Pakistanis still consider India as a major threat than Taliban, AL-Qaeda

By: Johan Simith

 Islamabad, 30 Jully: Though terror groups continue to strike in their country, a majority of Pakistanis still consider India as a major threat, view America as an enemy and are far less concerned about the Taliban and the Al Qaeda.

While Pakistanis express serious concerns about the United States, they are more worried about neighbour and longtime rival India than extremist groups within Pakistan, according to the prestigious Pew Research Centre opinion poll carried out inside Pakistan.

"When asked which is the greatest threat to their country -- India, the Taliban or Al Qaeda -- slightly more than half of Pakistanis (53 per cent) choose India, compared with 23 per cent for the Taliban and just 3 per cent for the Al Qaeda," it said.

However, despite the deep-seated tensions between India and Pakistan, most Pakistanis want better ties with India.

Roughly 72 per cent said it is important for relations with India to improve and about 75 per cent support increased trade with India and further talks between the two rivals.

In spite of pumping in billions of dollars in economic and military aid, the United States' image in Pakistan was at its lowest ever among the 22 nations included in the poll. Fifty-nine per cent of the respondents described America as an enemy and only eight per cent trusted President Barack Obama.

Pakistanis perceived little threat from the Taliban and the Al Qaeda and only 25 per cent of the people said it would be bad for Islamabad if Taliban takes over Afghanistan again.

While 18 per cent said it would be good for Pakistan, 57 per cent were not concerned.

State Department spokesman P J Crowley conceded that there is a huge trust deficit between the US and Pakistan.

"We understand that there's a deficit in trust in our relationship. There are those in Pakistan who recall and sense that they were abandoned by the US and the international community, going back 20 years or more," he said.

Crowley said the US has worked hard in recent months to try to turn this relationship around.

"I think we recognise that this was not going to occur overnight. We have tried to communicate forcefully to not only the government, but also to the people directly, that the US is committed to the future of Pakistan," he said.

"We are, in fact, a partner. I think we're not surprised that people want to see fruits of this partnership; that's exactly what we're trying to do. It goes back to what the (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) announced in Islamabad last week -- concrete projects that -- on energy, on health, on education -- that will create tangible results so the people of Pakistan can see it. And when they see it, then we would expect to see those poll numbers prospectively improve," he said. (Writer-South Asia)

The Killing of Shiekh Abdul Aziz and First Kashmir-Wide Curfew in 19 Years

Saheed-e-Azemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz and relatives of missing and imprisoned people participate in a protest against Human Rights violations in Srinagar, summer capital of  Kashmir . The people fear that their missing relatives might have been killed and buried in hundreds of recently discovered unmarked graves in Northern Kashmir. Amnesty International too has urged India to launch an urgent inquiry into nearly 1,000 unmarked graves found during the past two years by Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies. / Javed Dar

Srinagar, Jully 29: The Killing of Shiekh Abdul Aziz and First Kashmir-Wide Curfew in 19 Years

On August 11, 2008, about 300,000 people from across  Kashmir, along with trucks loaded with fruit, began marching toward several points on the 778-kilometer Line of Control to cross over into the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in their bid to reach Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Indian security forces opened fire at the marchers at several places to break up their protests, killing 10, including senior Pro-pakistani Kashmiri leader (commonly known as Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir) Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was also a prominent member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was also a member of the co-ordination committee of ethnic and religious nationalities struggling for right to self-determination under the chairmanship of Justice Ajit Singh Bains formed in Delhi on March 23, 2008.  “Sheikh Aziz was a friend of Sikhs and supporter of Sikh cause for independence,” Over 1,000 people were arrested, and hundreds of wounded were hospitalized at different hospitals across the Kashmir valley. As the protests continued, over 3000 truckloads of fruit were destroyed, allegedly by Indian security forces.

Protests calling for freedom from India continued through August and September in different parts of  Kashmir, with dozens killed and hundreds injured. However, a government-brokered agreement with the Hindu protesters of the Jammu region was reached, under which the land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which had been cancelled due to protests by Kashmiri Muslims, was revived in a different form.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, with the understanding of some Muslim and Hindu leaders, leased the land to the SASB for the limited pilgrimage season, giving them no proprietary or title rights. The Hindu leaders called off their stir after signing the lease agreement. The agreement said: "The Shrine Board  may use the land for erecting temporary prefabricated accommodation and toilet facilities and for shopkeepers to set up shops."  This second reversal by the government in its decision to allocate the land to the Hindu shrine has been rejected by the Kashmiri leaders, fuelling a continuation of anti-India protests. The demonstrations are the biggest since 11th august, 2008 when violent anti-India protests killed about 72 Kashmiri  muslims. (Writer-South Asia)

UN expresses concern over situation in Kashmi

UNITED NATIONS, July 29: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the “prevailing security situation in Indian-administered Kashmir over the past month” and asked India and Pakistan to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, his spokes-person said the secretary- general “calls on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully” and he “encouraged both sides to rekindle the spirit of composite dialogue which was initiated in 2004”.

The statement said: “The Secretary-General welcomes the recent resumption of foreign minister-level talks between India and Pakistan.

“He encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had made encouraging progress on some important confidence-building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir.

Ruling out one again withdrawal of its observer mission in India, Pakistan, United Nation’s Secretary General  said the two countries should continue the composite dialogue process to maintain peace in the subcontinent. "India and Pakistan are two important countries in the subcontinent and they should continue to improve their relations through dialogue and cooperation," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters here. (Writer-South Asia)

Human rights excesses in disputed Kashmir highlighted in London

London, July 28: Dr Angana Chatterji, co-convenor of the International Peoples Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Jammu and Kashmir narrated human rights excesses in Occupied Kashmir and called for improving the monitoring of humanitarian situation in the valley.

Dr Angana Chatterji, while addressing a composite gathering at Kashmir Centre London, said that the disturbing concept of zero tolerance for non-violent dissent evolved round fear, surveillance of the ordinary Kashmiri irrespective of age or gender, discipline and punishment. 

This has proved to be a sustained and widespread offensive with mass and extra judicial killings in Kashmir by the military and paramilitary institutions as brought out in evidence in the report ‘Buried Evidence’ by the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian administered Kashmir, she added.

Dr Chatterji reported that the disproportionate number of special forces in the occupied territory gave the impression that the armed forces were more powerful than the occupation authorities and that the reality in Kashmir was one of militarised controls and that Kashmir was not a dispute but a conflict zone.

She stressed the importance of cultivating alliances with credible institutions and organisations, adding these needed to be formed and developed as there was at present no monitoring was going on in Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, no sustained visibility.

Dr Chatterji emphasised that there needed to be a sustained outcry from the international media and that the international community needed to play a proactive role in establishing alliances with organisations, which were seen to be acceptable.

Representatives from Amnesty International, the Economist, Conciliation Resources, Asian Affairs and community activists also spoke on the occasion.

At the end, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre London, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl presented his book ‘Speaking Silence’ to her.(Writer-South Asia)

Indian troops seize relief material, detain, release 60 persons

Srinagar, July 28: In disputed state of Kashmir, police seized huge quantity of relief material raised by the people of Shopian for the residents of Srinagar, who were under curfew and restrictions for last one month, near Sonawar and detained nearly 60 youth.

Policemen seized 40 relief-laden vehicles and detained people in Sonawar and Pantha Chowk areas on Tuesday. The vehicles were carrying rice, vegetables, cooking oil and other essential commodities from Shopian area to Maisuma. “We had pooled essential commodities and dispatched to Srinagar where people are facing shortage of essentials stuff due to curfew and restrictions. But it is unfortunate that police didn’t allow us to distribute the relief among the needy,” said an elderly man from Shopian who was accompanying the relief-laden trucks. “The vehicles were carrying items worth Rs 10 to 12 lakh,” he added.

As soon as the caravan of vehicles entered the city near Pantha Chowk, police raided the vehicles at several places up to Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station.

“We were travelling smoothly,” said Shabir Ahmad Butt, a relief worker of Shopian town. “As we reached near Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station, police stopped us and forced us to enter police station along with vehicles.”

President of Majlis-e-Mashwarat Committee, Shopian, Abdur Rashid Dalal said 40 Tata mobile vehicles were carrying relief. “Twenty-eight vehicles carrying aid were from Shopian town while the rest joined the cavalcade from peripheral villages while travelling toward the city,” said Dalal, who is detained at Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station.

“The relief was organised and transported by people of Shopian. The MMC had no role in the relief sending,” Dalal said. However, after forceful protests in Shopian and Pulwama and the tense mood in Maisuma, police was frced to release the vehicles and all aid workers in shifts after keeping them in police stations for several hours. (Writer-South Asia)

Writer-South Asia (News every one hour): Saw-palmetto berries (serenoa repens) Seeds for Sale in Kashmir & India

Writer-South Asia (News every one hour): Saw-palmetto berries (serenoa repens) Seeds for Sale in Kashmir & India

Saw-palmetto berries (serenoa repens) Seeds for Sale in Kashmir & India

Srinagar, July 27: Saw palmetto is a small hardy fan palm whose stem usually remains below ground or runs just along the surface. In some cases, it develops an erect or arching trunk that may lift the whorl of leaves 2'-8' above ground. The palmate leaves are 2'-3' across and green or bluish green. The cluster of leaves gets about 4'-6' high with a similar spread. In the wild, saw palmetto often grows in clumps 20 or more feet in diameter. The petioles (leaf stems) are about 2' long and sharply saw-toothed. The fruits are round, black and about an inch in diameter. An especially attractive form with silvery-white leaves occurs along the Atlantic coast in Florida.

Saw palmetto occurs naturally on the coastal plain from South Carolina to southeastern Louisiana. It grows in a wide range of habitats from seaside sand dunes and dry scrub to moist forests, pine flatwoods and even wetlands. Saw palmetto can be the dominant ground cover in certain southeastern pine forests, sometimes covering hundreds of acres. Culture: Once established, saw palmetto is virtually maintenance-free.

Light: Prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial sun.
Moisture: Tolerates drought but can also tolerate moderately moist soils.
Hardiness: Fully hardy to zone 7, this palm has been seen growing in zone 6, but does suffer foliage damage at 10 degrees F. and complete foliage loss at 3-5 degrees F.

Saw palmetto is a beautiful little palm and richly deserves a place in the ornamental landscape. The silver form is especially attractive. Plant saw palmettos in front of clumps of larger palms, or even underneath large palms. They look good massed in clumps in mixed borders, or as framing hedges. Use as accents to trees or in foundation plantings.

Features: The berries of saw palmetto are used as a treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or enlarged prostate gland. They are also used as a diuretic to tone the bladder, improve urinary flow, and decrease urinary frequency. They may help prevent prostate cancer.

Most herbal hair loss remedies contain Saw Palmetto berries. They are said to be an effective treatment for baldness, as well as relieving the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Saw Palmetto berries/seeds
Package of  50 seeds: 750/-
Other Packages: 100,250,500 Seeds
More details: Chenab Industries Kashmir- CIK
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR J&K 190001
Mob: 09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com,cikashmir@gmail.com

Writer-South Asia (News every one hour): Shaheed-e-Azemat Sheikg Abdul Aziz vedio aired by KBC

Writer-South Asia (News every one hour): Shaheed-e-Azemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz vedio aired by KBC

Shaheed-e-Azemat Sheikg Abdul Aziz vedio aired by KBC

Srinagar: The core viewers or the niche market of KBC is estimated to over 30 million people of which nearly 5 millions are settled in UK, Europe and Middle East with higher buying power due to long and sustained migration tradition.

Potentially the whole of Asia, Africa, Middle East, UK and Europe is our market. However, its target audience and niche market include the entire population of Jammu Kashmir along with Pahari, Pothowari and Hindko speaking Pakistanis and Indians in South Asia and across the world. But the transmissions of KBC are not to be confined to these communities. It will also cater for the wider English speaking audience across the globe and Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi speaking population of South Asia.

KBC tends to broadcast in all major languages spoken in the state of Jammu Kashmir and in South Asia in general. While the languages spoken across Kashmir include Kashiri, Pahari, Doagari, Gojari, Kishtwari, Ladakhi, Sheena, Broshiski, and Punjabi, Kashmir was the first state in South Asia where Urdu was adopted as official language in 1905.

Since 1947 Hindi has also been emerged as one of the state languages as well as English that has become state language at the government level as well as at public level due to large scale migration to UK and USA and strong linkages between Kashmiri diaspora with Kashmir.

The closeness and similarities between Pahari and Pothowari and Hindku languages and communities make programmes in these languages an essential component of KBC programming and news coverage.

The core languages of KBC programming include English, Pahari, Pothowari, Hindku, Kashiri, Dogari, Punjabi and Urdu. However, there will be programmes in other languages of Kashmir and South Asia in general.

more deatils and latest vedios:  

http://kbcchannel.tv/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=125&video_id=94

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Nothing less than freedom from India acceptable to Kashmiris: Muhammad Farooq Rehmani

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Nothing less than freedom from India acceptable to Kashmiris: Muhammad Farooq Rehmani

Nothing less than freedom from India acceptable to Kashmiris: Muhammad Farooq Rehmani

Islamabad, July 25: The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League (JKPFL), Muhammad Farooq Rehmani has said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are determined to continue their struggle against Indian occupation till its logical conclusion.

Muhammad Farooq Rehmani in a statement in Islamabad said that the ongoing upsurge against the over stay of Indian troops and paramilitary forces, draconian laws and installation of stooges by fraud elections, was being handled by the 21st century youth, who had the stamina to continue the unarmed fight for the right of self determination, as they had burnt their boats and exhausted their patience before the monster of state terrorism.

He said that every other thing except the current experiment had become irrelevant in this situation. He hoped that the pro-India lobby in any garb would not be allowed to rule the roost. “Experience and wisdom coupled with the circumstances will dictate terms of the uprising,” he added.

Muhammad Farooq Rehmani out-rightly rejected the internal autonomy proposal of both senior and junior Abdullah and termed it obsolete. He regretted the cold shoulder attitude of the world community and said that only Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and some other western human rights groups seriously censored India for its unabated oppression and abuses in occupied Kashmir, while no country could voice their resentment against the inhuman situation created by the Indian authorities in the territory.

The JKPFL Chairman criticized America for its ''Hands off policy'' on Kashmir, warning that this policy would not bring peace and prosperity to South Asia. He deplored that the America, which had sponsored and endorsed the Security Council resolutions on Kashmir in the last century, now was giving an old international dispute a bilateral curl.

''The Kashmiris will never barter away their slogan nor withdraw on Indian terms. They will not accept bilateral bend or interpretation of the dispute or political and economic packages not reflecting the sentiments of the people, but will continue to stress upon the world leaders including America to fulfil their promises with the Kashmiris according to the Security Council’s resolutions, as they did in other cases of international character and dimension,'' he remarked.(Writer-South Asia)

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Indo-Israeli intransigence (Indian forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz)

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Indo-Israeli intransigence (Indian forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz)

Indo-Israeli intransigence (Indian forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz)

Waseem Sajad (JKPL)

Son of Kashmir, Father of Jehad-e-Kashmir, Jail Bird, Shaheed-e-Azemat

Srinagar: Like Palestinian 'Intifada', the current phase of Kashmiri uprising began on August 12, 2008 when Indian forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was protesting against the government decision to give land to the trust that runs Amarnath, a shrine of Hindus. While extremist Hindus favoured the decision, but due to its revocation, started protests and economic blockade of the Muslims, emulating the Israeli siege of Gaza which had resulted in starvation of many a Palestinians. However, under the new puppet regime in the occupied Kashmir, Indian brutalities are equal to those of Israel. In this regard, daily humiliations of the Kashmiris and Palestinians are a consistent feature of the Indo-Israeli intransigence.

While in his special address to the Muslim World on June 4 this year, Obama had called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" by stating that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights to many Muslims...without regard to their aspirations." Emphasising the two-nation solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Obama had vocally said: "It is time for Jewish settlements to stop."

Critics opined that Obama did not mention the Kashmir dispute at all. Nevertheless, during his election campaign, while realising the suppression of Kashmiri's struggle for independence as the root cause of terrorism in South Asia, he repeatedly remarked that America should help in resolving this old dispute. Quite contrarily, Holbrooke, special envoy of the US administration on Afghanistan and Pakistan had clarified on January 28 that he had no mandate to deal with Kashmir.

No doubt, Obama wants to improve the American image in the Muslim world by settling the issues of Kashmir and Palestine, but he seems helpless before the strong Indo-Israeli lobbies which play a key role in the foreign policy of the US. Obama is forced to implement the brutal policies of his predecessor, who had endangered the world including US interest by occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, due to these lobbies. He had encouraged Indo-Israeli intransigence in delaying the solution of Kashmir and Palestine. Indian and Israeli regimes had jumped upon the Bush's anti-terrorism bandwagon in crushing the freedom movements in these controlled territories. Since then, both the countries by considering the Muslims as their common enemy, signed several of agreements.

One of the main obstacles in the prolonged War on Terror including solution of Kashmir and Palestinian issues is the US-backed Hindu-Jewish communities which have made alliances in America and Europe and are tarnishing the image of all the Muslims in order to continue their state terrorism on the innocent Kashmiris and Palestinians.

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Sheikh Ab. Aziz Killers: A step towards independence from India!

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Sheikh Ab. Aziz Killers: A step towards independence from India!

Sheikh Ab. Aziz Killers: A step towards independence from India!

By: Nasim Jijazi

Srinagar, 19 Jully: In a A symbolic march by Kashmirs to march towards north (Muzaffarabad) when they are harmed in the south (Hindu Jammu) has caused more lives for Kashmiris. It is indeed a shame for human civilization that India continues to be engaged in genocide of Kashmiris. As part of Indian strategy to kill Kashmiris in a sustained manner under different guises, some more Kashmiri Muslims were murdered by India in the background of the Hindus fascist fight for Sri Amarnath illegal land deal. After direct fire on Muzaffarabad marchers, at least eight persons, including a most senior Hurriyat freedom fighting leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Shaikh Abdul Aziz, were killed as they were marching towards the Line of Control in Baramulla district leader and a boy were killed by Indian security forces in Srinagar district on August 15 a couple of days ahead of Indian independence day.

Following the killing of six protestors including most senior Sheikh Abdul Aziz, the authorities imposed curfew in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir. However, the freedom fighters have reiterated their resolve to continue their mach, come what may. Economic terrorism unleashed by Hindus in Jammu region by blocking the movement of goods between Jammu and Kashmir have caused serious economic problems and this economic terrorism is resented by Kashmirs who have suffered badly and decided to mach to Muzaffarabad to show their anger. Economic terrorism is been used by USA and the Western powers against third world nations, now especially Iran, to cripple their economies. India has thought out similar strategy to make Kashmiris to bend completely and bow down to Indian military dictates. Economic blockade is a crude manifestation of the decades_ old policy of making Kashmir economy fatally dependent on others. Notwithstanding arrests by police in different parts of Kashmir,

Kashmiris in fifteen hundred thousands marched towards North Kashmir to participate in the _Muzaffarabad March_ to protest against the economic blockade of the Valley. In North Kashmir, the march to Muzaffarabad commenced from Sopore Fruit Mandi after people defied restrictions. Sopore Fruit Mandi was besieged early morning by police and CRPF men and five trade union leaders were detained and tyres of decorated fruit laden trucks were deflated by the troopers. After arrest of leaders, announcements were made through Public Address System (PAS) asking people to join the _Muzaffarabad March_. Thousands of people again joined march with women lined up on roadside yelling pro freedom and pro_Pakistan slogans. They were seen serving water and food packets to the protestors and praying for their safety. After the protestors reached Baramulla, the processionists boarded buses, trucks, scooters to move towards Muzaffarabad. Amidst pro−freedom, pro−Pakistan and anti−India slogans, the protestors, who were led by Huriyat leaders, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Shabir Ahmad Shah reached Tachal, Uri, some 20 kms from Uri. They could not move ahead as the army had dug up trenches to prevent people and vehicles from moving ahead. When the protestors tried to march ahead, they were fired on by the troopers, causing injuring to at least 20 persons including Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Aziz received bullet injury in his abdomen and was rushed to nearby hospital, where from he was referred to SMHS hospital, where he succumbed. Meanwhile, thousands of people were on streets till late night at Sangrama, Delina, Sheeri, Hyderbugh, Zumgum, and Pattan. They were waiting for the sunrise to recommence their _Muzaffarabad March_. There have been thousands of known and unknown Kashmiri martyrs who have laid down their sacred lives in their freedom struggle, much more than what the India had lost dung their independence fight under British rule. Abdul Aziz was a pro−Pakistan Kashmiri leaders fighting for the cause of gaining sovereignty back from occupying India. Muzaffarabad is legally a part of Kashmir, now the capital of Azad Kashmir with an independent premier administrated by Pakistan and which would be a part of new Kashmir when it becomes free from Indian military occupation.

Kashmiris have been at the receiving end since their nation was annexed by it neighbor India and hardships are nothing new to them either. Also, now this is not something new to the now fragile economy of Kashmir that it has been subjected to, over the last six decades. The backdrop in which the economy of Kashmir traveled along the time path included a focus on making Kashmir prone to dependency cult, intentionally pursued by New Delhi; priority setting as per the whims of policy planners at New Delhi. The horticulture, floriculture and other commodity sectors have suffered losses that have varied ramifications and most of the growers cannot possibly sustain these losses. These commodities are flooding the already saturated and impoverished local market of Kashmir. The acute hardships faced by people in valley by scarcity of essential commodities, life saving drugs and medicine, even kids_ items, by the economic blockade does call for a new thinking based on self reliance. Of course, now it looks the popular uprising is not going to end until the Kashmirs obtain freedom and independence from India. First of economic terrorism must end followed by state military terrorism. It is noteworthy that in this regard JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yaseen Malik went on a hunger strike unto death but fortunately freedom fighting leaders like Geelani persuaded him to end his long hunger strike. Geelani also reminded him saying, _We differ with the idea of fast unto death as it is not an Islamic way and that we must pray to the almighty for the continuity and eternity of the unity we have showed this time_. Besides, no one will care in India even if entire Muslim community in Kashmir goes on hunger strike until death. India promotes genocide in Kashmir, after all and death of Kashmiris and other Muslims in any manner is welcome to New Delhi. But it is time the Governor of Jammu Kashmir NN Vohra considers recommending to New Delhi to grant independence to Kashmir so that the Kashmiris don_t have to stave and die like this and let them live with honor and resources. Any further day in decision−making in favor of Kashmiris could be disastrous for both Kashmiris and India. The Kashmirs do have the efficient leadership, resources and the capacity to govern their own nation in a peaceful manner. (Writer-South Asia)

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Strike to be observed in Kashmir tomorrow

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Strike to be observed in Kashmir tomorrow

Strike to be observed in Kashmir tomorrow

Srinagar, July 17 :  In  Indian disputed  Kashmir, the forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has announced a 9-day protest programme in connection with its Quit Kashmir Campaign.

The programme includes complete shutdown on Sunday, protests by employees on Monday and sit-ins to be observed by the people across the occupied territory on Wednesday and Thursday, reports Kashmir Media Service.

The spokesman of the forum in a statement issued in Srinagar said, there will be a complete shutdown on Sunday against the atrocities being committed on Kashmiris by the occupation troops and after each prayer people should raise pro-liberation slogans.

 Monday, he said, employees should peacefully protest against the human rights violations being committed by the troops in occupied Kashmir. He urged the employees and their union leaders to massively participate in the programme.

The spokesman called upon the people to observe Tuesday, July 20, as “Day of Solidarity” with the illegally detained Kashmiri youth and Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani. “We will continue peaceful protests till our goal is achieved,” he vowed.

He appealed the people to come out on roads on Wednesday and Thursday and hold peaceful sit-ins. “People should raise their voice to apprise the international community that Kashmiris are being suppressed,” he said.

The spokesman asked the Kashmiri people to hold peaceful protests outside the mosques on Friday after Juma prayers and in Srinagar they should march towards Khanqah-e-Mualla. “Doctors and lawyers should hold protests against the random arrests on Saturday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi in a statement in Srinagar, while endorsing the programme announced by the forum patronised by Syed Ali Gilani, has called upon the masses to make it a success. She also condemned the restrictions imposed by the authorities on Friday.

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: KASHMIR-DEAFENING CRIES AND PIERCING SHRIEKS

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: KASHMIR-DEAFENING CRIES AND PIERCING SHRIEKS

KASHMIR-DEAFENING CRIES AND PIERCING SHRIEKS

Srinagar , July 16: Kinza Fatima, a sixteen years old Kashmiri girl wrote to me three weeks back, “Death and blood, cries and shrieks, injured, smashed and emaciated bodies of our dear and near ones; what else we are left with? You writers! Keep on writing but be sure that no one among the Indian Army deputed here in the valley of Kashmir, is going to read what you write. The world around us is deaf and dumb; there will be a time when you would realize that you have been wasting the energy of your words. Your words could never bring back my brother because he is now somewhere in the realms beyond your imaginations, high above the sky.” She further said, “My seventeen years old brother Ahmed Ali was kidnapped by a team of the Indian Army one evening while he was on his way back to home six months ago. We tried our best to locate where they had detained him but we could find nothing. Five days later we found scattered parts of his body floating in a clear water stream.” The most painful sentence of her mail which really watered my eyes; “Dear writer, do you know why the people of valley get frightened when they see a shrieking crowd of wild crows circling around a mountain top: because their circling and  shrieking indicates the presence of some dead body brutally thrown  there by the Indian security forces.”

This mail of innocent Kinza Fatima must be very much agonizing for all those who have a humane heart. I personally feel that it is something very easy to pen down the brutality and portray the hardships the people of Indian occupied Kashmir have been facing for more than seventy years but almost next to impossible is to bear these atrocities even for a single moment. It is simply the courage and determination of the people of Kashmir which has still kept them energetic and alive. If it were the Americans or the British or the Israelis, they would have lost all their hopes very long ago, in the very beginning. Ask the innocent children of Kashmir; ‘who is going to be our saviour?’

The people of Kashmir are of the opinion that it is nothing but the presence of the Indian army in the valley which has deprived them of their basic human rights. But the Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh has a different point of view in this context. In his recent statement he said, “The basic reason behind the flare up in the Kashmir Valley is the failure to build on the gains that had been made by the security forces in the ‘troubled state’. The army had brought the situation under control to a certain level from where other steps should have been taken to carry forward the process and bring peace in the Valley. There are people who are passing instructions on phone. They have to be identified. The situation in the valley of Kashmir is nothing but the result of the loss of confidence.” This statement of the army chief has many important points which require a very keen type of analysis. First of all he has admitted that there is a situation of ‘flare up’ in the valley. Secondly he has admitted the failure of the security forces and thirdly he has accepted that Kashmir is a troubled state. And above all is his admittance of the fact that the people of Kashmir have lost their confidence in the government of India and the Indian forces. The situation can be very easily improved if all these factors pointed out by the Army Chief are taken care of sympathetically.

Farzana Versey is a Mumbai-based author and columnist. Here is an extract from her recent piece of writing published in the Countercurrents. ‘It does not need to be reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a complex one, but when the armed forces fight civilians, it is not only a matter of separatist aspirations. It is also about a badly-administered state that is not providing basic infrastructure and opportunities to the citizens. The freedom of individuals to express their own anger is being manipulated by various power centers, it is a precious irony’. 

Sumit Ganguly holds the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University at Bloomington. In one of his recent articles he states, ‘The problem that the government confronts has no military solution. The anger that has spilled out into the warren-like streets of Kashmir's villages is not the work of Pakistan-supported jihadi terrorists or organized indigenous separatists. Instead it is the spontaneous outburst of a generation of young Kashmiris who have witnessed much hardship over the last two decades of the insurgency. This anger has its roots in economic stagnation. The coalition state government has done little to attract investment into the troubled state. Kashmiris, especially young men, have limited employment opportunities’.

Let us put together the statement of General V.K.Singh, the opinion of Farzana Versey and the analysis of Sumit Ganguly to form the real picture of Kashmir. The only reason behind is nothing but injustice and human rights violation. The Indian political and military hi-ups are never ready to pay any heed to the actual root cause. They always try to deny the facts and mitigate the situation by commenting the Kashmir issue as an internal affair of India. Kashmir has never been an internal affair of India; it is the actual bone of contention between the two neighbouring countries India and Pakistan. It is because of the Kashmir conflict that India is always eagerly ready to drag Pakistan into every incident of terrorism which takes place on the Indian soil. The Mumbai attacks of 2008 are the worst example in this regard. The Indian hi-ups are mistakenly of the opinion that Pakistan is supporting the people of Occupied Kashmir through different jihaddi groups. They are also of the opinion that all these groups are trained and financed by the ISI. The Indian Minister for External Affairs S.M.Krishna also expressed the same thoughts during his visit to Pakistan in the second week of July. He said that the peace process could never be successful unless Pakistan puts behind the bars the perpetrators of the Mumbai Blasts. He also criticized the statements made by Hafiz saeed. Same type of comments was made by the Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai in Indian Express. He said, ‘The ISI did not have "just a peripheral role" in Mumbai assault. They (ISI) were literally controlling and coordinating it from the beginning till the end’. As far as Hafiz Saeed is concerned, he has always been the most favourite target of the Indian politicians and Indian media. This religious scholar is being continuously blamed for his connections with the Kashmiri militant groups which are fighting against the Indian atrocities in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. These groups have nothing to do with Pakistan same in the manner as those of the Naxalites and the Maoists. All these groups are nothing but the ‘Indigenous Protestants’.

The South Asian Region can become a peaceful paradise if an amicable solution of the Kashmir issue is sought on urgent and compassionate grounds. This is the only way to compensate and pacify the innocent Kinza Fatima who is helplessly mourning over the brutal murder of her brother Ahmed Ali.(Kashmir Watch)
Kashmir Watch columnist can be reached at: alisukhanver@hotmail.com

Curfew, restrictions to thwart demos in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 16 : In Jammu and  Kashmir, the Indian authorities continued to clamp curfew and impose stringent restrictions in Srinagar and other towns to prevent people from holding anti-India and pro-liberation demonstrations, today.

Despite restrictions people took to the streets in Srinagar, Pampore, Kakapora, Khrewa, Handwara, Kralgund, Wattergam, Budgam, Sopore, Kupwara, Islamabad and other areas. They raised slogans like ‘We want freedom’ and ‘Go India go’.

The forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Hilal Ahmad War had called for a march towards Batamaloo in Srinagar to pay homage to the youth recently martyred by the troops.

The authorities continued to confine the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to his residence while Hurriyet leaders including Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi and Yasmeen Raja were placed under house arrest. The APHC Chairman was not allowed to offer Juma prayers for the third consecutive week.

Official sources told mediamen that Indian police had arrested around 700 youth during the past four weeks for participating in anti-India demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley.

Addressing a meeting of religious scholars in Srinagar, the grand mufti of occupied Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin, stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute, without any further delay.

An Indian army Major and two other troopers were injured at Beri Rakh in Mendhar area of Poonch district in the clash with Mujahideen, which entered the fourth day, today. Earlier, an Army Major was killed and seven other personnel including a Colonel were injured in the clash on Tuesday. So far, two Mujahideen have also been martyred in the gun battle, which continued till last reports came in.

Kashmiri students in the United Kingdom held a peaceful protest demonstration outside BBC's office in Manchester to express solidarity with the people in occupied Kashmir and call for the international attention to the happenings there. (Writer-South Asia)

700 Kashmiri youth arrested, many detained under PSA

Srinagar, July 16 In disputed state of  Kashmir, Indian police have arrested around 700 youth during the past four weeks for participating in anti-India demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley. The police officials told newsmen that the youth had been arrested in nocturnal raids, Kashmir Media news Service reports.

The police have filed false cases against the arrested youth besides slapping draconian law, Public Safety Act against many of them.

Srinagar city has been on the boil after the killing of 17-year-old, Tufail Matoo in police action on June 07. The anger further simmered after the killing of Rafiq Ahmad Bangroo, 23, and Javaid Ahmad Malla by paramilitary CRPF.

The occupied valley witnessed a series of massive protests after the killing of 15 people including a woman in police and CRPF firing since June 07.

Dozens of youth were arrested for participating in protests demonstrations in Baramulla, Palhalan Pattan, Sopore, Islamabad, Pulwama, Kulgam, Ganderbal and Shopian areas. “Around 300 youth have been arrested from Srinagar alone,” said a police officer.

The officials said that of the 700 people, 500 have been booked while 200 are currently under detention. “We have also slapped PSA against many of them,” the police official said adding that the PSA would be slapped against more detainees in the coming days as their dossiers were being prepared.

'Lamhaa' banned in Middle East and Kashmir

Srinagar, July 15:  Veteran Kashmirian actor Anupam Kher is shocked and upset with the treatment meted out to his forthcoming movie "Lamhaa".

First, the film's premiere was cancelled in Kashmir and now it is banned in the Middle East.

"I am shocked to learn that 'Lamhaa' is banned in Middle East. Why? Without even seeing the film. And we talk about progress and culture. Sad," Anupam posted on his Twitter account.

The film, based on violence and terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, was due for release in Middle East Thursday. But the censors there felt it is a highly objectionable and controversial subject.

Featuring Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor along with Anupam Kher, "Lamhaa" questions whether wisdom would prevail in the Valley so that the Kashmiris are not crucified in the name of politics.(Writer-South Asia)

Growing Saffron

Saffron is a perennnial , low growing herb with a globular   corm   ranging   from  0.5  to  5cm  in diameter. The corms (Monje/Seed) produce 6-15 narrow, needle like leaves about 10 cm long; surrounded in the lower region by four to five scales. The flowers are borne singly or in two to three. The three stigmas of the flowers along with the style when dried constitute the saffron of commerce. The plant is a native of Iran and Asia Minor. In the former princely state of  Kashmir Vale is a legendry crop of well drained plateau of  Pampore (South Kashmir) where it is being  grown since ancient times. The recorded time of saffron cultivation in Kashmir dates back 550 AD  nearly four centuries earlier than that recorded in Spain. It is rightly called the golden condiment of Kashmir. Saffron also cultavated in Iran, Spain, Baluchistan, Gilgat and now in Afghanistan

COMPOSITION
The average composition of commercial saffron is water ( 15.6 per cent) starch and sugur (13.15 per cent), essential oils  ( 0.6 per cent) fixed oil (5.63 per cent ), total N-Ffree extract (43. 64 per cent), Crude fiber (4.43 per cent), ash (4.27 per cent). The chief pigment of saffron is its yellowish red glycoside crocin, picrocrin is the bitter tasting pigment and it too is glycoside.

USES
Saffron is as precious as gold not because of its high demand and  low production  but because it  is used  in various religious rituals. Hindus use saffron for marking their foreheads, Muslims divine extract in water and write charms with ink thus formed. In Indian market mostly 50-60 per cent of saffron is used in chewing tobacco and for preparing wine. Saffron is used to prepare saffron rice, saffron cakes, wazwaan, tea, cakes, in the preparation of scent and perfumes. It is used for colouring butter, cheese, puddings and confectionary. Like most oriental aromatic herbs saffron is also used in medicinal and culinary reputations. It stops vomiting, expels worms, heels headache and wounds. It is good for hemorrhoids, for removing the discoloration of face and pimples. It is good for epilepsy. Some times it is used in exenthematous diseases to promote eruption. It is popularly supposed to be a stimulant warm and dry in action helping in the alleviation of urinary, digestive and uterine troubles. Paste of saffron is used in dressing bruises, superficial sores, rheumatic and neurological pains and congestion of chest. Passaries of saffron are used in painful complaints of uterus. Dry boiled corms are administered in Ayurvedic and Unani ststem for treatment of gousciatica  and rheumatic pains.

Soil & Climate
Saffron grows well in drained loamy soil. Medium grade, light soil with neutral to slightly alkaline reaction is suited for its cultivation. It prefers very well drained, clay loam soils of karewas of Kashmir. The soils should be deep and free from stones. Saffron thrives well in sub-temperate regions ranging from 1500 meter to 2400 meter.

It requires cool and sunny situation for promising growth. An optimum of 12 hours light duration is essential for growth and flowering. The day temperature should be 20-22  0C  with a difference of 10-12  0C between day and night temperatures. A good shower during August-September facilities flowering and increased yield. Dry weather condition during flowering period is essential for realizing higher yields. In general locations which receive  30-40 cms rainfall and are covered with snow during winter are good for its cultivation. Spring rains are favourable for promoting corm multiplication wherease, a second spell of rains at the beginning of autumn encourages profuse flowering.

Prpoagation
Propgation of the plant is through corms. The plant remains dormant from May-August. The mother corm reproduces annually and gives rise to four to six daughter cormlets. The corms formed during a year produce flowers in the following year. The mother corms provide food to the new developing corms and in doing so wither, shrink and finally die. Now corms develope each year to replace the older once.
Corms multiply from one year to the next, from one corm one can get 8 corms after 3-5 years

Land Preparation and planting
Land preparation starts in March -April. The field is ploughed four to five times to a depth of 30-35 cms.Another  polghing is done in May and fields leveled. Well developed seed corms @1600 to 2000 kg per per hectare should be used after dipping in five percent solution of copper sulphate. The corms should be of 1.5 cms and above in diameter with outermost loose covering cleaned before planting. The corms should be planted in second fortnight of August at a depth of 15-20 cms with a row to row spacing of 15 cms and corm to corm spacing of five to eight cms. After planting divide the field into 2 meters x 4 meters strips by opening 15 deep and 30 cms wide furrows for proper drainage. Saffron can also be planted as an inter crop in newly planted orchards. The superior and less expensive method recommended by Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is strip system.Saffron corms can either be planted directly into the ground (borders, gardens, fields etc…) or in pots or window boxes (inside or out). 

 Manures and fertilizers
Mix 15-20 tonnes per hectare of well decomposed FYM during last ploughing. Recent studies have revealed that application of vermicompost @350 kg/hectare has given a yield of 4.88 Kg/hectare.

Interculture
Keep the planted field undisturbed till the following June. Perform the first hoeing in June using a short handled  tangru locally called (in Kashmiri) "ZOUN". This operation provides aeration to the soil which is very important for proper development of Saffron Corms.

Subsequently the second hoeing is done in the month of September along with cleaning and repairing of the drainage channels. Care should be taken not to disturb the growing buds of corms. This hoeing is accompanied by light dressing  of FYM at the rate of two tonnes per hectare. Third and final hoeing is given after the flowering is over and mannure is mixed in the soil with the help of iron  rakes. This schedule of operations is followed every year until the crop remains in the field.

Diseases and pests
Fungal diseases often infect the corms. Fungi like Rhizocotnia crocorum,, Sclerotina bulborum and Phoma Crocophila are reported to infect the corms changing the colour of flesh from white to yellow and finally to black resulting in death of the corms. poor aeration in the soil, injury to corms and hail storms provide ideal conditions for the development of diseases. Discarding can prevent this. Treat healthy corms with five percent copper sulphate solution during planting. Incidence of Gangrane disease (in this, the normal plant which prevents flower formation) is also reported from some fields. Rate and moles causing damage tones of corms every year often damage saffron cro. Zinc phoshide baiting and rat control campaign on watershed basis may be of great help.

Harvesting and processing
The flowering season is confined to three weeks from middle of October to first week of November. The flowers are picked daily in the morning and stigmas and styles are trimmed immediately. About 1,60,000 flowers are hand picked to produce one kg of good quality dried saffron.

Saffron Corms/Bulbs/Seeds- The most expensive Plant in the world

Planting and Seed Material avilable at: Chenab Industries
PO Box No: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Regd. Office: Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR JK 192121
Ph: 09858986794, 01933-223705
e-mail: cikashmir@gmail.com, iirc@rediffmail.com , http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

(Scientific Cultivation of Saffron report is also available in Urdu)

e-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com

Latest updates from Kashmir

Srinagar, July 14 (Writer-South Asia):  In Jammu and Kashmir, an Indian army Major was killed and seven others including a Colonel were injured in a clash in Poonch district.

The clash took place at Beri Rakh in Mendhar area of the district. Major Amit Thingay was killed on the spot while seven troops including Colonel Ajay Katoch, Commanding Officer (CO) of 37 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Signalman Satinder Kumar, Naik Jasbir Singh, Sepoy Sunil Kumar and Rifleman Basharat Hussain were critically injured in the clash.

All injured Army personnel have been hospitalised. Indian army official sources have claimed that the two Armed Kashmiri Mujahideen were believed to be killed in the clash. The gun battle was going on till last reports came in.

An Army man, Naik Sudhir Radha was injured in a mine blast when he was shifting from Sagar Post to Hans Post in Balakote area of Mendhar sector along with a Road Opening Party (ROP) of 5 Maratha Regiment of Indian Army.

Meanwhile,condemning the media curbs in disputed Kashmir, media personalities of India have said that attempts are being made to paint journalists from Jammu and Kashmir as anti-India.

Indian journalists at a meeting convened by Press Club of India (PCI) to discuss vindictive policy against media men in the valley, described it a dangerous move and an assault on the press.

The Srinagar correspondents of News X Channel, Suhail Bukhari and Idris Lone, against whom FIRs have been lodged in the Pulwama police station under Unlawful Activities Act, gave their version at the meeting. They said that they had been harassed without any reason by the authorities. They said that they were being victimised by vindictive approach of the occupation authorities though they tried to discharge their duties honestly.

In South Kashmir, Indian Forces con
Scores of Delhi-based Kashmiri journalists also attended the meeting. A resolution was also moved in which the puppet administration was asked to immediately withdraw cases against News X correspondents.

“It said the ban on freedom of expression shows intolerance of the authorities. Attempts are being made to divide the local and international press. This should be resisted and all efforts should be made to mobilise full support for Kashmiri media,” the resolution read.

Seema Mustafa, Sidharat Vardharajan, Nidhi Razdhan, Zafar Agha, Onkar Singh, David Davidas, Shabnam Hashmi and scores of others attended the meeting to express solidarity with Kashmiri media associations. 

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Do you think All Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar New Delhi Islamabad Muzaffarabad: Do you think All Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad: Do you think All Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar New Delhi Islamabad Muzaffarabad: Do you think All Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?

Do you think All Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?

Do you think All  Indians in Kashmir know that their game is over ?
Write your comments to Sheikh GULZAAR Editor, Writer-South Asia POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 09858986794, e-mail: writer@gmail.com

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar | New Delhi | Islamabad | Muzaffarabad

Writer-South Asia (Srinagar New Delhi Islamabad Muzaffarabad

Is Kashmiri descent from lost tribes of Israel ?

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Amnesty International urges India to avoid use of force on protesters in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 04 (Writer-South Asia): In Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh act of operations , martyred four innocent Kashmiri youth in Kupwara district, today.The troops killed the youth in Nowgam area of the district during violent military operations, which continued till last reports came in.

The London-based world human rights body, the Amnesty International has urged India to avoid the excessive use of brute force on protesters in occupied Kashmir as it had an obligation to protect the right to life of the people, in accordance with international law.

The Amnesty International in a statement issued in London said that in the last month, a total of 11 persons, at least eight of them teenagers, were killed in shootings by the Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel during demonstrations in Srinagar, Sopore and other towns.

The Amnesty demanded probe into all the killings to bring the involved troops to justice.

Welcoming the Amnesty International’s statement, the Chairman of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo urged the United Nations and European institutions to act urgently to help stop Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir.

In Srinagar, the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing a press conference after presiding over a meeting of Hurriyet’s Executive Council, said that Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination was totally indigenous and India would not be able to crush it through use of brute force.

Meanwhile, life in the occupied territory remained at a grinding halt as curfew, restrictions and protest demonstrations in Kashmir valley entered the ninth day, today. Hundreds of people took to the streets in Islamabad town, raising pro-liberation slogans. Indian police fired in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them. Despite restrictions, people held demonstrations in Trehgam area of Kupwara and in many parts of Doda and Kishtwar.

Indian troops, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred four innocent Kashmiri youth in Nowgam area of Kupwara, during a crackdown operation, today.

In Islamabad, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider Khan visited the office of APHC-AJK to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. He met with the leaders of APHC and the forum patronized by Syed Ali Gilani. The AJK Prime Minster said, the people of occupied Kashmir are not alone in their struggle of right to self-determination as the leadership and the people of AJK and Pakistan stand firmly at their back. He said that Kashmiris’ struggle was destined to succeed because it was based on the principles of justice and international law.