Peace Watch » Archive
Tribesmen and Kashmir narrartive
Z.G. Muhammad Many stories about 1947 happenings in Kashmir have remained untold. The reason has not been that there were no historians or scribes around to record them but for fear of reprisal by what one would call as ‘neo-fascists’ rulers many dared not to record the happenings as they happened. Those that dared to violate the dictates were exiled or deported to AJK. It was denounced as “gangster rule” by Mehr Chand Mahajan in his … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Kashmir: 1947 Lies Exposed
Kashmir: 1947 Lies Exposed BY Z. G. Muhammad Manufactured narratives’ do not stand the test of the time. Like a soap bubble this burst once put to the litmus test of history. Christopher Snedden, an Australian politico-strategic analyst, author and academic in South Asian studies in his recently released book, “Kashmir: the Unwritten History’ has dismantled much orchestrated ‘dominant discourse’ about the Kashmir ‘dispute.’ For over past sixty six five years New Delhi has been asserting that Kashmir’s ‘conditional … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Featured
Letter To Kashmir Leaders
Z. G. Muhammad I thought it would be about Ghalib his son- about his future. I thought it would be about the family affairs- a word of advice for his wife. A dying man’s routine testament for the family. I had no reason to disbelieve the reports in newspapers on same lines about the last letter written by Muhammad Afzal Guru before he was hooded and noose put around his neck to add yet another chapter of injustice and hideousness to the scarlet history of Kashmir. That is how an ordinary mortal’s last letter before walking to the gallows would read like. The letter written by the great son of the soil on February 9, 2013, at 6.25, one hour and thirty-five minutes before the hangman “touched his feet” and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
Beyond Gallows: Afzal’s hanging is not just an event, but a history in itself
Z.G. MUHAMMAD Sometimes, letters speak more than volumes of books. On Saturday, February 9, I was one amongst the millions- shell-shocked on hearing about ‘surreptitious’ execution of Muhammad Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail. I had never seen the man but suddenly I struck a bond with him – a deeper bond. Perhaps millions across the state struck a bond with him with same intensity. My eyes soaked and my heart mourning, I stumbled across a bunch of published letters sent from death cell by Muhammad Maqbool Butt, founding leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front to his friends, compatriots, comrades and family members. These letters provide an insight into fortitude, foresightedness and courage of conviction of this giant of a man, an ‘intellectual’ and a Spartacus in his own right. In … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take
India-Pakistan- Kashmir 2013
Z.G. MUHAMMAD Situation on the home turf during 2013 is difficult to predict- if it would be unruffled as all through 2012 or shaking as during 2010. However, there are indications that during the next ten months fulcrum to India and Pakistan diplomacy will be Kashmir. In all likelihood, the clichés like CBMs, Cross LoC trade and MNF status will take a back seat and the diplomatic circles in India and Pakistan will once again be abuzz with phrases like Kashmir ‘nuclear flash point’, ‘peace to Afghanistan passes through gates of Kashmir’ and ‘South-Asian security hinges on Kashmir. There debate over ‘Kashmir being a bilateral issue’ between the two countries or an ‘international disputes’ will become louder. Moreover, as the date for draw down of US troops from Afghanistan draws nearer … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Why Did Plebiscite Front Die?
Z.G. MUHAMMAD On a cold but not freezing February afternoon pushing my way through crowded and crushing Residency Road to a nearby bookshop I was stopped by an old time Plebiscite Front worker. Given to intolerance of some contemporary “top” leaders, “clerics” and their “hangers-on”, initially, I thought, he has not liked some of my writings about once towering leader or his scions. There was no anger on his face but from expressions on his face, I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take, Kashmir-Talk
Shimla Agreement and Kashmir
Z.G. MUHAMMAD On 2nd July 1972, Bhutto announced that his delegation would be departing following morning. ‘Surprisingly, during Bhutto’s farewell call on Mrs. Gandhi a breakthrough was made following some deletions and amendments to the final draft.’ Of the amendments made, the most relevant to J&K were inclusion of word “no prejudice clause’ in paragraph 4 (ii) and it read, “ In Jammu and Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Editor's Take