Jammu and Kashmir: News and Discussion

all news and views,discussions on kashmir here please.

NOTE:- :- NO FLAMES, TROLLING OR PERSONAL ATTACKS.
thread is strictly moderated.

SRINAGAR: Even as Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a magisterial enquiry into the firing incident in Sopore town in which two youths were killed
and another critically wounded, police on Sunday registered a murder case against the army. ( Watch )

Police station Sopore registered an FIR 73/09 under section 302 against the army, police sources said. The army has also ordered an enquiry into the incident that occurred on Sunday evening.

"An enquiry has been ordered into the incident to identify the facts," an army spokesman said.

Authorities have imposed curfew in Sopore. "Curfew was promulgated in Sopore town as a precautionary measure," deputy commissioner Baramulla Baseer Ahmad Khan said adding that the step was taken to maintain law and order in view of tense situation in the town as well as its adjoining areas.

However, sources said thousands of people took to streets at Bomie-Sopore and staged a massive demonstration on Sunday morning demanding punishment for security personnel, who allegedly fired at the youths on Saturday evening killing two of them. The protesters carrying the body of one of the deceased also demanded withdrawal of troops from the area.

Fearing trouble, the authorities imposed curfew in Sopore.

Meanwhile, acting chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai was placed under house arrest to stop him from visiting Sopore to lead the funeral of one of the two youths.

Police said the situation in the town was "tense" but under control after Mohammad Amin Tantray of Bomie-Sopore and Javid Ahmad of Muslimpeer-Sopore were killed and Firdous Ahmad was critically injured in the firing.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is currently on a three-day tour of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident and asked for the report to be submitted within 15 days.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/J...ow/4169253.cms

Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and I believe that as long as terrorism is prevalent in Kashmir no talks on it can be possible, because then it will be Like bowing down to terror. I say all the Parties involved lay down their arms, sit together and talk in a constructive manner and then come to an agreement which will bode well for the People of the state and not just Politicians!

WASHINGTON: India and Pakistan engaged in nearly three years of secret high-level talks that narrowly missed achieving a historic breakthrough over
Kashmir, according to a media report.

The effort which began in 2004 stalled in 2007, and the prospects for a settlement were further undermined by deadly terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November, the Washington Post said on Sunday said citing an article by investigative journalist Steve Coll set for publication in New Yorker magazine.

The attempt ultimately failed, not because of substantive differences, Coll writes, but because declining political fortunes left then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf without the clout he needed to sell the agreement at home.

Although Musharraf fought for the deal he became so weakened politically that he "couldn't sell himself", let alone a surprise peace deal with India, Coll says, quoting senior Pakistani and Indian officials.

Coll, a former Washington Post managing editor, writes that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was the cornerstone of a broad agreement that would have represented a "paradigm shift" in relations between India and Pakistan: a moving away from decades of hostility to acceptance and peaceful trade.

Under the plan, the Kashmir conflict would have been resolved through the creation of an autonomous region in which local residents could move freely and conduct trade on both sides of the territorial boundary.

According to Coll's account, the secret negotiations consisted of about two dozen meetings in hotel rooms in various overseas locations.

The sessions revolved around developing a document known as a "non-paper", diplomatic jargon for a negotiated text that bears no names or signatures and can "serve as a deniable but detailed basis for a deal", the article says.

The US and British governments were aware of the talks and offered low-key support and advice but otherwise elected to let India and Pakistan settle their disputes unaided, the article says.

Relations - and hopes for resuming the peace initiative - began a downward slide after Musharraf left office, it said.

In Kashmir, anti-India fighters began an aggressive campaign of public demonstrations and terrorist attacks that seemed designed, Coll writes, to send a message: "Musharraf is gone, but the Kashmir war is alive."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...ow/4170951.cms

Kashmir is already trifurcated into CoK, Pok and J&K. By J&K to be an integral part of India do you mean Kashmir as it was in 1947 or Kashmir under Indian adminstration ?

If you mean the former than why does India claim Kashmir to be a bilateral issue since China occupies Kashmir too ? if you mean the latter, than that means forfeiting territory to the enemy or declaring occupying forces to be legitimate ?

In any case if J&K is considered an integral part and rest all have been forfeited and if free fair elections show that Kashmiris are voting for a pro-Indian govt than why the need for talks?

Kill all the terrorists, arrest all HC members on sedition charges, disband Ikhwahan, scrap Article 370, declare all treaties with Pakistan in which kashmir was declared to be a pending issue as null and void and tell Pakistan to keep off LoC or "".

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I don't believe India should encourage the terrorists to lay down their arms nor rehabilitate them. This is counter-productive on many levels. Damn the government.

All parties involved in Kashmir issue are greedy, be they politicians, terrorists,
Pro-pak, pro-independence or pro-India groups. Kashmiris as a whole have spoken through elections their will should be heard, they want to be a part of mainstream Indian society.
The policy of carrot and stick adopted elsewhere will not work in Kashmir till article 370 is scrapped. And scrapping it at once will be counter-productive. This should be done gradually, allay their fears, pump in money, reduce their autonomy.

I as an Indian feel J&K is Indian. The Problems there never being solved lies squarely on the shoulders of our Governments, be they Congress or BJP or whatever. In 71 it could have been solved, but they left it for another day!

The way of the gun never works I feel, at least with an unconventional enemy, like the terrorists operating in Kashmir. Arresting people will only end up them gaining more sympathy from others. If Arresting and putting people behind bars were productive then the British would have succeeded when Gandhi was thrown in jail!

Sense should Prevail, Sensibility should Prevail, Sensitivity should Prevail.

India and Pakistan engaged in nearly three years of secret, high-level talks that narrowly missed achieving a historic breakthrough in the countries' decades-old conflict over Kashmir, according to an account set for publication today.

The negotiations, which began in 2004, produced the outlines of an accord that would have allowed a gradual demilitarization of the disputed Himalayan province, a flash point in relations between the rivals since 1947. The effort stalled in 2007, and the prospects for a settlement were further undermined by deadly terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November, the report said.

The peace initiative is described in an article by investigative journalist Steve Coll, who writes in New Yorker magazine that the two sides had "come to semicolons" in their negotiations when the effort lost steam.

The attempt ultimately failed, not because of substantive differences, Coll writes, but because declining political fortunes left Pakistan's then-president, Pervez Musharraf, without the clout he needed to sell the agreement at home. Although Musharraf fought for the deal -- as did Indian leader Manmohan Singh -- he became so weakened politically that he "couldn't sell himself," let alone a surprise peace deal with Pakistan's longtime rival, Coll says, quoting senior Pakistani and Indian officials. Musharraf resigned as president in August.

Coll, a former Washington Post managing editor who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for his book "Ghost Wars," writes that the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was the cornerstone of a broad agreement that would have represented a "paradigm shift" in relations between India and Pakistan: a moving away from decades of hostility to acceptance and peaceful trade.

Under the plan, the Kashmir conflict would have been resolved through the creation of an autonomous region in which local residents could move freely and conduct trade on both sides of the territorial boundary. Over time, the border would become irrelevant, and declining violence would allow a gradual withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops that now face one another across the region's mountain passes.

"It was huge -- I think it would have changed the basic nature of the problem," the article quoted a senior Indian official as saying. "You would have then had the freedom to remake Indo-Pakistani relations."

According to Coll's account, the secret negotiations consisted of about two dozen meetings in hotel rooms in various overseas locations. The sessions revolved around developing a document known as a "non-paper," diplomatic jargon for a negotiated text that bears no names or signatures and can "serve as a deniable but detailed basis for a deal," the article says.

The U.S. and British governments were aware of the talks and offered low-key support and advice but otherwise elected to let India and Pakistan settle their disputes unaided, the article says.

"Ultimately, any peace settlement would have to attract support in both countries' parliaments; if it were seen as a product of American or British meddling, its prospects would be dim," Coll writes.

Musharraf is portrayed as an enthusiastic supporter of the deal who succeeded in winning converts among the country's skeptical military leadership. Yet, just as the two countries were beginning to consider how to sell the plan domestically, Musharraf was compelled to seek a delay. In March 2007, as the two capitals were discussing plans for a historic summit, Musharraf became embroiled in a public feud with his country's highest court. He eventually fired the chief justice, triggering weeks of protests by lawyers and activists.

What was thought to be a temporary setback soon proved to be far more serious. "Rather than recovering, the general slipped into a political death spiral," culminating in his resignation, Coll said.

Relations -- and hopes for resuming the peace initiative -- began a downward slide after Musharraf left office. In Kashmir, anti-India fighters began an aggressive campaign of public demonstrations and terrorist attacks that seemed designed, Coll writes, to send a message: "Musharraf is gone, but the Kashmir war is alive."

In recent weeks, there have been signs of a modest thaw in Indo-Pakistani relations. Last week, The Washington Post reported that Indian and Pakistani spy agencies have been cooperating secretly in India's investigation of the Mumbai attacks, sharing highly sensitive intelligence, with the CIA serving as arbiter and mediator. Pakistan has announced criminal charges against Pakistan-based men linked to the attack and acknowledged that some of the planning for the three-day assault occurred in that country.

Yet, in the emotionally charged aftermath of the attacks, the new civilian-led government of Pakistan may not find it easy to return to negotiations on Kashmir, even if it wishes to, Coll said.

"The military is completely on board at top levels -- with a paradigm shift, to see India as an opportunity, to change domestic attitudes," a senior Pakistani official was quoted as saying. But, he reportedly added, "the public mood is out of sync."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022101714.html


I for one am glad that this accord was not signed...if Singh was stupid enough to sign it we would have seen the terrorists expand into Indian controlled land and lets not forget China. They would come under the pretense of helping mediate the situation and next thing you know they would be taking over the northern states. I dont know what the hell is wrong with Manmohan singh...he is just such a Edited. I am sorry that I am getting agitated but I cannot believe that our leader would actually consider this..Kashmir is a PART OF INDIA and we dont have to sign some peace accord with pakistan. They are the ones who have instigated all the wars and they are the ones who have the blood of hundreds of thousands of people on their hands....

Actually I feel, Politicians on both sides dont want Kashmir to be resolved. When our Politicians come around, there is a coup in Pakistan and when theirs come around there will be other problems. I still think, who torpedoed the Agra Summit?

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has been granted a "lifeline" after most Kashmiris voted in landmark elections but the government must avoid complacency and intransigence if it is to bring peace, Kashmir's new leader said on Tuesday.

But the bad timing of an economic slowdown, a general election and the diplomatic aftermath of November's Mumbai attacks mean quick progress in the disputed region will be almost impossible, Omar Abdullah told Reuters in an interview.

"The opportunity is enormous," Chief Minister Abdullah said in a house surrounded by photos of a family that has dominated Kashmir for decades. His grandfather was Sheikh Abdullah, the state's best-known leader known as the "Lion of Kashmir" for his defiance against New Delhi and his subsequent imprisonment for nearly 20 years.

"But we shouldn't underestimate the extent of the challenges we face," he added. "There is a bad timing."

Abdullah, 38, emerged as chief minister in the disputed region in January after his National Conference party and the ruling Congress party defied a separatist boycott to win the election and forge a coalition government.

Many Kashmiris saw his victory as bringing hope that some deal could be reached to help end a conflict that has provoked two of India and Pakistan's three wars.

Kashmir was convulsed last year by the biggest pro-separatist protests since 1947 when the sub-continent was divided into Muslim Pakistan and mostly Hindu India. After the Mumbai attacks sparked more diplomatic tension, there was some international pressure on India to find a solution to Kashmir.

The fact that the two-decades-old insurgency has waned should not be taken as an excuse to sit back, Abdullah said.

"New Delhi made the mistake of convincing itself that because tourist numbers were up, violence levels were down, that the Kashmir issue had kind of buried itself," Abdullah said.

"New Delhi has really been handed a lifeline through this election and they need to capitalise on that."

INDIAN PETTINESS?

Abdullah says it is almost impossible in his new job not to offend either Kashmir or the rest of India, and his comments reflect his efforts to tread a fine line between the two.

He criticised the killing of two Muslim youths at the weekend in an incident blamed on the army which sparked street protests, calling it a "huge setback".

He also blamed the government for delays in granting separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq a visa for his Kashmiri-origin American wife.

"Why would you want to talk to us if we were going to deny a simple thing like a visa to his wife?" he said.

But he felt there were signs of political will in New Delhi, and said he hoped secret talks between India and Pakistan that nearly led to a deal on Kashmir in 2007 could be revived. The deal fell through, and both sides have blamed each other.

The deal was reported to have been called a "non-paper" -- a diplomatic understanding that both sides need not sign.

"This non-paper was being circulated. It was autonomy, devolution, self government," he said. "It basically meant that the central unit would have a little less control ... We'd like to see this non-paper revived."

The new state government is trying to get arrest orders brought last year against separatists rescinded, he said.

Any further moves will come after general elections due by May, when Abdullah said he may talk to separatist parties for the first time since last year's protests.

"To be honest with you I haven't sent out any (feelers) and I don't think we will be sending out any until once we've got this parliament election out of the way."

http://in.reuters.com/article/topNew...090224?sp=true

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryP...in+J%26amp%3bK


The People�s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mehbooba Mufti, has moved a resolution for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on the eve of the budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

The budget session will commence on Wednesday at a time when the Valley is back to protests, clashes and anti-India demonstrations, following the recent killings of civilians in Sopore allegedly by the army and the murder of a relative of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik.

The PDP MLA from Darhal, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, moved a private member resolution for the �withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act from the State of Jammu and Kashmir to prevent killings of innocent citizens at the hands of security forces.�

The Act was introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in July 1990 at the time when militancy was at its peak. The PDP raised objections to the Act in the House in early 2007, when it was part of the ruling alliance with the Congress.

But then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress described the move as running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. In protest, the PDP surrendered the security cover of its top leaders, including Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.

But now, Chief Minister Omar Abduillah of the National Conference, who has been feted as the youngest CM of the state at 38, will have to face the first major test of his political career in the assembly.

The scrapping of the Act puts the National Conference in a dilemma. For, twice during the budget sessions in 2006 and 2007, the party had stalled the proceedings demanding action against soldiers for killing four children and civilians in fake encounters.

Giving up territory is a no go for both nations, India is willing to give up claims on PoK and CoK though..

you still think ?

NEW DELHI: Terming Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's statement hinting at revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state
as "regressive", Army has opposed any such move, TV reports say.

According to Times Now, Army sources have said that any move to revoke AFSPA by the chief minister in J&K would be detrimental to the security of the Valley and would provide a boost to the terrorists.

Earlier in the day, promising to work towards withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Disturbed Areas Act in Jamu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said his government is creating conditions conducive for such a measure, PTI reported.

"My government is creating the conditions conducive for the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state," Abdullah said in his maiden address to the Assembly after taking over as head of the NC-Congress coalition on January five.

"If the situation continues to improve the way it has been improving, the coalition government would work towards withdrawal of laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and disturbed areas act in Jammu and Kashmir," he said replying to the adjournment motion moved by opposition PDP alleging continued rights violations in the state.

Launching a scathing attack on People's Democratic Party, Omar accused it of creating unrest among people by falsely implicating Army personnel in the recent murder cases, PTI reported.

The PDP motion came in the backdrop of days of violent protests in some parts of the valley against the killing of two youths in Sopore town of Baramulla on Saturday and of a 35-year-old auto-driver Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, a close kin of JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...ow/4197012.cms

A leading South Asia expert has advised President Barack Obama to avoid falling into the trap of trying to directly mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue given New Delhi's concerns.

"There is some uncertainty over whether the new Obama will maintain the current momentum in improving US-India ties," Lisa Curtis, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank told a Congressional panel on Thursday.

"Obama's statements during last year's presidential campaign linking the resolution of the Kashmir conflict to the stabilisation of Afghanistan have raised concerns in New Delhi," she said testifying before the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

India fears "the new Administration might revert back to policies that view India narrowly through the South Asia prism rather than as the emerging global power it has become."

Indian concerns were somewhat assuaged by the late-January announcement that Richard Holbrooke, special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, would focus on those two countries, not on India or Jammu and Kashmir, Curtis noted.

Giving her policy recommendations on "Building a Strategic Partnership: US-India Relations in the Wake of Mumbai" she said: "Washington should avoid falling into the trap of trying to directly mediate on the Indo-Pakistani dispute over Kashmir."

The US should instead encourage the two sides to resume bilateral talks that had made substantial progress from 2004 to 2007, Curtis said suggesting "recent assertions that the US should try to help resolve the Kashmir issue so that Pakistan can focus on reining in militancy on its Afghan border is misguided."

"Raising the spectre of international intervention in the dispute could fuel unrealistic expectations in Pakistan for a final settlement in its favour," she said adding, "Such expectations could encourage Islamabad to increase support for Kashmiri militants to push an agenda it believes to be within reach."

Such a scenario is hardly unprecedented, Curtis said, recalling former Pakistan president "Pervez Musharraf initiated the Kargil incursion into Indian-administered Kashmir in 1999 precisely to raise the profile of the Kashmir issue and to encourage international mediation."

The US can play a more productive role in easing Indo-Pakistani tensions by pursuing a quiet diplomatic role that encourages them to resume bilateral negotiations, she said.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20090309&fname=Kashmir+(F)&sid=1

A good development. Kashmiri youth participating in the national struggle against the cross border terror can only be good.

Another slap in the face of the few separatists and the Pakistanis who think that the Kashmiris support them.