Pakistan’s Latest Wake Up Call By Varun Vira
May 25, 2011
The 15 to 20 militants who attacked the Pakistani naval base PNS Mehran in Karachi on the evening of May 22 have once more exposed the magnitude of the security threat that violent Islamists pose to Pakistan.
The base is one of the country’s largest naval installations, and the significance of the attack is only rivalled by the October 2009 storming of the Army’s General Headquarters. The attack—claimed to be further revenge for the US killing of Osama bin Laden—was the third in a series of high-profile attacks since the US operation, which included targeting a paramilitary training compound.
The dust has yet to settle, but the latest attack is believed once again to be the work of the Pakistani Taliban. More specifically, many media reports have attributed the attack to Ilyas Kashmiri, a veteran militant commander believed to be a former member of Pakistan’s Special Forces, a major leader during the anti-Indian jihad in Kashmir during the 1990s, and now the military commander of al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Certainly, the sophistication of these attacks is in keeping with his style.
It’s been a cruel year so far for the Pakistani military, and as details emerge of the latest incident, it appears the military’s reputation will be further tarnished at a time when it can ill afford further embarrassment. The P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft that were targeted in the latest raid were designed with conflict with India in mind and occupy a vital place in Pakistan’s armoury. That militants were able to so easily target and destroy two of its current fleet of three, which werepainstakingly acquired from the United States, is unlikely to sit well in Pakistan, and comes hot on the heels of the embarrassment over the US operation in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden.
The attackers in this case appear to have demonstrated superior operational expertise, with a clear pursuit of defined objectives with strategic and psychological value. Shaukat Qadir, a retired army officer reportedly told how ‘the first rocket that was fired was at the P-3C,’ while others noted how the attack undermined confidence in the military’s ability to protect vital strategic assets. Militants also appeared to have good tactical expertise, holding up well against security forces. They were reported to be equipped with enough provisions to dig in for over three days, and despite the intervention of Special Forces commandoes, held out for almost 15 hours.
The attack has also raised questions over how the infiltrators were able to enter such a secure facility, with many speculating that they must have had inside help. Certainly, the attackers appear to have had a good working knowledge of the base, completing the destruction of the aircraft within 20 minutes of entering the base. They are also believed to have entered utilizing three separate gates, again implying either collusion or significant failings in security.
Radicalization within the Pakistani security apparatus has been a growing worry, particularly given the praetorian underpinnings of Pakistan. The Army controls virtually all aspects of security and foreign relations, and has dominated the political sphere, rendering any threat to its cohesion especially dangerous for future stability.
Suspicions of radicalization, however, are nothing new. A Pakistani Army Major was suspected of assisting Faisal Shahzad, who planned to bomb New York’s Times Square last year. More recently, the governor of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and powerful province, was assassinated by a member of his own security detail despite his being drawn from an elite anti-terrorist police squad.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, meanwhile, also allude to a broader problem. A cable from 2006, for example, suggested that the Pakistani Air Force admitted to radicalization in its ranks, and reported on acts of sabotage against its F-16 aircraft to prevent their deployment in support of operations against Taliban militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The attack has also inevitably raised fears over the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear installations, especially at a time when the country is believed to be furiously increasingthe size of its nuclear arsenal. After all, attacks near nuclear facilities aren’t unprecedented. In August 2008, a suicide bombing killed 65in an attack on an ordnance factory inside the Wah cantonment, where some of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are stored and maintained. Similarly, PNS Mehran itself is only about 15 kilometres from the Mansoor Air Base, another presumed stockpile.
This latest incident will also likely reignite worries over the safety and stability of Karachi, the country’s economic centre that accounts for over half of the country’s GDP. The city has generally been believed to be sheltered from the violence sweeping Pakistan’s major urban metropolises. But its cosmopolitanism and its sprawling Pashtun slums have offered militants both urban sanctuary far from US drones, and also significant access to fundraising, operational and criminal support networks. In 2008, Karachi Mayor Syed Mustafa Kemal declared the city the Taliban’s ‘revenue engine,’ and in early 2010 various senior members of the Afghan Taliban, including military commander Mullah Baradar, were arrested inside the city.
These ‘benefits’ were generally considered likely to save the city, but recent trends have suggested otherwise. In November 2010, an anti-terrorist police compound was attacked inside the city, and there have been reports of attacks on NATO supplies that enter through Karachi’s port. Navy personnel, in particular, have come under recent attack. In a single week last month, militants mounted three attacks against Navy targets, using improvised explosive devices targeting buses carrying navy personnel to work.
No doubt many conspiracy theories will emerge in the aftermath of this tragedy to deflect attention away from the culprits, and indeed many are already being floated. Unhelpful at the best of times, they are in many ways a reflection of how the vast majority of innocent Pakistanis cope with the turmoil outside their control that has engulfed their country.
The danger, however, lies in the tendency for such deflection to obscure the magnitude of the security threat that radical and violent Islamic jihadists now pose to the internal stability and cohesion of Pakistan. Despite years of now quite robust operations in the tribal areas against Taliban militants, their reach appears wider than ever, and their operational capacity undiminished.
There may yet be some good news to come from the PNS Mehran attack. One can hope, for example, that an attack of this magnitude so clearly targeting instruments of Pakistani defence underscores to Pakistan’s security managers the very clear and present danger that radical Islamists pose to security.
It might not be too late to beat the scourge of radicalism in Pakistan. But it requires immediate and focused attention.
Varun Vira specializes in politics, current affairs and world conflicts. He is the author of an extensive report on Pakistan by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and is currently pursuing a M.A. in International Affairs at the George Washington University.
http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2011/05/25/pakistan%E2%80%99s-latest-wake-up-call/
Thursday, 26 May 2011
New War Ahead: China-Pakistan vs. U.S.A.
New War Ahead: China-Pakistan vs. U.S.A.
by Anna Mahjar-Barducci
March 2, 2011 at 5:00 am
http://www.hudson-ny.org/1918/china-pakistan-usa-
China has been deploying thousands of soldiers in the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous area in northern Pakistan, and a region historically contested by Pakistan, India and its inhabitants.
Although cooperation between Pakistan and China is not new -- it was China in the 1970s that supported Pakistan's attempts to acquire its nuclear capability -- the deployment of Chinese troops in Pakistan, however, indicates a worrying alliance for the US. The US would do well to monitor these developments before a catastrophic scenario, especially for its troops, takes place.
The presence of the Chinese People's Liberation Army [PLA] in the contested Gilgit-Baltistan region, where a nascent revolt against the Pakistani rule is taking place, constitutes the direct involvement of Beijing in the dispute over Kashmir, making any future understanding between Pakistan and India more difficult, and can only arouse a new and serious rift between New Delhi and Beijing.
According to Mumtaz Khan, director for the International Centre of Peace and Democracy in Toronto, many Western analysts who view China's stance merely as a bargaining chip against India will unfortunately soon realize that China is redefining its priorities and interests in South Asia and beyond. "The current involvement of China in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir consists of more than just providing military and diplomatic support to Pakistan. Soon, Pakistan will swap its role to take the backseat as China exerts itself as a major player in the Kashmir issue" and maybe also in Afghani one.
The Gilgit-Baltistan region borders Afghanistan to the north; China to the northeast; the Pakistani administrated state of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to the south, and the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast. Recently, the New York Times reported that two major developments are taking place there: a rebellion against the Pakistani rule, and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the PLA.
China's Grip on Pakistani Strategic Area
"China wants a grip on the strategic area to assure unfettered road and rail access to the Gulf through Pakistan," stated the NYT. Beijing intends to create a corridor from the Indian Ocean up to the Chinese province of Xinjiang. The first cornerstone of this grandiose project has been the construction of the Gwadar Port, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and outside the Strait of Hormuz. It is near the key shipping routes used by the mainline vessels that have connections to Africa, Asia and Europe, and it enjoys a high commercial and strategic significance.
The port was financed and built by China and inaugurated in 2007 by the former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. At present, it takes a Chinese tanker about 16 to 25 days to reach the Gulf. Once high-speed rail and road links through Gilgit-Baltistan are completed, however, China will be able to transport cargo to and from Xinjiang to Gwadar and to other Pakistani port facilities, within 48 hours.
PLA's soldiers in Gilgit-Baltistan are also expected to work on the infrastructure in the region. According to reports, China is planning the construction of roads and bridges; a high-speed rail system, and nearly two-dozen tunnels. As the whole area is closed to foreign observers, news can only be obtained through intelligence information, as well as satellite imagery that shows construction activities are underway throughout the region.
Many of the PLA soldiers are supposedly currently building the railroad. Others are extending the Karakoram Highway, which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, and engaged in activities for constructing dams, expressways and other projects.
Their presence is also apparently meant to deter any possible disturbances from the local population, within which are simmering rebellious sentiments against the Pakistani rule.
China and Pakistan's Common Interest is India
The presence of Chinese soldiers on Pakistani soil is not an ordinary matter. If all Pakistani governments have always objected to the deployment of U.S. troops in the country, why is there such openness towards the Chinese army?
The alliance between the U.S. and Pakistan appears to be becoming less and less sound. The U.S.-led war against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan is quickly deteriorating into a growing open conflict with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)., which represents the core of Pakistani military power and can also act independently from Pakistan's government. The agency is responsible for the creation of the mujahiddin movement in Afghanistan during the war against the USSR; and later, for the movements for the "liberation" of Kashmir, as well as the first attack on World Trade Center, and the attacks on hotels and a Jewish Habad Cenmter in Mumbai. . The main ISI's concern, however, is India's rule in Kashmir. This is why the ISI, in order to confront New Delhi, is providing help and shelter to Islamist groups ready to fight for the "Muslim" Kashmir.
China and Pakistan share many common interests: both have territorial disputes with India. China and India, whose populations, combined, make up slightly less than 40% of the world population. They are also both striving for strategic regional supremacy. By linking its western province to the Indian Ocean, China will not gain just a strategic stronghold and access to the Persian Gulf, but also could significantly influence the geopolitics and trade in the Indian Ocean Region, as well as in Central Asia.
A Possible War Between Pakistan/China and the US
The possible scenarios coming out of the present situation are also dangerous. A deterioration of the relations between the U.S. and Pakistan over the war in Afghanistan could lead to a direct confrontation -- in which event, the involvement of the giant China, as Pakistan's ally, might be inevitable. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports that already a delegation of the Chinese Army visited the Pakistan-Afghan Border last October[5].
The same MEMRI's analysis also predicts that in a possible war between Pakistan/China on the one hand and the US on the other, Russia would be on the side of the West. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Sergei Ivanov, has said that Russia does not want the international troops to leave Afghanistan. Moscow, concerned about development in this region, has begun strengthening the Afghan police forces by supplying weapons and ammunition.
In the meantime, the relationship between Pakistan and Russia are marred by the Cold War legacy, and will take a long time to get normalized. MEMRI reports that the Urdu-language Pakistani daily Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt has warned that "another enemy of Pakistan" –. Russia – has been added to the list of the countries influencing Afghanistan; and that the presence of Russian troops in Afghan will reinforce anti-Pakistan forces in Afghanistan.
Conclusion
Before apocalyptic scenarios become a reality, it would help if Washington exerted exert maximum efforts -- and firmness -- to convince Pakistan not to continue on such a dangerous path. Two new war fronts seem rapidly to be opening: Afghanistan on one side, and Kashmir on the other.. The explosion of a possible war could involve both fronts, the Afghani and the Kashmiri, where the US ally, India, might pay a heavy price, finding itself between two enemies: Pakistan and China.
The US will admittedly have a hard role, given the fact that relations between the Washington and China are already fragile, especially since the "Star Wars arms race" launched by China in 2007, but it is urgent that serious efforts be made.
by Anna Mahjar-Barducci
March 2, 2011 at 5:00 am
http://www.hudson-ny.org/1918/china-pakistan-usa-
China has been deploying thousands of soldiers in the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous area in northern Pakistan, and a region historically contested by Pakistan, India and its inhabitants.
Although cooperation between Pakistan and China is not new -- it was China in the 1970s that supported Pakistan's attempts to acquire its nuclear capability -- the deployment of Chinese troops in Pakistan, however, indicates a worrying alliance for the US. The US would do well to monitor these developments before a catastrophic scenario, especially for its troops, takes place.
The presence of the Chinese People's Liberation Army [PLA] in the contested Gilgit-Baltistan region, where a nascent revolt against the Pakistani rule is taking place, constitutes the direct involvement of Beijing in the dispute over Kashmir, making any future understanding between Pakistan and India more difficult, and can only arouse a new and serious rift between New Delhi and Beijing.
According to Mumtaz Khan, director for the International Centre of Peace and Democracy in Toronto, many Western analysts who view China's stance merely as a bargaining chip against India will unfortunately soon realize that China is redefining its priorities and interests in South Asia and beyond. "The current involvement of China in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir consists of more than just providing military and diplomatic support to Pakistan. Soon, Pakistan will swap its role to take the backseat as China exerts itself as a major player in the Kashmir issue" and maybe also in Afghani one.
The Gilgit-Baltistan region borders Afghanistan to the north; China to the northeast; the Pakistani administrated state of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to the south, and the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast. Recently, the New York Times reported that two major developments are taking place there: a rebellion against the Pakistani rule, and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the PLA.
China's Grip on Pakistani Strategic Area
"China wants a grip on the strategic area to assure unfettered road and rail access to the Gulf through Pakistan," stated the NYT. Beijing intends to create a corridor from the Indian Ocean up to the Chinese province of Xinjiang. The first cornerstone of this grandiose project has been the construction of the Gwadar Port, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and outside the Strait of Hormuz. It is near the key shipping routes used by the mainline vessels that have connections to Africa, Asia and Europe, and it enjoys a high commercial and strategic significance.
The port was financed and built by China and inaugurated in 2007 by the former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. At present, it takes a Chinese tanker about 16 to 25 days to reach the Gulf. Once high-speed rail and road links through Gilgit-Baltistan are completed, however, China will be able to transport cargo to and from Xinjiang to Gwadar and to other Pakistani port facilities, within 48 hours.
PLA's soldiers in Gilgit-Baltistan are also expected to work on the infrastructure in the region. According to reports, China is planning the construction of roads and bridges; a high-speed rail system, and nearly two-dozen tunnels. As the whole area is closed to foreign observers, news can only be obtained through intelligence information, as well as satellite imagery that shows construction activities are underway throughout the region.
Many of the PLA soldiers are supposedly currently building the railroad. Others are extending the Karakoram Highway, which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, and engaged in activities for constructing dams, expressways and other projects.
Their presence is also apparently meant to deter any possible disturbances from the local population, within which are simmering rebellious sentiments against the Pakistani rule.
China and Pakistan's Common Interest is India
The presence of Chinese soldiers on Pakistani soil is not an ordinary matter. If all Pakistani governments have always objected to the deployment of U.S. troops in the country, why is there such openness towards the Chinese army?
The alliance between the U.S. and Pakistan appears to be becoming less and less sound. The U.S.-led war against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan is quickly deteriorating into a growing open conflict with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)., which represents the core of Pakistani military power and can also act independently from Pakistan's government. The agency is responsible for the creation of the mujahiddin movement in Afghanistan during the war against the USSR; and later, for the movements for the "liberation" of Kashmir, as well as the first attack on World Trade Center, and the attacks on hotels and a Jewish Habad Cenmter in Mumbai. . The main ISI's concern, however, is India's rule in Kashmir. This is why the ISI, in order to confront New Delhi, is providing help and shelter to Islamist groups ready to fight for the "Muslim" Kashmir.
China and Pakistan share many common interests: both have territorial disputes with India. China and India, whose populations, combined, make up slightly less than 40% of the world population. They are also both striving for strategic regional supremacy. By linking its western province to the Indian Ocean, China will not gain just a strategic stronghold and access to the Persian Gulf, but also could significantly influence the geopolitics and trade in the Indian Ocean Region, as well as in Central Asia.
A Possible War Between Pakistan/China and the US
The possible scenarios coming out of the present situation are also dangerous. A deterioration of the relations between the U.S. and Pakistan over the war in Afghanistan could lead to a direct confrontation -- in which event, the involvement of the giant China, as Pakistan's ally, might be inevitable. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports that already a delegation of the Chinese Army visited the Pakistan-Afghan Border last October[5].
The same MEMRI's analysis also predicts that in a possible war between Pakistan/China on the one hand and the US on the other, Russia would be on the side of the West. Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Sergei Ivanov, has said that Russia does not want the international troops to leave Afghanistan. Moscow, concerned about development in this region, has begun strengthening the Afghan police forces by supplying weapons and ammunition.
In the meantime, the relationship between Pakistan and Russia are marred by the Cold War legacy, and will take a long time to get normalized. MEMRI reports that the Urdu-language Pakistani daily Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt has warned that "another enemy of Pakistan" –. Russia – has been added to the list of the countries influencing Afghanistan; and that the presence of Russian troops in Afghan will reinforce anti-Pakistan forces in Afghanistan.
Conclusion
Before apocalyptic scenarios become a reality, it would help if Washington exerted exert maximum efforts -- and firmness -- to convince Pakistan not to continue on such a dangerous path. Two new war fronts seem rapidly to be opening: Afghanistan on one side, and Kashmir on the other.. The explosion of a possible war could involve both fronts, the Afghani and the Kashmiri, where the US ally, India, might pay a heavy price, finding itself between two enemies: Pakistan and China.
The US will admittedly have a hard role, given the fact that relations between the Washington and China are already fragile, especially since the "Star Wars arms race" launched by China in 2007, but it is urgent that serious efforts be made.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Mysterious 'Major Iqbal' is Pakistan's latest albatross
Mysterious 'Major Iqbal' is Pakistan's latest albatross
Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN | May 26, 2011, 12.35am IST
Headley revealed that "Major Iqbal", a Pakistani army officer in ISI, was also known by the name "Chaudhery Khan."
WASHINGTON: He's acquiring the status of mythic villain, and Bollywood scriptwriters may soon caricature him in the mold of Mogambo and Shakaal, among their more famous screen scoundrels.
But the way David Headley aka Daood Gilani describes him, Major Iqbal was not given to loud laughs or corny dialogues. A serving ISI officer, he was a cold, calculating operational mastermind of the Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attack who handled its logistical aspects, including forking out the money, choosing targets, and liaised with other shadowy ISI operatives and terrorist outfits.
From the time US Department of Justice attorneys named the mysterious "Major Iqbal" in their indictment following Headley's disclosure during investigations that he was his principle ISI handler, investigators have struggled to get a fix on him. Who did Major Iqbal report to? Where is he now? What is his full and real identity? And most importantly, will Pakistan identify and extradite him – or will it hide him as it has done with many wanted terrorists?
In his testimony on Tuesday, Headley revealed that "Major Iqbal" was also known by the name "Chaudhery Khan." Exhibits presented by the prosecution showed Headley corresponded with him using a Yahoo ID. It was Khan aka "Major Iqbal" who recruited him, walked him through the Mumbai plot, and set him on his way with $ 25,000 to begin surveillance and identifying targets in Mumbai.
Headley says "Major Iqbal" disclosed to him that a previously scheduled attack on Mumbai in September 2008 had to be abandoned after terrorists deployed for the purpose lost their moorings -- and their boat. He also advised Headley to befriend influential people "who live in military facilities" in India, and while he was thrilled with the advances the Pakistani-American made in infiltratingShiv Sena, he was disappointed that Headley did not scout the Mumbai airport as a target.
Headley also revealed that his principle ISI handler directed that the Jewish community center Chabad House be added to the list of targets because he believed it was being used as a front for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. Chillingly, his associate Sajid Mir, who is also believed to be ISI official, told Headley that they had no compunctions killing women at Chabad House because Israeli women served in their army on account of mandatory draft.
In the rogue's gallery of Pakistani masterminds of 26/11, "Major Iqbal" clearly emerges as the operational chief. While Headley says he is an ISI official, the US chargesheet, while naming him as a defendant, does not mention his ISI affiliation, though this has been identified in both US and Indian case files.
US officials have declined to reveal if, when, and how they will get Major Iqbal (and other defendants named in the case, including Ilyas Kashmiri and Sajid Mir). While Kashmiri is widely reported to be on the lam (a reported drone strike killing him last year turned out to be false), Pakistan is not even acknowledging the existence of Major Iqbal aka Chaudhery Khan, on its rolls.
Nor is Washington pressing -- at least publicly -- for his extradition, possibly because of political and diplomatic sensitivities. This is also likely why his ISI affiliation was not put on record in the indictment despite Headley's disclosure.
Pakistani officials earlier this week created some wiggle room for Islamabad by suggesting that Iqbal may have been a rogue officer who was acting on his own and is no longer with the agency – the same kind of alibi the country's establishment created to explain A Q Khan's nuclear proliferation and other infractions. "ISI and serving officers did not provide support to David Headley, and ISI had nothing to do with the Mumbai attack," an unnamed Pakistani official told the Wall Street Journal.
Separately, another official suggested to a news agency that would be many "Iqbals" in the Pakistan military and it unlikely that even if Headley's accounts were true, the person would have given his real name. Neither official remotely indicated that Pakistan was interested in pursuing the case at its end.
But internal memos within the beltway, as disclosed in recent WikiLeaks cables, leave no doubt that Washington considers ISI a terrorist entity. Only, political compulsions prevent it from acting on it, a handicap that may also help Pakistan save "Major Iqbal." It's a complex script that may be beyond Bollywood. Scriptwriters may just have to leave it to Mossad to deliver justice.
Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN | May 26, 2011, 12.35am IST
Headley revealed that "Major Iqbal", a Pakistani army officer in ISI, was also known by the name "Chaudhery Khan."
WASHINGTON: He's acquiring the status of mythic villain, and Bollywood scriptwriters may soon caricature him in the mold of Mogambo and Shakaal, among their more famous screen scoundrels.
But the way David Headley aka Daood Gilani describes him, Major Iqbal was not given to loud laughs or corny dialogues. A serving ISI officer, he was a cold, calculating operational mastermind of the Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attack who handled its logistical aspects, including forking out the money, choosing targets, and liaised with other shadowy ISI operatives and terrorist outfits.
From the time US Department of Justice attorneys named the mysterious "Major Iqbal" in their indictment following Headley's disclosure during investigations that he was his principle ISI handler, investigators have struggled to get a fix on him. Who did Major Iqbal report to? Where is he now? What is his full and real identity? And most importantly, will Pakistan identify and extradite him – or will it hide him as it has done with many wanted terrorists?
In his testimony on Tuesday, Headley revealed that "Major Iqbal" was also known by the name "Chaudhery Khan." Exhibits presented by the prosecution showed Headley corresponded with him using a Yahoo ID. It was Khan aka "Major Iqbal" who recruited him, walked him through the Mumbai plot, and set him on his way with $ 25,000 to begin surveillance and identifying targets in Mumbai.
Headley says "Major Iqbal" disclosed to him that a previously scheduled attack on Mumbai in September 2008 had to be abandoned after terrorists deployed for the purpose lost their moorings -- and their boat. He also advised Headley to befriend influential people "who live in military facilities" in India, and while he was thrilled with the advances the Pakistani-American made in infiltratingShiv Sena, he was disappointed that Headley did not scout the Mumbai airport as a target.
Headley also revealed that his principle ISI handler directed that the Jewish community center Chabad House be added to the list of targets because he believed it was being used as a front for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. Chillingly, his associate Sajid Mir, who is also believed to be ISI official, told Headley that they had no compunctions killing women at Chabad House because Israeli women served in their army on account of mandatory draft.
In the rogue's gallery of Pakistani masterminds of 26/11, "Major Iqbal" clearly emerges as the operational chief. While Headley says he is an ISI official, the US chargesheet, while naming him as a defendant, does not mention his ISI affiliation, though this has been identified in both US and Indian case files.
US officials have declined to reveal if, when, and how they will get Major Iqbal (and other defendants named in the case, including Ilyas Kashmiri and Sajid Mir). While Kashmiri is widely reported to be on the lam (a reported drone strike killing him last year turned out to be false), Pakistan is not even acknowledging the existence of Major Iqbal aka Chaudhery Khan, on its rolls.
Nor is Washington pressing -- at least publicly -- for his extradition, possibly because of political and diplomatic sensitivities. This is also likely why his ISI affiliation was not put on record in the indictment despite Headley's disclosure.
Pakistani officials earlier this week created some wiggle room for Islamabad by suggesting that Iqbal may have been a rogue officer who was acting on his own and is no longer with the agency – the same kind of alibi the country's establishment created to explain A Q Khan's nuclear proliferation and other infractions. "ISI and serving officers did not provide support to David Headley, and ISI had nothing to do with the Mumbai attack," an unnamed Pakistani official told the Wall Street Journal.
Separately, another official suggested to a news agency that would be many "Iqbals" in the Pakistan military and it unlikely that even if Headley's accounts were true, the person would have given his real name. Neither official remotely indicated that Pakistan was interested in pursuing the case at its end.
But internal memos within the beltway, as disclosed in recent WikiLeaks cables, leave no doubt that Washington considers ISI a terrorist entity. Only, political compulsions prevent it from acting on it, a handicap that may also help Pakistan save "Major Iqbal." It's a complex script that may be beyond Bollywood. Scriptwriters may just have to leave it to Mossad to deliver justice.
Lashkar-e-Toiba threatens to blow 15 key temples in Punjab, J and K
Lashkar-e-Toiba threatens to blow 15 key temples in Punjab, J and K
Punjab Newsline Network http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/lashkar-e-toiba-threatens-blow-15-key-temples-punjab-j-and-k/31250
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
By Sameer Kaura
PHAGWARA: Panic again gripped the town as two letters threatening that terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba(LeT) will blow up 15 key temples in Punjab J&K and Himachal Pradesh on June 5 to avenge the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden were received by police here yesterday..
One letter warns Hindus against undertaking pilgrimage to Amarnath cave and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the letters, which were purported to have been written by LeT Area Commander Karim Ansari, warned Hindus against undertaking pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.
Phagwara DSP Sandip Sharma while confirming it told here today that the letters were received by the priest of local Sheetla Mata Mandir Kamal Kishor.
Another letter threatens that 8 important temples of Himachal Pradesh and several important temples of Punjab, including Hanuman Garhi Madir, Sheetla Mata Mandirs of Phagwara and Kapurthala, Shri Kali Mata Mandir of Patiala and Durgiana Mandir of Amritsar will be targeted with bombs.
The Hand written letters in Hindi claimed that more than 40 Lashkar-e-Toiba activists have entered Punjab which would be made the first target for taking revenge of bin Laden's death.
The letters warned certain prominent Shiv Sena leaders were on the target of LeT and there will be largescale bloodshed of Hindus and Sikhs. They especially mention the names of Shiv Sena Presidents of Kapurthala, Patiala and Amritsar districts.
It was also warned, Hindus and Sikhs of their large scale massacre if,the warning of Laskere-Tauba would not be taken seriously.
The letter was posted at the address ie Kamal Kishore Sharma Sewadar Pacca Rawan Near (Sheetla Mandir Phagwara District Kapurthala). It may be mentioned here that different threatening letters on the name of said Area Commander Karim Ansari were earlier have also been sent and received in Hanuman Garrhi and Phagwara Railway Station and Bus stand Phagwara in the past and police made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any mishap,but the threatening dates passed peacefully.
Meanwhile DSP Sandip Sharma Investigating Officer told that though previous threatening letters were proved fake,but even then police would not take any risk and all security cum preventive measures would be taken.
The Tribune has learnt that local police has informed all high Police Officers of Punjab Police including DGP,ADGP,ADGP Intelligence, IG,DIG and SSP and actively working on high alert.
Punjab Newsline Network http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/lashkar-e-toiba-threatens-blow-15-key-temples-punjab-j-and-k/31250
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
By Sameer Kaura
PHAGWARA: Panic again gripped the town as two letters threatening that terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba(LeT) will blow up 15 key temples in Punjab J&K and Himachal Pradesh on June 5 to avenge the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden were received by police here yesterday..
One letter warns Hindus against undertaking pilgrimage to Amarnath cave and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the letters, which were purported to have been written by LeT Area Commander Karim Ansari, warned Hindus against undertaking pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.
Phagwara DSP Sandip Sharma while confirming it told here today that the letters were received by the priest of local Sheetla Mata Mandir Kamal Kishor.
Another letter threatens that 8 important temples of Himachal Pradesh and several important temples of Punjab, including Hanuman Garhi Madir, Sheetla Mata Mandirs of Phagwara and Kapurthala, Shri Kali Mata Mandir of Patiala and Durgiana Mandir of Amritsar will be targeted with bombs.
The Hand written letters in Hindi claimed that more than 40 Lashkar-e-Toiba activists have entered Punjab which would be made the first target for taking revenge of bin Laden's death.
The letters warned certain prominent Shiv Sena leaders were on the target of LeT and there will be largescale bloodshed of Hindus and Sikhs. They especially mention the names of Shiv Sena Presidents of Kapurthala, Patiala and Amritsar districts.
It was also warned, Hindus and Sikhs of their large scale massacre if,the warning of Laskere-Tauba would not be taken seriously.
The letter was posted at the address ie Kamal Kishore Sharma Sewadar Pacca Rawan Near (Sheetla Mandir Phagwara District Kapurthala). It may be mentioned here that different threatening letters on the name of said Area Commander Karim Ansari were earlier have also been sent and received in Hanuman Garrhi and Phagwara Railway Station and Bus stand Phagwara in the past and police made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any mishap,but the threatening dates passed peacefully.
Meanwhile DSP Sandip Sharma Investigating Officer told that though previous threatening letters were proved fake,but even then police would not take any risk and all security cum preventive measures would be taken.
The Tribune has learnt that local police has informed all high Police Officers of Punjab Police including DGP,ADGP,ADGP Intelligence, IG,DIG and SSP and actively working on high alert.
Natural solution to the Kashmir problem is trifurcation-Prof. Bhat
Natural solution to the Kashmir problem is trifurcation-Prof. Bhat
Punjab Newsline Network
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
By Bashir Assad
SRINAGAR: While stressing the need for realistic but imaginative ideas on Kashmir , senior Hurriyat leader professor Abdul Gani Bhat portrayed trifurcation of the state, on regional basis, as the best available solution to the long pending imbroglio.
While talking exclusively to this correspondent, former chairman of Hurriyat Conference Professor Abdul Bhat Tuesday, talked in length about the options discussed since 1950 at various levels for the settlement of the Kashmir problem.
“In early 50’s Dixon proposed division of the state in his plan while in 1996 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in conformity with the Dixon’s stream of thought proposed trifurcation of the state into three geo-political entities of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.” Bhat said and added that Valley has a unique identity, history and culture and its people are having a collective political personality, which in no way identifies itself with neither India nor Pakistan.
Lets recall "The Dixon Plan" assigned Ladakh to India, the Northern Areas and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to Pakistan, split Jammu between the two, and envisaged a plebiscite in the Kashmir Valley” Bhat added. Bhat observed that considering only the present and forsaking the past is to take a very narrow view of the reality. For to be careful of the present without being informed of the past is to have a deceptive view of things.
“Now lets reconcile with the ground realities which simply suggest that Jammu is not part of our struggle, so is not Ladakh, there is a huge constituency in Jammu asking for separate state and we cant drag them” Bhat said adding that Jammu as a region identifies itself with union of India so is the Ladakh but people of Kashmir, true to the sense of history, at no point of time identify themselves with India.
“Then what is the way out? To me, division of state into three geo-political entities is the natural solution. But in this scheme, the division should be on regional basis and one should not mix-up religion with a political problem” Bhat said.
In reply to a question, Professor Bhat said divide the state into three distinct geo-political identities and make Kashmir a free economic zone. “Let both India and Pakistan declare Kashmir as a free economic zone.
‘Let us use the corridor of free trade to free Kashmiris from the twin nightmares of suppression and subjugation. If Kashmir becomes a free trade zone political tension between India and Pakistan will ease. Free trade in Kashmir may well be the gateway for a South Asian Union on the lines of the European Union where the fault-lines of religion, language, region, ethnicity and caste may get eased into the twin ideas of free market and equitable development. let Kashmir be a free trade zone where China, Pakistan, Central Asia and rest of the world can meet Indian business and industry. In nutshell make Kashmir Switzerland of India and Pakistan and the problem is over” Bhat who has been doing much talking since last couple of months on behalf of his amalgam said.
About UN resolutions on Kashmir, Bhat said “ let’s be honest to ourselves and to our people, it is for them ( UN Security Council), whether they do (implement its resolutions) it or not. But it requires approval of both India and Pakistan, so it is a difficult proposition, we should come out of it and search for alternatives”
While making his point Bhat said that when India and Pakistan do talking, that simply means they are looking for alternatives. “In 1962, Z A Bhuttu and Swaram Singh as foreign ministers of their countries did talking for about nine months, what were they talking? They were discussing alternatives. In Shimla Agreement, it (Kashmir) was declared a bilateral issue, what does that mean. That simply means that two countries were exploring options other than the UN resolutions to resolve the issue. When you chose to talking you leave behind UN resolutions, that is it” Bhat averred.
‘Lets not put blinkers on our heads, lets reconcile with the ground realities and look for alternatives acceptable to all, Bhat said and added “ what is acceptable is honourable and what is honourable is durable”.
There is a huge constituency in Jammu for separate state, you can’t wish away. Some time back there was an idea floated for regional plebiscite, that again contradicts UN resolutions on Kashmir. so you are virtually working on trifurcation plan on regional basis” Bhat said
To a question, Bhat said, “ remember, I talk of division on regional basis, religion is not and should not be the basis, it has nothing to do with religion. It is not a religious issue, it is a political issue. Don’t mix-up religion but never ignore it either, lets be realistically truthful, if you mix-up the two you can spill a total disaster.
When asked whether government of India accept the division of the state, Bhat said then come to General Parvez Musharaf’s four-point proposal. “ You have to come to talking, you have to think out of box, you have to accept something which takes care of aspirations of all the concerned” Bhat added.
Castigating UPA chairperson Sonia Ghandi for her remarks on Panchayat elections, Bhat said elections are no solution to the problem. “ India is holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir for last sixty or seventy years, you have as many as thirteen elections to both state assembly and the parliament but the dispute is still hanging fire” Bhat said.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/natural-solution-kashmir-problem-trifurcation-prof-bhat/31252
Punjab Newsline Network
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
By Bashir Assad
SRINAGAR: While stressing the need for realistic but imaginative ideas on Kashmir , senior Hurriyat leader professor Abdul Gani Bhat portrayed trifurcation of the state, on regional basis, as the best available solution to the long pending imbroglio.
While talking exclusively to this correspondent, former chairman of Hurriyat Conference Professor Abdul Bhat Tuesday, talked in length about the options discussed since 1950 at various levels for the settlement of the Kashmir problem.
“In early 50’s Dixon proposed division of the state in his plan while in 1996 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in conformity with the Dixon’s stream of thought proposed trifurcation of the state into three geo-political entities of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.” Bhat said and added that Valley has a unique identity, history and culture and its people are having a collective political personality, which in no way identifies itself with neither India nor Pakistan.
Lets recall "The Dixon Plan" assigned Ladakh to India, the Northern Areas and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to Pakistan, split Jammu between the two, and envisaged a plebiscite in the Kashmir Valley” Bhat added. Bhat observed that considering only the present and forsaking the past is to take a very narrow view of the reality. For to be careful of the present without being informed of the past is to have a deceptive view of things.
“Now lets reconcile with the ground realities which simply suggest that Jammu is not part of our struggle, so is not Ladakh, there is a huge constituency in Jammu asking for separate state and we cant drag them” Bhat said adding that Jammu as a region identifies itself with union of India so is the Ladakh but people of Kashmir, true to the sense of history, at no point of time identify themselves with India.
“Then what is the way out? To me, division of state into three geo-political entities is the natural solution. But in this scheme, the division should be on regional basis and one should not mix-up religion with a political problem” Bhat said.
In reply to a question, Professor Bhat said divide the state into three distinct geo-political identities and make Kashmir a free economic zone. “Let both India and Pakistan declare Kashmir as a free economic zone.
‘Let us use the corridor of free trade to free Kashmiris from the twin nightmares of suppression and subjugation. If Kashmir becomes a free trade zone political tension between India and Pakistan will ease. Free trade in Kashmir may well be the gateway for a South Asian Union on the lines of the European Union where the fault-lines of religion, language, region, ethnicity and caste may get eased into the twin ideas of free market and equitable development. let Kashmir be a free trade zone where China, Pakistan, Central Asia and rest of the world can meet Indian business and industry. In nutshell make Kashmir Switzerland of India and Pakistan and the problem is over” Bhat who has been doing much talking since last couple of months on behalf of his amalgam said.
About UN resolutions on Kashmir, Bhat said “ let’s be honest to ourselves and to our people, it is for them ( UN Security Council), whether they do (implement its resolutions) it or not. But it requires approval of both India and Pakistan, so it is a difficult proposition, we should come out of it and search for alternatives”
While making his point Bhat said that when India and Pakistan do talking, that simply means they are looking for alternatives. “In 1962, Z A Bhuttu and Swaram Singh as foreign ministers of their countries did talking for about nine months, what were they talking? They were discussing alternatives. In Shimla Agreement, it (Kashmir) was declared a bilateral issue, what does that mean. That simply means that two countries were exploring options other than the UN resolutions to resolve the issue. When you chose to talking you leave behind UN resolutions, that is it” Bhat averred.
‘Lets not put blinkers on our heads, lets reconcile with the ground realities and look for alternatives acceptable to all, Bhat said and added “ what is acceptable is honourable and what is honourable is durable”.
There is a huge constituency in Jammu for separate state, you can’t wish away. Some time back there was an idea floated for regional plebiscite, that again contradicts UN resolutions on Kashmir. so you are virtually working on trifurcation plan on regional basis” Bhat said
To a question, Bhat said, “ remember, I talk of division on regional basis, religion is not and should not be the basis, it has nothing to do with religion. It is not a religious issue, it is a political issue. Don’t mix-up religion but never ignore it either, lets be realistically truthful, if you mix-up the two you can spill a total disaster.
When asked whether government of India accept the division of the state, Bhat said then come to General Parvez Musharaf’s four-point proposal. “ You have to come to talking, you have to think out of box, you have to accept something which takes care of aspirations of all the concerned” Bhat added.
Castigating UPA chairperson Sonia Ghandi for her remarks on Panchayat elections, Bhat said elections are no solution to the problem. “ India is holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir for last sixty or seventy years, you have as many as thirteen elections to both state assembly and the parliament but the dispute is still hanging fire” Bhat said.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/natural-solution-kashmir-problem-trifurcation-prof-bhat/31252
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Be agency of change rather than subject of change
Be agency of change rather than subject of change
We have to be ready to face criticism positively, discipline our thoughts and more so our ambitions. Rationality must prevail over emotions
Niloofar Qureshi
At the recently concluded seminar “Kashmir Problem- a Way Forward,” Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq displayed exceptional maturity and grit by highlighting the “need to introspect for rectifying the mistakes of the past to move forward.”
As we all know, the main problem which afflicts the ‘freedom movement’ in Kashmir today is the lack of consensus on the way forward and the very fact that both the Mirwaiz and the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik agreed on this point, is in itself a good beginning. The willingness expressed by Mirwaiz to discuss “good options floated by different quarters” is praiseworthy as it will finally liberate the Hurriyat from the shackles of an uncompromisingly rigid thought process to which it had unwittingly chained itself in the past. If the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders put these thoughts into practice, the probability of success of the movement for self-determination will no doubt be greatly enhanced. However, this may be a tall order as in the past there has been a visible disconnect between what is being preached and practiced by our leaders. What makes this even more suspect is the statement made by the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik, “The roadmap should not be put in public domain as it can lead to confusion among the masses.” The masses are the major stakeholders and any attempts to keep the roadmap secret from them does not auger well for the movement!
The seminar brought forth several other pertinent issues: the scope of the movement, methodology of its projection, incorporation of civil society in getting the intellectuals, writers, media and lawyers on board as well as motivating public opinion in India. While the issues discussed does indicate that considerable research has been done to identify the shortcomings, it needs to be seen as to how the Hurriyat manages to convince the plethora of ‘cooks’ minding the ‘broth’ called Kashmir to act in unison. This is surely going to be an uphill task as many leaders have achieved their present status by cashing upon emotive public sentiments and advocating an uncompromising hardline approach- denouncing the moderate leaders and rationalists as ‘agents’ of New Delhi. To now ‘climb down’ from their stated positions would place them in the same league of ‘agents’ they despised and may well mean political ‘hara-kiri’ for them. Will they take the risk for the greater cause?
Another important observation made by Mirwaiz is on the failure to motivate public opinion in India for the struggle in Kashmir. At a time when India seems to have no dearth of social activists espousing the cause of freedom and justice, be it Teesta Satalvad seeking justice for the Muslims victimized during the Gujarat riots, Medha Patkar fighting for the rights of the adivasis displaced by the Narmada project or Dr Binayak Sen championing the cause of Maoists, why are there no takers for Kashmir? (Arundhati Roy did of course suddenly come up on the scene but vanished quickly!). Now, this aspect requires more deliberation and the deductions may not be palatable to some. Yet, if we are honest about our intentions, then we must have the courage to accept the truth-even if it sounds blasphemous.
Despite the doubts regarding New Delhi’s seriousness in resolving the Kashmir crisis, one cannot wish away certain facts- the Centre has maintained the sanctity of Article 370 and even the BJP which has been clamouring for its revocation could not do so when in power because it’s constituent members in the NDA government would not allow the same to happen. And this was less due to political compulsions, but more due to the fear of public backlash in India as this would be viewed as the victimization of Kashmiris. So, the writing on the wall: people in India do care but still not support us- why? The answer to this tricky question too has been aptly given by the Mirwaiz himself when he said, “The Indians view Kashmir through Pakistani prism.”
Prior to the entry of the gun in Kashmir from across the border, the struggle in Kashmir had many sympathizers. The Kalashnikov changed the very character of the ‘azadi’ movement- from a peaceful struggle of the oppressed to that of a Pakistan ‘inspired’ resurrection. Due to the cleverly planned propaganda by India which sought to blame Pakistan for everything- be it the exodus of the Kashmiri pundits or the violence against moderates in the Valley, the movement in Kashmir soon came to be seen as a grand design of Pakistan to ‘dismember’ India. This chaffed the nationalistic sentiments in India and resulted in a sharp decline in sympathizers for this cause. Without meaning any disrespect whatsoever for the martyrs and those who have put their lives in danger for the sake of azadi, it would not be out of place to mention that the gun has failed to deliver. On the contrary, it has not only alienated the Indian public but also the world community at large. And so while everyone may be sympathizing with our cause, it is merely lip service as no concrete actions are being taken by any country or people to intervene. Does this not call for introspection too?
The view held by the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik that “Kashmiris should project themselves as oppressed to gain sympathy for their cause” should not be dismissed as the utterance of a pessimist or defeated person. This outlook embodies great depth and wisdom. In today’s world order, violence has no takers- the case of Palestine is in front of us. The unprecedented use of violence by the Israelis against the unarmed Palestinians has yielded nothing more than occasional verbal condemnation from the world community. Reason? The Israelis justify their use of force as ‘retaliation’ for attacks by the Hamas and this world community accepts. In the process, innocent men, women and children are killed by the dozen and the sorry state of affairs remains unchanged. Could it be possible that the militant groups in Kashmir declare a ‘unilateral’ ceasefire, say, for a year or so to give peace another chance and see if there is any change in the outlook of the world community? There is no harm in trying and in case the ground situation remains unchanged, then hostilities can always be resumed with even more vigour, since then they would no longer be seen as the aggressors!
If we have to succeed, we all have to first be ready to face criticism positively, discipline our thoughts and more so our ambitions. Rationality must prevail over emotions and the focus should be to win the ‘war’ instead of being content with winning a ‘battle’! Our leaders should ponder upon what a speaker said during the seminar, “Let leadership be responsible to people and become an agency of change rather than subject of change.”
http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/be-agency-of-change-rather-than-subject-of-change-10153.aspx
Author resides in New Delhi and can be mailed at
niloofar.qureshi@yahoo.com
We have to be ready to face criticism positively, discipline our thoughts and more so our ambitions. Rationality must prevail over emotions
Niloofar Qureshi
At the recently concluded seminar “Kashmir Problem- a Way Forward,” Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq displayed exceptional maturity and grit by highlighting the “need to introspect for rectifying the mistakes of the past to move forward.”
As we all know, the main problem which afflicts the ‘freedom movement’ in Kashmir today is the lack of consensus on the way forward and the very fact that both the Mirwaiz and the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik agreed on this point, is in itself a good beginning. The willingness expressed by Mirwaiz to discuss “good options floated by different quarters” is praiseworthy as it will finally liberate the Hurriyat from the shackles of an uncompromisingly rigid thought process to which it had unwittingly chained itself in the past. If the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders put these thoughts into practice, the probability of success of the movement for self-determination will no doubt be greatly enhanced. However, this may be a tall order as in the past there has been a visible disconnect between what is being preached and practiced by our leaders. What makes this even more suspect is the statement made by the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik, “The roadmap should not be put in public domain as it can lead to confusion among the masses.” The masses are the major stakeholders and any attempts to keep the roadmap secret from them does not auger well for the movement!
The seminar brought forth several other pertinent issues: the scope of the movement, methodology of its projection, incorporation of civil society in getting the intellectuals, writers, media and lawyers on board as well as motivating public opinion in India. While the issues discussed does indicate that considerable research has been done to identify the shortcomings, it needs to be seen as to how the Hurriyat manages to convince the plethora of ‘cooks’ minding the ‘broth’ called Kashmir to act in unison. This is surely going to be an uphill task as many leaders have achieved their present status by cashing upon emotive public sentiments and advocating an uncompromising hardline approach- denouncing the moderate leaders and rationalists as ‘agents’ of New Delhi. To now ‘climb down’ from their stated positions would place them in the same league of ‘agents’ they despised and may well mean political ‘hara-kiri’ for them. Will they take the risk for the greater cause?
Another important observation made by Mirwaiz is on the failure to motivate public opinion in India for the struggle in Kashmir. At a time when India seems to have no dearth of social activists espousing the cause of freedom and justice, be it Teesta Satalvad seeking justice for the Muslims victimized during the Gujarat riots, Medha Patkar fighting for the rights of the adivasis displaced by the Narmada project or Dr Binayak Sen championing the cause of Maoists, why are there no takers for Kashmir? (Arundhati Roy did of course suddenly come up on the scene but vanished quickly!). Now, this aspect requires more deliberation and the deductions may not be palatable to some. Yet, if we are honest about our intentions, then we must have the courage to accept the truth-even if it sounds blasphemous.
Despite the doubts regarding New Delhi’s seriousness in resolving the Kashmir crisis, one cannot wish away certain facts- the Centre has maintained the sanctity of Article 370 and even the BJP which has been clamouring for its revocation could not do so when in power because it’s constituent members in the NDA government would not allow the same to happen. And this was less due to political compulsions, but more due to the fear of public backlash in India as this would be viewed as the victimization of Kashmiris. So, the writing on the wall: people in India do care but still not support us- why? The answer to this tricky question too has been aptly given by the Mirwaiz himself when he said, “The Indians view Kashmir through Pakistani prism.”
Prior to the entry of the gun in Kashmir from across the border, the struggle in Kashmir had many sympathizers. The Kalashnikov changed the very character of the ‘azadi’ movement- from a peaceful struggle of the oppressed to that of a Pakistan ‘inspired’ resurrection. Due to the cleverly planned propaganda by India which sought to blame Pakistan for everything- be it the exodus of the Kashmiri pundits or the violence against moderates in the Valley, the movement in Kashmir soon came to be seen as a grand design of Pakistan to ‘dismember’ India. This chaffed the nationalistic sentiments in India and resulted in a sharp decline in sympathizers for this cause. Without meaning any disrespect whatsoever for the martyrs and those who have put their lives in danger for the sake of azadi, it would not be out of place to mention that the gun has failed to deliver. On the contrary, it has not only alienated the Indian public but also the world community at large. And so while everyone may be sympathizing with our cause, it is merely lip service as no concrete actions are being taken by any country or people to intervene. Does this not call for introspection too?
The view held by the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik that “Kashmiris should project themselves as oppressed to gain sympathy for their cause” should not be dismissed as the utterance of a pessimist or defeated person. This outlook embodies great depth and wisdom. In today’s world order, violence has no takers- the case of Palestine is in front of us. The unprecedented use of violence by the Israelis against the unarmed Palestinians has yielded nothing more than occasional verbal condemnation from the world community. Reason? The Israelis justify their use of force as ‘retaliation’ for attacks by the Hamas and this world community accepts. In the process, innocent men, women and children are killed by the dozen and the sorry state of affairs remains unchanged. Could it be possible that the militant groups in Kashmir declare a ‘unilateral’ ceasefire, say, for a year or so to give peace another chance and see if there is any change in the outlook of the world community? There is no harm in trying and in case the ground situation remains unchanged, then hostilities can always be resumed with even more vigour, since then they would no longer be seen as the aggressors!
If we have to succeed, we all have to first be ready to face criticism positively, discipline our thoughts and more so our ambitions. Rationality must prevail over emotions and the focus should be to win the ‘war’ instead of being content with winning a ‘battle’! Our leaders should ponder upon what a speaker said during the seminar, “Let leadership be responsible to people and become an agency of change rather than subject of change.”
http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/be-agency-of-change-rather-than-subject-of-change-10153.aspx
Author resides in New Delhi and can be mailed at
niloofar.qureshi@yahoo.com
Farooq wants India to help Pak
Farooq wants India to help Pak
AJMER, May 24: National Conference supremo and Union Minister for Non-conventional Energy Sources Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed concern over rising trend in terrorism in Pakistan and held that India should help the neighbouring nation in fighting out the menace.
Talking to reporters here, Dr Abdullah said "It is not only India, but entire world is worried of alarming dimension of terrorism in Pakistan and therefore, we should extend a helping hand to our neighbour to get rid off the menace".
Asked about a direct US-like operation in the neighbouring nation by India for securing most wanted fugitives, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said such move should be avoided.
"Friendship between India and Pakistan is also equally important and therefore, only talks could be an appropriate and viable option for dealing on any situation with that coountry", he said.
Expressing satisfaction over achievements of the UPA Government during the first two years of the current term, Dr Abdullah said "We are heading for prosperity on agriculture front alone. We have attained bumper crop this year and might be in a position to export food grains".
Earlier, Dr Abdullah visited Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti’s dargah and paid obeisance at the holy tomb. (UNI)
AJMER, May 24: National Conference supremo and Union Minister for Non-conventional Energy Sources Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed concern over rising trend in terrorism in Pakistan and held that India should help the neighbouring nation in fighting out the menace.
Talking to reporters here, Dr Abdullah said "It is not only India, but entire world is worried of alarming dimension of terrorism in Pakistan and therefore, we should extend a helping hand to our neighbour to get rid off the menace".
Asked about a direct US-like operation in the neighbouring nation by India for securing most wanted fugitives, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said such move should be avoided.
"Friendship between India and Pakistan is also equally important and therefore, only talks could be an appropriate and viable option for dealing on any situation with that coountry", he said.
Expressing satisfaction over achievements of the UPA Government during the first two years of the current term, Dr Abdullah said "We are heading for prosperity on agriculture front alone. We have attained bumper crop this year and might be in a position to export food grains".
Earlier, Dr Abdullah visited Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti’s dargah and paid obeisance at the holy tomb. (UNI)
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