“We have this right, being Muslims, to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, or any other country,” said Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman of the Taliban political office in Doha…reports Asian Lite News
Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman of the Taliban political office in Doha, has said that the group has the right to raise its voice for Muslims anywhere, including in Kashmir, Geo News reported.
In a Zoom interview with BBC Urdu, Shaheen also said that the Taliban do not have a policy to raise arms against any country.
“We have this right, being Muslims, to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, or any other country,” he said, as per Geo News.
(Image Source ANI)
According to Shaheen: “We will raise our voice and say that Muslims are your own people, your own citizens. They are entitled to equal rights under your laws.”
To a question on the Haqqani network, the spokesperson said there is “no such group” and they are “part of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.
On Sunday, in an interview with Geo News, Shaheen had said that Washington will “have no right to attack Afghanistan” after August 31, when the withdrawal of its troops its complete.
The US had launched a drone strike against a Daesh attack “planner” in eastern Afghanistan, a day after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 US troops and scores of Afghan civilians, according to a news wire.
Responding to a question if the US had carried out the drone strike with the Taliban’s consent, Shaheen had said the Taliban-led government will stop any such attack in Afghanistan after August 31, Geo News said.
Earlier on August 19, Shaheen, in an interview with China’s CGTN television, had said that China could contribute to the development of Afghanistan in the future.
Jammu city has number of temples, mosques and gurdawaras for the attraction of pilgrims/ visitors. Raghunath temple; Ranbirshwar; Panchbaktar and Pir Kho temples, Gurdawars of Jain bazaar, Gumat bazaar and Raghunath bazaar and Mosques of Pirmitha; Gumat and Talab Khitikan, are the glaring examples on this behalf. Bahu Fort, Mohamaya, Chichi Mata and temples of Mansar and Suriansar lakes are some of the representatives in Kandi belt of Jammu … A special report by Vineeta Jain
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently announced an ambitious plan to develop Jammu as pilgrim tourist destination by connecting Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Purmandal-Utterbehni, Mansar-Surinsar and Shiv Khori through a common pilgrimage tourism circuit. Jammu region has a lot of tourism potential but it has remained unexplored during the past seventy years. Jammu since 1947 has served as a one-night transit point for tourists and travelers headed towards Kashmir. But after August 5, 2019 – when New Delhi announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and divided it in two Union Territories – many initiatives have been taken to make Jammu independent and the recent announcement is a step towards attracting more tourists to Jammu region.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha
Mr Sinha after laying the foundation stone for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs. 24.4 cr to facilitate pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine stated that JSW Foundation has already conducted a study for conservation and restoration of Shiv Khori heritage site in Reasi. Jammu ropeway has connected three major temples of Jammu city viz. Peerkho, Mahamaya temple and Bahu temple, and has become a major tourist attraction in the region.
Tourism potential Jammu city has number of temples, mosques and gurdawaras for the attraction of pilgrims/ visitors. Raghunath temple; Ranbirshwar; Panchbaktar and Pir Kho temples, Gurdawars of Jain bazaar, Gumat bazaar and Raghunath bazaar and Mosques of Pirmitha; Gumat and Talab Khitikan, are the glaring examples on this behalf. Bahu Fort, Mohamaya, Chichi Mata and temples of Mansar and Suriansar lakes are some of the representatives in Kandi belt of Jammu. Religious places in the Reasi district are Shiv Khori Shrine, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Siarh Baba, Deva Mai, Dhansar Baba and Baba Agar Jitto. There is also a waterfall in Baba Agar Jitto, where a large number of people visit to take bath as its water cures those who are suffering from skin diseases. Bhimgarh Fort and Sulla Park are also important tourist places in Reasi.
Situated at a distance of 120 km from Jammu, Patnitop is the first choice among tourists with Sanasar, Sudh Mahadev and Mantalai following the pursuit by the enthusiasts. Forts of Ramnagar as well as Kud and Batote hill station are worth seeing places of Udhampur district. A temple on bank of the river Devika in Udhampur and Krimchi temple built by the Pandav in old Nagara style. Of the lesser known Shakti shrines of the mother Goddess in Jammu region, Sarthal Devi, Shrine of Goddess Sharika at Sarthal, Chond Mata, Kund Mata and Rahushir Devi are the most popular in Kishtwar, and Mata Bala Sundri (Bhadu Billawar) and Jourian Devi (Basohli) in Kathua Districts. Sukrala Mata shrine in Kathua district and Pingla Devi shrine in Udhampur district , have rapidly gained popularity. Like Mata Vaishno Devi Board, Mata Sukrala Board also stands established. Noori Chhamb, Behram Gala, Surankote Budha Amar Nath, Ziarat Saih Miran Sahib, Nangali Sahib, Ziarat Chhowlay Sahib, Ram Kund, are some of the main resorts of Poonch District. Apart from this, the most attractive scenic spot which the nature has endowed in Poonch District is Sawjian – Gagrian valley which is located exactly on the opposite side of renowned hill resort of Gulmarg in Kashmir.
Vaishno Devi Shrine
Before the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, nearly nine lakh devotees visited Mata Vashino Devi Shrine in January and February months in 2020. Officials at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had stated that in first two months of 2020 the crowd of pilgrims visiting the shrine had broken last five years’ record. According to the board, a little more than 8 lakh passengers reached Katra for darshan of the Devi during the last five years, and the number crossed the 9 lakh mark in 2020.As the COVID-19 cases are on decline in J&K, the administration has decided to organise a 3-month long festival to popularize various tourist destinations in Jammu. The step is being taken to ensure the return of pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, which used to remain abuzz with devotees all throughout the year before the pandemic broke out. During Covid times many interventions like postal delivery of Prasad, mobile app for live Darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, online registration system etc facilitated the devotees. The proposed 5-storey Durga Bhawan at Katra would have all requisite amenities, besides having adequate provision for harnessing clean energy, recycling of wastewater linking up with existing STPs, provision of elevators etc. The Lieutenant Governor of J&K has fixed August 22 as its deadline for completion.
In June 2021, foundation of Tirupati Temple was also laid in Jammu. This is bound to attract pilgrims headed for Vaishno Devi.
Purmanadal
Purmandal is an important pilgrimage centre lying towards the south east of Jammu city at a distance of 40 km, is located on the bank of the river Devika. This pious town is, infact, situated in the Siwaliks, which are known as southern most Himalayas. The Devika is prominently known as the Gupt Ganga which bifurcates this highly sacred town into two equal parts. This pious place is popularly known as small Kashi as a large number of Hindus perform many rituals for the peace of departed souls. Hence in a way it is the sacred Ganga of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The main attraction of Purmandal is an old Lord Shiva’s Temple, having no lingum and is known as “Svayambhuvalinga”. A number of stories are well connected with this sacred temple. The temple is said to have been built by Raja Veni Dutt of Kashmir who is identified with either Vinayaditya or Avantivarman who ruled over Kashmir from 855 to 883 AD. The present complex of Purmandal shrine was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir state. He took lot of interest in the renovation of this holy place. He made the oblation of golden ewers to Lord Shiva. He also established a Sanskrit vidyalya on the banks of the river Devika. Havvelis constructed on Devika’s bank are still in prominence.
Pir Panjal range as seen from Banihal, Jammu and Kashmir (Wikipedia)
A special provision was made in Ain-I-Dharmarth to look after the shrine. Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1857-1885) son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, known for his patronage of art and learning built numerous temples and shrines. The Bhairva Temple, Kartikya and Ganesh Temples and Lord Shiva’s Temple of Purmandal were also constructed by Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
Rejuvenation Drive
In December 2020, J&K Lieutenant Governor had visited Purmandal-Utterbehani area and Mansar-Surinsar twin lakes to review the progress on comprehensive plans being put in place for the development of these religious and tourist destinations. During his visit, Sinha took stock of the project for the development of the Purmandal- Utterbehani religious tourism circuit under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD). He had taken a detailed review of development projects at Purmandal which included construction of a paved path and track to the temple complex, construction of view points, up-gradation of bathing ghats, installation of focus light and poles with high mast lights and solar lights. “Religious places like Purmandal and Utterbehani will attract lot more tourists which will ultimately give a boost to the religious tourism in the area and development of religious tourism is among the prime focus areas of the government,” the Lt Governor had said. He had passed the directions for the development and beautification of Surnisar lake and directed officials to start the de-weeding and de-silting works and improve the aesthetics of the lake and its surroundings.
Tourism development
For the development of tourism projects in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India (GoI) sanctioned a whopping amount of Rs 562.81 crore under different schemes in the past two years.
Union Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel in March this year had informed the parliament Ministry of Tourism under the scheme of ‘Swadesh Darshan’ has sanctioned 76 projects for the development of thematic circuits in various States/ Union Territory administrations. In a detailed figure with Jammu and Kashmir among other states and Union Territories, the Minister had said that under different government schemes several projects have been completed in the last few years. About J&K the Minister said that between 2016-17 an amount of Rs 77.33 crore were sanctioned for the Integrated Development of Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar- Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh was done under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
“In the same year, an amount of Rs 40.46 crore were sanctioned for the development at Hazratbal, In 2016 -17,” the Minister had said. Under Prashad scheme, the Minister had informed that for Jammu & Kashmir Himalayan Circuit Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian- Pulwama a total of Rs 84.46 crore were sanctioned. “A total of Rs 90.43 crore were sanctioned for the construction of assets in lieu of those destroyed in Floods in 2014 under the PM development package,” he had said. ” Rs 90.85 crore for the development of Mantalai and Sudhmahadev and Rs 87.44 crore were sanctioned for tourist facilities at Anantnag-Kishwar-Pahalgam-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam.” “For the Development of tourist facilities at Gulmarg-Baramulla- Kupwara- Kargil -Leh a total of 91.84 crore rupees were sanctioned,” Patel had said.
In any case, New Delhi has not closed its domestic options, including reviving of the provincial status of the territory, possibly reverting to full statehood at “an appropriate time”, going by the official pronouncements…reports Asian Lite News.
Global media reports supported by security experts indicate that the Taliban 2.0 now ensconced in Afghanistan has come to control $85 billion military equipment, including 600,000 small arms, 200 planes/choppers, black hawks, night vision devices, body armours and medical supplies. Those who worked for Afghanistans defences till last month testify to these biometric details.
Most of it has come overnight, much of it for the first time and most of it from the United States that will evacuate by this month-end.
No banned organisation had this much ever in human history. It is another matter that the status of being banned may likely go, as the world wakes up to the ground realities in Afghanistan. The question now is: Who all in the whole world will pay the price for the multiple mistakes that will certainly not be confined to the hapless Afghan people.
The question is: Besides the opponents, among them the ethnic minorities, who will be the targets of this newly-acquired military might – notwithstanding dodgy assurances by the new rulers?
As one struggles to gaze beyond the horizon from ‘new’ Kabul ruled by ‘new’ Taliban with whom the governments will have to do business, sooner than later, the first point of call for the new regime, nurtured, supported and diplomatically cushioned by eastern neighbour Pakistan, is bound to be India-ruled Jammu and Kashmir.
The key point to note here is that India anticipated this – if not fully, then substantially. It had urged the US all through the recent years not to quit in haste. India had warned the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations to base all American planning and action on one cardinal point: Islamabad’s support to the Taliban. This was ignored, whatever the American compulsions.
Now that it has happened, it is, perhaps, easier to explain why India acted in August 2019 to end Jammu and Kashmir’s “special status”, annulled its political and constitutional autonomy and dissolved the state (province) itself by carving out two “union territories”, directly ruled from New Delhi.
Whether or not it was a ‘correct’ step, in keeping with the popular aspirations, or whether it was popular with the people of the erstwhile province, must now be viewed in the context of the developments in Afghanistan, or to put it wisely, the Af-Pak region.
In any case, New Delhi has not closed its domestic options, including reviving of the provincial status of the territory, possibly reverting to full statehood at “an appropriate time”, going by the official pronouncements.
But this essay is about external security threat to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh territories with the advent of the Taliban.2. Not to be ignored is Pakistan’s heightened campaign on the way it looks at the “Kashmir dispute” as its Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tours the Gulf nations and the Central Asian Republics to canvas early recognition of the new Kabul regime.
Indian security establishment avers that it anticipated what was, and is, coming. It has already begun in the shape of attempt at infiltration from across the border before the Kashmir Valley gets snow-bound.
For this, the security affairs primer is what they faced, and dealt with, when forces of the erstwhile Soviet Union had quit Afghanistan, creating a largely similar situation, three decades back, in the 1990s.
There was big spike, it needs recalling, in cross-border infiltration into Kashmir, in tandem with violence by elements drawing strength from across the border. One fall-out was that a large chunk of minority Hindus were forced to flee their homes.
It also needs recalling that after the Mujahideen gained power in post-Soviet Afghanistan, thousands of ‘veterans’ of that war, from a score of nationalities – Arabs and Central Asians, but also Uighurs, Chechens and Serbs – returned to their homes to work for a global ‘Caliphate’.
Born or strengthened in the process were ETIM in China, Islamist outfits across newly-independent Central Asian Republics, JMB and HUJI in Bangladesh and Jamah Islamia in distant Indonesia, besides a host of Salafi-Jihadist bodies in Africa. India faced the Pakistan-based LeT, newly formed Jaish-e-Mohammed and their local affiliates.
The new Af-Pak developments point to a repeat of history, especially in India. While there are fears that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan may impact the security situation in the Kashmir Valley, there are also apprehensions that this could escalate terror-related violence in the other two Union Territories as well. There are already indications that things could heat up south of Pir Panjal and key infiltration routes in the Kashmir Valley where even a more stringent vigil has been mounted. The routes could be Poonch-Rajouri or North Kashmir. Both the areas have seen encounters taking place.
However, the Pakistan based organisations have also anticipated and planned their moves. Several of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives from Pakistan infiltrated months before the Afghanistan situation, as per Indian security forces’ assessment.
There is a definite Afghan-Pakistan link. India’s NIA says close to 1,000 Pakistani terrorists are trained at these al-Qaeda and Taliban camps located in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Incidentally, Helmand was among first provinces to return to the Taliban control once the NATO operations began to wind down.
India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawathas said: “We were concerned about how terrorist activity from Afghanistan could overflow into India and so to that extent our contingency planning had been ongoing and we are prepared for that.”
However, this promises to be a complex situation affecting Afghanistan and Pakistan as well. As Akanksha Narain, an analyst with a political and risk consultancy firm in New Delhi, told DW, German media outlet, that Afghanistan could face a similar situation after the withdrawal of NATO troops to what it faced when Soviet forces departed in 1988-89.
“Mujahideen fighters until 1989 fought against the Soviet troops, then dispersed to other theaters, from Chechnya and Kashmir to the Middle East,” Narainsaid in July this year.
Now, the world should prepare for this likely eventuality.
However, earlier the Taliban had stated that Kashmir is India’s ‘internal and bilateral’ issue….reports Asian Lite News
Unabashedly admitting Pakistan military’s close ties with Taliban and its anti-India agenda, a leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government talked about taking help of the Taliban in Kashmir during an on-air television show.
During a TV news debate, PTI leader Neelam Irshad Sheikh said the Taliban have announced that they will join hands with Pakistan in Kashmir.
“The Taliban are saying that they are with us and they will help us in Kashmir,” Sheikh said during the show.
However, earlier the Taliban had stated that Kashmir is India’s ‘internal and bilateral’ issue.
Alarmed by the statement of the PTI leader, the news anchor said, “Madam, do you realise what you have said. You have no idea what you have said. For God’s sake ma’am, this show will air around the world. This will be viewed in India.”
However, unaffected and unconcerned Irshad Sheikh continued saying that “Taliban will help us because they have been mistreated.”
Earlier, the Afghan government had accused Pakistan and its intelligence service of playing a key role in fostering the Taliban.
Looted US weapons to be first used in Pak
Amid inputs that the Taliban was supplying a huge quantity of American weapons captured by it from the Afghan Army to Pakistan, top military officers in India feel that these weapons would be first used for violence in Pakistan itself by the ISI-bred terrorist groups before they are able to make their way to India.
Senior military officers said the weapons are expected to be provided to terror groups operating in India as well but the security forces are fully prepared to tackle those who would attempt to use them here.
“There are a lot of inputs that suggest that these American-origin weapons especially small arms are being sent to Pakistan. But the way terror groups have been emboldened there by the Taliban victory, there is a possibility of these weapons being used for violence in Pakistan itself,” said senior military officers while discussing the Afghan war outcome with ANI.
It is estimated that the American forces provided more than 6.5 lakh small arms including the M-16 and M-4 assault rifles to the Afghan forces in the last 20 years along with a huge cache of armoured piercing ammunition or steel core bullets.
A large number of communication equipments have also been captured by the Taliban from the Afghan forces gifted by the American troops along with a significant number of bulletproof equipment and night vision goggles. A significant number of Sniper rifles have also fallen into the hands of the terrorist group.
Sources said a significant part of the loot of American communications and night vision equipment is also likely to make its way into the Pakistan Army.
The senior sources said the Indian Army’s counter-terrorist grid in the Kashmir valley is fully geared up to tackle terrorists even if they are equipped with superior weaponry and survival equipment.
The counter-infiltration grids are already there in place on both the Line of Control and hinterland in the Kashmir valley, they said.
On the possibility of the Pakistan Army using the Taliban terrorists to spread terrorism in India, sources said a majority of the Army’s senior leadership has faced Afghan terrorists in the 1990s.
“The Afghans are easy to find in the Kashmir valley and the locals are scared of them due to their atrocities against women and young girls. In most of the cases, the locals themselves approach the security forces to get rid of them,” they said.
In the initial phase of the Kashmir terrorism, Pakistan Army used a large number of Afghan and foreign terrorists for anti-India activities after they were freed up from the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan.
A large number of these were neutralised by the security forces who found them to be more religiously radicalised than the local terrorists. The foreign terrorists also looked down upon the locals who they thought were not good fighters when it came to launching attacks. (ANI)
As per police records, both the slain terrorists were involved in killing of several political workers, police personnel and civilians….reports Asian Lite News
Two terrorists, including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed during an encounter with the security forces in Srinagar, officials said on Monday.
The police said that acting on a specific input generated by Srinagar police about the presence of terrorists in the Alochi Bagh area of Srinagar district, an operation was planned by IGP Kashmir, DIG Central Kashmir range and SSP Srinagar.
Accordingly, a special team of police was sent in a covert operation which raided a specific location.
During the raid, the hiding terrorists were given the opportunity to surrender, but they started firing on the police team instead.
“Our team also retaliated. In the brief encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were neutralised,” the police said.
“One of the killed terrorists has been identified as a top commander of LeT and the self-proclaimed chief of TRF, Abbas Sheikh, from Kulgam. The second terrorist has been identified as his deputy and a district commander of LeT, Saqib Manzoor, from Barzulla Srinagar,” the police said.
Indian Army soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir (IANS)
As per police records, both the slain terrorists were involved in killing of several political workers, police personnel and civilians.
“Saqib Manzoor was involved in the killing of advocate Babar Qadri last year. Besides, both the terrorists were also involved in several grenade attacks on security establishments and were also involved in several other terror crimes and civilian atrocities. They were also involved in reviving terror folds in Srinagar district and in the process recruited seven youth into terror ranks in Srinagar, of which four have been neutralised,” the police said.
“Earlier, Abbas Sheikh was a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was arrested and released twice. Later he joined the LeT. There are several terrorists and over ground workers (OGWs) in his relationship. He was also involved in several routine crimes and narcotics cases,” the police said.
Similarly, Manzoor was also involved in many terror crimes.
“Recently, a sarpanch named Rasool Dar and his wife, a panch of the BJP, were killed in Anantnag on the direction of Sheikh. The deceased BJP leader and Sheikh were from the same area in Kulgam district,” the police said.
Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the encounter spot.
It is pertinent to mention here that Srinagar had become a terrorist-free district in September last year, but after Sheikh shifted here, he motivated and recruited Manzoor and six other youth from the city. So far, four terrorists have been killed in different encounters.
why are the separatists, militants and their supporters in Kashmir silent, even in social media, over Taliban’s conquest in Kabul if they are perceptibly happy? … Explores Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
Kashmir’s politicians, both separatists as well as mainstream, have maintained near-total silence over Taliban’s capture of Afghanistan after a prolonged strife of 20 long years. However, the visibility of a wave of jubilation among the separatists, militants and their shrinking supporters is not completely concealed.
As news of the fall of Kabul flashed in the media on Sunday, 15 August, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, formerly a professor of Law at the University of Kashmir and the Central University of Kashmir gave vent to his euphoria. “And say truth has come and falsehood has vanished away”, he tweeted a Koranic verse with its English translation. “Falsehood is indeed bound to vanish”, Showkat commented, without linking his expression explicitly to Kabul’s capture by Taliban.
Showkat embellished his tweet with Iqbal’s famous verse: “Yaqeen-e-mahkam amal-e-peham mohabat-e-fatih-e-aalam. Jihad-e-zindagani mein yeh hain mardon ki shamsheeren.”
“Can’t imagine the feeling of Kashmiris”, commented one Shoaib. Another follower appreciated: “Aap kii baat sach nikli”-acknowledging that the retired university teacher’s prophecy had come true. Almost all of Prof. Showkat’s eight books have been released and appreciated by Kashmir’s tallest separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Two days back, when the news of the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s escape to Tajikistan was circulating in the social media, Showkat cryptically tweeted a Kashmiri folk stanza, linking Kashmir to Kabul and Kandahar. “Ashraf Ghani in supersonic retreat”, he observed, with praise on the Taliban co-founder Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar and a tangent on the third Ghani-senior separatist leader and former chairman of now defunct and disintegrated Hurriyat Conference, Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat. Bhat, an erudite, moderate separatist, perceived to be Geelani’s bete noire, has been living in oblivion since long. But why are the separatists, militants and their supporters in Kashmir silent, even in social media, over Taliban’s conquest in Kabul if they are perceptibly happy?
“Anything they perceive to be India’s defeat or embarrassment and Pakistan’s gain makes them obviously exultant. For many of them, it stirs their adrenaline. Had it happened in 2018 or before, there would have been nightlong firecrackers and celebrations on the streets in downtown Srinagar”, reasons a senior political analyst. He recollects the jubilation triggered by release of five top militants in exchange for Rubaiya Sayeed in December 1989.
“But by the time Taliban sprouted and their friendly Jaish-e-Mohammad (previously known as Harkatul Mujahideen) forced India to release three top notch militants with the hijacking of IC-814 (in December 1999), much of the euphoria had died down in the valley. Pakistan had lost the war in Kargil and the security forces, with the help of (counterinsurgent) Ikhwanis, had almost wiped out the militancy”, said the analyst, a former professor of Political Science at the University of Kashmir.
The situation created by dismissal of Mehbooba Mufti’s soft-separatist government in June 2018, death of 40 CRPF personnel in a major terror strike in February 2019 and abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, coupled with the State’s split into two Union Territories in August 2019, are believed to have muted not only the valley’s vociferous separatist camp but also its support structure in the mainstream politics.
Kashmir has gone through a sea change in the last over three years as the Centre has tightened its grip with detention and house-arrest of hundreds of the separatist activists who would be usually on the forefront of all the street turbulences-2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016. Killing of civilians in protest demonstrations, clashes with Police and security forces, funeral processions of the slain militants, stone pelting and pellet injuries have fallen to the lowest point of the last 31 years.
Even in the year 2020, the valley’s separatist sections sounded ecstatic over the killing of the Indian soldiers in a clash with the Chinese army on the LAC in Ladakh. The sentiment looked phenomenal when former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said in an interview that the Chinese would help the Kashmiris retrieve Article 370. Around the same season, many among the separatists began seeing Mohammad Bin Qasim, the conqueror of Sindh, in Ertugrul, the protagonist of a Turkish period serial promoted by Pakistan Television. But it all fizzled out soon when a large number of the Kashmiris began participating in the Government’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ initiative.
The UT administration’s recent decisions include surveillance of the government employees’ political and social media activities, dismissal of the officials involved in ‘anti-national’ activities and denial of government jobs, trade licences and passports on the basis of ‘negative reporting’ by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“Those days are gone when a separatist leader publicly invited Taliban to so-called Jihad in Kashmir; when the Kashmir University students chanted an anthem ‘Teri jaan meri jaan, Taliban Taliban’. Yes I agree there was a different situation until the last day of the PDP-BJP government. Had this Taliban takeover happened in that era, the separatists would have brought thousands on the streets”, said an assistant professor of journalism at a government college.
“But it’s an altogether different Taliban today. Unlike Mullah Omar’s Taliban, these people are not carrying out massacres; they seem to be concerned merely on headscarves, not burqas, for women. It is too early to judge but there are sufficient indications that this Taliban wants a stable rule in Afghanistan and it is sensitive to world recognition and diplomacy. For years they have been supported by Pakistan but it is highly unlikely that these people would be misused for guerrilla warfare in Kashmir or Xinjiang. Unlike the pan-Islamist ISIS and AlQaeda, this Taliban looks restricted to the geo-political entity of Afghanistan. But days to come will make the picture clear”, said the professor who has visited Afghanistan.
The situation in Afghanistan has impacted the situation in Kashmir in the past. The Russian’s defeat and exit in 1989 gave a sense of victory to the Islamists in Kashmir and within a year thousands of the Kashmiris joined militancy. Thirty-two years later, it is arguably a completely different setting in Kashmir.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
More than two dozen Imams from the valley participated in an interactive session which aimed at making aware of dowry deaths, drug abuse and crimes….reports Asian Lite News
At an interactive session organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Imam Association in Srinagar, Imams and other religious personalities stressed on raising awareness about dowry deaths, drug abuse, suicides and preventing crimes.
As per the official release by the association in Srinagar, more than two dozen Imams from the valley participated in the event.
In his address, Chairman of Imam Association Hilal Ahmad Lone said that it’s the responsibility of religious personalities and Imams to look after the society in all the aspects so that society becomes aware of cases of dowry deaths, drug abuse and crimes.
He also showed concern over the growing number of suicide cases in the Kashmir valley.
Lone urged all the people present there to work for peace and issues faced by society.
Later, all members of the association and Imams present there assured full cooperation in these endeavours. (ANI)
The seminar was attended by a large gathering and discussed the core message “sacrifice of Imam Hussain is not limited to one country or nation but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind.”…reports Asian Lite News
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Justice Front (JKPJF) held a seminar in Pulwama on Wednesday.
The seminar was attended by Hujatul Islam Moulana Ghulam Rasool Nori, a prominent religious figure in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in India. Besides Nori, JKPJF chairman Agha Syed Abbas Rizvi, Islamic scholar Moulana Showkat Ahmad, famous poet Abdul Ahad Farhad and Mufti Khateeb Ali Mohammed Malik and Imtiyaz Ahmad were also present.
The core message of the seminar was that the “sacrifice of Imam Hussain is not limited to one country or nation but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind.”
Pic credit ANI
Breifing mediapersons, JKPJF chairman Agha Syed Abbas Rizvi said, “In Iran, every religious scholar gives the example of India highlighting the mourning procession. It is just the diversity in India that even in Iran people give examples of India.”
Rizvi further emphasised on peace, development and religious harmony.
The seminar was attended by a large gathering. It was the first such kind of seminar held in Pulwama. All the speakers highlighted the different aspects of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. The speakers emphasised that Imam Hussain did not sacrifice for a particular community but for the entire humanity. (ANI)
Sinha said his administration is committed to ensure peace and development in Kashmir…reports Asian Lite News.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt governor, Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that there will be no mercy for militants and their supporters.
Addressing an official function in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Lt governor, Manoj Sinha said, “There will be no mercy for militants and their supporters as there is no place for violence in the land of sufi saints. Misguided youths must shun violence and choose a better future for themselves.”
Sinha urged local religious leaders to keep an eye on children so that they are prevented from treading the wrong path.
He praised a local youth, Tanveer Ahmad Khan who cracked the Indian Economic Service (IES) exam 2020.
Sinha said his administration is committed to ensure peace and development in Kashmir.
“In a place like Kashmir, where there are sufi saints everywhere, there is no place for violence and militancy.”
“Sufi saints like Syed Simnani, who gave blood and sweat to promote peace and to defeat violence, there is no place for any sort of violence.”
“UT administration is committed to promote the vision of Sufi saints like Syed Simnani and promote the culture of peace and progress in the region.”
“Unfortunately some elements and the neighbouring country do not want peace to be promoted in Kashmir.
“Youth who have chosen the wrong path must shun violence. Those trying to mislead youth by pushing them towards violence are playing with the sentiments of the people of Kashmir”, Sinha said.
26 years old Emaan Aslam took up the challenge and it finally ended up in setting up a driving school…reports Asian Lite News
There is no written rule that only men can run a driving school. This is a story of hardwork and courage overcoming such unwritten rules. A story of a woman from Kashmir who battled community prejudices and opposition from family and is on-route to become first female driving instructor.
Emaan Aslam turned to driving since 11th standard. One day her friend insisted to help her learn to drive because her friend’s father was ill and her family was reluctant to allow her to learn driving from a male driving instructor.
26 years old Emaan Aslam had taken up the challenge and it finally ended up in setting up a driving school, RisingKashmir reported.
“I had to struggle a lot to start it. The registration for the driving school took almost a year. I had to visit various departments for the registration process,” RisingKashmir quoted Emaan as saying.
According to the RisingKashmir reports, she was working as a gym trainer just before she opened a driving school. As a gym trainer she was emotionally attached to her clients and leaving that job was not easy for her at that time.
Though she had no previous teaching experience, but on the persistence of her friend, she was convinced about starting a driving school named “Steer We Go”.
Her friend was her first client in her newly established driving school and Iman claims to have taught at least 300 people till now.
“I teach females above 18 years of age. Some of my clients are even nearing their 60s. I teach from 6am to 7:30 pm. It is a 19 day course which include 3 days classes and 15-day driving lessons on road,” she was quoted by Rising Kashmir.
