Peace Watch » Archive
Has Us Betrayed Kashmiris?
Punchline Pakistan, US and Kashmir Z. G. Muhammad The general mood in Pakistan after its cricket team got a worst drubbing in Bangladesh is sombre. Nonetheless, the mood in Islamabad after the sixth ministerial-level Pakistan-U.S. Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington between Pakistan Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the US Secretary of State John Kerry is upbeat. In a decade and a half love-hate relations between the two countries to the comfort of Pakistan for the first time … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Our Daughters Can Be Simone De Beauvoir Of Kashmir
Punchline Simone de Beauvoir and Our Daughters By Z. G. Muhammad It was a book release function with a difference. On Wednesday, 24 February 2016, ‘Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?’ a book authored by five young women Essar Batool, Ifrah Butt, Samreena Mushtaq, Munza Rashid, and Natasha Rather was released. In a jam-packed hall of young men and women with only a few elderly columnists, journalists, academics, and civil society activists around, I strongly realized that our post-1947 struggle has been passed on to our third generation- a more ebullient and intelligent generation. Out of five authors of the Book, ‘four along with publisher of the book Urvashi Butalia, an author, and leading Indian feminists were on the dais. The young authors mostly in their early twenties shared their experiences about how and why they … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Why Kashmir Children Thank JNU ?
Punchline The JNU and Us Z. G. Mohammad Two phrases, ‘innocent emotionalism’ and ‘political astuteness’ on Saturday morning instantly oscillated like pendulum inside my mind. The reasons for the two phrases engaging my mind were pictures clicked after the Friday prayers in Nowhatta by photojournalists and published in some dailies on the front-page or popular inside pages. For protests and ding-dong battles between stone-throwing children and para-military forces having become a regular feature after Friday prayers in this … Read entire article »
Filed under: Kashmir-Talk
Where Will JNU Developments Lead To
Punchline Spark Born in JNU Z. G. Muhammad Millions of Kashmiris, of all ethnic groups living all-over 218, 780 Sq. Kilometers area of the State has no love for the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. In the history of India, he may pass as the architect of the modern India. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority in our land remember him as a promise broker. He betrayed the promises held out to the people of the State inside … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
We Have A Story- Do You Know?
Dreaming Lit-Festival Z. G. Muhammad The literary festivals are a meeting of great minds. These are platforms for an open dialogue. When I am pushing my fingers on the keypad to write this column the Beach Luxury Hotel, in Karachi is abuzz with literary activities. The Karachi Literary Festival (KLF) produced by Oxford University Press (OUP) and directed by Ameena Saiyid launched in 2010 has been a story of grand success. Leading writers from Pakistan and different parts of the world have been every year participating in this festival. Each year there is a good participation from India also. From India writers of eminence like Rajmohan Gandhi, Nayantara Sahagal, Shamasur Rahman Faruqi and William Dalrymple have participated in this festival. Two Kashmiri writers Mirza Waheed and Bashrat Peer also have had the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Exodus of Muslims of Kashmir – The Return of Natives
PUNCHLINE The Return of Natives Z. G. Muhammad The natives have a right to return to their land. No one can deny them this right. My classmates, Maharaj, Indu and Indira, my deceased teacher Kashi Nath Raina’s children and grandchildren, have a right to return to their land of birth. To live in my neighbourhood as their forefathers lived with those of mine is their birthright. So equally, have my friend Anwar’s nieces and nephews, my neighbours, hundreds … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Why New Delhi is Averse to Glasnost on Kashmir.
Punchline Demystify Kashmir Z. G. Muhammad In India’s 1.25 billion population not even .0005 percent people are familiar with the story of the Kashmir Dispute. ‘India’s middle class according to Global Wealth Report 2015 stands at 2 to 3 percent of the adult or total population when measured by wealth or income. The definition of middle class here is income between 10 to 20 dollars a day adjusted for purchasing power parity.’ That indicates ninety-seven percent Indians are … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take