Discontents in Gilgit-Baltistan, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Discontents in Gilgit-Baltistan

By Aziz Ali Dad

The absence of participation of Gilgit-Baltistan in decision-making bodies at the national level will make the whole exercise of administrative and political changes in the empowerment package meaningless. Real participation comes with a role in decision-making

The announcement of the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Ordinance in September 2009 gave some hope to the optimists that it would pave the way for democratic governance and political rejuvenation of the moribund governance structure and stagnant political culture of Gilgit-Baltistan. Sceptics, however, dubbed it as an eyewash to hide the real mechanics of power, which are under the direct control of the federal government. It was hoped that the fervour of debate for and against the empowerment package would gradually subside and give way to an objective view after the elections. Now that a new set-up is in place, there are some factors that lend credence to the sceptics’ argument. These can prove detrimental to the nascent democratic process and damaging to the repute of the ruling party in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Soon after the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) elections in November were announced, independent and other party members made a beeline to become part of the government. Until now, the PPP enjoys the support of 23 members out of 33 seats in the assembly. I think the ruling party should dissuade independent members and other parties from becoming part of power sharing because the PPP has a clear majority in the assembly. Therefore, it does not need the favour of members outside the party. GBLA has already unanimously elected a chief minister. But the ordinance does not envisage the slot of an opposition leader.

http://newageislam.com/discontents-in-gilgit-baltistan/current-affairs/d/2437

Kashmir: Militants lost their war. We shouldn’t let them change tactics, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Kashmir: Militants lost their war. We shouldn’t let them change tactics

Losing the peace in KashmirBy Gagandeep Bakshi

Despite these pressures, security forces had succeeded in scaling down the levels of terrorist violence considerably. This year, five lakh pilgrims visited the Amarnath Shrine. Another four lakh tourists have already visited the state. With yet another well-conducted assembly election, Pakistan would have totally lost its case for Kashmir by default.However, realising that the tanzeems have largely lost the military phase of the battle, it appears that there might have been a deft shift of strategy to exploit trivial local causes and generate mass hysteria over communal issues. Poverty is not responsible: the poverty ratio in J&K is four per cent compared to 21.8 per cent in the rest of India. J&K gets eight times the central assistance that other Indian states get. J&K was getting Rs 3197 crore in 1991-92. This had gone up to Rs 8092 crore by 2001-02. Does this new approach of agitation represent a change of tactics to initiate an Intifada phase of the secessionist movement, precipitated by these figures? If so, the nation-state must be resolute, and clearly display that will and resolve, given that what is at stake is the most crucial aspect of its own ideological basis. The agenda in J&K is becoming unabashedly communal, frightening even mainstream local parties into tamely going along. There is the need to cool atavistic passions but there is equally the need to stand absolutely rock-firm on an issue which could unravel our entire nation-state itself.

http://newageislam.com/kashmir--militants-lost-their-war.-we-shouldn%E2%80%99t-let-them-change-tactics/current-affairs/d/654