Z. G. MUHAMMAD Smaller Default Larger ‘There’s only one way into this fortress, and that’s to scale the walls.’ This dialogue from famous Hollywood blockbuster movie of early Seventies, ‘Where Eagles Dare”, with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in lead roles resonated in my mind on seeing a spate of statements from the ‘resistance’ and ostensibly ‘dissenting’ leadership on the Governor N.N. Vohra’s address to the joint session of the Assembly on Wednesday. For any student of contemporary Kashmir politics, the interest exhibited by the ‘dissenting’ important leaders at the address is a sort of making history. These leaders for past two decades either have been ignoring such addresses or dismissing them to the trashcan. Is it subtle expression of change of mind-set, a paradigm shift or a display of misplaced understanding? This … Read entire article »

Move Beyond ‘Cricket Diplomacy’ Even if it breathes some fresh air into the relations between the two countries PUNCHLINE Z.G. MUHAMMAD Smaller Default Larger The relations between India and Pakistan are  more brittle than glass. Even if put in a steal frame of agreements, they breakdown on a slight touch. In May last year at the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi grand bonhomie was seen between newly elected Prime Minister and Nawaz Sharif. But it took just a meeting between Kashmir leaders and Pakistan, High Commissioner to turn this cordiality sour. There was nothing unusual about this meeting. Meeting between Kashmir leaders and Pakistan diplomats on the eve of India-Pakistan dialogues on Kashmir have a history. In fact such meetings were greatly encouraged by New Delhi after the 2004 composite dialogue. For meeting President … Read entire article »