.

EDITORIAL

ISI DESIGNS

Killing of 12 Shias and causing serious injuries to another 30 during religious congregation establishes a set pattern in which ISI of Pakistan is engaged. First, it was the KP Hindus targeted for ethnic cleansing. Then it was the turn of Sikhs which have lived peacefully in Valley throughout 11 years of turmoil. And now it is the Shia community becoming their wanton target. Same pattern has also been adopted in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri to ensure ethnic cleansing by targetting members of minority community. To be precise, the pattern is no different from what is prevalent in Pakistan itself where minorities have not only been discriminated, targeted for elimination but also persecuted recklessly. ......more

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Jammuites owe a word of gratitude to the Power Grid Corporation for restoring power very expeditiously thereby saving the people from extremely woeful plight in the sultry weather......more

From Hashim Qureshi
Like a good physician, a political leader keeps a constant watch over his people. He makes prescriptions according to the changing mood of the people as does the phsician prescribe according.....more

Negotiations and
Kashmir problem

By Daya Sagar
Dialogue for What? Negotiations on What? Kashmir is disturbed, say some. Local conditions in the Valley are much congenial now, say many others. And simultaneously Advani.......more

India should intervene
in Sri Lanka

By Avinash Shirodkar
The United States badly burnt its fingers in Vietnam, but this does not stop Washington from spraying the Monroe doctrine to the farthest corners of the globe, and acting as an......more

EDITORIAL

ISI DESIGNS

Killing of 12 Shias and causing serious injuries to another 30 during religious congregation establishes a set pattern in which ISI of Pakistan is engaged. First, it was the KP Hindus targeted for ethnic cleansing. Then it was the turn of Sikhs which have lived peacefully in Valley throughout 11 years of turmoil. And now it is the Shia community becoming their wanton target. Same pattern has also been adopted in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri to ensure ethnic cleansing by targetting members of minority community. To be precise, the pattern is no different from what is prevalent in Pakistan itself where minorities have not only been discriminated, targeted for elimination but also persecuted recklessly. Today no Christian or Hindu or any other minority citizen is safe in Pakistan. This forms part of the reports of all human rights bodies the world over. Another trend visible in Pakistan is targetting of Shia community members in almost all the Pak cities by throwing bombs on their congregations causing immense loss of human lives. Such attacks are common feature of Pakistan where members of even Islamic fraternity are not spared unless they belong to Sunni sect. ISI has tried to foment trouble even in India between Sunni and Shia sects notably in Uttar Pradesh. This time round it is the Valley that has been targeted with specific designs of creating hell.

Shia's God father Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari however had a providential escape as he moved a few steps away due to sunshine facing him while addressing the devouts. In fact, he was the prime target for elimination. Had something unfortunate happened to him it would have set the Valley on fire with wild and instant reaction. The first motive of ISI was thus to cause mayhem in the State with riotous situation. Second, it would have vitiated the relations between Shias and Sunnies who have by and large lived in total harmony in the State. Third, it could have led to another spate of migration thus making the ethnic cleansing total. It may be mentioned that Ansari despite his several negative points has been quite vocal in launching tirades against Pakistan both as a cabinet member as also when he is outside the ministry.

The much bigger question relates to security apparatus having failed for the umpteenth times. It seems security bosses refuse to learn any lessons. Needless to say Ansari all along enjoyed 'Z' category security which remained in place even when he resigned from the cabinet. Surely, it is the first and the foremost duty of security attached to the former minister and security managers in the State to sanitise the place thoroughly before he addressed the congregation. It seems security people have even forgotten the MA Stadium blasts when Governor was targeted on Republic Day. Such mines cannot be planted in minutes but is the job of adept hands who meticulously plan, plant and trigger the same. Had metal detectors been used and other sanitising measures put through, the mine would have been detected. Disowning security lapse is in bad taste. If that be the rule then no security category is safe and it is better to do away with all types of security covers. Constructive responsibility of providing fool-proof security to at least 'Z' category VVIPs lies on the security apparatus of the State. Earlier Minister of State for Power Mr Bhat also perished in mine blast precisely because route to be followed by him was not sanitised. It is true that those provided security cover at times scoff at it and take liberties. But in the strife torn State there is no room for any kid-play. All have to take their job seriously.

Now that Shias too stand targeted, the security bosses would be well advised to guard their places of worship particularly during congregations because pattern is similar to what has been happening in Pakistan but designs in this State are much more sinister. The state should also move a step ahead to anticipate what could be the next probable targets falling in the same pattern and take all preventive measures to thwart evil designs of ISI of Pakistan.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Jammuites owe a word of gratitude to the Power Grid Corporation for restoring power very expeditiously thereby saving the people from extremely woeful plight in the sultry weather. People are also grateful to the Minister of State for Power Jayanti Ben Mehta who effectively intervened and asked Power Grid Corporation to take up the challenging task. Left to the PDD and others concerned with power supply, they caused ripples in the spines of Jammuites when they gave their own time schedule for putting the system back on the rails from minimum of 10 days to nearly six months. This undoubtedly created acute panic and distress signals manifested their ugliness in the form of massive protests in all the affected localities. It seemed that Jammu would be on fire, a situation fraught with dangerous ramifications. It is also recorded that patience and resilience of Jammuites have been stretched beyond retrieval and they are in no mood to let the powers that be taken them for any further ride.

Failure of power or large disruption obviously affects the water supply as well. No wonder, everything went haywire and PHE department was hard put to go beyond showing helplessness. They put the blame squarely on non-supply of power whence all their pumping stations stopped working. This is totally unacceptable. It has been highlighted in these columns umpteen times that pumping stations must have their own independent standby power supply. Till date nothing has been done to position correct rating DG Sets to ward of any disruption in water supply to the city of over a million thristy mouths. Even now it is not too late to provide such standby generators so that PHE has no alibi to stop water supply when the power fails, fluctuates or get disrupted frequently. This must be accorded top priority. Tankers are no solace in that available fleet cannot cater to more than ten thousand population as regards their water requirement and it is well nigh impossible to rush such tanker supply to the narrow lanes of old city where Jammu really lives.

As on now one can categories and compartmentalise various evils and bottlenecks that afflict the smooth flow of power supply to Jammu. These can be summed up as non-purchase of the required quantity of power, non-acceptance of rated power by the defective/old/under-rated receiving stations, lack of funds to get them repaired, non realisation of revenue, bad transmission lines. Add to it the natural calamities that make the defectively constructed towers collapse. It is unfortunate and highly irresponsible that the white elephant that PDD happens to be has no plans in place for crisis management like the one experienced in Jammu and when towers were blasted in Kashmir. Each time it is the Power Grid Corporation that came to the rescue of the hapless citizens. PDD has not even the system in place for immediate replacement of even small transformers. They do it only when protesting consumers come on the streets and block the roads. This is height of nonsense. There is the indispensable need of instant replacement of burnt/defective transformers. And of course putting the wherewithals in place whenever any tower caves in or blasted off.

Gun: The Scourge of Kashmir and Kashmiris

From Hashim Qureshi

Like a good physician, a political leader keeps a constant watch over his people. He makes prescriptions according to the changing mood of the people as does the physician prescribe according to Health State of his patient.

When a nation begins its struggle for realisation of its rights, the leadership takes full care that the people are made to make as little sacrifice as is possible. If the objectives are not realised through civil disobedience, then the prescription for political struggle can be changed. In 1918, Gandhiji had launched the struggle against the colonial power. A crowd in Calcutta got enraged and set a police station on fire in which a few Englishmen and some local police personnel were killed. Gandhiji immediately stopped his movement saying that he would not place the foundation of his freedom movement on the blood of innocent people. He knew that a violent movement would consume the lives of millions of people.

Unfortunately, pseudo-leadership leads the people in Kashmir. It is neither able to neither diagnose the disease nor prescribe a proper remedy. Their prescription at the moment is violence and the use of gun, which serves the interests of many actors on the scene. They do not mind if the patient dies by inches just for the improper treatment meted out to him. In a struggle of violence when weapons are used, one with larger resources, weaponry, manpower and better technology has the upper hand. However, in some cases, the world opinion did help the weaker struggling nations to achieve their goal as in Vietnam and in Afghanistan. The truth is that at both the places, the real fighting was between two super powers of the day, the USA and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

What has the gun given to Kashmiris?

The gun has brought an end to the culture of coexistence in Kashmir society. It has exacerbated extremism and sown the seeds of communalism secular polity has been devoured by the monster of communalism. The gun has consumed the generation of Kashmiri youth in streets and market places, in mountains and gorges, in streams and over glaciers. Thousands of young women have been widowed and thousands of children have been rendered orphans. The gun has actually strengthened the criminal elements in society. Family feuds and personal vendetta are being settled through the use of gun. On the basis of gun, properties have been acquired forcibly and declared the act as legal and permissible. The weapon is being used for petty purposes and interests to the extent that under the fear of gun, matrimonial relations have been imposed upon unwilling partners. The gun has destroyed all such institutions as are essential infrastructure for the social and cultural development of a society like the schools, colleges, hospitals, bridges and other structures. The gun has closed the path to reason and found a short cut to the resolution of political differences by liquidating the political opponents. This difference of opinion has consumed many a distinguished scholar, intellectual, physician, and many others whom the society finds after centuries of waiting and expectation. What a tragedy that this enormous national treasure has been reduced to dust by the gun.

Take whatever dimension of Kashmir politics during the last one decade, you will find that violence and gun culture have spread nothing but wholesale destruction of Kashmir and the new generation of Kashmiris. Indian and Pakistani armies both claim to be the friends of Kashmiris while painting each other as the enemy of the Kashmiris. But when both of them play with ammunition and gunfire on the line of control, it is only the Kashmiris who get destroyed, their houses are razed to ground, and their cattle are killed. Their fields are turned into ruins and their crops are set on fire. Thus Kashmiris become the targets of the bullet of both the armies. A closer study revels that while Pakistani army supplies guns to the Kashmiris thus contriving his death, the Indian army guns him down while trying to disarm him. Kashmiri leadership has become a hostage to this death drama of Kashmiris. Of course, while sitting in closed-door rooms, these leaders condemn the gun and call the violence as poison for political process.

Calls for strike

Day in an day out, calls for hartals and strikes are given, The pseudo-leaders consider these calls and their results as a symbol of their power and strength although they knew it better than anybody else that these strikes are observed only out of fear of gun and not out of any sincere sentiment. A common Kashmiri is fed up with these calls and strikes. This is what could be gathered from the speech made by Yasin Malik, which he made at the grave of the martyrs after being released from the jail. He said," people should take note talking of peace and peace alone, the outside world gets a wrong signal." This means that ordinary people were now talking of peace only.

International public opinion

Human Rights Commission holds its meetings at Geneva twice a year. For last ten years, India and Pakistan along with some Kashmiris on either side have been trading accusations of human rights violations against each other. Till date the UN did not appoint a Commission that would conduct inquiry into these allegations. The OIC raised hue and cry that in Indian part of Kashmir, the Indians subjected Kashmiri Muslims to repression. But with the passing of each day, these OIC member countries increased the quantum of their trade with India. Larger and larger labour force from India is coming to these countries and helping the home country with foreign exchange remittances. Thus India’s economy is receiving a boost through it. After Kargil fighting, India made it known to the whole world that whatever is happening in Kashmir is because of Pakistan’s interference. The world was convinced with India’s allegation of "cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan." The pressure mounted on Pakistan by world opinion in the matter of Kargil shows that India had succeeded in making them concede what she had been alleging against Pakistan.

Hijacking of an Indian airliner from Nepal by Kashmir related militants gave another handle in the hands of the Indians to tell the world that Pakistan was interfering in their matters and exporting terrorism in the country. Three persons set free against the released of the passengers went to Pakistan.

Clinton’s visit

President Clinton’s South Asian visit generated hope among the Kashmiri people. Some of the Kashmiri leaders even thought of fixing a meeting with President Clinton. They were heard saying that if India did not obstruct, the meeting had almost been fixed. This speaks for classical innocence of Kashmiri leadership. International protocol lay down that if the head of a state visits another state, nobody could stop even the staunchest of that state’s opponent from meeting the visit dignitary. Clinton did make a formal reference to Kashmir, which meant nothing. But of course, addressing the people of Pakistan on TV during his stopover, he exhorted them to give up violence and come out of the siege of Kashmir issue. The way in which President Clinton changed his airliner while landing in Pakistan gave a clear signal to the world that Pakistan was involved in the politics of terrorism. Nobody was left with any doubt about it.

Those who do not try to understand international politics and those who do not see beyond the veil of human rights of western countries, they will not be able to know where the interests of these countries lie. An American Congressman said on TV that India talks business with the US while Pakistan talks of Kashmir. The US must decide in the light of her interests.

This is what not only the Asian but also the people all over the world need to understand. Western countries care for their interests. That has been their policy in the past and shall remain in future as well.

India is let off the hook

Violence and gun unleashed by the militancy give a free hand to India to perpetrate oppression. The proliferation of gun goes in favour of India. In the first place, India finds vast training field for its forces in guerrilla warfare in Kashmir. Like Afghans, no country in the world is prepared to provide political or military support to the Kashmiris. The arms supplied by Pakistan are of light caliber, which can be countered by India easily. India can continue with this type of conflict for a century. She has no dearth of manpower not of weaponry. The arms and ammunition seized by India from the militants in Kashmir can equip one full Brigade. The gun has given the Indians a clear opportunity of liquidating Kashmiri youth after arresting them on charges of colluding with militants. The security forces of the land where Ram and Sita and Gandhiji preached the lesson of non-violence learnt for the first time in Kashmir that they had a license to kill human being and humanism. The outside world is a silent spectator to all this because there are vested interests.

Further division of Kashmir

Hurriyat Chairman Mr. Geeelani has proposed further trifurcating of Kashmir. In truth he has not committed a crime by making such a statement. Jamaat-e-Islami never made a secret of the fact that it has been fighting for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s plan called Operation topac, the aim is to acquire Kashmir Valley. Will further division of Kashmir resolve the tangle? No, it can never happen. Therefore the only solution for Kashmir issue is that both India and Pakistan allow Kashmir to be united and Jammu and Kashmir becomes a secular state giving internal autonomy to all regions of which it is comprised.

Offer for talks

The release of Hurriyat leaders from the Indian prisons created the worldwide impression that India is talking to the people. Some of them are reported to have secret talks also. A 100-minute secret meeting was held in the private residence of the Kashmir University Vice Chancellor between a senior Hurriyat leader and the Indian Defence Minister. But at the same time the APHC has put the entire Kashmiri nation into confusion in regard to their talks with the Government of India. The State Department of the US has appreciated India’s initiative of talking to the Hurriyat leaders. Pakistani leaders have expressed their indifference to these talks thereby adding to the confusion of Hurriyat. It is out of this confusion and chaos that the Hurriyat has demanded tripartite talks. From this the entire world community got a signal that by demanding inclusion of Pakistan in the talks, Hurriyat is performing the role of a supporter of Pakistan.

The question is not that APHC has made any wrong demand because Pakistan is a party to Kashmir dispute because she has occupied Gilgit, Baltistan and PoK. The question is that in the context of Indian part of Kashmir, talks will take place between India and the Kashmiris on that side. Pakistan joining the talks at a certain stage is but natural. But why should Kashmiri leaders advocate the case of Pakistan? Therefore the demand of the Hurriyat betrays lack of political sagacity. At the same time, why should not Pakistan offer the PoK leadership to talk with Islamabad as is done by the Indian government? If India gives Hurriyat leaders to meet anybody including the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi, why should not Pakistan given the same freedom to PoK dissidents to meet the Indian High commissioner in Islamabad?

The last thing that I think I have a right to say in the capacity of the son of the soil. The pain that has accumulated within my breast for Kashmir and Kashmiris is that Kashmiri leadership should try to realize the pain and suffering of a common Kashmiri. The pain inflicted by a prospect of arrest or by becoming a victim of terrorism or getting killed in the process. The pain that is inflicted by the dark prison cell turns the black nights into a monster. They should realize the pain suffered by a widow who is obliged to look after the orphans. They should realize what it means to the young generation of Kashmiris who find nothing to sustain them. They should realize what happens to the parents of those dear ones who have been put to eternal sleep in their graves.

The author is Chairman, J&K Democratic Liberation Front Holland.