What a shame IHK Kashmiris equating Pakistan with India

Srinagar, Oct 4: Reports emanating from Srinagar say that the ongoing reignited movement of the Kashmiris has taken an altogether new turn. The new generation, fiercely engaged in giving a tough time to the Indian forces, is of a different breed and one may compare it with the fearless children of Gaza in Palestine. They have not only stood up against the tyranny of the Indian occupation forces but some of them, or a few of them, are now equally getting disenchanted with Pakistan as well. They are using modern communication technology for highlighting their just struggle against the worst State terrorism in the history. Short video clips of protests by Kashmiri youths and their clashes with Indian security forces are often shot on cell phones and passed from device to device or posted on the Web and Facebook to document their own struggle and to inspire more resistance, reports PO(2/11)

The protests have led India to one of its most serious internal crises in recent memory. Not just because of their ferocity and persistence, but because they signal the failure of decades of Indian efforts to win the assent of Kashmiris using just about any tool available money, elections and overwhelming use of brute force. A report in the New York Times on 12th August 2010 said, “India today faces a threat which is potentially more dangerous to the world's largest democracy an Intifada-like popular revolt against Indian rule that includes not just angry young men but their sisters, mothers, uncles and grandparents.”

The new developments are also being taken notice of by analysts and strategic writers in India who are of the opinion that the new surge has no backing from across the LoC. I pay my compliments to Sialkot-born veteran and respected Indian journalist and analyst Kuldip Nayar who, in a column published in Pakistan on 20th August 2010, openly stated that there was no Pakistani hand in the present movement in Kashmir and that it had nothing to do with the militants. He termed it as a spontaneous movement which started with the killing of teenager Tufail Ahmad on June 11, 2010.

Amitabh Mattoo, a Professor of Strategic Affairs at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and a Kashmiri Hindu said in an interview, “We need a complete revisit of what our policies in Kashmir have been,” He also said “It is not about money you have spent huge amounts of money. It is not about fair elections. It is about reaching out to a generation of Kashmiris who think India is a huge monster represented by bunkers and security forces.” These comments reflect the ground realities and are believed by the Indian Government as well. If India had a slight suspicion of foreign backing, it would have accused Pakistan and the much-maligned Hafiz Saeed and raised uproar the world over as it did after the Mumbai attacks.

Indeed, Kashmiris' demand for self-determination is louder today than perhaps it had been at any other time in the region's troubled history. It comes in part because diplomatic efforts remain frozen to resolve the dispute created more than 60 years ago with the partition of the Subcontinent. With no apparent avenue to progress, Kashmiris are getting despaired that their struggle is taking place in a vacuum, and they are taking matters into their own hands.

It is, therefore, proved that the new Intifada is home-grown and women and youths in the IHK stare into the eyes of the occupation troops and are confronting the security forces without any fear. It is a known reality that when youth and women come on the streets then history is rewritten. It was also evident from the incident of 15th August when Abdul Ahad Jan, a Kashmiri police official, hurled a shoe at puppet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a ceremony in Srinagar to celebrate India's Independence Day, which is routinely observed by Kashmiris as Black Day. This was an indication that even the civil servants too were with the people in their struggle for the realization of their birthright.

Another dimension of the movement is that it is now more independence centric and the old Kashmiri leaders who are on both sides of the LoC and were for independence, today feel encouraged. However, it does not mean that all Kashmiris are disenchanted with Pakistan as even now the senior, respected and popular leaders like Mir Waiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Gilani having influence over a vast majority of people are still raising the slogan of “Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan” and it is amply reflected in their statements and policies. A proof of their following can be judged from the fact that when they gave a call for shutdown on 15th August, there was a curfew-like situation in the IHK and everything came to a standstill. In no way, these Kashmiri leaders are marginalized but there is a visible trend among the youth for independence for Kashmir and disenchantment with Pakistan.

The cold-shouldering of some youngsters towards Pakistan needs to be analyzed and understood. Let us recall that there was a time when all the Political Parties and other stakeholders in Pakistan used, rather openly, to extend, moral, diplomatic and political support to the struggle of Kashmiris at all international fora. The IHK Kashmiris had a psychological feeling that Pakistan was with them. Now this position seems to have watered down in the recent years. The founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam described Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan and now the water issue has proved that Kashmir is vital for its own survival. Kashmir is rightly considered as the unfinished agenda of independence and its annexation by the then Hindu Maharaja in October 1947 was in sheer violation of the will of the majority Muslim population of the State and principles of partition of the Sub-continent. But now, hardly anyone in Pakistan talks of the occupied Kashmir, particularly the present Government has an altogether different, rather enigmatic, approach to the Kashmir issue. I happened to be at the Presidency on September 9, 2008 when President Asif Ali Zardari took oath and later during his maiden press conference in the company of Afghan President Hamid Karzai declared, “The nation would hear good news about Kashmir this month”. The said categorical statement created a lot of stir, and apprehension as well. I fail to understand even now what prompted the President to make this unusual categorical statement. How come a sudden and dramatic development could take place that he became so sure of a solution within the remaining 21 days of the month. Earlier too, Kashmiris were angered when in March 2008, in an interview to the Wall Street Journal, Zardari denounced the liberation struggle in Kashmir as terrorism, even though nearly one lakh Kashmiris embraced martyrdom for this most legitimate struggle. Angered by Zardari's betrayal, the Muslims of occupied Kashmir burned the effigy of a Pakistani leader for the first time in history because the remarks were seen as an insult to their sacrifices and tantamount to rubbing salt into their wounds.

Such overtures by the successor and worthy son-in-law of PPP founder Z.A. Bhutto, who was very vocal for the Kashmiris' right to self-determination, raised many eyebrows in Kashmir and Pakistan. I am sure that had BB been alive, she would not have uttered such casual and childish remarks on such a crucial national issue. I, without going into details, think on the whole the incumbent Government has quite deviated from the slogan of Z.A. Bhutto, “We will fight for a thousand years for Kashmir”, and this must have injured the sensitivities of the new generation in the IHK

I may say that a top Pakistani strategist in a meeting with me last week inquired, “Mr Malik, how come the Pakistani media is not reflecting the new Intifada in Kashmir despite the developments having such a big news value?” He referred to 100-hour candle light vigil in front of White House on 22nd August and demonstrations in Britain and European countries against Indian atrocities. He said even MPs in Kuwait on 25th August condemned rights abuses in the IHK but strangely all these were media ignored by Pakistani media. I shared his concern because our media is indeed too much focused on day-to-day issues in Pakistan and the country's vital crucial and strategic interests and regional situations having serious repercussions are sadly being ignored.

Leaving aside media, after the said encounter with the strategist I rang up the young and vibrant newly elected Prime Minister of AJK Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan, drew his attention and shared my views with him on the new anti-India wave in Srinagar and other major towns in the Valley. I consider Azad Kashmir as base camp for the legitimate struggle of Kashmiri people and want its leadership to play its due role effectively. Not only that I, for the first time, visited on August 19 the residence of Barrister Sultan Mahmood, another heavyweight Kashmiri leader having considerable influence in Kashmir, Pakistan and among overseas Kashmiris and exchanged views with him on the new phenomenon in Srinagar. He appeared to be inspired by the new developments.

Readers are well aware that Independent Kashmir is not altogether a new idea. I remember late Dr Mahboobul Haq, in an interview to popular and influential Urdu weekly Hurmat (of which I was Editor-in-Chief) in 1994, mooted the idea for handing over Kashmir to the UN Trusteeship Council. Later, he repeated his idea during an interview to an English daily. At that time, veteran Kashmiri leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, who was Prime Minister of AJK, got somewhat inquisitive and telephonically inquired from me about the importance of the timing and motives of such a statement. This telephonic call later resulted in a meeting between Mujahid-e-Awwal and Dr Mehboobul Haq at my residence, and I still remember how vehemently during the meeting Dr Mehboobul Haq, himself a Kashmiri, advocated for an independent Kashmir. I also remember the late financial wizard saying that if Kashmir gets independence, the US will invest about $ 10 billion there and it will become Switzerland in this part of the world. He also posed a question to Sardar Qayyum Khan “What Pakistan has given to the Kashmiris and what the Indians have given to them?” When I posed a question on the occasion whether in such an eventuality the Karakoram Highway, the only road link of Pakistan with all-weather friend China, will be cut off, to which he emphatically stated “YES”.

The JKLF is the main advocate of independent Kashmir. Its committed Chairman, Amanullah Khan, in one of his articles said, "The future independent Kashmir is to be neutral, like Switzerland, having friendly and trade relations with all its neighbours.' According to Amanullah Khan's proposal, 'Independent Kashmir is to consist of five federating units: Kashmir Valley, Jammu Province, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In any case, if the concept of independent Kashmir with inevitable US presence materializes it will be a rude shock to the Peoples Republic of China as such an eventuality will be against its vital strategic interests. Similarly, such a development will also be detrimental to the interests of Pakistan and if I may say to India as well. Kashmiris should bear in mind that if peace and security and even sovereignty of bigger States like Pakistan, Bangladesh and now even Afghanistan are imperiled because of hegemonic policies of the USA, then what would be the fate of a comparatively smaller State of independent Kashmir?

Anyhow, I am sorry to point out that despite monumental changes taking place in Occupied Kashmir, Pakistani leaders seem to have put the Kashmir issue on the back burner, which may cause irreparable damage to our stand and position on this vital issue that is the question of life and death for Pakistan's economy and geo-strategic interests. Therefore, it is high time that leadership in Pakistan and all other stakeholders should ponder over the fast emerging new ground realities in the Valley and please see to it that the new breed of Kashmiris should not get disenchanted with Pakistan. Our monumental sacrifices and sufferings for the last 62 years for the sake of the Kashmiris should not be now drowned in the Kishanganga or in other Indian dams. History will never forgive those who have scanty respect for the blood of poor innocent Kashmiris spilled over in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir during all these long years. (Writer-South Asia)

Parvez Musharraf's Kashmir formula the second best: Research

Srinagar, Nov 4:   After the elusive plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations, former Pakistan president Mr. Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula is the second best option available for the resolution of the complex Kashmir issue, according to a research conducted by a Kashmiri student, reports Rissing Kashmir (31/10)

The findings sum up a research titled ‘Musharraf’s 4-point formula: A study in Kashmir Response’ by Sameer Ahmad, a Kashmiri scholar at the Department of Political Sciences, University of Kashmir. The extensive research, carried out over a period of two years, says a staggering 68 percent of the people in Kashmir believe that the formula is a significant initiative towards normalization of the relations between the two nuclear  neighbour-countries.

It was in December 2006 that Pakistan, then led by General Parvez Musharraf, departed from its traditional stand and came out with his four-point formula on Kashmir resolution.

The formula included “identifying certain regions, demilitarizing the identified regions along with curbing militant aspect of the freedom movement to give comfort to the common people in Kashmir, introducing self-rule in these areas and developing a joint mechanism with India, Pakistan and certain degree of representation from Kashmir to oversee self-government and deal with residual subjects common to all identified regions”.

The research shows that a vast majority of Kashmir population (59 percent) believes that the porous border between the two nuclear countries - India and Pakistan - not only helps increase the economic well-being but also facilitates restoring of the much-needed peace in the subcontinent.   

On the question of demilitarization, an overwhelming 87 percent people believe that troops have to be withdrawn. There is a widespread notion that Kashmir is a heavily militarised region, not only in South Asia but across the globe.

Although there is some kind of uncertainty over the element of self-governance and joint management, still a significant 43 percent of people consider these as helpful to resolve the over 60-year-old dispute.

The proposal, when floated, received fair amount of acceptability and mention in both the mainstream political circles and the moderate faction of Hurriyat; however, the Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Geelani outrightly rejected the proposal.   The proposal has also been criticized on the ground that it was said to be based on religious identities.

Says Balraj Puri, noted journalist and human rights activist, “The proposal is based on religious identities which defies the ground realities. A solution to Kashmir problem on religious basis was unacceptable to India as it would threaten not only the secular basis of the country but also the unique Kashmiri identity and peace in the subcontinent.”

U.S. intelligence trades on fear

Tehran, October 31: We are in the grip of yet another so-called terror plot designed to terrify the wits out of everyone.
Anyone of a nervous disposition was sent in to a tailspin of panic over the increasingly dramatic news coverage… this manifested itself in a tsunami of 911 calls in America which paralyzed parts of New York, Maine and Philadelphia for several hours, reports Tehran Times.

Mercifully in Britain the majority of us refuse to get caught up in this bloody nonsense for many different reasons. The primary one being we had already endured more than three decades of this during the height of the IRA activities in London.

Virtually every single day for 30 years there would be some terror alert in the English capital -- it was called shoestring terrorism. One telephone call could bring a halt to a section of the London Underground.

The police would make their necessary checks, the media would ignore it and we all got on with our lives refusing to be intimidated by Irish terrorism.

And that is exactly how we should have treated Friday’s terror nonsense -- that does not mean to say people should be reckless or less vigilant but governments should stop trying to impose a fear factor on its citizens.

We can not sacrifice our freedoms and liberties just because the United States wants to impose its own neurosis, hysteria and paranoia on the rest of the world.

While British anti-terror police say no explosives were found in a suspicious package found onboard a UPS flight, the White House issued a statement completely contradicting this. Now the parcel has been removed for full forensic testing!

Call me cynical, but I find it too much of a coincidence that this bizarre alert came less than 24 hours after British Airways chairman Martin Broughton has accused the country of bowing to U.S. demands for increased airport security measures.

Mr. Broughton criticized the U.S. for imposing more security checks on U.S.-bound flights, but not on its own domestic services.

He urged the UK to stop kowtowing to demands for passengers to take their shoes off and to put any laptop computers through scanners to be screened separately.

The UK government said it would give airport operators permission to review their security procedures and I hope they stick to their promise despite all this nonsense.

One of the most ridiculous procedures we have to go through is to submit all of our potions, lotions and liquids to airport security.

This came about because of the so-called plot to blow 10 airliners out of the sky. That the fools behind this crazy scheme didn’t even have passports or a collective IQ of George W. Bush mattered not.

A video was shown of an explosion onboard a plane if this chemical had been mixed with that chemical.

The fact the bombmakers would have had to create sub zero laboratory conditions onboard a plane which would take around 40 minutes, mattered not.

As a frequent flyer I can tell you no one would be allowed to hog the tiny toilets for more than five minutes.

Yet despite this nonsense we have to hand over our liquids, but can buy them in vast quantities minutes later having past through airport security.

Just recently I was stopped because I had a brand new 200ml jar of Eve Lom face cleanser and was told I could not take it through. I pleaded for some commonsense from the security officer and he even went to his superior when I pointed out that the jar cost more than my airline ticket.

A nearby passenger who had just wistfully given up his full bottle of Remy Martin brandy sympathized with me.

Since when did Eve Lom become a threat to Britain's national security?

The British Government’s COBRA emergency committee is meeting as I write this. God only knows what will transpire but I hope this coalition government distances itself from these crazy security terror alerts coming over from the Americans.

U.S. President Barack Obama is facing his mid-term elections this weekend… if either he or his team have resorted to the “terror threat” ploy so often used by his predecessor to try and win votes then shame on them.

Of course what better way to divert voters’ minds from Afghanistan, Iraq and Wikileaks than to create a fresh new bogeyman… Yemen.

Any government which uses security and fear to win votes does not deserve to be in power.

Yvonne Ridley is a presenter for Press TV's show The Agenda and co-presenter of the Rattansi & Ridley show.

Why Kashmiris observe October 27 as Black Day!

by M Raza Malik
Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the globe observe October 27 as Black Day and consider it as the blackest day in the history of Kashmir. This is the Day when India landed its army in Jammu and Kashmir, in total disregard to the Indian Independence Act and Partition Plan in 1947.

In order to change the demographic composition of the territory, Indian troops, the forces of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh, and Hindu extremists massacred over three hundred thousand Kashmiri Muslims within a period of two months.

The Indian Independence Act and Partition Plan of 1947 had stated that the Indian British Colony would be divided into two sovereign states, India, with Hindu-majority areas, and Pakistan, with the Muslim-majority areas of Western provinces and east Bengal.

India by landing its Army in Jammu and Kashmir violated the guidelines set for deciding the future of Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir, three of the independent Princely States at that time, which were given the choice to either accede to Pakistan or India, considering the geographical situation and communal demography. It forcibly occupied the Hyderabad and Junagarh, which had Hindus in majority but their rulers were Muslims. Kashmir was a Muslim-majority state and had a natural tendency to accede to Pakistan, but its Hindu ruler destroyed the future of Kashmiri people by announcing its accession to India under a controversial accession document (Instrument of Accession). Many neutral observers deny the existence of such document with the argument that had it been there Indian government had made it public either officially or at any international forum.

It is a historical fact that if the partition was done on the principles of Justice then India had no land route to enter into Jammu and Kashmir but the so-called Boundary Commission, headed by British Barrister, Cyril Radcliff, that demarcated partition line, under a conspiracy split Gurdaspur, a Muslim majority area, and handed it over to India, providing it terrestrial access to the territory.

Right from the day one, the people of Kashmir did not accept India's illegal occupation and started an armed struggle with the total support of public in 1948, which forced India to approach the UN Security Council to seek help of the World Body to settle the dispute. The UN Security Council through its successive resolutions nullified Indian invasion and occupation of Kashmir. It also approved a ceasefire, demarcation of the ceasefire line, demilitarization of the state and a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted under the supervision of the World Body. Although the ceasefire and demarcation of the ceasefire line was implemented while demilitarization of the occupied territory and a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision remain unimplemented till date. As a result of the demarcation, about 139,000 square kilometers area of Jammu and Kashmir remained with India while 83,807 square kilometers constituted the territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian rulers promised before the UN to resolve the dispute and provide the people of Kashmir with their basic right of self-determination, but later backed away from their commitments. India has been putting peace, security and stability of the entire South Asia at stake by demonstrating continued rigidity and stubbornness and not responding positively to the efforts made by the international community to settle the Kashmir dispute during the last more than six decades.

Disappointed at the failure of all the efforts aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means, the people of occupied Kashmir launched a massive uprising in 1989 to secure their right to self-determination. This movement gathered momentum with the passage of time and pushed the Indian authorities to wall, forcing them to sit around the negotiation table with Pakistan in January 2004. The talks process continued till it was hampered after Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008, when India without any substantive evidence laid the responsibility of these attacks on Pakistan and its intelligence agencies. However, Prime Ministers of the two countries, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh after a meeting at Sharm El-Sheikh, on July 16, 2009, in a joint statement declared to resume the composite dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan demonstrated considerable flexibility in the dialogue process by floating various proposals including demilitarization, self-governance and joint-management to settle the conflict over Kashmir, but India's intransigent approach continued to remain the biggest hurdle in making successful any effort made in this regard. The ground situation in the occupied territory remains unchanged, as the confidence building measures and the dialogue process could not provide Kashmiri people respite from the Indian state terrorism.

India has exhausted all its resources and means but has not been able to deter Kashmiris from continuing their liberation struggle. It has given a free hand to its troops and police to subject peaceful protesters to brute force. Over 70 people were killed only within a period of two months in 2008 when Indian police personnel resorted to indiscriminate firing to break up demonstrators in Kashmir. The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was placed under house arrest for two months to prevent him from addressing public gatherings. Liberation leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Masarat Alam Butt and Muhammad Saleem Nunnaji have been booked under the infamous draconian law, Public Safety Act to keep them away from the people. The troops have been setting new records of human rights violations by killing innocent people, arresting youth, disgracing and harassing women and setting residential houses afire with impunity.

The troops have killed over ninety-two thousand Kashmiris, widowed more than twenty five thousand women, orphaned more than one hundred thousand children and molested or gang-raped around ten thousand Kashmiri women during the past 20 years. The whereabouts of thousands of innocent Kashmiris, disappeared in the custody of troops, are yet to be made known while hundreds of unnamed graves have been discovered in the occupied territory, which are believed to be of disappeared Kashmiris. This whole mayhem is being carried out with the protection of draconian laws, by virtue of which any person can be killed or put behind the bars without any accountability.

The All Parties Hurriyet Conference sources made a shocking revelation recently that in line with a new scheme, Indian troops were killing innocent Kashmiri youth in fake encounters in the areas near the Line of Control after arresting them from different parts of the occupied territory. According to the APHC sources through these killings India wanted to mislead the international community by propagating that Kashmiri youth were trying to enter Indian occupied Kashmir after crossing over the Line of Control.

The Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Asia Watch and other international humanitarian organizations in their regular reports over the unabated rights abuses in the occupied territory have been raising their concern. Even the European Union Parliament during its session in Strasbourg on July 10, 2008 unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the Indian Government to urgently conduct an independent and impartial probe into the issue of discovery of mass graves in the territory. It also strongly condemned unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and other human rights abuses, which have been taking place at the hands of the occupation troops in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989.

It was yet another exposition of India's callousness that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on India's Independence Day, this year, tried to hoodwink the international community by stating that the elections in Kashmir had rendered the freedom element irrelevant. To protest this unrealistic statement Kashmiri people observed crippling strike on August 22. Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi while addressing a meeting of Kashmiri leaders on September 4, 2009 in Islamabad categorically emphasized that the elections in Indian occupied Kashmir could not be a substitute of Kashmiris' right to self-determination. He reaffirmed his country's moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmir liberation movement. The mammoth anti-India protest demonstrations, participated by millions of people in Indian occupied Kashmir, last year, should be taken as Kashmiris' referendum against the Indian illegal occupation of their soil.

These are the reasons that why Kashmiris observe October 27 as Black Day. The observance is intended to send a loud and clear message to the international community to take cognizance of the miseries of Kashmiri people, help stop human rights violations in the occupied territory and play its role in bringing about a solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris' aspirations. It is also aimed at calling upon India to read writing on the wall, accept the ground realities and come forward with a realistic approach to settle the dispute for the larger interest of the people of the region.

(The writer is working as Senior Editor at Kashmir Media Service, Islamabad, and can be reached at razamalik849@yahoo.com) 

PIL against shutdowns, curfews

Srinagar, Oct 27:  The Public Interest Litigation (PIL)  filed by two NGOs last week against frequent shutdowns and imposition of curfews in the Valley has been listed for hearing before a Division Bench of High Court on November 2, reports Rissing Kashmir (26/10/2010)

The  PIL before was filed  by Jammu and Kashmir Tameer-e-Muashra Executive member Muhammad Sidiq Malik and Akhil Bharatiya Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi Foundation state president Ghulam Qadir Kullay on October 18. The PILs have sought court’s directions to separatist leaders not to disrupt normal life in the Valley by calling for frequent strikes and shutdowns.

The PIL has also made the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police and the Additional DGP (Law and Order) as respondents  for imposing frequent curfews, which also disrupt normal life in Kashmir.

“ The PIL filed last week  has been listed  in the supplementary cause list before any  available Division Bench on next Tuesday (November 2),” sources in the High Court Registry told Rising Kashmir.

The litigants have sought court’s directions to prohibit Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq  and Masrat Alam from issuing protest calendars.

“Frequent strikes and curfews have badly hit tourism and business sectors in the Valley and has crippled the education sector as well”, the litigants have submitted in the PIL.

Providing statistics and figures in support of its claims, the PIL states that shutdowns and resultant clashes have resulted in loss of over 100 precious lives and injuries to more than 8,500 people including 4,000 security men.

It is pertinent to mention here that High Court had played a pivotal role in ending over three month long strike of government employees by observing that there is “no fundamental, legal or statutory right for the employees to go on strike”.

The observations of HC’s Division Bench on  April 13 this year came after two lawyers approached the Court with a PIL, seeking indulgence  of the court in the sufferings and hardships  faced by the  public  due to the  indefinite strike called by government employees.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) : Saffron is recommended for breast cancer

Saffron is recommended for breast cancer
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) contains chemical constituents that are responsible for its color, flavor and aroma. Saffron contains numerous phytoactive components, including crocetin, various crocins (such as picrocrocin), zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene and safranal (the main component of saffron's fragrant essential oil). Saffron components have been shown to have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties, as well as reducing blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

Saffron is recommended for breast cancer
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) contains chemical constituents that are responsible for its color, flavor and aroma. Saffron contains numerous phytoactive components, including crocetin, various crocins (such as picrocrocin), zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene and safranal (the main component of saffron's fragrant essential oil). Saffron components have been shown to have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties, as well as reducing blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

Breast cancer-related effects of eating saffron
Both saffron and crocin have been found to suppress DNA damage in a dose dependent manner in the livers, lungs, kidneys, and spleens of laboratory mice. Saffron has been shown to inhibit carcinogen-induced skin carcinoma in mice and to have cytotoxic action against human leukemia cell lines. Saffron also has been shown to cause cell death in HeLa and HepG2 liver cancer cells and TCC 5637 transitional cell carcinoma cells. Saffron extract and its constituent, crocin, have been shown to significantly inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells while not harming normal cells. Crocetin, a major carotenoid component of saffron, has been shown to have significant antiproliferative and proapoptic effects in pancreatic cancer cells in the laboratory and in laboratory mice. Saffron extract has been shown to have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Saffron has been found to greatly inhibit chemotherapy-induced cellular DNA damage. However, there is some evidence that saffron could be toxic at very high doses and we recommend consuming saffron as a spice and not taking saffron tablets.

Additional comments
Saffron is hand picked and hand processed, which is one reason for its high market price. Saffron is grown primarily in Iran, but it is also grown in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Kashmir and some parts of North Africa. Much of the Iranian production is redistributed through Spain. Saffron grown in these regions generally is grown without using pesticides. China is also beginning to produce saffron.

Meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale), also known as wild saffron, Autumn crocus, or colchicum, is an unrelated and poisonous plant that should not be confused with saffron and is to be avoided. It can cause thirst, pain, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, kidney failure, coma, and death from respiratory failure. Diluted fractions of meadow saffron are sometimes used in herbal remedies for gout and arthritis.

Saffron might interfere with Warfarin (coumadin) and other blood-thinning therapy since it has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation and thrombosis formation.

Selected breast cancer studies Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins, and Cancer Risk: A Network of Case-Control Studies From Italy Nutrition and Cancer, October 2010
The present meta-analysis was designed to investigate the associations between dietary intake of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins and risks of various types of cancer. The meta-analysis analyzed data from multiple Italian case-control studies including approximately 10,000 incident, histologically confirmed cases of selected cancers and more than 16,000 cancer-free controls. Multiple logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the highest compared to the lowest quintiles (fifths) of consumption of six classes of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Total intakes of flavonoids, flavanones, and flavonols were found to be inversely related to oral and laryngeal cancers (OR = 0.56 (oral cancer) and OR = 0.60 (laryngeal cancer) for total flavonoids; 0.51 (oral) and 0.60 (laryngeal) for flavanones; and 0.62 (oral) and 0.32 (laryngeal) for flavonols). Intake of flavanols was also found to be inversely related to laryngeal cancer (OR = 0.64), whereas intake of flavanones was inversely related to esophageal cancer (OR = 0.38). Reduced risk of colorectal cancer was associated with high intake of anthocyanidins (OR = 0.67), flavonols (OR = 0.64), flavones (OR = 0.78), and isoflavones (OR = 0.76). Inverse associations were also found between proanthocyanidins and colorectal cancer, especially for proanthocyanidins with a higher degree of polymerization (OR = 0.69 for ≥ 10 mers). No association between flavonoids and prostate cancer was found. A reduction in risk of breast cancer was found for high dietary intake of flavones (OR = 0.81) and flavonols (OR = 0.80). Common flavones include apigenin and luteolin (tricin is another flavone found primarily in brown rice). Common flavonols include quercetin, kaempferol and fisetin. Flavonols (OR = 0.63) and isoflavones (OR = 0.51) were found to be inversely associated with risk of ovarian cancer, whereas flavonols (OR = 0.69) and flavones (OR = 0.68) were inversely associated with renal cancer.

Circulating Carotenoids, Mammographic Density, and Subsequent Risk of Breast Cancer Cancer Research, November 2009
The present nested case-control study was designed to investigate whether the association between carotenoid consumption and risk of breast cancer is related to mammographic density. High breast density as measured by mammography has been reported to be a powerful indicator of increased breast cancer risk. The study included 604 breast cancer cases and 626 cancer-free controls in the Nurses' Health Study for whom circulating carotenoid (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin) levels had been measured and mammograms obtained prospectively. Using a computer-assisted method to determine mammographic density, circulating carotenoids were not found to be associated with mammographic density. However, mammographic density significantly influenced the association between total circulating carotenoids and risk of breast cancer (P heterogeneity = 0.008). Total circulating carotenoid levels were found to be inversely associated with overall breast cancer risk (P trend = 0.01). Among women in the highest third of mammographic density, total circulating carotenoids were associated with a 50% lower risk of breast cancer (odds ratio = 0.5; 95% confidence interval = 0.3 - 0.8). Similarly, among these women, high levels of circulating alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin were found to be associated with a significant 40% to 50% reduction in risk of breast cancer (P trend < 0.05). On the other hand, no such inverse association was observed between circulating carotenoids and breast cancer risk among study participants with low mammographic density. The authors conclude that plasma levels of carotenoids may play a role in reducing risk of breast cancer, especially among women with high breast density.

Crocetin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression in a xenograft mouse model Molecular Cancer

Therapeutics, March 2009
The present study was designed to determine whether crocetin, a unique carotenoid found in saffron, significantly affects pancreatic cancer growth. Crocetin was found to inhibit proliferation of MIA-PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells. Crocetin also was found to alter the cell cycle proteins Cdc-2, Cdc-25C, and Cyclin-B1 and epidermal growth factor receptor, inhibiting proliferation. In vivo studies also were performed. Pancreatic cancer cells were injected into the right hind legs of athymic nude mice and crocetin was given orally to the mice after the development of a palpable tumor. Significant regression in tumor growth (with inhibition of proliferation) was found in the crocetin-treated animals compared to the control animals. The authors conclude that crocetin stimulated significant apoptosis in both in vitro pancreatic cancer cells and in vivo mice tumors.

Study of cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of saffron extract in human cancer cell lines Food and Chemical Toxicology, November 2008
The present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of saffron extract in HepG2 and HeLa liver cancer cell lines. Malignant liver cancer cells and non-malignant cells were cultured and incubated with varying concentrations of an ethanolic saffron extract. Saffron was shown to decrease cell viability in malignant cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Saffron also induced a sub-G1 peak in the flow cytometry histogram of saffron-treated cells compared to the controls, indicating apoptotic cell death was involved. This toxicity was found to be independent of ROS production. The authors conclude that saffron can cause cell death in HeLa and HepG2 liver cancer cells, and that apoptosis or programmed cell death plays an important role in this process.

Crocin from Crocus Sativus Possesses Significant Anti-Proliferation Effects on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells Experimental Oncology, September 2007
The anti-proliferative effects of Crocus sativus and its major component, crocin, on three colorectal cancer cell lines was examined in this study. Crocus sativus' effect on normal cells was also evaluated. The purity of crocin in the extract used was found to be 95.9% and the crocin content was 22.9%. The extract was found to significantly inhibit the growth of all three colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, SW-480, and HT-29) in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). Proliferation was reduced most significantly in HCT-116 cells; to 45.5% at 1.0 mg/ml and to 6.8 % at 3.0 mg/ml. The Crocus sativus extract also had significant anti-proliferative effects in non-small cell lung cancer cells. However, the extract did not significantly affect the growth of non-cancerous young adult mouse colon cells. The authors concluded that Crocus sativus extract and its major constituent, crocin, significantly inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer cells while not affecting normal cells.

Inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation by style constituents of different Crocus species Anticancer Research, January 2007
Among the different species of Crocus, only the styles of Crocus Sativus L. have been studied extensively, since these constitute the well-known spice saffron. Saffron is widely used in Mediterranean, Indian and Chinese cuisine. In the present study, hydrophilic carotenoids in the styles of three other Crocuses endemic to Greece (C. boryi ssp. tournefortii, C. boryi ssp. boryi, and C. niveus) were discovered and reported on for the first time. Incubation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells for 48 hours with varying concentrations of extracts of all four styles was found to have a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. The antiproliferative effect did not appear to be estrogen related. Studies on the effect of trans-crocin-4 (the main carotenoid constituent of C. sativus styles, digentibiosylester of crocetin), crocetin and safranal showed that the antiproliferative effect was attributable to crocin irrespective of the degree of glycosylation.

Subacute Toxicity of Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) Stigma Ethanolic Extract in Rats American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2007
The present study was designed to evaluate the possible toxic effects of an extract of Crocus sativus L. stigma on liver, kidney and selected hematological parameters in rats. Establishing the safety of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is important since the medicinal properties attributed to it are extensive. Wistar rats were assigned to four groups of eight. The first group was designated the control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with an ethanolic extract of saffron in doses of 0.35, 0.70 and 1.05 g per kg, respectively, for two weeks. The body weights of the rats were measured on the first, seventh and final days of the study. Blood-related tests performed on the rats included total RBC count, total WBC count, Hb, %HCT, MCH, MCV and MCHC. Biochemical and serum profile tests included ALT, AST, urea, uric acid and creatinine. Tissue specimens of the rat livers and kidneys were also examined histologically. The extract was found to result in significant reductions in Hb and HCT levels and total RBC count, without a dose-dependent relationship. However, significant dose-dependent increases in total WBC count, ALT, AST, urea, uric acid and creatinine were found in extract-treated rats. Mild to severe liver and kidney tissue injuries were observe microscopically, supporting the biochemical analysis. The authors conclude that extract of Crocus sativus L. stigma is toxic in high doses.

Protective effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract against genetic damage induced by anti-tumor agents in mice Human & Experimental Toxicology, February 2006
The genotoxic potential of chemotherapy drugs limits their efficacy in the treatment of cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the chemoprotective potential of saffron against the toxicity of three well-known chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and mitomycin-C, using comet assay. Three doses of saffron (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg of body weight) were orally administered to mice for five days prior to dosing with the drugs under investigation. Pre-treatment with saffron was found to greatly inhibit chemotherapy drug-induced cellular DNA damage (i.e., strand breaks). The authors conclude that, together with previous study results, the findings suggest a potential role for saffron as an adjuvant in chemotherapeutic applications.
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IRAN to US: It’s No Pride to Possess 5,000 Bombs!

New York, 23 October: Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has again stole the limelight when he warned that passing tougher UN sanctions against Iran would shut off all chances for diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United States and would not prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear program. Speaking at a news conference in New York on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad added that it was “no pride” to the US to confess of possessing 5000 bombs.
 
“Experience has proven that sanctions cannot stop the Iranian nation,” Ahmadinejad told reporters at a hotel across from UN headquarters, where a month-long nuclear treaty conference was in its second day. “While we do not welcome sanctions, we do not fear them either,” he said. “It seems to us that the structure of the Security Council is undemocratic and unjust, and is unable to bring about security. ... This Security Council will completely lose its legitimacy.”
 
Ahmadinejad called the US disclosures Monday about its previously secretive nuclear arsenal “a positive step forward,” but one that still raises questions. “It's no pride to possess 5,000 bombs,” he said. “Now, how can you have the trust of a government that announces 5,000 bombs after 60 years?”
 
Ahmadinejad argued any new sanctions would mean that US President Barack Obama had given up on his campaign to engage Iran diplomatically.
 
“We feel that the US government will be damaged, more than us, by those sanctions,” he said. “It's very clear that if the United States starts another sanctions (regime) against Iran, it means that it's the end of Mr. Obama's effort. It means Mr. Obama's submission. It means no change will occur.”
 
Concerning a possible Israeli attack, Ahmadinejad said that Israel would pay a heavy price if it attacked Lebanon or Syria which he said are capable of bringing the Zionist entity “to its knees.”
 
“Israel can't do anything against Iran … However, as far as Palestine's Gaza, Lebanon and Syria are concerned, we will fully defend them and support them,” Ahmadinejad said. “Lebanon and Syria are already capable of confronting Israel to bring it to its knees,” he added.
 
The Iranian president reminded reporters that the Zionist regime was defeated by Hezbollah alone. “It is obvious that it would face the worst defeat if” it attacked Lebanon and Syria. He called Israel a militaristic state imposed on the Middle East by the West and said it would self-destruct if it launched any new wars in the region.
 
Arab countries sought also to turn attention to Israel on Tuesday as delegates from 189 countries debated how to stem the spread of nuclear weapons. On the second day of the month-long meeting at the United Nations, Arab countries reiterated calls for a nuclear-free Middle East with criticism of Israel's unacknowledged nuclear arsenal and failure to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
 
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh expressed frustration at the lack of progress on implementing a nuclear-free Middle East, a goal that was declared in a resolution of a previous meeting of NPT signatories. He said that Israel's failure to sign the NPT and allow international monitoring of its nuclear program "renders the NPT a source of instability in the Middle East."
 
Egypt has proposed that this 2010 NPT conference back a plan calling for the start of negotiations next year on such a Mideast zone. The proposal may become a major debating point in the month-long session.
 
However, the Israeli UN mission declined to comment on the specifics of the conference, but told The Associated Press that Israel's stance on nonproliferation continues to be that an accepted political solution for comprehensive peace in the Middle East should first be reached.
 
“WHERE IS BUSH TODAY AND WHERE ARE WE?”
 
In an interview with the Boston Globe on Tuesday Ahmadinejad urged Obama to avoid siding with more hawkish voices in the US against Iran. "He should be very careful not to get entrapped in the web laid by radicals around him," he said. "If he can't resolve the impasse with Iran, do you think he can resolve the problems with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine?" Ahmadinejad asked, adding that sanctions "will mean the end of his opportunity to improve world affairs."
 
“Mr. Bush used to pass resolutions against us. Where did it go? Where did it take him? Where are we today and where is he today? Iran is still advancing, and he is gone,” Ahmadinejad stated.
 
Ahmadinejad also told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that he and Barack Obama would have to refrain from "acting too hastily" if the two sides are to reach agreement on the impasse. "For example, the resolution presented to the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] against Iran in the presence of Mr Obama was a very negative, hasty action that had very negative repercussions in Iran," he said. He was referring to a November 2009 resolution adopted by the UN nuclear agency that criticized Iran for defying a UN Security Council ban on nuclear enrichment. The resolution also rebuked Tehran for secretly building a uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom. "The resolution was not based on any legal or lawful framework but surely a politicized act ... It reduced public confidence in the negotiation process in Iran."
 
The NPT is formally reviewed every five years at a meeting of treaty members — which include all the world's nations except India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, all of which either have confirmed or are believed to have nuclear weapons.

Norwegian parliament to start debate on Kashmir from Nov 15

Oslo, October 21:  The Norwegian Parliament, while taking notice of human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, has issued schedule to debate the Kashmir dispute from November 15.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister after replying the points to be raised by members of the Parliament would release a policy statement on Kashmir.

The Chairman of Parliamentary Kashmir Committee of Norway had submitted a motion in the Parliament about the massive violations of human rights in the disputed territory by Indian troops. He demanded of the Foreign Minister to issue a policy statement on the dispute after thorough debate on the Indian state terrorism in the territory.

The Kashmir Committee Chief mentioned in his motion that Kashmir solution was necessary for bringing peace in Afghanistan.

The speaker of the Norwegian Parliament while accepting the motion for debate in the parliament, released the schedule from November 15.(Writer-South Asia)

Kashmiris to observe Oct ober 27 as black day: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, October 21: In disputed state of Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the people of Kashmir will observe October 27 as black day as the Indian troops invaded Jammu and Kashmir on the day in 1947.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing a party meeting in Srinagar, said that Kashmiris would march towards the United Nations office on the day to draw the attention of the world body towards the gross human rights violations perpetrated by Indian troops in the territory. “The people will appeal the UN to impress upon India to give them their right to self-determination as promised in its resolutions,” he added.

He said that a memorandum would also be presented to the US Embassy in New Delhi during the forthcoming visit of the US President, Barack Obama. Mirwaiz asked the US to press India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through meaningful talks with Pakistan and the real Kashmiri leadership.

The APHC Chairman said the settlement of the longstanding dispute is vital to peace and stability in South Asian region.(Writer-South Asia)

RSS hooligans’ attempt to attack Gilani foiled

New Delhi, October 21: In New Delhi, the hooligans of extremist Hindu organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, made a failed attempt to attack veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, at a seminar on Kashmir, today, reports Kashmir Media Service.

According to reports, when the veteran leader reached the venue of the seminar, the RSS people rushed to assault him.

However, their plan failed when a group of enthusiastic Kashmiri youth encircled Syed Ali Gilani and shielded him from attack. The incident was followed by forceful anti-India and pro-liberation slogans, which reverberated the seminar hall continuously for half an hour.

The event was organised by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners and those who spoke on the occasion included Syed Ali Gilani, Arundhati Roy, Professor Abdur Rehman, Professor Sujatha Rao, Najeeb Bukhari, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, Varvara Rao and Dr N. Venu. The majority of speakers stressed the need for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute while denouncing the human rights violations by Indian troops in the occupied territory.

Our Agenda Settlement Of Kashmir Dispute: Panel

Srinagar, Oct 20:  New Delhi’s panel of interlocutors for Kashmir, which kickstarted its mission on Wednesday with a formal briefing by the union home minister, P Chidambaram, about its mandate, said its agenda was for a comprehensive and political settlement of the Kashmir "dispute", reports Kashmir Observer.

Emerging from the hour long meeting, eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar said, "The tight focus will be for seeking a political outcome so that we put this dispute well and truly behind us."

Padgaonkar was accompanied by two other panel members, noted academician Radha Kumar and former CIC member MM Ansari.

Padgaonkar said the home minister gave an extensive idea of the mandate for the group.

"The mandate, to put very simply, is that our group will hold the largest possible consultations with all sections of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir and the focus of this dialogue is to seek as large area of agreement as you can to get to arrive at a comprehensive, political settlement of the Kashmir dispute, PTI quoted him as saying.

"We are obviously aware of the history of many initiatives that have been taken but now we have been given a wide mandate.

No red lines have been drawn. We have not been told to do this or do that.

Padgaonkar said panel will soon call on the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), UPA chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) and the leader of the opposition (Sushma Swaraj) besides members of the All Party delegation that traveled to Kashmir recently.

With a year-long timeframe to hold its discussions and submit a report, the group’s composition was the subject of severe criticism because of its non-political nature.

Though the fourth member of the group is yet to be nominated, the interlocutors are gearing up to get down to business, scepticism and criticism notwithstanding.

Earlier talking to the press Padgaonkar had said that extreme caution was necessary for a “delicate” issue like Kashmir.

“Premature comments on our mission or personal criticism will not dishearten me or tell adversely on our mission,” Padgaonkar said.

“We will be prepared to talk on any issue, and will discuss anything that is brought to the table,” he said.

The group was learnt to be planning week-long visits to the valley every month for discussions with every possible section, with particular emphasis on engaging the youth and students of the valley.

Top separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq have already termed the nomination of the interlocutors as a futile exercise not matching their expectations of a major political initiative.

Though mainstream forces repose some hopes in the group, they are not entirely happy with its composition.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked the union home minister to nominate the fourth member keeping in view the expectations of Kashmiris to uphold the credibility of the group.

Farooq Rehmani condemns arrest of Hurriyet leader in Kashmir

Islamabad. October 19 : The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League (JKPFL), Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, has strongly condemned the arrest of Hurriyet leader, Masarrat Alam Butt by Indian police in disputed state of  Kashmir.

Muhammad Farooq Rehmani in a statement in Islamabad said that the policy of state terrorism indicated how serious India was to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

He urged the Indian government to immediately release all illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and respect civil liberties in the occupied territory. He appealed to the US President, Barack Obama to address the situation of Kashmir during his forthcoming visit to India in a serious and meaningful way and to help resolve the dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations, opening UN history pages to underline his country's sponsored resolutions and India's promises on this issue in 1948.

The JKPFL Chairman also denounced the killing of an innocent civilian in Handwara, demolishing of a mosque and killings in Barzalla area of Bandipore and Palhallan siege besides crackdown by Indian army and police to re-enforce terrorism against humanity in occupied Kashmir (Writer-South Asia)

Journalism Fellowship 2011 open for applications

Accomplished journalists from across the region are being invited to spend three months in Singapore under the Asia Journalism Fellowship  programme at Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of  Communication and Information.

The programme, supported by Temasek  Foundation and NTU, will run from 7 February through 29 April 2011. Up to 17 Asia-based journalists will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship.

Fellows will be given the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests away from the usual deadline pressures of their jobs. For their independent projects, the 2010 Fellows used their three-month sabbatical to investigate topics as diverse as the role of the media, free trade agreements, and Singapore’s transport policies.

The programme also includes seminars and workshops to sharpen professional skills and deepen participants’ understanding of latest trends and key issues facing journalism. For the 2011 round, a special seminar is being planned on the challenges of reporting on ethnic diversity and inter-religious issues.

Fellows will also be introduced to key newsmakers in Singapore’s public sector, business community and civil society, providing insights into what makes Singapore tick and its future challenges.

This is the third time the Fellowship is being organised. The 2009 and 2010 Fellows represented print, broadcast and online media, and came from 15 countries and territories.

Details of the programme, including instructions on how to apply, are available on the web at www.ajf.sg, or by contacting Ms Naowarat  Narula at app2011@ajf.sg. Applications are due by 4th October 2010.

Nonna Narula
Programme Manager
Asia Journalism Fellowship Programme
Wee Kim Wee School Of Communication and Information
31 Nanyang Link
Singapore 637718

Abdul Qayoom Ganai of Pampore

Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association has called for a two day Kashmir Bandh beginning tommorow. Accarding to a spokesman of the Bar, the call has been given to mark protest against the alleged custodial killing of top ex-militant commander Mr. Abdul Qayoom Ganai in Pampore. The International organisation viz Amnesty International and Asia Watach have been called upon to use their good offices to shop such killings in Kashmir.

As the body of the deceased reached his home town in Nambalbal, Pampore, thousands of people including women and children defying  restrictions staged massive pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Later, thousands participated in the Nimaz-e-Jinazah of  Abdul Qayoom Ganai and his body was laid to rest in the local graveyard early morning. (Writer-South Asia)

JKPL URGES UN, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Srinagar, Oct 16: The Chairman of  Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Leauge (JKPL) Sheikh Yaqoob on Thursday urged the International Court of Justice and United Nations War Crimes Tribunal to initiate a probe into the unmarked and mass graves in the disputed state of Kashmir.

Sheikh Yaqoob   said during the past over two decades nearly 10,000 Kashmiris went missing in the custody of various agencies. “Unmarked and mass graves have been found in various areas of the Valley. We believe that most of the Kashmiris who have been subjected to enforced disappearance are buried in these unmarked and mass graves. We make a fervent appeal to the International Court of Justice and United Nations War Crimes Tribunal to send their teams to the Valley and initiate a through probe into the unmarked graves for unmasking the perpetrators and putting an end to killing of innocent Kashmiris,” Sheikh Yaqoob said.

Citing example of extra-judicial executions, Sheikh Yaqoob said in 2006, five people mostly from south Kashmir’s Islamabad district were killed in a fake encounter in Ganderbal for rewards and promotions by the Special Operations Group of Police and Army.

 “The case is only tip-of an ice-berg. In past two decades, the troopers turned Kashmir into killings fields by executing Kashmiris and burying their bodies in unmarked graves to suppress the movement for right to self-determination,” Sheikh Yaqoob  said.

Pertinently, last year the International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, a rights watchdog in its report ‘Buried Evidence: Unknown, Unmarked, and Mass Graves” had claimed to have to found 2700 unmarked and mass graves containing bodies of 2943 people across, 55 villages in north Kashmir.

“The graves include bodies of extra-judicial, summary and arbitrary executions, as well as massacres by the Indian military and paramilitary forces. Of these graves 2373 (87.9 percent) were unnamed. 154 contained two bodies each and 23 contained more than two bodies. Within these 23 graves, the number of bodies ranged from 3 to 17,” the report had stated.

Sheikh Yaqoob  maintained that panacea for all the problems of Kashmiris’ is demilitarization. “Till the troopers leave the State, Kashmiris will continue suffer, fathers will have to face the painful moment of shouldering coffins of their sons and playfields will turn into graveyards.”

Accusing India of exploiting natural resources of Kashmiris, Sheikh Yaqoob  said the power generated from Kashmir is supplied to other states. “While Kashmiris are left in lurch. Our forests and mountains are also being vandalized by troopers. I want to maintain that Kashmiris will feel sense of security when the troopers vacate the State,” he said. (Writer-South Asia)

Indian Army Chief Visits HQ Northern Command

Jammu, October, 16:  The Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC accompanied by Mrs Bharti Singh, President Family Welfare Organisation (FWO) arrived at Udhampur after having visited Leh and Srinagar, on the second day of his three day visit to Northern Command. 

The COAS addressed all officers of the Udhampur and Nagrota garrisons and impressed upon them the strengths and core competencies of the Indian Army. He enjoined the officers to inculcate the deepest sense of professionalism  whilst working in the interest of the Nation. He stressed upon the rich traditions and the value system base and emphasised the importance to remain focussed on the job at hand and prepare for all contingencies.

He had a detailed interaction with Lt Gen BS Jaswal, PVSM, AVSM**, VSM GOC-in-C Northern Command and reviewed the security situation in the State.       A lunch was hosted in his honour at the impressive Officer’s Mess, Headquarters Northern Command which was attended by senior officers and their ladies.  He thereafter departed for Nagrota on the last leg of his visit.

Mrs Bharti Singh, President FWO, interacted with wives of all ranks in the forenoon and talked of the high traditions and the dedication of Army wives. (Writer-South Asia)

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Crackdown on Kashmir Face Book users

Srinagar, Oct 10: Continuing its crackdown on the facebook users in the Valley, police Sunday arrested a J&K Bank employee from south Kashmir’s Shopian district and slapped Public Safety Act on him. The PSA was also slapped on three more youths hailing from different parts of the township, reports Rissing Kashmir (10/10)

Reports said police has launched a special drive in south Kashmir to gain control over protesters and a list carrying names of dozens of youths, allegedly involved in stone-pelting, has also been prepared.

Police sources said, “After thorough investigations, it was found that a youth Mufti Wajid Yaqoob was influential in organizing protest demonstrations in Shopian through popular social networking site facebook. He was arrested and shifted to Kathua jail.”

Wajid, a resident of Baba Mohalla, Shopian, is working as a relationship executive in J&K Bank branch, Shopian, and with a degree in computer technology, is counted among the intelligent youths of the town.

The arrest and detention of Wajid under PSA has created a wave of anger among the people of Shopian.

Police has also arrested Farooq Ahmad Dar, son of Manzoor Ahmad Dar of Manloo Shopian; Sheeraz Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Majeed Mir of New Colony Shopian and Ayaar Ahmad, son of Abdul Gani of Pinjoora Shopian. All of them have been sent to Kathua jail after PSA was slapped on them. Locals said all the arrested youths fall around the age-group of 25.

Family members of Wajid said he was arrested outside the bank when he was returning from a nearby mosque after offering Friday prayers.

“At the time of  Wajid’s arrest, protests were going on in the town and police was chasing them away. Police arrested Wajid there only.” they said.

Meanwhile, a youth Adil Ahmad Dar of Gousia Colony, Azad Ganj, Baramulla was arrested by police when he was going for work.

Pertinently, the government had ordered the release of youths detained under PSA in its Unified Headquarters Meeting, held last month. However, arrests have continued both in Srinagar and rural areas of the Valley.

Over 100,000 mental patients in Kashmir: Says report

Srinagar, October 10 : In Kashmir, the number of mental patients in the wake of Indian state and private  terrorism has crossed the one hundred thousand figure, reports KMS (10/10).

This has been revealed in a report issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, today.

The report maintains that bombings, beatings, torture, unjustified arrest and detention, extra-judicial killings, and, Indian troops’ sense of impunity from prosecution, are among the violations recounted and such abuses have affected the local psyche adversely.

The KMS report says that enforced disappearance is one of the most harrowing consequences of the armed conflict in Kashmir and during the last 21 years more than 10,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance by the troops. Of the disappeared persons, between 2000-2005 a majority were married males. Although men have been subjected to disappearance largely, but women have been badly affected because of being related to them as daughters, mothers, sisters and wives.

Kashmir: 'It's a very dangerous situation for India'

Sinagar, 9 October: Ever since the flare-up in Kashmir worsened, veteran diplomat Howard B Schaffer, author of The Limits of Influence: America's Role in Kashmir, has been a much sought after expert in think tank circles in Washington, DC, reports rediff.com

In an interview with rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa, Schaffer says if Delhi continues to be in denial, and Islamabad is tempted to stoke the fires as it always has, the Kashmir situation could unravel fast.

What is your take on the flare-up in Kashmir? Is it the so-called 'intifada' of two decades ago all over again?

It's a very dangerous situation for India because I believe this is a very genuine expression of thorough dissatisfaction with Kashmir's connection to India, launched by young people who can remember only conflict in their lives -- when you consider that the conflict began just about 20 years ago with the outbreak of the insurgency and the people who are involved in it now cannot remember any kind of stable situation.

And, they are convinced from various points of view -- the economic, political and cultural -- that they have no future as part of India, that their economic futures look very dim. Obviously, they don't trust the Indian authority and they seem to have turned their backs on all of the political leadership, both in the pro-India parties, which are taking part in the political process, and on the Hurriyat group because the Hurriyat people, it seems to me, seem to be sidelined and they are in the situation of leaders who are hastening to catch up with their followers.

I hope that India will follow through with the political efforts that have now been undertaken following the visit of that all-party group to the state a week ago. But what's very important is this -- that the record would indicate that India announces efforts to reform and then these peter out when the situation in the valley calms down. I hope that won't happen now.

Twenty years ago, too, when the insurgency first began, it was an indigenous movement; but then it got contaminated?

Yes, then too, 20 years ago, it started as an indigenous movement. The Indian side admitted that it was an indigenous movement but the Pakistanis moved to take it over. And, their efforts to take it over were quite brutal because people to who they looked for support and whom they supported turned on -- at Pakistani direction -- those who favoured independence and not an amalgamation with Pakistan. Now, so far at least, no evidence, credible to me, has been brought to light that the Pakistanis are involved. But the ISI will be strongly tempted to fish in these troubled waters, just as they did 20 years ago.

What is the distinct difference between then and now? As you said, these are young guys who grew up -- as you say -- knowing nothing but conflict, suppression, repression, etc. But you still find the old guard like Syed Ali Shah Geelani making the tough provocative statements as if he calls the shots and is pulling the strings?

I don't believe so for all his talk, because as I said, I believe the Hurriyat leaders have not been at the centre of things. They've been completely sidelined, (but) they've been trying to get back into controlling position. You hear interviews with these young people and they are seemingly acting on their own. Now Geelani is trying; he declares boycott days, shutdown days, but I think the difference to me is that this seems to be a very spontaneous movement by people without solid political background.

Why is it so dangerous? Couldn't the argument be made that this is a bunch of kids who started pelting stones at the Indian troops who probably overreacted?

It's dangerous for the reason that the Pakistanis will again be tempted to intervene and -- coming at a time when India-Pakistan relations continue to be tense in the wake of the Mumbai attack -- that this could create the possibility of another confrontation.

You indicated that the Indian government seems to have made the right moves, with the all-party delegation giving pretty much an objective report to Delhi and there being some genuine efforts to address some of the grievances?

I believe the Indian response has been useful although it is very belated. After all, the troubles began on June 11 and it wasn't until mid-September that the Indians recognised that the situation was serious enough to lead them to take what was an unprecedented step of sending an all-party group to Kashmir. Obviously, they wanted to diffuse the responsibility and the blame among other political parties in India.

Now, some of the steps that have been taken are good ones, but it is much too early to make a judgement as to how far the Indians will be prepared to go to offer concessions that will be meaningful to the Kashmiris. They have once again talked about economic efforts, but these things have happened repeatedly in the past and the Indians will tell you quite rightly that India has invested a lot of money in Kashmir. But the trouble has always been that the money has gone into the wrong pockets.

As far as political changes go, we have to see what they are going to do about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. It's good that they are releasing a bunch of youngsters from jail, that they are going to try to be less combative in dealing with these stone-throwing incidents, that people who have not committed serious crimes will be let off.

These are all good things, but again, we've got to see where it all leads to. And, the problem remains that -- and polling confirms this and this is incredible -- after 63 years as part of India, Kashmiris remain alienated and want to be outside of India. They no longer are interested in joining Pakistan. I mean, who would be interested in joining Pakistan?

But it is amazing that so much time has passed and so many Indian efforts have been announced but this sense of alienation continues all the way through society among Muslims in the valley.

UN records database J&K, AP as separate countries

New Delhi, Oct 9: While India continues relentlessly to assert that Jammu Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are both integral part of the country, United Nations does not seem to agree.

A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has named Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal as completely separate countries in the list of East Asian countries.

The names of the disputed states figure in Annexure 5 of the 2010 FAO report on assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector.

Besides this, Arunachal Pradesh has been spelt as ‘Arunashal’ Pradesh.

Another disputed region that has been treated as a separate country by FAO is Aksai Chin, which China holds as its integral part.

As per reports, FAO has defended its treatment of these states citing that the disputed areas were deliberately being treated as independent entities. Agencies

We invite Omar Abdullah to join Pro-freedom Camp: Hilal War

By: Khailal-ul-Rehman

Srinagar, Oct 8:  The Chairman of People’s Political Party (PPP), Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, has appreciated Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah’s statement and his acknowledgment that Kashmir is an International Issue which has its roots as deep as 63 long years in the contemporary history, has vindicated not only our stand but also the stand of J & K Plebiscite Front wherein his grand father had categorically raised an official slogan that ‘ People are masters of their own fate’ .

PPP Chief said “Omar Abdullah’s statement is not only the victory of   the pro-freedom parties stand but also the temporary victory of   Omar Abdullah’s ‘conscience’. If his conscience has really woken up he must quit his service from Indian Government and resign from  Chief Ministership in order to complete the unfinished agenda of his grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and join pro-freedom camp and plead the case and cause of right of self-determination of people of entire pre-august 1947 J & K State, said Mr.War. We invite Omar Abdullah to join pro-freedom camp and fight for freedom of Kashmir. If he (Omar) accepts our invitation, we will appoint him as an ambassador and Chief of Foreign Affairs to plead Kashmir case at International level, said War.


PPP Chief, said that Signing of so-called document of Accession is a controversial issue and a debatable question, there are legal provisions and by virtue of Indian Independence Act, passed by British Indian Govt. on July 15, 1947 the Maharaja Hari Sigh was ceased to be a ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, he had no authority to Sign any document according to aforesaid Act and the relevant provisions International Law. The second argument is that no document of Accession Signed by Maharaja Hari Singh, there was only Bhutan Type Treaty signed by him renewable after every 10 years. According to Indian argument and the fake document of Accession was signed but subject to the ratification by masses directly through referendum.

Elaborating, Hilal War  said that at the time of signing of the “so-called” instrument of accession, the then Indian rulers had subjected it to the condition  of  ratification through referendum directly my the masses of entire  Pre-August 1947 J & K State which India has not done so far, therefore, so-called accession is invalid and a dead document. In 1948 Government of India pledges before the United Nations, Security Council to hold a plebiscite  in order to ascertain the WILL of the people of Jammu and Kashmir whether they want to stay with India or Pakistan. It is ironic that India has not fulfilled its promises till date and has not conceded the just demand of right of self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. (Writer-South Asia)

JK Peoples Leauge urges IHK people to continue liberation struggle

Srinagar, October 07:  Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL) has urged the people of Kashmir to continue peaceful struggle for securing right to self determination.

The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, Sheikh Yaqoob Aziz, while addressing a party meeting, paid glowing tributes to the martyrs and reiterated the pledge to take their mission to its logical end.

He said that the people of the occupied territory had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for Kashmir liberation and their sacrifices would not be allowed to go waste. He also urged India to give up its unrealistic and rigid stance on Kashmir and take positive steps for settlement of the dispute so that complete peace could be established in the region. (Writer-South Asia)

Pervez Musharraf admits Pakistan role in Jammu and Kashmir Jehad

Johan Simith
Srinagar- Oct 6: Former Pakistan  Pervez Musharraf has admitted that his country had trained underground Kashmiri freedom fighter groups to fight Indian rule in Kashmir.

"They (underground militant groups to fight against India in disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir) were indeed formed," Musharraf told German magazine Der Spiegel in an interview.

Asked why did Pakistan train militant underground groups to fight India in Kashmir, the former President said Nawaz Sharif’s apathy to the Kashmir issue was one of the reasons, so was the fact that the world had turned a blind eye to the dispute.

"Yes, it is the right of any country to promote its own interests... When India is not prepared to discuss Kashmir at the United Nations and is not prepared to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner," Musharraf claimed adding, “Nawaz Sharif Government turned a blind eye because they wanted India to discuss Kashmir”.

The former Pakistan president indicated he had no regrets for the Kargil intrusion that led to an armed conflict with India in 1999 and argued that each country had a right to promote its national interest.

He slammed the international community, particularly the West, for persistently ignoring the Kashmir issue, and for singling out Pakistan for all blames.

"The West was ignoring the resolution of the Kashmir issue, which is the core issue of Pakistan. We expected the West—especially the United States and important countries like Germany—to resolve the Kashmir issue. Has Germany done that?" the former Pakistan military ruler asked.

"The West blames Pakistan for everything. Nobody asks the Indian prime minister, why did you arm your country with a nuclear weapon? Why are you killing innocent civilians in Kashmir? Nobody was bothered that Pakistan got split in 1971 because of India’s military backing for Bangladesh. The United States and Germany gave statements, but they didn’t mean anything," he said.

Musharraf charged the international community of courting India for strategic deals, while treating Pakistan as a rogue state.

"Everybody is interested in strategic deals with India, but Pakistan is always seen as the rogue," Musharraf said.

The former Pakistan ruler also said the worst blunder of the US would be to quit in Afghanistan without winning. "Then militancy will prevail not only in Pakistan, India and Kashmir, but perhaps also in Europe, the United Kingdom and in the United States. That’s my belief," he said.

Will Kashmir lead to war with China ?

Bangalore, October 5: Will the current explosion in Kashmir ultimately lead India to another war with China? Reports say ruling “Jews of India” have been asked by the Jews to widen the conflagration so that China, which is already in the “Pak-occupied Kashmir”, is provoked to intervene through Pakistan. India may then seek US support, reports  Dalit Voice  (5/9)

The staple food of the Jews and “Jews of India” has been war and violence to establish world domination. Having been defeated in their experiment in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are now trying to shift the scene to Asia and confront China with the help of the “Jews of India”.

Our sources say if there is such a direct confrontation between US and China it will lead to World War-III with Russia, Iran and the entire Muslim world. Dangerous days are ahead.

Nato regrets Pak troop deaths, urges route re-opening

ISLAMABAD/BRUSSELS: Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed regret on Monday for the deaths of Pakistani soldiers last week and said he hoped Pakistan’s border would reopen for NATO supplies to Afghanistan as soon as possible, reports Jumg (5/9./2010)

Angered by repeated attacks by Nato helicopters on militant targets within its borders, Pakistan blocked one of the supply routes for Nato troops in Afghanistan after a strike killed three Pakistani soldiers in the western Kurram region.

Analysts and Western officials said Pakistan’s closure of the border for a few days would not seriously impact the war effort in Afghanistan, but it would create political tension that Pakistan could exploit.

“I expressed my regret for the incident last week in which Pakistani soldiers lost their lives,” Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after meeting Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Brussels. “I expressed my hope the border will be open for supplies as soon as possible.”

The apology came after gunmen attacked a convoy of trucks taking goods to Western forces in Afghanistan on the outskirts of Islamabad, killing three guards. The foreign minister while apprising the Nato secretary general of the gravity of public anger over Nato incursions said that Pakistan would only reopen the supply route for coalition troops in Afghanistan once public anger eases and security improves. “Unless the reaction cools down and we make sure that the supply line is secured, we cannot reopen it,” the foreign minister added. He further said the UN mandate for Isaf is confined to Afghanistan and Nato/Isaf forces are again advised to refrain from any actions that constitute a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Qureshi did not hold a press conference after the meeting. Hours later, suspected militants attacked trawlers carrying supplies for Nato through Balochistan, killing one man, police said.

Pakistan has officially said the border has been closed for security reasons and the Taliban threat of more attacks will likely prolong the closure of the vital supply route — now in its fifth day — and further strain ties with ally Washington, which has long demanded Pakistan crackdown on militants. “Efforts are underway to resolve this issue, but there is a lot of anger in Pakistan about the border incursion,” a senior Pakistani government official told Reuters.

ISAF spokesman Major Joel Harper told Reuters in Kabul that the border closure wouldn’t impact the mission, but that the supply lines are “an important element of the Pakistani economy. It’s important to our logistics stocks”. The closures would force more supplies through NATO’s northern supply route through Russia and the central Asian republics, he said. “Nato authorities have all along anticipated disruptions in the supply chain and have been stockpiling supplies in advance,” said Kamran Bokhari, South Asia director at STRATFOR global intelligence.

Andrew Exum, a fellow with the Center for a New American Security and former adviser on Gen Stanley McChrystal’ assessment team in Afghanistan, said the closures mattered little tactically.

“Even though it’s painful it doesn’t cripple the mission,” he said. “The larger strategic issue is that we’re seeing a period of rising public tension between the United States and Pakistan.”

“It’s clear the Pakistanis are frustrated with the United States,” he continued. “It’s clear the Pakistanis are frustrated with the drone strikes in Pakistan. What I don’t think the Pakistanis understand is how frustrated the Americans and the American public are with the Pakistanis.”

Rasmussen said the killing of the three Pakistani soldiers was unintended and showed the need to improve coordination between the NATO and the Pakistani military. He said a joint investigation was under way. “It is important we step up our cooperation,” he said. —Agencies

Mariana Baabar adds: Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), when contacted, said it cannot confirm the identity of two planes that hovered inside Pakistani airspace at the time when Nato helicopters were striking a Pakistani checkpost. A private television channel showed the footage of the incident in which for the first time the presence of these two planes came to light.

Faisal Shahzad sentenced for life

MANHATTAN: Sheikh Faisal Shazad has been sentenced for life by a court in Manhattan, Geo News reported Tuesday. There were ten separate charges pressed against him, which included weapons trade and terrorism.

After he was found guilty, he was sentenced for life. He did not repent any bit of his actions. He had been arrested on the 3rd of May. (Writer-South Asia)

US should impress upon India, Pak to resolve Kashmir: Yaseen Malik

Srinagar, Oct 3: Ahead of the United States President, Barrack Obama’s scheduled visit to India next month, two officials from the American Embassy in New Delhi on Sunday met the front The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, here to know his views and assess the situation in the disputed state of Kashmir.

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Mr. Yaseen Malik maintained that as a strategic alliance of India and Pakistan, the United States could impress upon both the countries to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute. 

The officials, Kailash Jha and Pushpinder Dhillon met Malik for nearly an hour and discussed several issues including the situation in Valley. “The Valley has been turned into a jail from the last four months. The people are reeling under continuous curfew since Eid. 110 civilians mostly teenagers have been killed by the troopers and cops. Hundreds of youth have been arrested and are languishing in jails. There is no accountability and rule of law and the men in uniform have been given license to kill,” Malik told the visiting officials.

Yaseen Malik said the Kashmir dispute had consumed four generations. “Kashmiris were forced to take guns in 1989 when government of India used its military might to crush their non-violent movement for the right to self-determination. The US had played an imperative role in motivating the Kashmiris to shun the gun and start a peaceful process for the resolution of Kashmir. But India is leaving no stone unturned to suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris,” Yaseen Malik said.

Yaseen Malik maintained that the ongoing movement was being led by Kashmiri youth. “India has even snatched a space for them to register their protests peacefully. If the suppressive policies continue, Kashmiri youth will be forced to take the violent path again to achieve their goal. It is high time to acknowledge and respect the aspirations and sacrifices of Kashmiris and resolve the dispute in accordance with their wishes,” he said.

Malik told the officials that by virtue of being in strategic alliance of India and Pakistan, the US act could be a catalyst to resolve the dispute.

“The US can use its rapport and friendly relations with Islamabad and New Delhi and impress upon them to resolve the dispute permanently for restoring peace in Valley and south Asia,” he said.

The diplomats however refused to talk to the media. Malik also reserved his comments on whether the diplomats met him in the backdrop of Obama’s visit to India.

Pertinently Obama has been stressing upon New Delhi to settle the Kashmir dispute if it wanted a ticket in the UN Security Council membership. “Go for a Kashmir solution and help bring stability to the region for a ticket to UN Security Council membership and fulfilling your big power aspirations.” Obama according to reports has conveyed to New Delhi.

Swiss Bank has agreed to disclose the funds

By: Maruti Kusalkar

Mumbai, October 3: Latest Update

1) Yes, 70 lakhs crores rupees of India are lying in Switzerland banks. This is the highest amount lying outside any country, from amongst 180 countries of the world, as if India is the champion of Black Money.

2) Swiss Government has officially written to Indian Government that they are willing to inform the details of holders of 70 lakh crore rupees in their Banks, if Indian Government officially asks them.

3) On 22-5-08, this news has already been published in The Times of India and other Newspapers based on Swiss Government's official letter to Indian Government.

4) But the Indian Government has not sent any official enquiry to Switzerland for details of money which has been sent outside India between 1947 to 2008.. The opposition party is also equally not interested in doing so because most of the amount is owned by politicians and it is every Indian's money.

5) This money belongs to our country. From these funds we can repay 13 times of our country's foreign debt. The interest alone can take care of the Center s yearly budget. People need not pay any taxes and we can pay Rs. 1 lakh to each of 45 crore poor families.

6) Let us imagine, if Swiss Bank is holding Rs. 70 lakh Crores, then how much money is lying in other 69 Banks? How much they have deprived the Indian people? Just think, if the Account holder dies, the bank becomes the owner of the funds in his account.

7) Are these people totally ignorant about the philosophy of Karma? What will this ill-gotten wealth do to them and their families when they own/use such money, generated out of corruption and exploitation?

8) Indian people have read and have known about these facts. But the helpless people have neither time nor inclination to do anything in the matter. This is like "a new freedom struggle" and we will have to fight this.

9) This money is the result of our sweat and blood.. The wealth generated and earned after putting in lots of mental and physical efforts by Indian people must be brought back to our country.