Archive for the ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ Category
Cellphones, Cricket, Apples….Security Concerns Rule Everything in J&K
India has gained mastery over chaotic diplomacy in the domestic and international arenas. The latest demonstration of this mastery came just days after P.M. Singh visited Jammu and Kashmir to win the hearts and minds of the people in the State. P.M. Singh inaugurated a train service linking Kashmir with Srinagar and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressed a public rally without bullet-proof screens. The gestures were aimed at highlighting the return of normalcy to the terror ridden J&K. Even before the people of the State could react to the new initiatives, the Home Ministry announced the decision to ban pre-paid cellular phones in J&K. The reasons are obvious: security concerns, terrorists could misuse these connections. The ban applies only to pre-paid connections because the validation process for securing such a connection is much easier than the post-paid ones. Now 39 lakh people with pre-paid cellular connections will have to look for alternative means of connecting across the state. Moreover, by the classic stroke of a pen, 10,000 telephone operators most of whom are young Kashmiri youth will loose their jobs. Connectivity and economic development were the dominant themes of P.M. Singh’s recent visit to J&K. Could there be a better way to further alienate the people of J&K? Click to continue…
Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment Ordinance: A Change in Nomenclature Only
The Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Ordinance 2009 was approved by Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet last week. The Ordinance is directed towards granting internal political autonomy to the Northern Areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ordinance, however, falls short of local demands and is only a change in nomenclature rather than genuine political reforms. Â
The 1949 ceasefire line resulted in the division of J&K with Pakistan gaining control over some portion of the disputed territory. Pakistan administered region of J&K was subsequently divided in 1970 into two administrative zones: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Northern Regions. AJK is constitutionally not a part of Pakistan and is governed by an elected President, Prime Minister and Legislature. Northern Areas are under the direct control of Islamabad and is ruled through a Northern Area Council headed by Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Click to continue…
Understanding J&K Dispute: People of Undivided J&K
The third level is the most vital, though widely ignored aspect of the J&K problem; the intra-regional relations within the undivided J&K territory. The socio-cultural and ethnic commonalities of the region override the political divisions enforced by drawing the LOC and creating untenable sub- divisions within each side. Strong forces of affinity and aversion exist within the various sub-regions of India administered J&K and Pakistan controlled AJK and Northern Areas making a simple conflict resolution approach unsustainable for the region. None of the five regions (Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, AJK, Northern Areas) of J&K have clearly defined mandate in terms of joining India or Pakistan or opting for complete independence. These intra-regional linkages further complicate any possibility of a consensual resolution. Click to continue…
Understanding J&K Dispute: Government of Pakistan and People of AJK and Norther Areas
The intra-national dimension of the J&K dispute also involves strained relations between the inhabitants of the Pakistan administered regions of J&K and the Federal Government of Pakistan. The 1949 ceasefire line resulted in the division of J&K with Pakistan gaining control over some portion of the disputed territory. Pakistan administered region of J&K was subsequently divided in 1970 into two administrative zones: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Northern Regions. AJK is constitutionally not a part of Pakistan and is governed by an elected President, Prime Minister and Legislature. Northern Areas are under the direct control of Islamabad and is ruled through a Northern Area Council headed by Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Though Pakistan claims to be supporting the cause of self-determination in India administered regions of J&K, the degree of autonomy and kind of democratic freedoms granted to the populations of AJK and Northern Areas are highly controversial and have caused widespread unrest in the region. Click to continue…
Understanding the J&K Dispute: Government of India and People of J&K
At the second level J&K dispute refers to the relations between the Indian administered regions of J&K and the Government of India. The J&K territory east of the Line of Control (LOC) is formally a part of the Indian Union and west of the LOC is a part of Pakistan. Escaping popular attention and media limelight, the people of J&K have demanded redressal for their numerous grievances against the political leadership of the State and Government of India (GOI).
Â
Understanding the J&K Dispute : Inter-State Dimension
Jammu and Kashmir, referred to as one of the most dangerous places on earth, is embroiled in one of the most misunderstood conflicts of modern times. The general perception is that J&K as a territorial conflict is rooted in religious sentiments between India and Pakistan. This inter-state aspect highlights merely one dimension of the more complex intertwined dyads of a deeper conflict. This four part analysis of the J&K conflict elaborates on the primary dimensions of the conflict: i) inter-state aspect involving the states of India and Pakistan; ii) intra-national dimension involving grievances of the people in the India administered regions of J&K towards the Government of India and the lack of democratic freedoms in the Pakistan administered areas of Kashmir, and iii) inter-regional linkages among the various sub-regions of undivided J&K. Click to continue…
Shopian Incident: A Reminder to Re-formulate Policy
Regions of the Kashmir Valley, administered by India have witnessed unprecedented protests since May 30. From University teachers to Government employees, from protest strikes to student’s demonstrations at Lal Chowk, the entire valley is submerged in expressing displeasure and anger in one form or another. The protests have been prompted by the alleged rape and murder of two Kashmiri girls by the personnel of the Indian Security Force. The two women, who were sisters-in-law, went missing on the way home from their orchard on Friday. Their bodies were found the next morning, one in a canal and one on open ground about 1km (0.6 mile) away. The initial official was that the girls had drowned in the stream where their bodies were later recovered. However, forensic tests have established that the girls were raped before dying. The month-long inquiry ordered by the State Government is viewed by the people as delaying tactic and they are demanding immediate action. The Government inquiry commission has been declared as eyewash and the Shopian Bar Association has launched a parallel investigation. Protests across the valley have crippled normal life and the Government has responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators and imposing curfew.
The Shopian incident is a stimulus for the Government of India to re-think its politico-strategic policy in the state of J&K. Home Minister P. Chidamrabam has already given hints of refurbishing the policy with the announcement that the CRPF would henceforth play a secondary role in the state. But the Government of India needs to realize that two additional measures will have to be taken for ensuring the short and long term resolution of the current impasse. In the short term, the Government should conduct an impartial inquiry into the Shopian incident and punish the guilty; any attempt to shield the CRPF personnel will breed greater discontent among the people of J&K. In the long term the Government will have to supplement its politico-strategic involvement in the state with a well-planned socio-psychological approach to address the root causes of discontent in the state. Click to continue…
The Excuse of Kheer Bhawani
This is a Guest Post by Shreen Malik from Kashmir University
The mystic waters of Kheer Bhawani once again drew Kashmiri Pandits in large numbers to their homeland. The grand festival of Kheer Bhwanai was observed on May 31 at the holy shrine of Kheer Bhawani in Maheshaspora village about 25 km from Srinagar. The significance of this festival goes beyond religious sentiments and has become a sort of spiritual homecoming for thousands of Kashmiri Pandits.
Â