Peace Watch » Archive
Jammu and Kashmir Cannot Be Trifurcated
Z. G. MUHAMMAD To debate if India starts believing in multiplication of states for ensuring equitable growth and development and becomes two hundred states or it revives all the five hundred sixty states as existed before 1947, is not my cup of tea. Equally, it is beyond my purview to comment on the Congress and the UPA coalition unanimously endorsing creation of a separate Telengana state out of Andhra Pradesh. Nevertheless, what piqued me was scion of the Abdullah family drawing a parallel between Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Commenting on the creation of the Telengana state in line with meeting almost fifty seven year old demand of 3.5 Crore people of the new state comprising mostly the areas of princely Nazim state the youngest Abdullah said that “agitation for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Nailing Lies About Kashmir Struggle
Z.G. MUHAMMAD It is tomfoolery- share naiveté. You cannot beat us by contorting and distorting hard historical realities. You cannot delegitimize a movement- a Spartan movement as old as two hundred years marked with bravery and soaked in blood by spreading lies about it and its Spartacus. Of late, some fringe elements of a particular community, owing their allegiance to a particular mindset have launched a vicious campaign of distorting history of the struggle of people of Jammu and Kashmir for their rights through internet and their websites. To spread canard about a struggle for freedom and rights that is older than the Chicago uprising, they shoot as many malicious mails as they can – their most favourite target readership has been journalists, writers and members of the civil society. This malicious campaign, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Tahir Muzter’s lament on a blood soaked Kashmir will be remembered for long
Z. G. MUHAMMAD Tahir Muzter is no more. He had a promise to keep. And he kept it. Hundred days after his death his second poetic collection Lahoo Lahoo Kashmir was released. In his journalistic career, he might have had many firsts but journalistic writings being ephemeral, it is difficult to say if posterity remembers him for these writings. Nevertheless, through his ‘Lahoo Lahoo Kashmir’, he has carved a niche for himself in what has now … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Brookings scholars, and Kashmir Leaders
Z.G. MUHAMMAD Kashmir for past three years has not been grabbing the international headlines but that never suggests it is in a ‘sleep-mode’. Since 1947, it has been making banner headlines across the globe at regular intervals. In the recent past for three summers 2008, 2009 and 2010 it remained in the headlines for months together, caused hundreds of editorials, articles and columns. Many important newspapers compared the massive protests to Palestinian intifidia. A New York Times writer Lydia Polygreen wrote about 2010 protests: ‘an intifada-like popular revolt against the Indian military presence that includes not just stone-throwing young men but their sisters, mothers, uncles and grandparents.’ Notwithstanding Kashmir not talked about in the international or India-Pakistan press for past three years in details, but for its geo-strategic importance it continues to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Afghanistan 2014 and Kashmir
Z.G. MUHAMMAD Has 2014 – the year when US and NATO troops will withdraw from Afghanistan – any surprises in stock for us? The answer could be could both `yes’ and `no’. Looking for an answer to the question, there is need for understanding relevance of Kashmir for South Asian region and importance of Pakistan for the world and more particularly for peace and stability in the region after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. In the post 9/11 situation, after the US ousted Taliban a major geo-strategic shift occurred in the region. In this, shift Kashmir also got catapulted to the centre stage of the regional politics. Moreover, keeping in view history of the dispute, its centrality during the cold war and having emerged as nuclear flashpoint its resolution cannot be … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Of Spin-doctors, Machiavellians and Kashmir
By Z. G. Muhammad Spin-doctors have a field day in Kashmir. Summer 2013, belongs to them. The phrase, first used by New York Times in its editorial is now part of global political jargon. According to New York Times columnist, William Safari ‘spin’ is ‘deliberate shading of news perception.’ Moreover, for decades the spin-doctors have been playing the role of ‘putting slants on information when it is presented to public or in press.’ The spin-doctors have been there through out history, as someone has rightly said the first spin-doctor was the Serpent in the Bible for convincing Adam and Eve that Apples were next big thing. In modern political lexicon, they are called PR pundits but their role in many situations is to put an ‘optimistic face’ in worsening situation. The spin-doctors coin … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Duping us Is easier- What brings them here?
By Z. G. Muhammad After three summers of dissent, Kashmir had three peaceful summers. Summer of 2013 is third in the row. For having ensured peace continuously for three years, men in authority have been patting their backs- perhaps they have been rightly doing so. In the recent history, having three peaceful summers in a chain is almost making a history of sorts. For stifling major voice of dissent, denying space to leaders of stature many … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take