Kashmir Narrative and Coalation Governments
2014 Elections …….. and the Coalition Politics Z.G. MUHAMMAD My premise, perhaps was faulty. I had started believing, that 2014 Assembly elections in the State will be different in as much as actors’ involved in the electoral politics are concerned. I was not alone, few other political commentators believed so. Since 2012, statements originating from certain political formations, suggested that an MUF type political front would again tumble into political arena of Kashmir to challenge hegemony of the traditional ‘power-politics’ parties’ during coming Assembly elections. At the start of 2014, after these parties had stirred debate over relevance of UN resolutions, more particularly putting question marks on 30 March 1951 and 24 January 1957 resolutions of the Security Council regarding the Constituent Assembly, indications had become more profound. That the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
sino-US confronation and Kashmir Dispute
China, America and Kashmir Don’t get caught up in the complexity of the ‘new cold war’ PUNCHLINE Z.G. MUHAMMAD Smaller Default Larger Is South Asia heading for a major war? This question has been making rounds in academic, diplomatic and political circle in Washington, Beijing and other important capitals of Asian countries. To quote New York Times, political commentator Roger Cohen, “This is the core question of the 21st Century.” ‘The collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 had thrown into sharp relief the pre-eminence of the USA in the global hierarchy of power’ but the rise of China as a major economy is largely seen as a threat to this position more particularly in Asia. The war of supremacy between the two Titans is not now confined to most volatile South-Asian region … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk
“Vajpayee Syndrome” and Kashmir Leaders?
The ‘Vajpayee Syndrome’ Will India’s new PM follow Atalji’s model on Kashmir Z. G. MUHAMMAD The enthusiasm in the Ilahaqi political parties in the state for the sixteenth Lok Sabha elections is on the expected lines. For these parties it is an opportunity for testing their strength for the 2014 Assembly elections. Nevertheless, very high expectations in a section of the “pro-freedom” leadership that ‘Narendra Modi led NDA government if elected will move an extra mile for resolving … Read entire article »
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K. H. Khurshid: Student Private Secretary of Jinnah Khurshid
Remembering K. H. Khurshid Z.G. MUHAMMAD It is unimaginable. It sounds like a fairy tale. Nevertheless, it is a true story; history had cast role for a young student leader from Srinagar in contributing his mite in ‘altering the course of history, modifying the map of the world and creating a nation state.’ The twenty-year-old student leader who earned distinction of joining the team of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a man of ‘sartorial elegance’ and ‘indomitable will’ – … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Nodding-Goat Leadership is Dangerous
PUNCHLINE Z. G. MUHAMMAD Seventy days after there will be new government in office in New Delhi. Few days back the Shankh for one of the most thrilling electoral battles in India was blown. The elections to be held in nine phases spread over thirty-six days will be one of the long drawn battles for the Raisina Hill in the Lutyens Delhi. Although a bit early, yet it is a big question, who will inherit throne of New … Read entire article »
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Of A Dream Merchant And His Goals
Of Dreams and Goals By Z. G. Muhammad It is not a political enemy’s dig at his arch-enemy. It is not an opponent’s last-ditch attempt to challenge political ideology of a leader. Calling a leader as ‘dream merchant’ is in fact an acknowledgment of his greatness- all great people dream high. I have no idea, what might have crossed the mind of the scion of the Abdullah family when he used this phrase for Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Nevertheless, he deserves kudos for naming the octogenarian leader, who has been on the political scene of Jammu and Kashmir for over fifty-five years as ‘dream merchant.’—it is the highest honor that could be bestowed on a leader. When, I read phrase ‘dream merchant’ in the screaming headlines, the famous speech of Martin Luther … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
The Story of ‘Climb-downs’
The present leadership has some lessons to learn Punchline Z.G. MUHAMMAD Our “leaders” are in a habit of sparking debates- mostly hackneyed ones parsed and analyzed in these columns umpteen times – rather overdriven. Even adding spice to these stale debates does not make them palatable but still they fuel doubts in the public minds. A similar debate has engaged attention of our political commentators but I have a different take on it. On Sunday, 10 November 2o13, Kashmir leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi along with their party men and aids had separate meetings with Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security. Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir aided him during these meetings. He is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk