Pakistan administered part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir is known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir or AJK. Azad means ‘free’ in Urdu and other local languages of this region. AJK is constitutionally not a part of the federation of provinces of Pakistan. However, it is administratively controlled and governed by Pakistan.
Muzaffarabad ( AJ & K): An agricultural exhibition was organized here under the auspices of the department of agriculture, Muzaffarabad.
The stalls of locally produced fruit, vegetables, and agricultural products were set up by local farmers and various units of the agriculture department.
The landowners were given awareness and demonstration about agricultural farming, agro-medicines, and machinery.
Director of agriculture Khawaja Masood Iqbal gave a briefing to Minister of Agriculture Sardar Mir Akbar Khan about locally produced olive products. The minister of agriculture praised the efforts of the departments and said that connecting with the land is the need of the time.
He further said that agriculture is the biggest sector affecting the national economy, and if our needs are met at the local level, peoples’ economic condition will improve and the revenue of the state will also increase.
Director Research Khawaja Masood Iqbal,, Muzaffarabad
“We can complete the production of vegetables and meat at the local level, and in this regard, the department of agriculture will continue its efforts”. He said that women have an important role in kitchen gardening.
Speaking at the event, Secretary Agriculture and Livestock Sardar Javed Ayub said that Azad Kashmir is the watershed of the entire country and we are trying to make the Azad region a food basket for Pakistan.
Our mission is that every region should be able to meet the local demand. He congratulated the organizers for organizing the exhibition. The agriculture minister also gave shields to those who won prominent positions in the stalls. The farmers of Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley, and Neelam district had prepared stalls of fresh crops, fruits, and vegetables.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of Agriculture Sardar Mir Akbar Khan. While the secretary of agriculture Sardar Javed Ayub, Islamic Relief Representative Zeeshan Maqbool, Vice President National Bank of Pakistan Naheed Yusuf, Director Agriculture Sardar Zareen Khan, and others also addressed the opening ceremony.
Director General Agriculture Tariq Mehmood Bande and Director General ASMA Raja Gulzar also addressed the opening ceremony.
Director Research Khawaja Masood Iqbal, Deputy Director Agriculture Muzaffarabad Amina Rafi, and others were also present on this occasion.
Karot Hydropower Project (KHP), the first hydroelectricity project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is a $1.7 billion venture.
Karot hydropower station, the first along CPEC, put into commercial operation in Pakistan
Karot Power Company (Pvt) Limited (KPCL) was formed on 31 July 2010.
The company acts as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and is responsible for executing 720MW Karot Hydropower Project. The ground-breaking was held on January 10, 2016, whereas the construction of the project commenced on 1st December 2016.
With an installed capacity of 7,200 megawatts, it can provide over three billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year, supplying electricity to about five million people in the country.
The Layout of the Karot Hydropower Project
As a single power generation task hydropower complex, the project’s structure layout includes a rock fill dam, spillway, powerhouse, diversion tunnels, and headrace tunnels.
Location:
The Karot Hydropower Project is located on the Jhelum River near Karot Village 74 km upstream of Mangla Dam.
The Project site is accessible through Islamabad-Kahuta-Kotli Road approximately 29 kilometers from Kahuta village and 80 kilometers from Islamabad.
Location of the Karot Hydropower Project
Karot Hydropower project is located in an area that is administratively under the control of the governments of the province of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Figure 6- Aerial View of the construction site of the Karot Hydropower Project
Financiers
The investment for this project has come from the private sector. The Karot hydropower project is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The project is jointly funded by the International Finance Corporation, China’s Silk Road Fund, Export-Import Bank of China, and China Development Bank.
The main sponsor of the Karot hydropower Project is China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited (CSIAL), which is an investment arm of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) in South Asia.
The CTG Corporation is a state-owned initiative with $18.3 billion in the capital. The corporation is strategically positioned to become a clean energy conglomerate specializing in large-scaled hydropower plant development and operations.
Advisors
Mott MacDonald is a UK-based consultancy firm and was appointed as the lenders’ technical, environmental and social advisor.[i] The consultancy firm provided technical support and strategic analysis to the project’s financiers.
They also reviewed the scheme’s design, change orders and variations, and disbursement applications.
The consultancy also assisted with the implementation of environmental and social management plans of the Karot Hydropower Project and advised on compliance with relevant standards and regulatory requirements.
The road distance from Islamabad to Karot Hydropower Dam
Mott MacDonald was also responsible to offer construction monitoring services covering technical, environmental, and social matters.
Mott MacDonald is the technical, environmental, and social advisor of the lenders of the Karot Hydropower Project
The civil works and E & M works were handed over to two separate contractors. The Engineering and Construction Contract was given to the Three Gorges Economy Development Company (TGDC). Whereas, the Equipment Supply Contract was with China Machinery & Electric Company (CMEC).
Aerial View of the site of the Hydropower dam
Health & Safety
From a health and safety point of view, the KPCL achieved remarkable goals including the least number of causalities in the entire hydropower construction sector of Pakistan.
Despite huge structures involving high-risk activities, the project reported no fatal accidents. The project fully complied with the health and safety requirements, environmental and social laws and regulations of Pakistan, CTG’s, CTGI’s HSSE standards, IFC Performance Standards, and good international industry practices.
The Karot Hydropower Project is structurally an asphalt core rock-fill dam of 95.5 m in height.
The powerhouse has an average annual electricity output of 3,206 million kWh, and annual utilization hours of 4,452h.[iii]
It includes a surface powerhouse, four headrace tunnels, diversion tunnels, a spillway, reservoir storage of 164.50 million cubic meters, and an approximately 5km long 500kV transmission interconnection to the national grid.
The dam site controls the drainage area of 26,700km2; having a long-term average runoff of 819m3/s and a long-term average annual runoff of 25.83 billion m3.
The project is a single power generation task hydropower complex, with a reservoir’s Full Water Level (FWL) of 461m, and reservoir storage at FWL of 152 million m3.
The cement used for the construction was produced locally. They tried very hard to control temperature rise, and reduce cracks in the concrete.
The project was built in the private sector under a Build-Own-Operate Transfer (BOOT) basis with an expected concession period of approximately 35 years, which includes the construction period of 5 years and the operation period of 30 years.
Karot Hydropower Project will play a key role in helping address the shortfall in generation capacity by creating a long-term, sustainable power supply.
Karot Power Company Limited will run and maintain the project for 30 years at a tariff of 7.57 cents per unit. At that juncture, it will be transferred to the Punjab government at a notional price of Rs1.00. So the consumers in Pakistan will get cheaper electricity from this eco-friendly project.
The contractors of the Karot project ensured that maximum employment opportunities were offered to local people.
On average, the Karot project hired more than 3300 Pakistani workers.
Out of the total Pakistani workers, 57% were hired from project districts i.e. Rawalpindi in Punjab, Kotli, and Sudhnoti in AJ&K.
This was distributed as 42% from Pakistan and 58% from AJ&K. However, during the month of September 2019 (peak activity) the workforce at Karot was about 4000, and 62% was from project districts.
The labor statistics related to the adjacent areas of the Karot project are given below;
During the land acquisition process, KPCL paid an attractive amount to those families that were affected.
The company also gifted them new plots in nearby and considerably high-value areas. The KPCL also ran financial literacy program to equip the local people with financial acumen on utilization of the compensation amounts.
Additionally, many of them were also offered employment support in terms of preparing applications for the advertised vacancies in the project.
There is no doubt that the Karot Project brought prosperity to the people of the local area as well as people from far-off areas of Punjab and AJ&K.
KPCL also arranged skills training for affected community members at a technical training center in Kahuta.
The arrangements for a remembrance seminar to be organized by the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of the 74th founding day of liberated part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir have been finalized.
74th Founding Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
The Radio Pakistan broadcasted on Saturday that the 74th Founding Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be celebrated on Sunday with a renewed pledge to continue the struggle until the liberation of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and accession of the whole territory to Pakistan.
The tomb of founder President of AJ& K, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan (late) at Kot Matte Khan, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir. He led the revolt of 1947 and liberated present day Azad Kashmir from Dogra forces.
It will be a public holiday throughout the state. The day will dawn with 21 guns saluting in the state capital Muzaffarabad.
Sardar Ibrahim Khan- ‘Bani-e-Kashmir’ (founder of liberated Kashmir).
The Founding Day is celebrated in commemoration of freedom from the Dogra regime on in 1947. On 24 Oct 1947, Sardar Ibrahim Khan declared Bhimber, Kotli, Mirpur & Muzaffarabad independent as ‘Azad Kashmir’ and himself came to be known as ‘Bani-e-Kashmir’ (founder of liberated Kashmir).
Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar acceded to Pakistan
After the collapse of dogra rule in above mentioned areas of the state, On 04 Nov 1947, Pakistani flag was hoisted by Maj William Brown at the Gilgit Scouts lines & Peshawar was informed of Gilgit’s accession to Pakistan along with principalities of Hunza & Nagar.
Maj William Brown -the Gilgit ScoutsSardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan- Founder and the first president of the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan-Mujahid-i-Awwal (the first freedom fighter)
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan started armed struggle against the rulers from the hilltops of Neela Butt. It’s a popular belief that Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan fired the first gunshot.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan- Former President and Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir
This day was celebrated by the followers of the Mujahid-i-Awwal (the first freedom fighter) as he was popularly known, commemorating his bravery.
Ghazi Millat was the cause of the revolutionary government formed under the leadership of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.
Prominent leaders will address the seminar
According to a spokesman of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Chairman Kashmir Committee Shehryar Khan Afridi, former President Azad Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan, former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider, Leader of the Muslim Conference, and former Prime Minister, Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Latif Akbar and others will address the seminar.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, Executive Director of Iqbal Institute of Research and Dialogue Islamabad Dr. Hassan Al-Amin, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi and other speakers will also address the event.
The Registrar of the University, Prof. Dr. Ayesha Sohail has constituted a core committee headed by Prof. Dr. Siddique Awan, Director Finance and Planning, for the management and administration of the Kashmir Seminar.
According to Radio Pakistan, special prayers will be offered in mosques for the integrity and prosperity of Pakistan and the early liberation of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Simple but impressive flag hoisting ceremonies will be held at all district and divisional headquarters.
Main function of the Founding Day will be held at Parade Ground Muzaffarabad
In the state capital Muzaffarabad, the main function of the Founding Day will be held at Parade Ground and Prime Minister AJK Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi will hoist the national flag at 9:00 am. All the three radio stations of AJK will air special programs to highlight the significance of Founding Day.
The second session will be presided over by Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi in which leaders of parliamentary political parties Latif Akbar, Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, and other leaders will address.
Meanwhile, Azad Jammu and Kashmir University Professor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi said in a statement that the University of Kashmir has been celebrating the foundation day of Azad Kashmir since 2016.
And in keeping with its tradition, the university will celebrate the founding day of the state with full enthusiasm and national spirit this year as well to acquaint the young generation with the present situation of the Azad Kashmir Movement and the motives behind it on October 24, 1947.
While the world is heading towards 5G – People of the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) are still looking for basic internet facilities .
There are several areas in both – AJK and GB , where people don’t even have facility of mobile networks for calls etc.
But , there are some good news regarding internet facility to the people of AJK and GB as application were invited by Pakistan telecommunication Authority (PTA).
As per promise by Federal Minister for Kashmir and GB Affairs Ali Amin Khan Gandapur , During Election campaigns in Azad jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit –the process for bidding for the next generation mobile services (NGMS) spectrum is initiated.
All four cellular companies , which are operating in Pakistan , have submitted bids for the NGMS spectrum auction.
Official Source from Pakistan telecommunication authority (PTA) told that PTA has received bids by four cellular companies operating in Pakistan – against both bands (1800MHz & 2100MHz).
Four cellular companies which are interested are Telenor Pakistan, Pakistan mobile communication limited (PMCL / JAZZ) , china mobile Pakistan (CMPAK / ZONG) and the last one is Pakistan telecommunications mobile limited (UFONE) .
Applications were invited from cellular companies for 30MHz paired in the 2100MHz and 1600MHz paired in the 1800MHz band for new technology in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) & Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
As per information by PTA , via their information memorandum (IM) , last date to submit application forms and sealed bids with pre-Bid deposit was September 22 , 2021.
Now, its upto PTA for method of selection of one of the companies – either selection could be done through announcement of qualified winners directly on September 23 , 2021 or digital auctioning on September 24 , 2021 (if and only if PTA can’t choose qualifier from group of applied companies ). On September 27 and 28 , 2021 – Mock clock auction of 1800MHz and 2100MHz will be held (if required) and then clock auction bidding respectively. People from AJK and GB are happy over this move by the government of Pakistan , PTA and all relevant authorities. It would be a milestone as both areas – AJK and GB were under high criticism on social media after outbreak of COVID’19 as even for online studies , students from AJK and GB were forced to live away from their homes due to unavailability of internet. Students , who were in AJK or GB , for their online classes they often need to go on high peaks , mountains etc. for better internet quality so they could get their online classes or exams. Employed people , also suffered a lot – for those who were working online often faced internet issues – forcing them to get away from their areas to the major cities where internet facilities were enough. Complaints were there on Prime Minister citizen portal by students about difficulties and issues they were facing for online classes – especially during online exams . Twitter trends were launched by Students of AJK , against worst internet facility in the region with the Hashtag (#ProvideinternetinAJK). Federal Minister for Kashmir and GB Affairs Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and Murad saeed faced criticism also during their election campaigns by the educated sect of AJK and GB. They promised to provide internet facilities to the people of AJK and GB on priority basis – and it seems like a dream coming true for people in AJK and GB. In 2018 , Peaceful Protest was also recorded by Youth Parliament AJK Chapter – under leadership of Mr Asad Qureshi (President YPP Then) and his team – against poor internet facilities in AJK (in general) and in Capital of AJK Muzaffrabad (in specific). Freelancer community of AJK and GB were also forced to reside in areas and cities with better internet quality – Freelancer from AJK , Mr Shakeel ur Rehman told that “ we can’t even go to our homes for 3-4 days due to poor or no internet facilities there in my native village (KUNA) , chinari , jehlum valley AJK . As on freelancing sites , Your rating matters a lot and rating usually depends upon your time to response any query or to accept orders from different customers and time efficiency required.
With present internet facilities in AJK , You can’t even make calls (audio / video) on whattsapp , messanger etc many times. But ,recent development as applications were invited by PTA , seems future would be better than present.” Another citizen , Student of Mirpur university of science and technology , Mirpur AJK , Sardar Hasnat (Software Engineer) told his experience of the issues he faced during his online classes and exam.
Hasnat told that even for online classes , he had to live in Mirpur AJK as internet in his native city , Kotli AJK wasn’t good enough for taking online classes and exams.
Human Right Activist from GB , AB wahab Fakhar welcomed this step of Telecommunication authority and called this as “ Morning after long Dark years “ – He added , students of school and college would also get a better chance to get recognize with the technologies at very young age , it took 20+ years of our life and migration from GB – for our education and recognition with internet facility and diversity of online educational and learning opportunities.
To conclude , one can say , Internet is like a basic HUMAN RIGHT in present age – if Right to information , right to education or freedom of speech are basic human rights , then the tool “ Internet” required for freely acquiring them is and foremost right of every Human.
Engr Tabish Abbasi is a freelance contributor and blogger. His email ID is tabiabbasi36@gmail.com
The Kashmiri nation under the banner of National Conference led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah launched ‘Quit Kashmir’ campaign against Maharaja Hari Singh in mid-May 1946. And 10,000 volunteers of National Conference established Kashmir Militia Force to defend Kashmir against the Pakistani tribal raid on 22nd October 1947.
The Kashmiri nationalists struggled for People’s right of national self-determination under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite Front led by Mirza Mohamad Afzal Beigh.
The struggle continued from 9th August1955 onwards and the Kashmiri youth finally started armed struggle against Indian control on 31st July 1988.
The 1980s armed struggle was under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front which was established by Mohamad Maqbool Bhat in1966.
Although, Mohamad Yasin Malik, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, abandoned the path of violence in1993.
Yet, his political organisation and several other nationalist organisations have continued their peaceful struggle for independence in Kashmir.
The abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir State and downgrading it to a Union Territory by the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre on 5th August 2019, has further alienated the Kashmiri nation from Bharat ruled by the Hindutva forces of the country.
The withdrawal of NATO forces led by United States from Afghanistan and the establishment of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the Taliban Government in the country has again given some hope to the people of Kashmir to achieve victory in their political struggle.
The present paper is an endeavour to discuss the viability of Kashmir as an independent country and the challenges and prospects for realising such a nationalist goal by the people of Kashmir.
A brief account of various dimensions of Kashmiri nationalist struggle is given as under:
Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir:
The Modi Government at New Delhi has downgraded Jammu and Kashmir State to a Union Territory because of a few important reasons.
The main reason behind downgrading the Jammu and Kashmir State is Hindu empowerment in the state.
The Indian National Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru abolished the Dogra autocracy in the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the political empowerment of Muslims in the Muslim dominated state.
( October 28, 1947 edition of The Hindustan Times | Photo courtesy: Google )
Although, the Jammu based Hindus were not politically marginalised but their century old hegemony was challenged.
To realise the goal of Hindu empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, the Modi Government established the Delimitation Commission to further increase seven more Legislative Assembly Constituencies in the Union Territory to benefit the Jammu Dogras, Pakistani Hindu refugees, Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes, Kashmiri Pundits and Kashmiri Sikhs so as to neutralise the domination of the Kashmiri Muslims in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The second most important objective of downgrading the state into a union territory was to abolish the decades old institutions of governance in the union territory through direct intervention of the central government, and to bring the administrative apparatus of the union territory under the control of the most preferred bureaucrats to advance the BJP agenda.
The third important objective is to control the militancy in the state without any resistance to anti-people policies by the local politicians and bureaucrats.
The fourth objective was to demoralise the people of Kashmir to break their resolve to demand liberation.
In case the Jammu based BJP is unable to have a Hindu Chief Minister, the next step would be to demand the separation of Jammu Division from Kashmir Division.
The RSS had much earlier proposed the trifurcation of former Jammu and Kashmir State but in Jammu Division the main difficulty for the BJP is that out of 10 districts only Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur are the Hindu dominated and the Gulabgrah sub-district of Reasi district is Muslim dominated.
So only 4.5 districts are Hindu majority whereas 5.5 districts having common border with Kashmir Division are Muslim dominated.
The BJP is unable to overcome this practical problem in the path of establishing a Hindu dominated Jammu State.
However, the day BJP would succeed in establishing a separate Jammu State the Kashmiri Muslim dominated Kashmir State would automatically come into existence.
For the time being the people of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory are unitedly demanding the restoration of Statehood and State-Subject Laws of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kashmir based People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is demanding the restoration of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as well but without the favourable verdict the of Supreme Court of India, the 4th August 2019-Position of Jammu and Kashmir is not possible in the near future.
Autonomous Status for Jammu and Kashmir State:
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have stated inside as well as outside the Indian Parliament that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir would be restored at its appropriate time without spelling out the actual definition of appropriate time.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory also believe that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir would be restored back before or after the elections are held in the state.
So in order to address the Kashmir issue, the restoration of statehood is not any solution for the decades old political problem.
The Kashmir based Indian mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir such as National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, People’s Conference and several other smaller parties have promised the people of Kashmir to restore the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir State.
Restoration of the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir State is the question of political existence for the Kashmir based Indian mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani addresses a news conference in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, on December 3, 2011. Geelani presented a list of nearly 30 Kashmiris who are in Indian jails and was demanding an immediate release of the detainees despite their alleged acquittal by the courts . AFP PHOTO/ Rouf BHAT (Photo credit should read ROUF BHAT/AFP via Getty Images)
So sooner or later the Government of India has to restore the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir to remain politically relevant in Kashmir, because coercion cannot prove to be a sustainable strategy to win the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir.
Sovereign Status for Jammu and Kashmir:
The restoration of autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir would not prove to be a permanent solution of the Kashmir issue because of a number of reasons.
Firstly, Kashmir has a very long history as a sovereign country from times immemorial to its takeover by the Mughal Army in 1586 A.D.
So it is very difficult to subdue the history conscious Kashmiri nation.
Secondly, the Islamisation of Kashmir by the Central Asian and Persian Sufi Syeds as well as the Persio-Arabic civilizational influences on Kashmir from fourteenth century onwards has made the region a part of the Muslim Civilizational realm rather than the Indic realm.
So the emotional attachment of the Kashmiri Muslims with Urdu region, Persian region, Turkic region and Arabic region is quite natural.
Thirdly, the Indian troops have killed one lakh freedom fighters in Kashmir over the past 34 years, whose graves are in every village of Kashmir and almost every family has been negatively impacted by the on-going liberation struggle in Kashmir.
It is very difficult to make the Kashmiri nation to forget about the sacrifices of its people during the present freedom struggle.
Fourthly, a huge number of Kashmiri diaspora from both sides of Line of Control is living in the democratic countries of the World, especially in Europe, North America and Australia, who are pro-active in demanding the right of national self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Fifthly, the Kashmir Question is still pending for its resolution in the official files of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Military Observation Group is still stationed at Srinagar and Rawalpindi to monitor the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sixthly, Pakistan is a party to the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, so unless its concerns are addressed, it will continue to raise the Kashmir issue in every bilateral, multilateral and international forum.
Seventhly, the political future of the four million people living in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is directly linked to the future of Jammu and Kashmir, so their role in the liberation struggle in Kashmir can’t be undermined.
Rightly, the emotional bond of the Muslim World with the Kashmiri Muslims makes the Muslim leaders like Mahatir Muhammad, Rajab Tayyib Urdgan and several others to express their solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
Ninthly, the democratic world values very much the people’s right of self-determination for the state-less nations of the world, so the justice loving people of the world irrespective of their religion, region, ethnicity, language and culture support the people’s right of national self-determination.
So in the age of globalisation the people of Kashmir will continue to get the moral support of the democratic world in their struggle for right of national self-determination.
Lastly, the non-state actors pursuing national and supra-national political goals in the Muslim World in general and Af-Pak region in particular will continue to change the status quo in Kashmir.
So the cumulative impact of the above mentioned factors would be that the Government of India would be compelled by the circumstances to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently.
It is therefore, in the interest of both India and the people of Kashmir if the Government of India declares the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as a sovereign country.
The sovereign state of Jammu and Kashmir can sign a Comprehensive Security Treaty with India to defend itself from any external aggression.
In case Pakistan and India agree to demilitarise Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory respectively, the demilitarised territory can be unified to establish the sovereign, secular and democratic Republic of Jammu and Kashmir as a buffer state between India and Pakistan.
Even if India is reluctant to demilitarise the Hindu majority districts of Jammu region, still then the Muslim dominated 15.5 districts of Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory would be a significant geographical area necessary for the establishment of an independent country.
The 10 districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir when added to the Muslim dominated territory will enhance further the geographical and demographic size of the sovereign Republic of Kashmir.
The writer can be accessed via the email address ghathar@yahoo.co.in
Muzaffarabad (IoK News): The officials of the agriculture department of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have agreed to enhance cooperation between them to benefit from each others’ expertise in the growth of agriculture sector.
This was announced after a visit of a high level delegation of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir agriculture department to Gilgit-Baltistan.
The delegation was comprised of Secretary Agriculture Dr Bashir Butt, Director Research & Technical Services Khawaja Masood Iqbal and other senior officials.
Director Agriculture Dr Fazal ur Rehman welcomed the members of the delegation and briefed them on recent developments of the agriculture department of the region.
Deputy Director Shigar GM Saqib invited the delegation to visit a medicinal plants and floriculture garden.
He informed the members of the delegation that agriculture department of the region was playing an important role in making medicinal plants available to local farmers and offer them a profitable business opportunity.
He further informed the delegation that there was a huge potential of producing herbs and flowers for income generation.
The production and growth of herbs and flowers for medicinal and decorative purposes is highly likely to make a positive impact in the economic development of rural and mountainous communities of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Senior scientific officer PCSIR laboratories (Skardu) Fazal Ullah briefed the members of the delegation on measures to keep fruit and vegetables dry and safe for commercial purposes.
He emphasised on creating awareness among people on developing agri-based businesses.
Senior Scientific Officer of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Skardu Ayub Balgari apprised the members of the delegation about the research and development activities of his organisation in Gilgit-Baltistan region.
He said that four dedicated research centres were fully operational in the region to boost the role of agricultural research and development in GB.
Deputy Director Muhammad Ali discussed the role of modern lab techniques in controlling the diseases in fruit and vegetables.
He particularly mentioned the successes his department has made in eradication of the diseases in various specious of potatoes in the region.
Secretary Agriculture AJ & K Dr. Bashir Butt said that the visit of the AJ & K agriculture department delegation was highly rewarding.
He considered that the visit was very successful as it offered enormous opportunities to increase the cooperation between the agriculture department of both the regions.
He further said that this was a first-ever high-level interaction between the officials to discuss technical and scientific aspects of the agricultural research and development in the region.
The visit will have far-reaching impact on the development and growth of agriculture and agricultural research in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Denying a respectful burial and public send-off to iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani is another scar on the face of Indian democracy.
The Kashmir Police not only raided his residence but also thrashed out his family members and took away the dead body without a stretcher.
It is reported that his aged wife was kicked while they were dragging the dead body.
Finally, Gilani was laid to rest in the unprecedented presence of security forces in the dark of night in a neighbourhood graveyard without traditional rituals.
The dragging of the prominent leader’s dead body and humiliating the grieving family display the intensity of suppression and recklessness exercised by the Indian authorities.
Ali Gilani (1929-2021) who passed away recently in Srinagar was not an ordinary resistance leader but one who literally ruled Occupied Kashmir during the last three decades without having any official power.
He gradually emerged as a linchpin of the freedom movement which erupted in the early 1990s and became a central figure.
He used his marvellous oratory and writing skills as the main tool to articulate Kashmiris’ political aspirations and historical affinity with the idea of Pakistan, and also exposed injustices committed by successive Indian governments.
His persistent defiance and bravery inspired the young Kashmiris in the 1990s and his legacy was adorably inherited by the contemporary generation who call him Baba-e-Azadi (father of the freedom movement).
Over the past 31 years, Ali Gilani had mostly been either in jail or under house arrest.
During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure when he got an opportunity for some political activities, Gilani enthusiastically addressed millions of people where the crowd promised to live and die with him.
If there is anyone Kashmiris worship after Sheikh Abdullah, it is Ali Gilani.
Gilani was a member of the Occupied Kashmir Assembly when the Kashmiri youth started the freedom struggle in the 1990s.
During his stint in the Kashmir Assembly, he also earned a reputation as a courageous and shrewd critic of state policies.
He would address India as ‘Delhi Sarkar’, reminding it that the Kashmiris were promised to be given the right to decide their future by the architect of Indian democracy, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
I had the opportunity to talk to Gilani three to four times at his residence in Haiderpura, Srinagar and in New Delhi where he used to live during the winter.
I always remember these conversations vividly.
He told me that all his life he had been prepared to go to jail. With a broad smile on his face, he recalled those days when he used to keep two suitcases ready at his home; one for going back to jail as most of the time, the police used to get back to him after every two to three days with a fresh arrest warrant, and the other one for travelling across Kashmir for public mobilization.
He spent almost 18 years in prison altogether and almost 11 years remained under house arrest in the recent past.
The Indian government used every tactic to buy Gilani’s loyalty or make him flexible.
But with the increasing pressure, Gilani’s spirit kept getting stronger and stronger.
So, the Indian officials concluded that Gilani could never budge and some of them sarcastically called him ‘gone guy’.
Gilani introduced Pakistan as an alternative option for Kashmiris in such a way that the Pakistan flag has frequently been waved at protest rallies.
People even prefer to wrap their martyrs in Pakistan’s flag to make a political statement.
The failure of the peace process between India and Pakistan and the rapid rise of the Hindutva ideology made Gilani’s task easy and the ‘Two-Nation Theory’ got unprecedented endorsement in Indian-held-Kashmir.
The kind of love people show for Pakistan in the streets of Kashmir is unimaginable.
Gilani played an instrumental role in reviving the strength of this historical and religious bond.
Despite his ideologically orientated stance and dogmatic differences, a large number of people in Pakistan also fell in love with Gilani. Cutting across the political divide, people always showed respect and devotion to Gilani in Pakistan.
Hence, he became part of the socio-political discourse on Kashmir in Pakistan.
Gilani was passionate about Pakistan and Islam but also had a deep understanding of the ground realities, political needs and gravity of the Kashmir situation.
Despite religious and political differences, he made collation with like-minded leaders and got engaged in the politics of alliances.
Ironically, India did not take advantage of Gilani’s presence. If Delhi had negotiated with him or others in his presence, it would have been easier to find an acceptable solution to the problem.
People had faith in him, and he had the stature and skill to offer a solution acceptable to both India and Pakistan. The conflict resolution process becomes even more complicated when towering leaders leave the scene.
Gilani also had a knack for taking risks. For example, Pervez Musharraf’s formula for resolving the Kashmir issue could not attract Gilani’s support.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (L) bids farewell to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (2nd from R) as Indian President K.R. Narayanan (C) looks on at the end of an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace, 14 July 2001. Musharraf is on the first day of his landmark visit to India. At right is Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. AFP PHOTO/John MACDOUGALL (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Gilani and Musharraf had a heated debate about the future of Kashmir at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi which eventually turned hostile.
When the news of General Musharraf getting angry with Gilani reached Srinagar, Gilani’s close aides were grieved.
However, the stories of Gilani’s bravery spread across the region and he emerged as a youth’s hero.
Gilani left. He could not be buried according to his will at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar.
Millions of people could not attend his funeral as was expected but the fact remains clear that today, every household of Kashmir is grieving and mourning, and is disgusted at the behaviour of the Indian authorities.
Gilani’s story of bravery and perseverance has now become part of folklore. His detention is finally over. He got his freedom.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
Email: ershad.mahmud@gmail.com
Source: The article was first published in Daily The News International here.
With the passing of Syed Ali Geelani, Chairman, Tehreek-e-Hurriyet, on September 1, 2021, a leader par excellence, who was a symbol of humanity and champion of human rights all over the world, be it Palestine, Myanmar, Chechnya, Kashmir or else, it is an end of era.
Hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani addresses a news conference in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, on December 3, 2011. Geelani presented a list of nearly 30 Kashmiris who are in Indian jails and was demanding an immediate release of the detainees despite their alleged acquittal by the courts . AFP PHOTO/ Rouf BHAT (Photo credit should read ROUF BHAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Syed Ali Geelani was an intellectual, deep thinker, visionary, brilliant and an articulate scholar and above all an institution by himself.
He was a giant in Kashmir’s turbulent history.
In the annals of history, nations and peoples are often blessed with leaders, guides and activists who play singular roles providing leadership that transcends inspiration and casts a lasting impact on these societies.
Syed Ali Geelani was one of those leaders who gave his last full measure of devotion in unflagging pursuit of a just and noble cause of Kashmir.
A moral high ground was everything to him.
Words inevitably cheapen the impeccability of his character and accomplishments.
The legacy of Geelani
His legacy lives as much in the heart as in the head. His formula for Kashmir was simple but powerful. The aspirations of the people of Kashmir must be ascertained.
He had the clarity of vision about the future of Kashmir.
There were no ifs and no buts in his approach. He was bold enough to say it loud and clear that accession of Kashmir to Pakistan was not my political manifesto but my article of faith.
When in 1990 the winds of change blew across the world, destroying dictatorships and occupations, the people of Kashmir also renewed their struggle.
During their period of quiet the world had forgotten them. Now, they were filled with hope and longing of a new dawn.
It was at this crucial juncture that Geelani Sahib emerged to present a much larger aspect of his leadership. He not only rekindled the issue afresh but also gave it a new vigour and meaning.
The people of Kashmir will never forget the selfless contribution and the tireless efforts of Geelani Sahib. His efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir.
The vision of Geelani Sahib and the unity and sacrifices of the people of Kashmir will undoubtedly lead the Kashmiri freedom struggle to its logical conclusion, that is freedom from the occupation and alien subjugation.
The people of Kashmir lost an iconic leader.
May Allah accept the sacrifice of Geelani Sahib and elevate his status as the guided person, comfort him in his grave, make his grave part of Jannat-ul-Firdous and give Sabr (patience) to the family! Ameen.
/Muzaffarabad-Azad Jammu and Kashmir (IoK News): The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has set a new record in its academic history by conferring degrees on more than a thousand students graduating from various departments of the university, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi said this here on Friday during the 18th convocation.
He said that the university was a model of higher education in the State providing education in a comprehensive multidisciplinary range of academic domains, ranging from Engineering to Medical Sciences – and from Social to Basic and Applied Sciences.
The University is offering 76-degree programs in 28 disciplines under its four faculties.
Dr. Abbasi said that, in spite of the Covid-19 crisis during the year 2020, a new state-of-the-art King Abdullah campus at Chattar Klass have been completed and handed over to the University.
The 18th convocation of the university held in King Abdullah Campus. Dr. Abbasi went to say that the new campus of the university would sustain more than 6000 students of 14 academic departments and institutes.
“Additionally, there are 06 student hostels for the students to get have residence. “
The Vice-Chancellor said that the absence of the university campus had been a great issue, but by the grace of Allah, efforts of the state president Sardar Masood Khan and generous cooperation of the Saudi government, King Abdullah Campus of the university had been constructed where 15 departments of the university had been shifted beside the construction of six hostels and other facilities.
Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi said that the impact factor of the university had also improved manifold and the number of university faculty had also been raised by 100 times.
Keeping in the market demand and meeting the future needs of the liberated territory, the University of Azad Kashmir has decided to launch various programs shortly.
/IoK News (Mirpur AJ & K)/ Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Sikandar Sultan Raja will witness the electoral process in AJ & K, the Insight on Kashmir has learnt. However, the local and national media reports suggest that despite repeated claims by federal government of free, fair and transparent elections in Azad Kashmir, the partiality of the election process has already got a question mark.
There is an ongoing debate in the political parties contesting the election that the electoral process will be hijacked. On Tuesday 6th of July 2021, former Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi predicted that the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir general elections would be rigged.
A meeting of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission held on Wednesday to finalise the code of conduct for journalists for the upcoming elections.
During a heated election campaign, a gross violation of rules, regulations and laws relating to electioneering have already been reported in the local press.
In an unusual judicial inquiry, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has rejected an inquiry report by a returning officer (RO) on the issue of grant of cash by federal minister Ali Ameen Gandapur to a PTI activists,
Earlier this week, the members of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission Raja Farooq Niaz and Farhat Ali Meer invited Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan to visit the region on the election day on July 25 and monitor the electoral process and arrangements made by them.
The members of the AJK EC thanked the CEC for his cooperation in preparation of electoral rolls for 12 seats of Constituent Assembly of AJK for Kashmiri refugees living in various parts of Pakistan.
They also lauded the decision of appointing ECP officials as returning officers and assistant returning officers for the election on the reserved seats of the refugees.
On 13 July, in an extra-ordinary meeting of the AJ & K election commissioner, the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Abdul Rasheed Sulehria reiterated his firm resolve to conduct free , fair and unbiased election process in the region.
He instructed to all returning officers, local administration and police of the Muzaffarabad region to cooperate with the election authority to ensure fair elections in the region.
Insight on Kashmir 