Kashmir: Back To The Future, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Kashmir: Back To The Future

By Balraj Puri

19 Oct 2009

A statement sometime ago by a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson pleading for Kashmir's independence, though ignored in India, was widely commented upon in the Kashmir Valley as a climb-down from a traditional position. It appears to respond to the slogan of "we want azadi" often raised in popular demonstrations. Azadi is Urdu for independence and freedom, concepts that sometime contradict each other. The question is: do people need independence if it denies them freedom? This has never been debated in Kashmir.

When Sheikh Abdullah, the most popular leader Kashmir ever produced, assumed power after the state's accession to India and the end of Dogra rule, he hailed azadi after four centuries of slavery, Kashmir having been ruled by Mughal, Afghan, Sikh and Dogra rulers. People celebrated as well. However, neither the ruler nor the people bothered about freedom. No dissenting voice was tolerated. The system was so regimented that office-bearers of the ruling National Conference were appointed as government officers and vice versa. The Sheikh dismissed my suggestion that government officers should not hold party office by citing how successfully the system worked in the Soviet Union.

At the time I asked Nehru, then India's prime minister, "Can such a state remain a part of a democratic India?" He said India's Kashmir policy revolved around Abdullah's personality: "We cannot afford to oppose him."

Gradually, discontent started brewing in the state. As all outlets for expressing it were blocked, it sought a secessionist outlet. In sheer desperation, G M Karra a legendary leader of the Quit Kashmir movement against Dogra monarchy in 1946 who was sidelined by the new government raised the slogan in favour of Pakistan in June 1953. In Jammu, discontent took the form of an agitation sponsored by the Jana Sangh for Kashmir's "full integration". The Sheikh, to steal Karra's thunder and provoked by the Jammu agitation, started making anti-India noises.

http://newageislam.com/kashmir--back-to-the-future--/islam-and-politics/d/2045

Islamism shakes Kashmir, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

Islamism shakes Kashmir

By Sreeram Chaulia

July 8, 2008

After two decades of calm in large-scale popular movements, Indian-administered Kashmir recently witnessed mass demonstrations and protests against the state government's decision to transfer forest land to facilitate a Hindu pilgrimage.

The decision of the Jammu and Kashmir authorities to grant 40 hectares of uninhabited jungle tract to the Amarnath Shrine Board triggered a furore in the Kashmir Valley and brought life to a standstill for nearly two weeks, a throwback to the 1988-1989 insurrection against Indian rule. So forceful was the clamour that the state government had to eventually rescind the transfer order.

The anti-land transfer agitation fed on important new trends in Jammu and Kashmir. Firstly, the state has been enjoying a rare respite from terrorist violence initiated by Pakistan-sponsored jihadi outfits like the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Muhammad. The internal political turmoil in Pakistan, pitting a military presidency against a democratically elected parliament, and the challenge posed to Pakistan's security by the US war on the Taliban, left the jihadis in Kashmir confused and rudderless.

http://newageislam.com/islamism-shakes-kashmir/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/175

Pakistan, India agree to ease visa curbs, Current affairs, NewAgeISlam.com

Current affairs

Pakistan, India agree to ease visa curbs

By Shafqat Ali

Both sides will look into the prospects of a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the secretary said. The talks will also focus on peace and security, besides reviewing the implementation of conventional, nuclear and cross-LoC CBMs, he added. The interaction will provide the two foreign secretaries an opportunity to also discuss other areas of bilateral cooperation, said Mr Bashir.

The issue of Kashmir and peace and security would be on agenda when the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India kickstart the fifth round of the composite dialogue.

Mr Aizaz Chaudhry will also be part of the delegation. Mr Bashir will also hold a call-on meeting with Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani on Tuesday. The secretary is also expected to call on external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee. Earlier, both the countries completed the fourth round of the composite dialogue last year and its review meeting was held when the Indian external affairs minister visited Islamabad in May this year.

http://newageislam.com/pakistan,-india-agree-to-ease-visa-curbs/current-affairs/d/263