2008. However, the delay in the pronouncement of what was agreed on made it redundant as the altered political environment in both countries made it infeasible to make things public.
Fourth, several dialogues and even summit meetings hit a dead end quickly because these were not mutually planned and well-designed, and there was no strategy to contain backlash in case of failure. Conversely, both New Delhi and Islamabad tried to outmaneuver each other at all meetings instead of focusing on resolving the contentious issues. Regrettably, politics was played to address the domestic audience and larger regional interests were conveniently compromised.
For instance, in July 2009, on the side-lines of a Non-Aligned Movement summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, then Indian PM Manmohan Singh acknowledged Pakistan’s apprehension about alleged Indian involvement in insurgency reported in Balochistan. Likewise, in July 2015; the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Russian city of Ufa, issued a joint statement which outlined the future course of action to normalize bilateral relations; they mentioned that both sides should strive to combat terrorism. Pakistani media and politicians accused the then PM Nawaz Sharif of accepting Indian terms by including the term ‘terrorism’ in the joint statement, without mentioning Kashmir in particular.
Almost all the meetings of the Indian and Pakistani leaders are intensely followed by their respective media which largely promotes the traditional narrative, often led by ex-government officials who are generally driven by the popularity syndrome instead of balanced thinking. The media has thus made it virtually impossible for the political leadership to think creatively to find new ways of engagement. In this background, both countries have to carefully manage their domestic media, besides ensuring solid support from the opposition parties.
Last but not least, since the LoC ceasefire implemented on February 25, Kashmir has not witnessed any respite in violence or state-led repression. Thousands of Kashmiris are still in jails or under house arrest despite the growing danger of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The dialogue process between India and Pakistan cannot yield the desired results unless the Kashmir Valley witnesses some noticeable changes such as the release of prisoners, exercising zero tolerance to human rights violations and creating space for political activities run by people with all shades of political attachments and opinions.
Insight on Kashmir 