The current situation in Kashmir valley is reminiscent of the events of 1990's, when lacs of Kashmiri's came out on the streets shouting themselves hoarse with Anti India, Pro freedom and Pro Pakistan slogans.
Today’s protests represent the same people, the same aspirations and the same sentiment. People are protesting against the Indian occupation, the siege that Indians with the might of their savage army has subjected the people of Kashmir to.
The only slogans that reverberated Kashmir these days are :
HUM KYA CHAHTAY – AZADI
AZADI KA MATLAB KYA - LA ILLAH A ILLA ALLAH,
JIS KASHMIR KO KHOON SAY SEENCHA – WOH KASHMIR HAMARA HAI
BHARAT K AIWANO KO - AAG LAGADO AAG LAGADO
PAKISTAN SE RISHTA KYA - LA ILLAH A ILLA ALLAH
YAHAN KYA CHALAYGA - NIZAM-E-MUSTAFA.
On the 11th Aug 2008, A Kashmiri separatist leader, Shaheed Sheikh Abdul Aziz and seven other protesters were shot dead by Indian troops, as they tried to halt rallies by more than 100,000 Kashmiri's in the region to reach out to their brethren in Pakistan. The marchers had reached a point just 40km from the heavily militarised border, despite repeated efforts by Indian police and paramilitary forces to stop them with tear gas, bullets and batons. More than 300 people are reported to be critically injured on the same day.
O Matyrs Of Kashmir......(Poem)
Truely You are our best heroes,
Never will we sell your blood to the foes
Deep inside our hearts, we remember your sacrifice,
You gave up lives for us, and not for any price
Your memories innumberable, we feel with us,
We adore you, never will you be surplus
All your hopes for freedom, will soon come true,
Every dream of yours, we will pursue
Your commitment for nation, we will net let go,
We are indebted by your credits from head to toe
Every pleasure of life, you had forsaken,
Every joy of yours had been taken
Your blood was spilled for our cause,
You strived tirelessly without any pause
The flag of freedom you raised to heights,
Upon you are resting our nation's sights
The spirit of freedom you carried in your hearts,
Now we harbour in our bosoms
None can stop us now from freedom,
We will attain it, even if we have to kiss matyrdom
Never will we sell your blood to the foes
Deep inside our hearts, we remember your sacrifice,
You gave up lives for us, and not for any price
Your memories innumberable, we feel with us,
We adore you, never will you be surplus
All your hopes for freedom, will soon come true,
Every dream of yours, we will pursue
Your commitment for nation, we will net let go,
We are indebted by your credits from head to toe
Every pleasure of life, you had forsaken,
Every joy of yours had been taken
Your blood was spilled for our cause,
You strived tirelessly without any pause
The flag of freedom you raised to heights,
Upon you are resting our nation's sights
The spirit of freedom you carried in your hearts,
Now we harbour in our bosoms
None can stop us now from freedom,
We will attain it, even if we have to kiss matyrdom
Draconian law PSA slapped on Kashmiri leaders
In occupied Kashmir, the puppet authorities once again slapped draconian law, Public Safety Act (PSA) on pro-liberation Kashmiri leaders including Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Ashraf Sehrai and Asiya Andarabi.
Shah was shifted to Srinagar Central Jail from police station Boniyar, Uri. Earlier, PSA was slapped against the senior All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) leader and chairman Democratic Freedom Party for his attempts to unite the pro-liberation leadership. However the draconian law was quashed by the High Court in occupied Kashmir, but police instead of releasing Shah once again arrested him on fake charges of “stoking violence” in the Valley.
Meanwhile, police re-arrested Ashraf Sehrai and Asiya Andrabi after High Court quashed PSAs slapped against them earlier. They have been detained in the Central Jail, Srinagar.
Shah was shifted to Srinagar Central Jail from police station Boniyar, Uri. Earlier, PSA was slapped against the senior All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) leader and chairman Democratic Freedom Party for his attempts to unite the pro-liberation leadership. However the draconian law was quashed by the High Court in occupied Kashmir, but police instead of releasing Shah once again arrested him on fake charges of “stoking violence” in the Valley.
Meanwhile, police re-arrested Ashraf Sehrai and Asiya Andrabi after High Court quashed PSAs slapped against them earlier. They have been detained in the Central Jail, Srinagar.
Indian Army officer behind mosque bombing
The startling revelation about a senior Indian Army officer’s involvement in September 2008 bomb blasts at a mosque in Malegoan, Maharashtra state has brought to the fore Indian Army’s apolitical role in country’s communal disturbances.
The sensational disclosure came to light after investigations exposed that one Lt Col Purohit had been supplying the deadly RDX explosive material besides imparting training to the Hindu extremists and terrorists. As the story goes Lt Col Purohit used his links established during his tenure in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for procuring explososives and other weapons where he was posted with 41-Rashtriya Rifles. Lt Col Purohit was involved in training the accused in bomb making and it was on his instructions that funds were made available to those involved in the blast.
Investigations by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also found that he attended secret meetings of the extremist Hindu group ‘Abhinav Bahart’ in different cities. Around 11 people including serving Lt Colonel Purohit have been taken into custody. The ATS has obtained confessional statements of Lt Col Purohit admitting his pivotal role in plotting and executing the act of terrorism on September 29. The ATS further said that it would like to question at least three more men in uniform believed to be one Major General and two colonels. Investigations further revealed that the accused managed to procure weapons and explosives including RDX using fake documents while he was posted in occupied Kashmir in 2004-05. One Sadhvi Pragya Singh has been declared the mastermind behind the attacks in Malegaon and she was arrested with a retired army major Upadhya with another accomplice S Kulkarni. Upadhaya led the investigations to Lt Col Purohit who is believed to have spilled the beans naming three more top army men. This sinister incident established Indian Army officers hobnobbing with Hindu extremist outfits in the country who have been carrying out bombing, arson, torture and other acts of terrorism against hapless minorities particularly the Muslims. After every bombing strike the blame was conveniently placed on some non-existent Muslim organisation in order to whip up anti-Muslim hatred. Armies everywhere in the world are known to have maintained a strictly professional and secular outlook but the role being played by the army in the neighbourhood defies all descriptions. It is enough to expose India’s claims to be the biggest democracy, which is being used to hide the utmost violations of minorities’ rights and targeting of their places of worships.
The sensational disclosure came to light after investigations exposed that one Lt Col Purohit had been supplying the deadly RDX explosive material besides imparting training to the Hindu extremists and terrorists. As the story goes Lt Col Purohit used his links established during his tenure in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for procuring explososives and other weapons where he was posted with 41-Rashtriya Rifles. Lt Col Purohit was involved in training the accused in bomb making and it was on his instructions that funds were made available to those involved in the blast.
Investigations by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also found that he attended secret meetings of the extremist Hindu group ‘Abhinav Bahart’ in different cities. Around 11 people including serving Lt Colonel Purohit have been taken into custody. The ATS has obtained confessional statements of Lt Col Purohit admitting his pivotal role in plotting and executing the act of terrorism on September 29. The ATS further said that it would like to question at least three more men in uniform believed to be one Major General and two colonels. Investigations further revealed that the accused managed to procure weapons and explosives including RDX using fake documents while he was posted in occupied Kashmir in 2004-05. One Sadhvi Pragya Singh has been declared the mastermind behind the attacks in Malegaon and she was arrested with a retired army major Upadhya with another accomplice S Kulkarni. Upadhaya led the investigations to Lt Col Purohit who is believed to have spilled the beans naming three more top army men. This sinister incident established Indian Army officers hobnobbing with Hindu extremist outfits in the country who have been carrying out bombing, arson, torture and other acts of terrorism against hapless minorities particularly the Muslims. After every bombing strike the blame was conveniently placed on some non-existent Muslim organisation in order to whip up anti-Muslim hatred. Armies everywhere in the world are known to have maintained a strictly professional and secular outlook but the role being played by the army in the neighbourhood defies all descriptions. It is enough to expose India’s claims to be the biggest democracy, which is being used to hide the utmost violations of minorities’ rights and targeting of their places of worships.
Indian Troopers ‘rape’ 13-year old
Kokernag Village Shocked; Govt Orders Usual Probe
Dec 4: Alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl and molestation of a woman by army troopers in this south Kashmir village triggered massive protests on Thursday.
Locals said that a group of troopers from 36 Rashtriya Rifles barged into the house of Muhammad Abdul Khatana, Imam of the local Masjid, last night and gang-raped her daughter.
While narrating the nightmarish experience, Khatana told Greater Kashmir: “I, my wife and three minor kids were sleeping in the kitchen while my son (7), my brother in law, (also my cousin who is putting up with us) and my daughter, Fahmeeda (name changed), the victim, were sleeping in another room.”
He said that around 10:15 pm last night, some people knocked at the door. “As I peeped through the window, I saw six troopers. Out of fear I didn’t open the door. They broke the bolt and barged into the house. First they told me that they have to search the house but when I tried to switch on the light, they reprimanded me. Then I sought their permission to light a candle, but they caught hold of me and nearly lynched me,” he said.
Khatana said that they (troopers) locked him in one of the rooms and his wife and kids in the other room. “They also thrashed my brother-in-law, and locked him in the bathroom,” he said, adding, “After locking all of us they took my daughter Fahmeeda into the other room. Four of the troopers gang-raped her for an hour, while the two others remained outside to guard them.”
Khatana with his eyes moist said that he kept on hearing the screams of her minor daughter helplessly for nearly an hour. “We raised an alarm and few of the villagers heard our screams,” he added.
Locals said that some of the villagers ran towards Khatana’s house after hearing screams. “As the troopers saw people approaching they fled away from the spot,” they said, adding, “As we entered Khatana’s house we found the inmates locked in different rooms. Fahmeeda was lying naked in the room, unconscious with bruises all over her body.”
Locals said that they saw an army vehicle parked a few meters away from the victim’s house. “We approached them and told them that their men have raped a minor, but they denied. The troopers initially told us that they might have been militants, but when we told them that they were wearing the same uniform and carrying the same guns they had, they told us that then it might have been CRPF men,” the locals said.
Haji Mumtaz Ali, an elderly resident said that after the incident troopers approached them and intimidated the villagers to give a statement that troopers from 36-RR were not involved in the act. “We offered resistance and refused to follow their diktats,” Ali said.
After the incident, some of the villagers called the Police Station, Kokernag, and informed them about the incident. “Police reached on the spot and took the victim along,” locals said.
Ruqaya Begum, the mother of the victim was in a shock and was crying continuously.
She didn’t utter a word but pain and agony were palpable on her face.
Locals said that before entering into the house of Khatana, the troopers around 9:00 pm attempted to rape one Rafeeqa (name changed), wife of Muhammad Yaqoob, but the lady offered stiff resistance and they fled away.
Dec 4: Alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl and molestation of a woman by army troopers in this south Kashmir village triggered massive protests on Thursday.
Locals said that a group of troopers from 36 Rashtriya Rifles barged into the house of Muhammad Abdul Khatana, Imam of the local Masjid, last night and gang-raped her daughter.
While narrating the nightmarish experience, Khatana told Greater Kashmir: “I, my wife and three minor kids were sleeping in the kitchen while my son (7), my brother in law, (also my cousin who is putting up with us) and my daughter, Fahmeeda (name changed), the victim, were sleeping in another room.”
He said that around 10:15 pm last night, some people knocked at the door. “As I peeped through the window, I saw six troopers. Out of fear I didn’t open the door. They broke the bolt and barged into the house. First they told me that they have to search the house but when I tried to switch on the light, they reprimanded me. Then I sought their permission to light a candle, but they caught hold of me and nearly lynched me,” he said.
Khatana said that they (troopers) locked him in one of the rooms and his wife and kids in the other room. “They also thrashed my brother-in-law, and locked him in the bathroom,” he said, adding, “After locking all of us they took my daughter Fahmeeda into the other room. Four of the troopers gang-raped her for an hour, while the two others remained outside to guard them.”
Khatana with his eyes moist said that he kept on hearing the screams of her minor daughter helplessly for nearly an hour. “We raised an alarm and few of the villagers heard our screams,” he added.
Locals said that some of the villagers ran towards Khatana’s house after hearing screams. “As the troopers saw people approaching they fled away from the spot,” they said, adding, “As we entered Khatana’s house we found the inmates locked in different rooms. Fahmeeda was lying naked in the room, unconscious with bruises all over her body.”
Locals said that they saw an army vehicle parked a few meters away from the victim’s house. “We approached them and told them that their men have raped a minor, but they denied. The troopers initially told us that they might have been militants, but when we told them that they were wearing the same uniform and carrying the same guns they had, they told us that then it might have been CRPF men,” the locals said.
Haji Mumtaz Ali, an elderly resident said that after the incident troopers approached them and intimidated the villagers to give a statement that troopers from 36-RR were not involved in the act. “We offered resistance and refused to follow their diktats,” Ali said.
After the incident, some of the villagers called the Police Station, Kokernag, and informed them about the incident. “Police reached on the spot and took the victim along,” locals said.
Ruqaya Begum, the mother of the victim was in a shock and was crying continuously.
She didn’t utter a word but pain and agony were palpable on her face.
Locals said that before entering into the house of Khatana, the troopers around 9:00 pm attempted to rape one Rafeeqa (name changed), wife of Muhammad Yaqoob, but the lady offered stiff resistance and they fled away.
Kashmiris to hold anti-polls demos tomorrow
122 Indian troops commit suicide since January 2007
In occupied Kashmir, anti-polls demonstrations, marked with a complete strike, will be held after Juma prayers, tomorrow, call for which has been given by the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee.
The Committee in a meeting in Srinagar, today, said that the so-called assembly elections were nothing but a military operation as India had converted the occupied territory into a police state. It was reaffirmed that the people of Kashmir would not rest till they achieve their right to self-determination. The meeting was presided over by Mian Abdul Qayoom and attended among others by Yasmeen Raja, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, and Shaikh Ali Mohammad.
On the other hand, the APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house arrest for the 23rd, Syed Ali Gilani for the 10th and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi for the 14th consecutive day, today.
A Special Police Officer committed suicide after shooting himself with his service rifle at Gassipora in Qazigund. This has brought the number of such deaths among Indian troops to 122 since January 2007. At least 10 persons were injured and fifteen vehicles damaged when the motorcade of National Conference President, Omar Abdullah was pelted with stones near Narbal on his way to Srinagar.
Indian Army officer behind mosque bombing
The startling revelation about a senior Indian Army officer’s involvement in September 2008 bomb blasts at a mosque in Malegoan, Maharashtra state has brought to the fore Indian Army’s apolitical role in country’s communal disturbances.
The sensational disclosure came to light after investigations exposed that one Lt Col Purohit had been supplying the deadly RDX explosive material besides imparting training to the Hindu extremists and terrorists. As the story goes Lt Col Purohit used his links established during his tenure in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for procuring explososives and other weapons where he was posted with 41-Rashtriya Rifles. Lt Col Purohit was involved in training the accused in bomb making and it was on his instructions that funds were made available to those involved in the blast.
Investigations by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also found that he attended secret meetings of the extremist Hindu group ‘Abhinav Bahart’ in different cities. Around 11 people including serving Lt Colonel Purohit have been taken into custody. The ATS has obtained confessional statements of Lt Col Purohit admitting his pivotal role in plotting and executing the act of terrorism on September 29. The ATS further said that it would like to question at least three more men in uniform believed to be one Major General and two colonels. Investigations further revealed that the accused managed to procure weapons and explosives including RDX using fake documents while he was posted in occupied Kashmir in 2004-05. One Sadhvi Pragya Singh has been declared the mastermind behind the attacks in Malegaon and she was arrested with a retired army major Upadhya with another accomplice S Kulkarni. Upadhaya led the investigations to Lt Col Purohit who is believed to have spilled the beans naming three more top army men. This sinister incident established Indian Army officers hobnobbing with Hindu extremist outfits in the country who have been carrying out bombing, arson, torture and other acts of terrorism against hapless minorities particularly the Muslims. After every bombing strike the blame was conveniently placed on some non-existent Muslim organisation in order to whip up anti-Muslim hatred. Armies everywhere in the world are known to have maintained a strictly professional and secular outlook but the role being played by the army in the neighbourhood defies all descriptions. It is enough to expose India’s claims to be the biggest democracy, which is being used to hide the utmost violations of minorities’ rights and targeting of their places of worships.
The sensational disclosure came to light after investigations exposed that one Lt Col Purohit had been supplying the deadly RDX explosive material besides imparting training to the Hindu extremists and terrorists. As the story goes Lt Col Purohit used his links established during his tenure in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for procuring explososives and other weapons where he was posted with 41-Rashtriya Rifles. Lt Col Purohit was involved in training the accused in bomb making and it was on his instructions that funds were made available to those involved in the blast.
Investigations by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also found that he attended secret meetings of the extremist Hindu group ‘Abhinav Bahart’ in different cities. Around 11 people including serving Lt Colonel Purohit have been taken into custody. The ATS has obtained confessional statements of Lt Col Purohit admitting his pivotal role in plotting and executing the act of terrorism on September 29. The ATS further said that it would like to question at least three more men in uniform believed to be one Major General and two colonels. Investigations further revealed that the accused managed to procure weapons and explosives including RDX using fake documents while he was posted in occupied Kashmir in 2004-05. One Sadhvi Pragya Singh has been declared the mastermind behind the attacks in Malegaon and she was arrested with a retired army major Upadhya with another accomplice S Kulkarni. Upadhaya led the investigations to Lt Col Purohit who is believed to have spilled the beans naming three more top army men. This sinister incident established Indian Army officers hobnobbing with Hindu extremist outfits in the country who have been carrying out bombing, arson, torture and other acts of terrorism against hapless minorities particularly the Muslims. After every bombing strike the blame was conveniently placed on some non-existent Muslim organisation in order to whip up anti-Muslim hatred. Armies everywhere in the world are known to have maintained a strictly professional and secular outlook but the role being played by the army in the neighbourhood defies all descriptions. It is enough to expose India’s claims to be the biggest democracy, which is being used to hide the utmost violations of minorities’ rights and targeting of their places of worships.
Undeclared curfew imposed in occupied Kashmir
In occupied Kashmir, the authorities imposed undeclared curfew in Srinagar, Badgam, Baramulla and Islamabad towns to prevent anti-election protest demonstrations after Juma prayers, today.
Defying curfew restrictions people took to streets in Baramulla town raising anti-India and Freedom slogans.
The authorities had placed under house arrest the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi and Mian Abdul Qayoom. They were not allowed even to offer Juma prayers. Juma congregations in majority of the mosques including historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar could not be held for the third consecutive Juma, today.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement in Srinagar strongly condemned the actions and urged the international community to take notice of the fact that India was not allowing Kashmiris to perform their religious rites.
Meanwhile, Syed Ali Gilani, Mohammad Azam Inqalabi, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and illegally detained APHC leader, Zafar Akbar Butt in their separate statements strongly denounced the terrorist attacks in Indian city Mumbai describing them as highly detestable.
Defying curfew restrictions people took to streets in Baramulla town raising anti-India and Freedom slogans.
The authorities had placed under house arrest the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi and Mian Abdul Qayoom. They were not allowed even to offer Juma prayers. Juma congregations in majority of the mosques including historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar could not be held for the third consecutive Juma, today.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement in Srinagar strongly condemned the actions and urged the international community to take notice of the fact that India was not allowing Kashmiris to perform their religious rites.
Meanwhile, Syed Ali Gilani, Mohammad Azam Inqalabi, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and illegally detained APHC leader, Zafar Akbar Butt in their separate statements strongly denounced the terrorist attacks in Indian city Mumbai describing them as highly detestable.
Indian troops martyr five innocent Kashmiris
In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred five innocent Kashmiri youth in Bandipore.
The dead bodies of the martyred were recovered from the debris of three residential houses destroyed by heavy mortar shelling of 14-Rashtriya Rifles during siege and search operation at Sheikh Baba in Sumlar area of the district. Two cowsheds were also damaged and more than 30 cattle died during the operation.
Earlier, two troops were killed in an attack in the same area.
The dead bodies of the martyred were recovered from the debris of three residential houses destroyed by heavy mortar shelling of 14-Rashtriya Rifles during siege and search operation at Sheikh Baba in Sumlar area of the district. Two cowsheds were also damaged and more than 30 cattle died during the operation.
Earlier, two troops were killed in an attack in the same area.
APHC invites international fact-finding missions to Kashmir
Srinagar, November 25 (KMS): The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), has urged the international community to send its fact finding team to Kashmir to take first hand stock of the situation and witness how India is conducting farce elections in occupied Kashmir in presence of lakhs of troops.
The APHC spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar said that a Hurriyet delegation visited Baramulla to express solidarity with the family members of the two youth. “A reign of terror has been let loose by troops on the people of Baramulla and adjoining areas after the recent pro-freedom demonstrations,” he said. He also condemned the use of force on peaceful protesters in Pulwama by Indian troops.
Meanwhile, the High Court Bar Association of occupied Kashmir has expressed serious concern over the human rights violations perpetrated by Indian troops in the occupied territory. The Association in a statement issued in Srinagar strongly condemned Indian troops’ firing, teargas shelling and lathi charge on peaceful demonstrators in Baramulla and Pulwama.
March to Jamia Masjid
Srinagar, November 05 (KMS): The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani have appealed to the people of occupied Kashmir to massively march towards Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, tomorrow, to mark Jammu Martyrs’ day.
Talking to Kashmir Media Service on telephone, the APHC Chairman said that he was placed under house arrest this morning and was not allowed by the occupation authorities to come out of his residence. He said that if the occupation authorities disallowed the march tomorrow it would be held on Friday, the day after.
The APHC Chairman, while congratulating Barack Obama on his victory in the U.S. presidential elections said that it was high time to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations for ensuring peace and security in South Asia. Illegally detained senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah in his letter from Srinagar Central Jail addressed to Barack Obama expressed confidence that the new US president would prioritise the Kashmir dispute to get it resolved, once and for all.
The Executive Directors of Kashmir Centres in Washington and London, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai and Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl and the Chairman of JKLF Rajbagh, Farooq Siddiqi in their separate statements also congratulated the US President- elect.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, in a statement in Srinagar today, deplored that the lawyer of Muhammad Yaseen Malik was not allowed to meet him in Amphala jail in Jammu. The statement expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the detained leader.
Meanwhile, Kashmiris on both sides of the line of control and world over will observe Jammu Martyr’s Day, tomorrow, to renew the pledge that they will not rest till they achieve their right to self-determination. During the first week of November 1947, hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were massacred by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian army and Hindu extremists in different parts of Jammu region while they were migrating to Pakistan.
Talking to Kashmir Media Service on telephone, the APHC Chairman said that he was placed under house arrest this morning and was not allowed by the occupation authorities to come out of his residence. He said that if the occupation authorities disallowed the march tomorrow it would be held on Friday, the day after.
The APHC Chairman, while congratulating Barack Obama on his victory in the U.S. presidential elections said that it was high time to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations for ensuring peace and security in South Asia. Illegally detained senior APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah in his letter from Srinagar Central Jail addressed to Barack Obama expressed confidence that the new US president would prioritise the Kashmir dispute to get it resolved, once and for all.
The Executive Directors of Kashmir Centres in Washington and London, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai and Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl and the Chairman of JKLF Rajbagh, Farooq Siddiqi in their separate statements also congratulated the US President- elect.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, in a statement in Srinagar today, deplored that the lawyer of Muhammad Yaseen Malik was not allowed to meet him in Amphala jail in Jammu. The statement expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the detained leader.
Meanwhile, Kashmiris on both sides of the line of control and world over will observe Jammu Martyr’s Day, tomorrow, to renew the pledge that they will not rest till they achieve their right to self-determination. During the first week of November 1947, hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were massacred by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian army and Hindu extremists in different parts of Jammu region while they were migrating to Pakistan.
Demonstrations, strike in Baramulla, Sopore
Srinagar, October 28 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, protest demonstrations, marked with complete strike, continued in Baramulla and Sopore towns today, against the killing of a youth by Indian troops.
The protesters raised high-pitched anti-India and pro-liberation slogans on the occasion. One youth was martyred and several others injured when troops opened fire on peaceful demonstrators on Saturday.
The occupation authorities arrested Hurriyet leaders, Nayeem Ahmed Khan and Dr Ghulam Muhammad Hubbi and shifted them to undisclosed destinations.
The APHC spokesman in a statement in Srinagar and the APHC-AJK in a separate statement in Islamabad strongly condemned the arrest of Hurriyet leaders and activists. Nisar Hussain Rather, the Acting Chairman of the forum patronised by senior Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, in a media interview in Srinagar also took strong exception to the arrests.
Yasin Malik, Maulana Showkat arrested in Srinagar
Srinagar, October 23 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, Indian police personnel arrested the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik and a member of Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee, Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah from their houses in Srinagar on Thursday and shifted them to unknown destinations.
Mohammad Yasin Malik kick-started the election boycott campaign from Sonawari and urged people to stay away from the polls process. This is the first anti-election campaign by a pro-liberation leader after the announcement of poll schedule by Indian authorities. Hundreds of men, women and children participated in the anti-election rally amidst pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
“The peaceful election boycott by the masses will be the biggest setback to Indian democracy. It will be a victory for us,” Yasin Malik had said while addressing people. He called on them to lodge their protest by observing civil curfew on the scheduled poll dates while staying in their homes and not casting the votes.
The JKLF Chairman asserted that the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris would be safeguarded at all costs. “We have to sustain the mass uprising and take it to its logical conclusion. It is our responsibility to protect the peaceful uprising that has awakened the US, UN and international community from the deep slumber and compelled them to issue statements on Kashmir situation,” he added.
Yasin Malik maintained that the recent peaceful pro-liberations protest demonstrations have forced even the intellectual class of India to support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
The JKLF Chairman asked people to reject the pro-India politicians, who will be visiting them and seeking their vote. “The mainstream politicians are more concerned about the power and have been exploiting the sentiments of the people for their petty interests,” he said adding, “They will promise roads, employment and other things but you should make them leave alone and empty handed.”
Terming the so-called elections as a futile exercise, Yasin Malik said that the polls couldn’t be a substitute to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Unarmed Kashmiri freedom fighters
Flowing black beard, a headband with “Allahu akbar” (God is great) and a fluttering green flag. This has been the trademark picture of the recent azadi (freedom) processions of Kashmir, where hundreds of thousands marched the streets of this disputed Himalayan region seeking a separation from India.
From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about the power of argument.
Kashmir is the first conflict-ridden Muslim region in the world where people have consciously made a transition from violence to non-violence, and this includes the staunch Islamists too. In fact, the wisdom behind the use of arms to fight a political struggle was being silently debated within Kashmir ever since 9/11 blurred the lines dividing terrorism and genuine political movements. The deteriorating situation inside Pakistan too had tilted the balance towards a peaceful struggle.
Thus when Kashmiris decided to come out to demand azadi recently, there were no militant attacks or suicide bombings. It was through massive unarmed processions where people shouted slogans and waved flags. And when the government tried to halt them, the anger was only manifested through stone pelting. Sensing the overwhelming public mood, the militant groups immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, admitting the insignificance of the gun for an unarmed people’s movement.
This major shift has not been registered even as it has already formed a new discourse for Kashmir’s separatist struggle. New Delhi’s response was usual – it again used its iron fist, killing 38 unarmed protesters and injuring more than a thousand and enforcing a strict curfew with a hope that the people will be ultimately cowed down. The separatist leadership too was rounded up.
This only shows that New Delhi is misreading the script. This time the authorities are not faced with gun-wielding men but unarmed people. A heavy clampdown keeping the population indoors only puts a temporary lid on the seething anger. Instead of a military intervention, New Delhi should have immediately attempted sincere political and democratic means to engage Kashmir and calm the tempers.
New Delhi’s approach to handling Kashmir for past two decades has been simple and straight: militancy is the only problem and that can be sorted out by stringent military measures. Though there have been several rounds of negotiations with a faction of the separatist leadership too, New Delhi used the process more as a photo-op than a serious effort to address the demands of the people. There have been half a dozen occasions when separatist leadership joined a dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir problem amicably – only to find the exercise nothing more than a surrender and thus futile.
The distrust towards New Delhi had reached such proportions that when moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decided to join talks with New Delhi, his uncle was murdered in Kashmir. Despite a serious threat to his life, he joined the talks directly with the prime minister of India. Again, the non-serious approach of New Delhi derailed the process, further eroding the credibility of talks with New Delhi in the eyes of Kashmiris. The public standing of separatist leaders who had agreed to talk to New Delhi also diminished substantially.
The recent protests by hundreds of thousands of unarmed people too don’t seem to have changed the mindset of New Delhi’s ruling elite. Instead of acknowledging the intensity of the uprising and the depth of the sentiment in Kashmir, New Delhi again refuses to face the reality and delays engaging in a sincere dialogue with the separatist leadership. The Kashmiris have overwhelmingly announced that peaceful processions and not guns are now their favoured means of protest. This needs to be encouraged and allowed to take firm roots because it could help to put an end to the bloodshed in Kashmir and make an amicable resolution of the problem easy. The phenomenon could also have a positive influence over a dozen such violent conflicts in other Muslim regions across the world. But if peaceful protests are crushed like armed movements, another wave of violence will take root, reinforcing the idea that the gun is mightier than a slogan.
From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about the power of argument.
Kashmir is the first conflict-ridden Muslim region in the world where people have consciously made a transition from violence to non-violence, and this includes the staunch Islamists too. In fact, the wisdom behind the use of arms to fight a political struggle was being silently debated within Kashmir ever since 9/11 blurred the lines dividing terrorism and genuine political movements. The deteriorating situation inside Pakistan too had tilted the balance towards a peaceful struggle.
Thus when Kashmiris decided to come out to demand azadi recently, there were no militant attacks or suicide bombings. It was through massive unarmed processions where people shouted slogans and waved flags. And when the government tried to halt them, the anger was only manifested through stone pelting. Sensing the overwhelming public mood, the militant groups immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, admitting the insignificance of the gun for an unarmed people’s movement.
This major shift has not been registered even as it has already formed a new discourse for Kashmir’s separatist struggle. New Delhi’s response was usual – it again used its iron fist, killing 38 unarmed protesters and injuring more than a thousand and enforcing a strict curfew with a hope that the people will be ultimately cowed down. The separatist leadership too was rounded up.
This only shows that New Delhi is misreading the script. This time the authorities are not faced with gun-wielding men but unarmed people. A heavy clampdown keeping the population indoors only puts a temporary lid on the seething anger. Instead of a military intervention, New Delhi should have immediately attempted sincere political and democratic means to engage Kashmir and calm the tempers.
New Delhi’s approach to handling Kashmir for past two decades has been simple and straight: militancy is the only problem and that can be sorted out by stringent military measures. Though there have been several rounds of negotiations with a faction of the separatist leadership too, New Delhi used the process more as a photo-op than a serious effort to address the demands of the people. There have been half a dozen occasions when separatist leadership joined a dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir problem amicably – only to find the exercise nothing more than a surrender and thus futile.
The distrust towards New Delhi had reached such proportions that when moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decided to join talks with New Delhi, his uncle was murdered in Kashmir. Despite a serious threat to his life, he joined the talks directly with the prime minister of India. Again, the non-serious approach of New Delhi derailed the process, further eroding the credibility of talks with New Delhi in the eyes of Kashmiris. The public standing of separatist leaders who had agreed to talk to New Delhi also diminished substantially.
The recent protests by hundreds of thousands of unarmed people too don’t seem to have changed the mindset of New Delhi’s ruling elite. Instead of acknowledging the intensity of the uprising and the depth of the sentiment in Kashmir, New Delhi again refuses to face the reality and delays engaging in a sincere dialogue with the separatist leadership. The Kashmiris have overwhelmingly announced that peaceful processions and not guns are now their favoured means of protest. This needs to be encouraged and allowed to take firm roots because it could help to put an end to the bloodshed in Kashmir and make an amicable resolution of the problem easy. The phenomenon could also have a positive influence over a dozen such violent conflicts in other Muslim regions across the world. But if peaceful protests are crushed like armed movements, another wave of violence will take root, reinforcing the idea that the gun is mightier than a slogan.
Unarmed Kashmiri freedom fighters
Flowing black beard, a headband with “Allahu akbar” (God is great) and a fluttering green flag. This has been the trademark picture of the recent azadi (freedom) processions of Kashmir, where hundreds of thousands marched the streets of this disputed Himalayan region seeking a separation from India.
From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about the power of argument.
Kashmir is the first conflict-ridden Muslim region in the world where people have consciously made a transition from violence to non-violence, and this includes the staunch Islamists too. In fact, the wisdom behind the use of arms to fight a political struggle was being silently debated within Kashmir ever since 9/11 blurred the lines dividing terrorism and genuine political movements. The deteriorating situation inside Pakistan too had tilted the balance towards a peaceful struggle.
Thus when Kashmiris decided to come out to demand azadi recently, there were no militant attacks or suicide bombings. It was through massive unarmed processions where people shouted slogans and waved flags. And when the government tried to halt them, the anger was only manifested through stone pelting. Sensing the overwhelming public mood, the militant groups immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, admitting the insignificance of the gun for an unarmed people’s movement.
This major shift has not been registered even as it has already formed a new discourse for Kashmir’s separatist struggle. New Delhi’s response was usual – it again used its iron fist, killing 38 unarmed protesters and injuring more than a thousand and enforcing a strict curfew with a hope that the people will be ultimately cowed down. The separatist leadership too was rounded up.
This only shows that New Delhi is misreading the script. This time the authorities are not faced with gun-wielding men but unarmed people. A heavy clampdown keeping the population indoors only puts a temporary lid on the seething anger. Instead of a military intervention, New Delhi should have immediately attempted sincere political and democratic means to engage Kashmir and calm the tempers.
New Delhi’s approach to handling Kashmir for past two decades has been simple and straight: militancy is the only problem and that can be sorted out by stringent military measures. Though there have been several rounds of negotiations with a faction of the separatist leadership too, New Delhi used the process more as a photo-op than a serious effort to address the demands of the people. There have been half a dozen occasions when separatist leadership joined a dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir problem amicably – only to find the exercise nothing more than a surrender and thus futile.
The distrust towards New Delhi had reached such proportions that when moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decided to join talks with New Delhi, his uncle was murdered in Kashmir. Despite a serious threat to his life, he joined the talks directly with the prime minister of India. Again, the non-serious approach of New Delhi derailed the process, further eroding the credibility of talks with New Delhi in the eyes of Kashmiris. The public standing of separatist leaders who had agreed to talk to New Delhi also diminished substantially.
The recent protests by hundreds of thousands of unarmed people too don’t seem to have changed the mindset of New Delhi’s ruling elite. Instead of acknowledging the intensity of the uprising and the depth of the sentiment in Kashmir, New Delhi again refuses to face the reality and delays engaging in a sincere dialogue with the separatist leadership. The Kashmiris have overwhelmingly announced that peaceful processions and not guns are now their favoured means of protest. This needs to be encouraged and allowed to take firm roots because it could help to put an end to the bloodshed in Kashmir and make an amicable resolution of the problem easy. The phenomenon could also have a positive influence over a dozen such violent conflicts in other Muslim regions across the world. But if peaceful protests are crushed like armed movements, another wave of violence will take root, reinforcing the idea that the gun is mightier than a slogan.
From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about the power of argument.
Kashmir is the first conflict-ridden Muslim region in the world where people have consciously made a transition from violence to non-violence, and this includes the staunch Islamists too. In fact, the wisdom behind the use of arms to fight a political struggle was being silently debated within Kashmir ever since 9/11 blurred the lines dividing terrorism and genuine political movements. The deteriorating situation inside Pakistan too had tilted the balance towards a peaceful struggle.
Thus when Kashmiris decided to come out to demand azadi recently, there were no militant attacks or suicide bombings. It was through massive unarmed processions where people shouted slogans and waved flags. And when the government tried to halt them, the anger was only manifested through stone pelting. Sensing the overwhelming public mood, the militant groups immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, admitting the insignificance of the gun for an unarmed people’s movement.
This major shift has not been registered even as it has already formed a new discourse for Kashmir’s separatist struggle. New Delhi’s response was usual – it again used its iron fist, killing 38 unarmed protesters and injuring more than a thousand and enforcing a strict curfew with a hope that the people will be ultimately cowed down. The separatist leadership too was rounded up.
This only shows that New Delhi is misreading the script. This time the authorities are not faced with gun-wielding men but unarmed people. A heavy clampdown keeping the population indoors only puts a temporary lid on the seething anger. Instead of a military intervention, New Delhi should have immediately attempted sincere political and democratic means to engage Kashmir and calm the tempers.
New Delhi’s approach to handling Kashmir for past two decades has been simple and straight: militancy is the only problem and that can be sorted out by stringent military measures. Though there have been several rounds of negotiations with a faction of the separatist leadership too, New Delhi used the process more as a photo-op than a serious effort to address the demands of the people. There have been half a dozen occasions when separatist leadership joined a dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir problem amicably – only to find the exercise nothing more than a surrender and thus futile.
The distrust towards New Delhi had reached such proportions that when moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decided to join talks with New Delhi, his uncle was murdered in Kashmir. Despite a serious threat to his life, he joined the talks directly with the prime minister of India. Again, the non-serious approach of New Delhi derailed the process, further eroding the credibility of talks with New Delhi in the eyes of Kashmiris. The public standing of separatist leaders who had agreed to talk to New Delhi also diminished substantially.
The recent protests by hundreds of thousands of unarmed people too don’t seem to have changed the mindset of New Delhi’s ruling elite. Instead of acknowledging the intensity of the uprising and the depth of the sentiment in Kashmir, New Delhi again refuses to face the reality and delays engaging in a sincere dialogue with the separatist leadership. The Kashmiris have overwhelmingly announced that peaceful processions and not guns are now their favoured means of protest. This needs to be encouraged and allowed to take firm roots because it could help to put an end to the bloodshed in Kashmir and make an amicable resolution of the problem easy. The phenomenon could also have a positive influence over a dozen such violent conflicts in other Muslim regions across the world. But if peaceful protests are crushed like armed movements, another wave of violence will take root, reinforcing the idea that the gun is mightier than a slogan.
Curfew imposed, Hurriyet leaders arrested in IHK
Mirwaiz condemns occupation authorities’ actions
Srinagar, October 05 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, strict indefinite curfew was clamped on all the ten districts of Kashmir Valley and Muslim areas of Jammu region today by the occupation authorities, ahead of Lal Chowk March, tomorrow. Call of the march has been given by the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee, jointly headed by the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other Hurriyet leaders’ Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Ghani Lone and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi were placed under house arrest. Hundreds of innocent civilians including the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Convenor of the Coordination Committee in three districts of Jammu region, Mohammad Shafi Rangrez and Zaffar Akbar butt were arrested and taken to unknown destinations.
The officials were heard warning people, through loudspeakers fitted onto police vehicles not to come out of their houses and those defying curfew restrictions would be sternly dealt with. The authorities have sealed all roads and lanes leading to the city of Srinagar, deploying huge contingents of Indian troops in all cities and towns of the occupied territory.
Local television channels have been broadcasting only films and music programmes as they were ordered to refrain from airing any news. No media person was allowed to cover the situation. The transporters said that they were threatened of dire consequences by the authorities if they facilitated people in converging on Lal Chowk tomorrow.
The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq talking to Kashmir Media Service strongly denounced the imposition of curfew and large-scale arrest by the puppet administration to prevent Lal Chowk March. He appealed to the international community to take cognisance of the fact that India was not allowing peaceful activities in the occupied territory, which was quite contrary to democratic norms and international covenants. On the other hand, scores of youth defied curfew today in old town of Baramulla staging anti-India and pro-liberation demonstration.
Senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, who complained of severe chest pain, last evening, was shifted to Soura Medical Institute for treatment.
Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred one innocent Kashmiri youth during a crackdown operation at Dodimal in Rajouri.
India not to succeed in suppressing Kashmiris’ struggle
Srinagar, October 05 (KMS): The All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has reiterated that the ongoing peaceful liberation struggle will continue till the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
In a telephonic media interview from his residence in Srinagar Mirwaiz said that detentions and house arrests are part of liberation movement and India cannot suppress Kashmiris’ struggle by resorting to brute force.
APHC Chairman said, “India has intensified atrocities on Kashmiri people and dozens of innocent peaceful marchers including senior APHC leader, Shaikh Abdul Aziz were killed by Indian troops’ indiscriminate firing in last two months.” He added that India should shun its negative approach and use of brutal force and take positive steps towards resolving the dispute.
Mirwaiz said that Kashmiri people held peaceful protest demonstrations and raised the issue on international front. Movement couldn’t be suppressed now as the Indian literate class was also supporting the peaceful solution of this longstanding dispute. He also stressed on the need to include Kashmiri leadership in Pak-India composite dialogue process to work out the solution of the dispute.
In a telephonic media interview from his residence in Srinagar Mirwaiz said that detentions and house arrests are part of liberation movement and India cannot suppress Kashmiris’ struggle by resorting to brute force.
APHC Chairman said, “India has intensified atrocities on Kashmiri people and dozens of innocent peaceful marchers including senior APHC leader, Shaikh Abdul Aziz were killed by Indian troops’ indiscriminate firing in last two months.” He added that India should shun its negative approach and use of brutal force and take positive steps towards resolving the dispute.
Mirwaiz said that Kashmiri people held peaceful protest demonstrations and raised the issue on international front. Movement couldn’t be suppressed now as the Indian literate class was also supporting the peaceful solution of this longstanding dispute. He also stressed on the need to include Kashmiri leadership in Pak-India composite dialogue process to work out the solution of the dispute.
Forceful anti-India demonstrations
Forceful anti-India demonstrations in IHK continue
Srinagar, September 10 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, forceful anti-India demonstrations continued in Islamabad town for the fourth day, today, against the terror unleashed by Indian troops against innocent civilians.
Agitated people took to the streets shouting pro-liberation slogans. They told media men that the troops continue to raid the houses vandalise the household goods and beat up the inmates. A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front led by Advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt visited the town and condemned the Indian state terrorism. Similar protest demonstrations were held at Hajjan. A fast speedy Indian army vehicle hit a minor girl in Palhallan, critically injuring her. The incident triggered anti-India protests in the area.
The All Parties Hurriyet Conference held a meeting of its Executive Council in Srinagar today, which was presided over by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and was attended among others by Maulana Abbas Ansari, Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, Bilal Ghani Lone, Maulana Abdullah Tari, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza.
The APHC leaders said that though Srinagar Muzaffarbad road was as important to Kashmiris for the promotion of their trade and culture as a jugular vein to a human body but Hurriyet wanted to make it clear that its main objective was to ensure a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute. They pointed out that Kashmiris’ travel through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road must be free of all restrictions. They also demanded the inclusion of Kashmiri leadership in the talks process between India and Pakistan.
Illegally detained APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah in a massage from Srinagar Central Jail congratulated Aasif Ali Zardari on his holding of office as the President of Pakistan. He hoped that the President would make every effort to bring about a just resolution of Kashmir dispute.
On the other hand, prominent human rights defenders, addressing a seminar in New Delhi, urged India to respect Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and realise that this was the only way forward for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. The speakers included Arundhati Roy, Prem Shankar Jha, Javeed Naqvi, Sanjay Kak, Rajinder Sachar, Gautam Navlakha and Syed Abdul Rahman Gilani.
In Geneva, the Executive Director of Kashmir Institute of International Relations, Sardar Amjad Yousuf addressing the 9th meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council drew world attention towards state terrorism in occupied Kashmir and sought the role of international community to settle the Kashmir issue.
India's Rape of own Commitments
Reporting Nehru's statement on holding plebiscite in Kashmir, The Amrita Bazar Patrika, Calcutta, in its January 2, 1952 issue quoted him saying: As a great nation, we cannot go back on it. We have left the question for final solution to the people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision.
The drama of so-called accession of Kashmir to India by Maharaja Hari Singh was staged by the Congress leaders in connivance with British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, who was made the first Governor- General of India by Hindus to over see completion of partition plan to damage Pakistan. The mere fact that no document of accession is available with India or on UN record is proof of a combined plot that was hatched by Hindu leadership with their British well-wisher.
India is continuously harping on the blatant lie that Kashmir is an integral part of India. How has a disputed territory suddenly become part of India when the commitments made by her to allow people of Kashmir to express their choice have not been honoured. No plebiscite has been held. The Kashmiris have not opted to accede to India in any plebiscite. The UN had already ruled in 1951 and again in 1957 that any elected assembly in Indian occupied Kashmir shall have no right to decide the future of the state as to the question of accession to India or Pakistan.
The honourable Prime Minister and other prominent leaders of that 'great nation' had made solid solemn pledges and commitments that people of Kashmir shall be given the right to decide their future. These commitments made by India to the world, Pakistan and the Kashmiris are reproduced from the book, 1 " The Undying Spirit".
Part-I
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s Telegram to British and Pakistan Prime Ministers, October 27, 1947.
"I should like to make it clear that the question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not designed in any way to influence the State to accede to India. Our view which we have repeatedly made public is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or State must be decided in accordance with the wishes of people, and we adhere to this view".
Lord Mountbatten, Governor General of India, replies to Maharaja's (alleged) request for accession to India, October 27, 1947.
"In consistence with their policy that in the case of any State where the issue of accession has been the subject of dispute the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State, it is my Government’s wish that as soon as law and order have been restored in Kashmir and her soil cleared of the invader, the question of State’s accession should be settled by a reference to the people".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s telegram to Prime Minister of Pakistan,
October 28,1947.
"In regard to accession also, it has been made clear that this is subject to reference to people of State and their decision".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister's broadcast to nation from All India Radio, November 2, 1947.
"We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given (and the Maharajah has supported it) not only to the people of Kashmir but to the world. We will not and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have referendum held under international auspices like the UN We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people, and we shall accept their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and juster offer".
" We are anxious not to finalise anything in a moment of crisis and without the fullest opportunity to be given to the people of Kashmir to have their way. It is for them ultimately to decide".
" And let me make it clear that it has been our policy all along that where there is a dispute about the accession of a State to either Dominion, the accession must be made by the people of the State. It is in accordance with this policy that we have added to proviso to the instrument of accession of Kashmir".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s telegram to Pakistan Prime Minister,
November 4, 1947.
"I wish to draw your attention to broadcast on Kashmir which I made last evening. I have stated our Government’s policy and made it clear that we have no desire to impose our will on Kashmir but to leave final decision to the people of Kashmir.
I further stated that we have agreed on impartial International agency like UN supervising any referendum".
"This principle we are prepared to apply to any state where there is a dispute about accession. If these principles are accepted by your Government there should be no difficulty in giving effect to them".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s telegram to Prime Minister of Pakistan,
November 8, 1947.
".... where the State has not acceded to that Dominion whose majority community is the same as State’s, the question whether State has finally acceded to one or other Dominion should be ascertained by reference to the will of people".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan,
November 21, 1947.
"Kashmir should decide question of accession by plebiscite or referendum under international auspices such as those of United Nations".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Indian Constituent Assembly, November 25, 1947.
"In order to establish our bonafides, we have suggested that when the people are given the chance to decide their future, this should be done under the supervision of an impartial tribunal such as the United Nations Organisation. The issue in Kashmir is whether violence and naked force should decide the future or the will of the people".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s telegram to Pakistan Prime Minister,
December 12, 1947.
"We have given further thought, in the light of our discussion in Lahore, to the question of inviting UN to advise us in this matter. While we are prepared to invite UNO observers to come here and advise us as to proposed plebiscite, it is not clear in what other capacity the UN help can be sought...
"... I confess, however, that I find myself unable to suggest anything beyond what I have offered already, namely, to ask UNO to send impartial observers to advise us regarding the plebiscite."
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Constituent Assembly of India, March 5, 1948.
"Even at the moment of accession, we went out of our way to make a unilateral declaration that we would abide by the will of the people of Kashmir as declared in a plebiscite or referendum. We insisted further that the Government of Kashmir must immediately become a popular government. We have adhered to that position throughout and we are prepared to have a plebiscite, with every protection for fair voting, and to abide by the decision of the people of Kashmir".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Constituent Assembly of India,
March 5, 1948.
"... Ultimately there is no doubt in my mind that, in Kashmir as elsewhere, the people of Kashmir will decide finally, and all that we wish is that they should have freedom of decision without any external compulsion".
White Paper on Kashmir issued by Government of India, 1948.
"The question of accession is to be decided finally in a free plebiscite, on this there is no dispute. There will be no victimisation of any native of the State, whatever his political view may be, and no Kashmiri will be deprived of the right to vote".
Gopalaswami Ayyangar's address in Constituent Assembly May 27, 1949.
"No doubt we have offered to have a plebiscite taken when the conditions are created for the holding of a proper, fair and impartial plebiscite. But if the plebiscite produces a verdict which is against the continuance of accession to India of the Kashmir State, then what we are committed to is simply that we shall not stand in the way of Kashmir separating itself from India".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement at press conference in London, January 16, 1951 (reported in The Statesman, New Delhi January 18, 1951)
"... We all agreed that it is the people of Kashmir who must decide for themselves about their future externally or internally. It is an obvious fact that, even without our agreement, no country is going to hold on to Kashmir against the will of the Kashmiris".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister's statement in Indian Parliament, February 12, 1951.
"We had given our pledge to the people of Kashmir, and subsequently to the United Nations; we stood by it and we stand by it today. Let the people of Kashmir decide".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s address at public meeting in Srinagar, June 4, 1951 (reported in The Hindu, Madras, June 5, 1951).
"First of all, I would like to remind you of the fateful days of 1947 when I came to Srinagar and gave the solemn assurance that the people of India would stand by Kashmir in her struggle. On that assurance, I shook Sheikh Abdullah’s hand before the vast multitude that had gathered there. I want to repeat that the Government of India will stand by that pledge, whatever happens. That pledge itself stated that it is for the people of Kashmir to decide their fate without external interference. That assurance also remains and will continue".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s report to All- India Congress Committee (reported in The Statesman, New Delhi, July 9, 1951)
"Kashmir has been wrongly looked upon as a prize for India or Pakistan. People seem to forget that Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered. It has an individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their future. It is here today that a struggle is being fought, not in the battlefield but in the minds of men".
Krishna Menon's Press statement in London
(The Statesman, New Delhi, August 2, 1951)
"It is not the intention of the Government of India to go back on any commitment it has made. We adhere strictly to our pledge of plebiscite in Kashmir - a pledge made to the people of Kashmir because they believe in democratic Government... We do not regard Kashmir as a commodity to be trafficked in".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement, as reported by Amrita Bazar Patrika, Calcutta, January 2, 1952.
"Kashmir is not the property of either India or Pakistan, it belongs to the Kashmiri people. When Kashmir acceded to India, we made it clear to the leaders of the Kashmir people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their plebiscite. If they tell us to walk out, I would have no hesitation in quitting Kashmir..."
We have taken the issue to the United Nations and given our word of honour for a peaceful solution... As a great nation, we cannot go back on it. We have left the question for final solution to the people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision."
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Indian Parliament, June 26, 1952.
"If, after a proper plebiscite, the people of Kashmir said, ‘we do not want to be with India’, we are committed to accept it though it might pain us. We will not send an army against them. We will accept that, however hurt we might feel about it, we will change the Constitution, if necessary.
"India is a great country and Kashmir is almost in the heart of Asia. There is an enormous difference not only geographically but in all kinds of facts there. Do you think (in dealing a with Kashmir) you are dealing with a part of UP or Bihar or Gujrat ?"
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s speech at public meeting in New Delhi, as reported in The Times of India, Bombay, July 7 1952.
"In any event, from the start India was committed to the principle of letting the final word regarding accession rest with the people of the princely states and there could be no getting away from that commitment. In fact, that was why India had accepted Kashmir’s accession only provisionally in 1947, pending the expression of the will of the people".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Indian Parliament, August 7, 1952.
"... With all deference to this Parliament, I would like to say that the ultimate decision will be made in the minds and hearts of the men of Kashmir and not in this Parliament or at the UN.... First of all, let me say clearly that we accept the basic proposition that the future of Kashmir is going to be decided finally by the goodwill and pleasure of our people. The good will and pleasure of this Parliament is of no importance in this matter, not because this Parliament does not have the strength to decide the question of Kashmir but because any kind of imposition would be against the principle that this Parliament holds.... If, however, the people of Kashmir do not wish to remain with us, let them go by all means; we will not keep them against their will, however painful it may be to us. We want no forced marriages, no forced unions...
"I want to stress that it is only the people of Kashmir who can decide the future of Kashmir. It is not that we have merely said that to the United Nations and to people of Kashmir; it is our conviction and one that is borne out by the policy that we have pursued, not only in Kashmir but everywhere. Though these five years have meant a lot of trouble and expense, and in spite of all we have done we would willingly leave Kashmir if it was made clear to us that the people of Kashmir wanted us to go. However sad we may feel about leaving, we are not going to stay against the wishes of the people. We are not going to impose ourselves on them at the point of the bayonet.
"I started with the presumption that it is for the people of Kashmir to decide their own future. We will not compel them. In that sense, the people of Kashmir are sovereign."
Joint Communiqué by Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India, August 20, 1953.
"The Kashmir dispute was specially discussed at some length. It was their firm opinion that this should be settled in accordance with the wishes of the people of that State with a view to promoting their well-being and causing the least disturbances to the life of the State. The most feasible method of ascertaining the wishes of the people was by fair and impartial plebiscite. Such a plebiscite had been proposed and agreed to some years ago. Progress, however, could not be made because of lack of agreement in regard to certain preliminary issues. The Prime Ministers agreed that these preliminary issues should be considered by them directly in order to arrive at agreements in regard to this. These agreements would have to be given effect to and the next step would be appointment of a Plebiscite Administrator".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister's letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan,
September 3, 1953.
"... We suggested the salutary rule that the Plebiscite Administrator should be chosen from some small and more or less neutral country of Asia or Europe. There are many such countries and there should be no difficulty in finding an eminent and impartial person from among them.
"As a result of the plebiscite over the entire state, we would be in a position to consider the matter, so that the final decision should cause the least disturbance and should take into consideration geographical, economic and other important factors.
"I should like to make it clear that there is no intention on my part to exclude the UN from this question of Kashmir. The Plebiscite Administrator would function under UN supervision but it seems to me quite obvious that while the UN can be helpful, any settlement must depend upon the consent and co-operation of India and Pakistan. Therefore, it is for us to agree and not to look to the UN to produce some settlement, without our agreement.
"... If we aim, as we must, at closer and co-operative relationship between India and Pakistan, we must find a solution of the Kashmir problem which is not only satisfactory to the people as a whole there but is also achieved without bitterness and sense of continuing wrong to India or Pakistan.
"... Obviously, the Kashmir problem is of high importance; in some way the most important problem before us, and we must tackle it".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister,
November 10, 1953.
"You refer to the question of regional plebiscite. I can only repeat what I endeavoured to put before you when we met. Our object is to give freedom to the people of Kashmir to decide their future in a peaceful way so as to create no upset, as we said in our joint statement...
"Therefore, I had suggested that the plebiscite should be for the State as a whole and the detailed result of the plebiscite would then be the major factor for the decision to be taken. The detailed result will give us a fairly clear indication of the wishes of the people not only in the state as whole but in different areas."
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Indian Parliament, February 22, 1954.
"[The Constituent Assembly of Kashmir] did not come - it cannot come - in the way of our observing our international commitments in regard to a plebiscite, in regard to anything".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s speech, as reported in The Times of India, May 16, 1954.
"India will stand by her international commitments on the Kashmir issue and implement them at the appropriate time.
" The repudiation of international commitments would lower India’s prestige abroad".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in India Council of States, May 18, 1954.
"Every assurance we have given, every international commitment we have made in regard to Kashmir holds good and stands. Difficulties have come in the way and may come in its fulfilment, but the difficulties are not of our seeking but of others. But so far as the Government of India are concerned, every assurance and international commitment in regard to Kashmir stands".
Nehru, Indian Prime Minister’s statement in Indian Parliament, March 31, 1955.
"... Kashmir is not a thing to be bandied about between India and Pakistan but it has a soul of its own and an individuality of its own. Nothing can be done without the goodwill and consent of the people of Kashmir".
Part-II
Letter from Government of India to UN, December 31, 1947.
"... The people of Kashmir would be free to decide their future by the recognised democratic method of plebiscite or referendum, which in order to ensure complete impartiality may be held under international auspices.
" This was also in accordance with Mahatma Gandhi's view, since he had stated that the India Government sent troops by air to Kashmir telling the Maharaja that the accession was provisional upon an impartial plebiscite being taken of Kashmir irrespective of religion".
Gopalaswami Ayyangar at Security Council, January 15, 1948.
"In accepting the accession they [the Government of India] refused to take advantage of the immediate peril in which the State found itself and informed the Ruler that the accession should finally be settled by plebiscite as soon as peace had been restored. They have subsequently made it quite clear that they are agreeable to the plebiscite being conducted if necessary under international auspices".
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, January 15, 1948.
"On the question of accession, the Government of India has always enunciated the policy that in all cases of dispute the people of the State concerned should make the decision."
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, January 15, 1948.
"... We have no further interest, and we have agreed that a plebiscite in Kashmir might take place under international auspices after peace and order have been established".
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, January 15, 1948.
"... Whether she [Kashmir] should withdraw from her accession to India, and either accede to India or remain independent, with a right to claim admission as a member of the UN - all this we have recognised to be matter for unfettered decision by the people of Kashmir after normal life is restored there.
"We desire only to see peace restored in Kashmir and to ensure that the people of Kashmir are left free to decide in an orderly and peaceful manner the future of their State. We have no further interest, and we have agreed that a plebiscite in Kashmir might take place under international auspices after peace and order have been established".
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, January, 1948.
"The question of the future status of Kashmir vis-Ã -vis her neighbour and the world at large and a further question, namely, whether she should withdraw from her accession to India and either accede to Pakistan or remain independent with a right to claim admission as a member of the United Nations - all this we have recognised to be a matter of unfettered decision by the people of Kashmir after normal life is restored to them".
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, February 3, 1948.
"... As the Security Council is aware, the Government of India is fully committed to the view that , after peace is restored and all people belonging to the State have returned there, a free plebiscite should be taken and the people should decide whether they wish to remain with India, to go over to Pakistan, or to remain independent, if they choose to do so".
Gopalasawami Ayyangar, at Security Council, February 6, 1948.
"... When the emergency has passed and normal conditions are restored, she will be free, by means of a plebiscite, either to ratify her accession to India, or to change her mind and accede to Pakistan, or remain independent. We shall not stand in the way if she elects to change her mind. That, I think, is the proper description of India’s attitude."
Sir Benegal Rau, at Security Council, February 7, 1950.
" It is therefore clear that the admission of representatives from any particular State into the Indian Constituent Assembly did not necessarily imply accession. As I have said, Kashmir had this right to representation ever since April 1947; it acceded tentatively, in October 1947 so that the accession came after the grant of the right and not the other way round".
Telegram from Indian Prime Minister Nehru to UN Representative for India and Pakistan, August 16, 1950.
"We have not opposed at any time an overall plebiscite for the State as a whole but you made some alternative suggestions because you came to the conclusion that there were no prospects of an agreement as to conditions preliminary to such a plebiscite....
"We have always recognised that any plan for a plebiscite should be such that the people concerned would be enabled to express their feelings freely and without fear....
"It has always been our view that, in the event of a plebiscite, the people of Kashmir should decide their future for themselves. Kashmiris who have gone out of the State should, of course, be entitled to return for this purpose. But I do not think that others have any claim to participate in a plebiscite campaign."
B. N. Rao in Security Council, March 29, 1951.
"The Constituent Assembly* cannot be physically prevented from expressing an opinion on this question if it so chooses. But this opinion will not bind my Government or prejudice the position of this Council."
* Which was to be convened by the Kashmir National Conference for deciding the accession issue - ED.
Krishna Menon, Indian Representative at UN General Assembly, referring to Congo Problem, April 5, 1951.
"Irrespective of the voting of this resolution, an abstention or two, the fact is that is the law of the United Nations at the present time.... My government has always taken the view that resolutions, if they are passed, must be implemented."
Letter of September 11, 1951 addressed to the UN Representative for
India and Pakistan.
"As regards paragraph 4, the Government of India not only reaffirms its acceptance of the principle that the question of the continuing accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India shall be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations, but is anxious that the conditions necessary for such a plebiscite should be created as quickly as possible."
Letter from Indian Prime Minister Nehru to UN Representative for India and Pakistan, September 11, 1951.
"... The Government of India agree that the Plebiscite Administrator should be appointed as soon as conditions in the State, on both sides of the cease-fire line, permit of a start being made with the arrangements for carrying out the plebiscite. To appoint the Plebiscite Administrator before would be premature.
"The Government of India would, therefore, prefer such a proposal to be omitted from the present document; it would be more appropriately included in proposals that deal specifically and in detail with the holding of the plebiscite and connected matters."
Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, at Security Council, December 8, 1952.
"We do not seek to go behind the UNCIP resolutions, or to ignore the vital elements of principle contained in them... We have always adhered to the UNCIP resolutions.... We cannot be a party to the reversal of previous decisions taken by the United Nations Commission with the agreement of the parties."
Krishna Menon, at Security Council, January 24, 1957.
"... I want to say for the purpose of the record that there is nothing that has been said on behalf of the Government of India which in the slightest degree indicates that the Government of India or the Union of India will dishonour any international obligations it has undertaken."
Krishna Menon, at Security Council, February 8, 1957.
"It is possible, for any sovereign state to cede territory. If, as a result of a plebiscite, the people decided that they did not want to stay with India, then our duty at that time would be to adopt those constitutional procedures which would enable us to separate that territory."
Krishna Menon, at Security Council, February 20, 1957.
"The resolutions of January 17, 1948 and the resolutions of the UNCIP, the assurance given, these are all resolutions which carry a greater weight - that is because we have accepted them, we are parties to them, whether we like them or not."
Krishna Menon, at Security Council, October 9, 1957.
"...These documents (UNCIP reports) and declarations and the resolutions of the Security Council are decisions; they are resolutions, there has been some resolving of a question of one character or another, there has been a meeting of minds on this question where we have committed ourselves to it."
Krishna Menon, referring to Goa, The Statesman, Delhi, January 19, 1962.
" India believes that sovereignty rests in the people and should return to them."
Part-III
UN Commission for India and Pakistan, January, 1949.
"As a result of these conversations the Commission on December 11, 1948, communicated its proposals to the two Governments. The main points of those proposals were: that the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir would be decided by way of a free and impartial plebiscite, that the Secretary General of the UN would nominate in agreement with the commission a plebiscite Administrator who would be a person of high international standing and who would derive from the Government of Jammu and Kashmir the powers which he considers necessary to organise and conduct a free and impartial plebiscite....
"Both Governments... accepted the proposals and declared the cessation of hostilities in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir as from January 1, 1949."
UN Mediator Dr. E. Graham’s proposals to UN September 7, 1951.
"The Governments of India and Pakistan:
"4. Reaffirm their acceptance of the principle that the question of the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN"
Proceedings of Security Council, January - February, 1957.
"On February 21, the Security Council requested its President (Gunnar Jarring of Sweden) to examine with the two Governments any proposal likely to promote settlement of the Kashmir issue having regard to the earlier resolutions of the Council and the UNCIP. By an earlier resolution of January 24, 1957, the Council had affirmed its old stand to determine Kashmir’s future by plebiscite and declared that any action by the Kashmir assembly and its support by the parties would not constitute disposition of the State in keeping with that principle."
Resolution adopted by Security Council on January 24, 1957.
"The Security Council:
"Having heard statements from representatives of the Governments of India and Pakistan concerning the dispute over the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
"Reminding the Governments and authorities concerned of the principle embodied in its Resolutions of 21 April 1948, 3 June 1948, 14 March 1950 and 30 March 1950, and the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan Resolutions of 13 August 1948 and 5 January 1949, that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations;
"Reaffirms the affirmation in its Resolution of March 30, 1951 and declares that the convening of a Constituent Assembly as recommended by the General Council of the "All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference" and any action that Assembly may have taken or might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof, or action by the parties concerned in support of any such action by the Assembly, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle;
"Decides to continue its consideration of the dispute."
CONCLUSION
Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, pursued a policy of deception, a rape of his own pious commitments and remained a perfect disciple of Hindu Political Statecraft i.e. Chanakiya. Dr. Ayyub Thukar makes an interesting comment:
" Sir Owen Dixon was once forced to affirm that, the fellow (Nehru) is lying. Others have said of him that in and out of office, he was fond of riding a high moral horse. He thereby not only threw dust in the eyes of the world, he also succeeded in deceiving himself. He finally arrived like a Humpty Dumpty, at the stage where words did not mean what they connoted, but what he said they meant".
The deception by the prominent successive Indian Leadership has been blasted off for good by the Nuclear Blasts in the sub-continent. The scenario in South Asia has changed. The entire world community now accepts that Kashmir is the root cause of bad blood between India and Pakistan. The carefully worked out strategy by India to put the Issue in the cold forever has failed. Kashmir has come into the limelight, despite all efforts by India to the contrary. It is time that India realises the gravity of the situation and tries honestly to end the sufferings of Kashmiris forever; who are fighting to gain liberty from Indian occupation.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman of its own faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference said the Kashmir freedom movement is heading towards logical end and India can not stop it by force now. Talking to APP on telephone from Srinagar, the veteran Kashmiri leader said the entire Kashmir is up against occupational forces and India has to resolve the Kashmir issue according to wishes of Kashmiris.
To a question, he said the movement of Kashmiris is not sponsored by foreign powers or elements and it is purely indigenous and peaceful.. Million of Kashmiris are on the march on the streets chanting slogans for freedom.
He said India can not ignore the demand to hold plebiscite in
Kashmir as it has promised several times in sixty two years history with
International community and Kashmiris. Holding of plebiscite is the only way to
know the wishes of Kashmiris, he said
To another question as what would be the future of present uprising, he said it is a not a new movement as Kashmiris have been struggling for the last sixty two years to seek right of self-determination. During this long history, he said thousands of Kashmiris either lost their lives or they are untraceable. The recent discovery of hundreds of unknown graves in occupied Kashmir is testimony to the fact that they were tortured to death.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who himself has spent a long period in jail, said Kashmir is a disputed territory and its future is yet to be decided. It is not an integral part of India, as New Delhi is claiming. The delaying tactics on the part of India to address this issue will fail, he added.
When asked about the campaign by Hindu extremists in Jammu region with regards to revocation of Amarnath land transfer order, he said it was unfortunate that Kashmiri Muslims are being targeted there. Condemning economic blockade of the valley by those elements, he said it is an eye opener for the world to see the difference in occupied Kashmir.
He said Kashmiri Muslims are determined to provide protection to all non- Muslims in Kashmir. They want to make Kashmir a land of peace, he said.
He said campaign of Kashmiris is peaceful and militancy has no role in it, he said.
He appealed to the world bodies to put pressure on India to address the Kashmir issue as per wishes of Kashmiris.
Rally to End Indian Rule Over Kashmir
Millions of protesters poured onto the streets of Srinagar Friday. They were waving Pakistani and black flags and shouting slogans such as "Azadi," Urdo for independence. At a massive rally at the prayer grounds, known as Eid Gah, in the center of the city, Kashmiri leaders called for independence from India.
This protest and others earlier this week are the latest in an escalation of tensions in Kashmir Valley. A controversial land deal sparked the first protests, but they quickly ballooned into a renewed independence struggle.
Younis Mir, a 25-year-old Kashmiri, is one of the protesters.
"All people have assembled here in the Eid Gah," he said. "Our main mission is the freedom of Kashmir, nothing else. We are not spreading terrorism. There is no movement of terrorism in Kashmir. It is a freedom struggle, a simple freedom struggle. Freedom from Indian occupation."
Earlier this summer, the Jammu and Kashmir state government transferred about 40 hectares of forested land (nearly 100 acres) to a Hindu shrine board to provide temporary shelters for tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who visit a cave shrine. Kashmir's Muslims protested the transfer, saying it would lead to permanent Hindu settlements.
The government then rescinded the transfer, triggering violent protests by some of the region's Hindu population. Hindu protesters blocked the only direct road between Kashmir Valley and the rest of India, choking off supplies of food and fuel to the valley.
Hindu protestors cut off Kashmiri fruit growers from markets in New Delhi during the peak of the apple harvest, which usually brings in at least $150 million a year and is Kashmir's biggest cash crop.
Many shops were shut down Friday in anticipation of the protests, which were largely peaceful as Indian army troops stood by behind their razor wire bunkers.
The unrest has paralyzed many businesses in Kashmir Valley, just when the economy was starting to pick up, led by a resurgence of tourism in the picturesque valley tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Mohammed Amin owns a grocery store in Srinagar. He says businesses in Kashmir are bracing for a long period of civil unrest.
"There are no supplies," he said. "That is the main thing. Business is suffering, about 75 percent of it has gone. Tourism is zero now. I do not know how long it will last, but for two months we are suffering."
Indian authorities claim they have opened the road leading out of Kashmir. Trucks loaded with supplies are getting through, but observers say it is only about a fourth of the normal traffic. There are almost daily reports of attacks against truck drivers by Hindu protesters.
At least 350,000 Indian troops patrol Indian-controlled Kashmir, many of them along the line of control between Indian- and Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir.
Since 1989, more than 98,000 people have been killed in sporadic violence between Indian troops and Muslims Freedom Fighters. At least 51,000 suspected Muslim militants in Kashmir have disappeared after being arrested by Indian security forces, human rights groups say.
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in its entirety and have fought two wars over it since the two nuclear-armed nations split in 1947.
Kashmiris march to UN office
Millions of of Muslims have taken to the streets of Indian Kashmir's main city to demand that the United Nations recognise their right to self-determination.
Security was tight on Monday as a mass of people marched towards a local UN office, in defiance of official warnings against holding the rally in Srinagar, still tense after deadly clashes last week.
The UN office in Srinagar houses personnel who monitor ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, or the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
"I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar," said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper who was taking part in the procession.
'Freedom demand'
"I couldn't resist coming out to demand freedom from India," he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard that read: "If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?"
The marchers included men, women and children, who chanted slogans including "We want freedom", "Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan" and "We will give blood for Kashmir's freedom".
Many also carried green or black flags - symbolising Islam and mourning.
Shabir Shah, a senior Kashmiri separatist leader, said the demonstrators planned to deliver a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week's shootings of "peaceful protesters".
Another separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the plea urges the UN "to intervene and help us in achieving the right to self-determination".
There are decades-old UN Security Council resolutions calling for a referendum to allow the Kashmiri people to choose between India and Pakistan, but they have never been implemented.
Last week 22 Muslim demonstrators were killed in police firing in the Kashmir valley as they vented their anger over a blockade of the area by Hindu hardliners.
The tensions between Muslims and Hindus centres around a small piece of land in the valley that was awarded to a Hindu pilgrimage trust, sparking Muslim protests.
Showdown
The land transfer order was then rescinded, sparking a blockade by Hindus who dominate the south of Jammu and Kashmir state - from where the main road access to the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley comes.
India stepped up security in Srinagar and warned of a showdown if the rally was held, officials and witnesses said.
Syed Afad-ul-Mujtaba, a local police chief, warned on Sunday that a "huge mobilisation won't be allowed", but failed to convince separatists to call off the march.
Troops have been patrolling streets, erecting barricades and blocking roads leading to the UN offices.
Leaders of Kashmir's main separatist All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference alliance said they wanted to submit a memorandum to the UN office on Monday.
"Call upon India to end its forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and desist from use of brute force against the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the memorandum, published in local newspapers, stated.
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