A Kashmiri Teenager Moves UN Diplomats and Activists in Geneva

The tears of Aneesa Nabi, whose parents were killed by Indian soldiers, even shook the Indians, as activists rushed to console her; several embassies sent observers to witness her testimony, including US government’s permanent mission to Geneva.

GENEVA, Switzerland—Her parents would have never thought their little girl would go this far, but a Kashmiri teenager smuggled by an NGO across the ceasefire line in Kashmir landed in Geneva today to a grand start, shocking world diplomats and activists with the story of her father and mother long after their death.

Aneesa Nabi, 17, drew the attention of diplomats and human rights activists and NGOs that have descended on Geneva this month for the 16th session of Human Rights Council, which is UN’s highest rights body designed along the lines of the UN Security Council in New York, minus the powers.

Representatives of a Kashmiri NGO based in Pakistan, the Kashmir Institute of International Affairs, KIIA, were seen lobbying world diplomats and NGO representatives in the main hall of the Palais de Nations, or Palace of the Nations, which is the focal point of UN operations in Geneva.

“She really moved all of us,” said Altaf Hussain Wani, director programs at KIIA. “We’ve been with her for the past week but today she left us in tears.”

“You could see the interest in her,” said Shagufta Ashraf, a KIIA activist, as she distributed flyers and pamphlets in the main lobby of the Palais. “The diplomats and NGO types got really interested in this story.” African human rights activist Micheline Djouma arranged for Aneesa’s appearance at a seminar today on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council meetings. The council was busy dealing with issues as diverse as Iran’s human rights record and a proposal to outlaw denigration of religions. But this didn’t stop rights activists and some diplomats from attending Aneesa’s appearance.

What boosted Aneesa’s case was the fact that Kashmiri groups spread worldwide occupied a square in front of Palais de Nations, known as Broken Chair, where an exhibition of museum of Indian Army genocide against Kashmiri people was set up inside a tent, surrounded by banners and hoards depicting the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Before Aneesa started her speech, an Africa-based rights activist Mrs. Colette Samoya, president of Bangwe organization, delivered a speech in French, where she mentioned Kashmir five times as she gave examples of violations against women and children in conflict zones. Building anticipation, Samoya kept reminding the audience, saying “We have a girl from Kashmir here to tell her story.”

Aneesa began her speech in a normal way, but her voice began choking when she mentioned her father, who was arrested by Indian Army on 24 July 1996 when she was four. By the time she mentioned her mother, she was in tears, sobbing involuntarily as she recalled how the Indian occupation authorities warned her not to join NGOs lobbying for disappeared persons. In 2003, the Indians barged into her house and opened fire on Aneesa’s mother from automatic guns as she fell to the ground. Amazingly, she was carrying a toddler, Aneesa’s younger brother, in her arms and never let him ago despite receiving fatal injuries. The boy’s leg was shattered by bullets but he survived.

“She had been repressing her emotions,” recalled Ahmed Quraishi, a representative of OIC’s World Muslim Congress and a Kashmir activist. “In the past, she would only smile when asked if she remembered her parents or missed them. She would ignore it. But today, all the repressed memories, all the repressed pain, came out naturally. She really believed this was her last chance to do something to help free her father if he is still alive.”

Video Link: http://786insidekashmir.blogspot.com/2011/03/kashmiri-teenager-moves-un-diplomats.html

HIGHLIGHTS
When Aneesa began talking, the entire hall went silent, which is rare in United Nations Human Rights Council side events.
She couldn’t control herself when she mentioned her father, and was unable to continue after mentioning her mothers

A known Indian lobbyist linked to the Indian government, who is a Kashmiri Hindu, couldn’t control himself and hurriedly left the hall in tears

On the stage, an Indian academic, Dr. Krishna Ahoojapatel, tried to express grief, and an African panelist stood up from her chair, walked up to Aneesa and hugged her like a mother would hug a daughter. Someone else brought her a glass of water.

The moderator repeatedly interrupted a sobbing Aneesa to ask her if she wanted to take a break or continue telling her story. Aneesa tried to continue but couldn’t. She failed to read out the last portion of an appeal to the international community and to the United Nations to help force the Indian government and military to reveal the fate of her father.

A senior UN official, whose name is withheld, was so moved by Aneesa’s tragedy that he conveyed to her that he will do everything possible to hold the Indian government and military accountable for any harm done to her father and for serious human rights violations in Kashmir.

‘I saw them execute my mother, I was seven’
Tale of a Kashmiri girl from Srinagar who lost her parents, escaped  The Indian Army and found her way to Geneva to tell her story.

Meet Aneesa Nabi Khan, a bright 17-year-old studying at a school in the part of Kashmir liberated from India.  Her mild demeanor, big eyes and a warm smile set her apart from other students in her school. But very few of them know her real story. Someday soon she will graduate and do something to impact the lives of her people. Her parents will never know how their little girl, the eldest of three kids, has grown up to be a precocious young lady.

Today she is in Geneva to tell her story to politicians, activists and the media from all over the world. She came here to speak. She wants the world to know her story because she made it to this place. Others like her can’t. And she wants to represent them.

She has a story. It is a compelling tale of fear, courage, tragedy, and a people’s quest for freedom from the tyranny of one of the biggest armies in the world.

Where Does Aneesa Come From?
She comes from Kashmir, a paradise nestled in the grand Himalayas to the north of Pakistan, bordering China and India. One of the world’s most scenic lands is also home to the world’s biggest concentration of armed soldiers—more than half a million regular army from the world’s largest democracy: India.  Aneesa’s people want freedom from occupation. India does not want to grant it or heed United Nations resolutions calling for a settlement.

But for 63 years, Kashmiris did not take foreign occupation lying down. Aneesa’s father was one of them. That’s how her tragedy begins.

Where Is Aneesa’s Father?
Ghulam Nabi Khan was in his mid-thirties in 1996 when he was last seen by Dilshad, his wife, and daughter and her toddler brother

Raees.
Ghulam left his house in the morning. He was what his people call a freedom fighter, oppose to the forced Indian occupation of his homeland. The Indian military saw him as a ‘militant’.

The Indians laid a trap for him. One of his friends was recruited by Indian intelligence. Ghulam was lured into a meeting at his friend’s house. They swooped on him as soon as he entered the house.

By evening the news reached his wife. So many Kashmiri men have ‘disappeared’ in similar circumstances. Dilshad’s brother took her to the local police station, manned by Indian police. They refused to register a case of forced ‘disappearance’. Days and months passed without any record of what happened to Ghulam. Fearing a similar fate, Dilshad took her children to her village to live with her parents.  Somehow they managed to contact the mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Indian capital. Red Cross is the only international organization that is allowed limited access to a few jails in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Most of the jails and detention centers remain closed to the world. When a Red Cross delegation visits Kashmir, the Indian government and army only allows Indian citizens working for Red Cross to enter the occupied territory. The Red Cross searched for Aneesa’s father but to no avail. This is because Indian military is authorized by law to arrest and detain Kashmiris for long periods without charges or trial.

Indian army is desperate to eliminate Kashmiri men and women who actively participate in the independence movement. Once any Kashmiri, man or woman, is dubbed a ‘militant’ by the Indians, he or she is never seen again.

How Was Dilshad, Aneesa’s Mother, Executed?
After her husband’s ‘disappearance’, Dilshad moved with her three children to the village, where her own parents and her in-laws lived. She joined a group formed by Kashmiris called the Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons [APDP]. The group is one of the largest civil society organizations formed by Kashmiris to peacefully resist Indian occupation. It organizes peaceful protests in Srinagar against excesses by Indian occupation forces and keeps the cause of the ‘disappeared’ persons alive. The exact number of the missing is not known.

Dilshad became an active member of the APDP, frequently seen in television news footage from Srinagar organizing peaceful protests in front of Indian and international media. These protests caught the attention of some foreign diplomats based in New Delhi, local and international media, and rights organizations. They turned into an embarrassment for the Indian military.  Indian occupation officials were remanded by the Indian government in New Delhi for failing to stop the activities of Kashmiri women like Dilshad.

One day in 2003, Indian soldiers entered the house of Aneesa’s mother. Some of them were in uniform and others were in plainclothes. The Indian soldiers asked everyone in the house to line up in the center of the front room. Dilshad, her brother, an unmarried younger sister, and her parents and some visiting relatives did what the soldiers told them to do. There was some shouting. Aneesa was nine. She too stood in the line. The soldiers were asking Dilshad about her activities with APDP when tempers flared and one of the Indian soldiers began firing indiscriminately. He took it out on Dilshad, which gave everyone else enough time to run toward the rooms behind them to hide. Nine-year-old Aneesa slipped under a bed. She could see an Indian soldier emptying his weapon into her mother.

The soldiers ran out of the house soon after.
Aneesa rushed to her mother. She remembers vividly how her mother was breathing her last. She says her mother wanted to say something but couldn’t. Blood started coming out of her mouth and she died in her nine-year-old daughter’s arms.  Amazingly, Dilshad was still carrying Aaqib, who then was a toddler. Bullets hit his left thigh and tore the flesh apart. He was unconscious and his uncle rushed him to hospital. He survived the injury.

Aneesa’s Journey To Pakistan?
With her mother killed and father kidnapped by the Indians, the male members of Aneesa’s family worried about her safety and her future. By 2008, five years after her mother was killed, Aneesa’s two younger brothers had adapted to a life without parents. Raees was 13 and was looked after by his maternal grandmother. But Aaqib was even younger. So her mother’s unmarried sister took his custody. That left Aneesa. She was the only one among them to have a passport, an Indian passport.  Apparently, her mother was planning to get her out of India anyway, most probably to travel to Dubai and then take a flight from there to Pakistan, where most of Kashmiris have taken refuge, escaping the harsh Indian occupation of their homes and fields. India is more than happy to issue Indian passports to Kashmiris because it sees that as Kashmiris accepting Indian citizenship. But over the years, most Kashmiris have preferred to reach Pakistan without passports—trekking the tough route through the mountains to Pakistan.

How Is Her New Life Like In Pakistan?
Aneesa is living with her mother’s cousin and her husband and three children. They all come from the same extended family so she feels at home and her family is very close to each other. She was in class 7 in Indian-occupied Kashmir. In Pakistan she was admitted to class 8. But she was weak in two subjects: Urdu, the Pakistani official language, and Islamic studies. The schools in occupied Kashmir have no choice but to follow the Indian educational system where the two subjects are not taught. But Urdu and Islamic studies were not alien to Aneesa and she quickly mastered them.  She stays in touch with her brothers back in Indian-occupied Kashmir through telephone. She doesn’t remember her father at all. She was two when the Indians kidnapped him. She was nine when they killed her mother. She hardly experienced their love. She says her family now gives her love and affection and the sense of security that her tormentors denied her.

Still Looking For My Father
Aneesa and her new family continue to stay in touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the hope that someday they might find him in one of the Indian jails. Her relatives back in Indian-occupied Kashmir keep their ears to the ground, collecting any information or rumors about anyone sighting Aneesa’s father in Indian detention centers. They pass on the information to her so she could forward it to Red Cross.

Why Is She In Geneva This Year?
Her answer is simple: “I hope it helps me find my father.” She wants the international community not to abandon people like her. She wants the powerful democracies to heed her call. And she intends to make her voice heard. She couldn’t do anything for her mother. She couldn’t save her mother. But in case her father is alive, she wants the satisfaction of knowing she did all she could to save his life. Her activism brought her message to the world, and now Aneesa wants to take the world to occupied Kashmir. Her mother and father would have been proud of the work done by their daughter today. 

More details: http://786insidekashmir.blogspot.com/2011/03/kashmiri-teenager-moves-un-diplomats.html

US-NATO-JEWIS WAR: 'US Drones Kill 938 Pakistanis in 2010'

By: Sheikh GULZAAR
Srinagar, March 20 : The US has stepped up its drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, a new report by a Pakistani Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) says.

The Islamabad-based NGO, Conflict Monitoring Center, revealed the details of the deaths by US drone attacks in its annual report.

The report gives detailed accounts on how the CIA killed innocent people merely on the suspicion of being militants.

In 2010, the CIA carried out an unprecedented 132 drone attacks in tribal areas, claiming the lives of 938 people, it said.

The Conflict Monitoring Center points out that none of the media organizations throughout last year reported on body counts from independent sources.

Many analysts believe the geo-strategic game plan of the US has turned out to be counterproductive.

The year 2010 was one of the deadliest years for civilians living in the tribal regions, as the number of drone strikes exceeded the combined number of such attacks carried out from 2004 to 2009.

The report states that 2,052 people lost their lives in drone strikes during the 5-year period between 2004 and 2009. The rising civilian causalities have left behind many tragic stories in the tribal areas.

The reaction of Pakistani people against the frequent use of drone strikes is finally gathering momentum. In the worst of several US air strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent days, up to 51 civilians were killed last Thursday in Afghanistan’s north-eastern Kunar province. General David Petraeus, the commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, expressed the colonial-style hostility of the occupation force’s senior command toward the Afghan population, reportedly accusing local residents of burning their children to fake evidence of civilian casualties.

In a five-hour operation on the night of February 17, US Apache helicopters strafed a group of alleged Afghan insurgents with gunfire, rockets and Hellfire missiles. Surveillance drones guided the helicopter assault in the mountainous district of Ghaziabad, near the Pakistan border, and according to the Washington Post, bombs were dropped by at least one of the unmanned Predator aircraft. The attack was one of a number of recent US operations in the district, ordered as part of President Barack Obama’s broader escalation of the Af-Pak war.

Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, senior military spokesman in Kabul, stated that three dozen people were killed in the incident. He maintained they were all “suspected insurgents who had gathered to attack US and Afghan troops”. However, the remarks of one unnamed military official, cited by theWashington Post on Monday, made clear that American authorities had no knowledge of the identities of those killed. The official admitted that those targeted had been wearing civilian clothes.

Kunar Governor Said Fazlullah Wahidi contradicted Smith’s claims. He said: “According to our information 64 people were killed: 13 armed opposition, 22 women, 26 boys and 3 old men.” The governor sent a three-man “fact-finding team” to the area on Saturday, which returned with seven injured people suffering burns and shrapnel wounds, including a young man and woman and five boys and girls.

Dr. Asadullah Fazli, chief doctor at the provincial hospital in Asadabad, the capital of Kunar, told the New York Times that the hospital had treated at least nine wounded from the area, including three women, four children and two men. One two-year-old girl had to have her leg amputated because of shrapnel injuries. The Times noted: “There were several other military operations in the area over the last few days, so it was not clear which one caused those injuries.”

In an attempt to defuse outrage among the Afghan population over the latest atrocity carried out by the occupation forces, President Hamid Karzai issued what has become a pro forma denunciation of American military operations. He stated that “about 50 civilians have been martyred” and pledged to send investigators to the scene of the killings.

Karzai met with his national security council and General Petraeus at the presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday. According to an account of the meeting published in the Washington Post, “Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, dismissed allegations by Karzai’s office and the provincial governor that civilians were killed and said residents had invented stories, or even injured their children, to pin the blame on US forces and force an end to the operation.”

One unnamed participant in the meeting said: “He claimed that in the midst of the [operation] some pro-Taliban parents in contact with a government official decided to create a civilian casualty claim to pressure international forces to cease the [operation]. They burned hands and legs of some of their children and sent them to the hospital.”

The discussion demonstrates the contempt with which the American military command regards Karzai, the figurehead first installed as Washington’s stooge shortly after the 2001 invasion.

The Washington Post reported that Karzai and his colleagues found Petraeus’s baseless allegations “deeply offensive” and “shocking”. One official declared: “Killing 60 people, and then blaming the killing on those same people, rather than apologising for any deaths? This is inhuman. This is a really terrible situation.”

Petraeus declined to respond to the published account of his meeting with the Afghan president. The day after his provocative remarks on the Kunar killings, more Afghan civilians were killed in a US air strike. In Qilgha village in Nangarhar province, immediately south of Kunar, a missile destroyed a family’s home, killing the parents and four children aged between three and eight who had been sleeping inside. The father, named Patang, was a member of the Afghan national army.

A provincial official told the AFP news agency that American forces had targeted three insurgents planting mines on nearby road, but had hit the home by mistake. NATO spokesmen confirmed there had been civilian casualties, but said no further details would be released, pending an investigation.

One village resident told Pajhwok Afghan News that foreign forces intercepted a vehicle taking the wounded father to hospital, halting it for two hours. “The troops beat us and tied our hands,” the man, Psarlay, said. “Meanwhile, Patang died because of excessive bleeding.”

Another resident, 26-year-old Ezatullah, told the Wall Street Journal: “The house was completely destroyed by the strike. Only two children [aged] four and six survived.” He added that “thousands of people attended the funeral of the slain family Monday and are planning a protest against coalition forces Tuesday”.

A report issued February 1 by the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) tallied at least 2,421 civilian deaths and 3,270 injuries inflicted last year by US-NATO forces, Taliban and resistance groups, and Afghan government police, soldiers, and militia. The violence in 2010 was the worst since the invasion a decade ago. The real casualty rate for civilians is likely to be significantly higher than the ARM tally, with US-NATO forces routinely covering up their crimes and labelling victims as “insurgents” or “terrorists”.

 The Obama-Petraeus counter-insurgency strategy effectively centres on the use of overwhelming force against the population, aimed at crushing continued resistance to the occupation of the resource-rich and strategically vital country. At the same time, the Obama administration has illegally extended the war into Pakistan, with US ground forces active in the border region near Afghanistan, backed by a steady bombardment of CIA drone missile attacks.

On Sunday and Monday, two drone attacks killed a reported 12 people. In the first incident, seven alleged militants were killed —including, according to Pakistani intelligence agents cited by various media outlets, an Iraqi Al Qaeda operative—after multiple missiles struck a house in the tribal agency of South Waziristan. Five more alleged militants were killed the next day in North Waziristan.

These operations mark the resumption of US drone attacks after a four-week pause—the longest period in which Pakistan had not been hit by American missiles since December 2009. The temporary cessation was widely believed to have been connected with Washington’s efforts to secure the release of CIA agent Raymond Davis, arrested on January 27 in Lahore on murder charges. Obama’s bombings have generated enormous anger among ordinary Pakistanis, and destabilised the government in Islamabad. The US government is nevertheless proceeding, underscoring the ruthlessness of its Af-Pak war.

An article in the Washington Post on Monday pointed to the indiscriminate character of the missile strikes. It explained that at least 581 alleged militants had been killed by drones in Pakistan last year, but just two of the victims had been previously listed on the US list of “most wanted” terrorists.

 “Despite a major escalation in the number of unmanned Predator strikes being carried out under the Obama administration, data from government and independent sources indicate that the number of high-ranking militants being killed as a result has either slipped or barely increased,” the Washington Postexplained. “Even more generous counts—which indicate that the CIA killed as many as 13 ‘high-value targets’—suggest that the drone program is hitting senior operatives only a fraction of the time.”

The article noted that drones were no longer restricted to striking known targets. Anyone in Pakistan witnessed doing something deemed suspicious, such as travelling to or from alleged terrorist-controlled buildings, could be killed by CIA assassins, operating the drones from Langley, Virginia.

RSS has forged nexus with Mossad

Sage seed: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

New Delhi-Digvijay Singh’s 4th January 2011 Press Conference finally proved that the Congress General Secretary indeed spoke to Hemant Karkare on 26/11-and that Karkare faced the threat to his life and limb-as well as to the security of his family-not from Pakistani terrorists or Indian Mujahideen activists but the motley group of Hindutva terrorists led by the RSS, reports The Milli Gazette.

This is hard fact. Here the question is not who conducted the 26/11 attack-the question is also not who killed Karkare-all these issues are related to a larger question-why was Hemant Karkare-the officer who exposed the true face of Hindutva Terrorism-killed on 26th November 2008, during an attack carried allegedly by Pakistani terrorists?

Third grade, communal officers manning the higher echelons of the Mumbai Police would have us believe that it was a freak accident-that Karkare happened to stand in the line of fire on that fateful date. Maybe-but when one realizes the enormity of what Karkare had unearthed-that most terror attacks in India have an RSS connection-one is forced to go beyond the `Maybees’ of the world.

No one can question that Karkare’s investigations could have led to the exoneration of the Batla House accused and other Muslim boys picked up from Azamgarh and other areas. It is possible that Karkare might have unearthed the RSS hand in all terror acts which took place between 26th July 2008 and 26th November 2008. So Karkare might have well sounded the death knell of RSS in India.

The RSS opposed the Indian Freedom Movement-its ideology and foot soldiers of related organizations were responsible for Mahatama Gandhi’s murder, and thousands of terror attacks (“riots”) against Muslims and OBC-Dalit Hindus in Bihar, Delhi and other parts of India. The RSS conducted an armed uprising against the Indian State right after 15th August 1947-an uprising targeted against the ideals of Nehruvian parliamentary democracy, the Ambedkarite liberal constitution and the general Left-of-Centre orientation of the Indian nation.

Jawahar Lal Nehru crushed the RSS uprising with an iron hand, often wielding a lathi personally against rampaging RSS mobs in Delhi.

Indira Gandhi came across several instances of RSS-sponsored terrorism-and acted firmly, applying the bulldozer to several illegal RSS structures all over India, including the one at the Benaras Hindu University (BHU). 

When Digvijay Singh exhorted Congressmen and women to wield the lathi against the RSS during the Burari AICC session, he was acting like a true Nehruvian. Only the RSS stood to gain from Karkare’s untimely death/murder. Let anyone who has guts or the balls to challenge this position come forward.

Rajdeep Sardesai interviewed Digvijay Singh on 4th January 2011 night in the CNN-IBN studio. Rajdeep openly took the RSS side, even accusing Digvijay Singh of ‘helping Pakistan’-do we need more proof of the fact that Rajdeep Sardesai and 90% of upper caste journalists are RSS agents?

In the CNN-IBN interview, Rajdeep openly said that Aziz Burney, the editor of Urdu Rashtriya Sahara, the most popular Urdu daily of India, should be ostracized for having written a book entitled “26/11: RSS Ka Shadyantra?”

So now an English journalist called Rajdeep Sardesai will ask for Aziz Burney to be ostracized? Why-because Burney dared question the official line? Now Rajdeep will decide what Aziz Burney and the Urdu media has to say?

The attack on Aziz Burney by Rajdeep is an attack on Urdu journalism. But there is a subtext to Rajdeep’s outrage. A few days after Karkare was murdered, I confronted Rajdeep at St. Xavier’s College during a peace meet. While interviewing Digvijay Singh, Rajdeep had said that ‘Karkare was his friend as well!’

When I confronted Rajdeep right after 26/11, he told me that he fully believed that Karkare was killed by the usual suspects: Kasab and others. When I reminded him of his duty as a journalist-that he should talk to people on the ground and look for alternative narratives on 26/11-Rajdeep told me that “I fully believe in Rakesh Maria’s version of 26/11. Rakesh Maria is an efficient officer.”

This Rakesh Maria heads the Mumbai ATS now-he was a sworn enemy of Karkare-he is a suspected Mossad agent and an officer who personally supervised the brutal 4th degree torture of Muslims in Mumbai.

Rajdeep has to decide whether he is Maria’s friend or Karkare’s-God’s terrible retribution awaits Rajdeep and his fellow travellers. Funny, that a recent article in Indian Express, written by some Pradeep Kaushal, mentions how Burney took my name in the book release function graced by Shri Digvijay Singh:

“The book is a collection of Burney’s writings in Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu), besides contributions from some ideological fellow-travellers, one of whom is Amareesh Mishra. “I have incorporated them because they reinforce what I feel,” Burney says. He says they are important because they have been authored by someone who is “Amaresh” and “Mishra” - in an obvious reference to the writer’s religious and caste identity”.

Pradeep Kaushal quotes me extensively: “Basically the RSS has lost control of the organisation it had created. In the form of (Narendra) Modi, this organisation has forged a nexus with Mossad, which is in league with the ISI, engaged in destruction… Do remember the remote control of many jihadi groups active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia is in the hands of Mossad or CIA. Recently a group in Yemen was found to have been established by Mossad. Therefore, it is possible the terrorists who attacked Mumbai may have used Pakistan as their base, but they may have been drawn from different countries... At least one of them, it has been learnt, belonged to Mauritius. It is emerging now that a Saudi (being described as Maulana Bedi) may have gathered these Jihadis there and sent them here. It is essential to find out who provided money to him.”

This is what I wrote right after 26/11. Yes-I am a Brahmin-yes I am Hindu-a true Sanatani Hindu. And yes, I am supporting Digvijay Singh in his fight against the RSS. As an Indian, Sanatani Hindu and a Brahmin, I firmly believe that RSS is a bigger threat to India than all Pakistani terrorist organizations put together. RSS is in league with Mossad and Israel. Mossad is seeking India’s destruction. We have the support of millions of Sanatani Hindus who will crush the demon called RSS.

Kashmir produced 17 l MT fruit in ‘09-10: Economic Survey Kashmir State GDP shows 76 pc increase in 7 years

http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Srinagar, Mar 11: The Economic Survey tabled today in both Houses of legislature shows that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has continuously grown.

“As per new series (2004-2005), it has grown from Rs 27004.63 crore to Rs. 47709.31 crore during the period from 2004-2005 to 2010-2011 at current prices, registering an increase of 76.67 per cent,” the survey reports.  At constant (2004-2005) prices, the GSDP has risen from Rs. 27004.63 crore to Rs.37886.92 crore during the same period registering an increase of 40.30 per cent.

The working force in Kashmir constitutes 37.01% of total population against the corresponding rate of 39.10% in the country. The State of Kashmir is neck to neck in respect of work force with Indian rate. Contribution of Primary Sector (Agriculture & allied activities) to the State economy at constant (2004-2005) prices as per advance estimated for 2009-10 has been 22.63%. The relative share of this sector to GDP at Indian level for the year 2009-10 has been 16.99%. Contribution of Secondary sector to State GDP as per advance estimates for 2009-2010 was 29.55% against 25.84% at the Indian level for the same year. Contribution of Tertiary Sector to State GDP as per advance estimates for 2009-2010 was 47.82% against 57.17% at the Indian level for the year 2009-2010.

The Per capita GSDP at constant (2004-2005) prices as per preliminary estimates for the year 2010-2011 was Rs.32496 registering an increase of 5.21% over per capita GSDP of Rs. 30886 for 2009-2010. The relative per capita income figures for India stood at Rs. 38060 for 2009-2010 and Rs. 36005 for 2008-2009. Fruit production of the State increased from 16.91 lakh metric tones in 2008-2009 to 17.13 lakh metric tones in 2009-2010, recording an increase of 1.30%. For the current year, the State expects fruit production of 22.22 lakh metric tones to register notable increase of  29.71% over previous year’s production figures. Out of total fruit production for 2009-2010, 15.35 lakh tones constituting 90% was fresh fruit and the remaining 10% dry fruit. In the fruit  production figures share of apple accounted for 86.17% and walnut with 9.64% share, is the next major fruit.

As per provisional estimates of 18th livestock census 2007, total livestock population in the State has increased from 98.99 lakh in 2003 to 104.73 lakhs in 2007, registering an increase of 5.8%. The number of livestock per 1000 of human population as per livestock census 2007 was 882 animals while as at all India level the number was only 457, as per livestock census 2003.

The contribution of Manufacturing sector (both registered & un-registered) in GSDP of the state of  Kashmir is increasing day by day and has increased from 3.8% in 1999-00 to 7.17% in 2007-2008. Taking individually, the manufacturing sector. Registered contributes 2.65% and un-registered contributes 4.42% to GSDP of the State of Kashmir..

Census 2001 has revealed that 55% households live permanent houses. 32.15% in semi-permanent houses and 12.85% were living in temporary houses, and the relative position in India was 51.80%, 30.04% and 18.16% respectively. Categorizing the households living in owned, rented and other categories, works out to be 93%, 5% and 2% for the state of Kashmir and 87%, 11% and 2% respectively for India. (Writer-South Asia)

"Kashmir should be an independent state, not Indian, not Pakistani.

New York, Mar 6: Libyan scrambling premiere Muammar Gaddafi told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week that his actions against his people in Libya were akin to India's actions against Kashmiris.

On the eve of the UN Security Council debate and vote against Libya on February 26, Gaddafi, in a missive to Manmohan, asked for India's support for his actions as civil war broke out in Libya, a Delhi-based newspaper reported.

The request for support came even as African and European countries, including Libya's UN envoy who defected to the rebels, made an impassioned plea in the Security Council to refer Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court. India voted for the UNSC resolution, which was passed unanimously.

Gaddafi's mercurial character, though, was on full display on Libya's national day, which he celebrated earlier this week. In a five-hour address in Tripoli, he mentioned India at least five times, including saying that he would give future commercial contracts to Indian and Chinese companies and that he was very pleased with India's vote in the UN Security Council.

Gaddafi has rarely been a person India has been comfortable with. In September 2009, Gaddafi, in a 100-minute speech at the UN General Assembly, railed against India and Kashmir as well. "Kashmir should be an independent state, not Indian, not Pakistani. We should end this conflict. It should be a Ba'athist state between India and Pakistan," he said. (Writer-South Asia)

Sorbus Cashmiriana (Rowan Kashmir)

World'd most beautifull & Expensive Ornamental Tree

Sorbus Cashmiriana (Pride of Kashmir) 

(A remarkable and striking little ornamental/medicinal tree  that won the RHS Award of Merit in 2002.)

God has gifted Kashmir  with enormous varieties of medicinal plants. Out of these only 20% have so far been evaluated for their therapeutic potentials. Therefore, there is a need of coordinated and well-organized efforts in the area of chemistry of indigenous medicinal plants.

Sorbus cashmiriana is a small growing tree perfect for gardens. This stunning trees is small growing with plenty of interest all year round, making it a perfect candidate for Gardens!

Sorbus cashmiriana has soft pink flowers that are borne in Spring, followed by the classic fearn like leaflets displayed by Rowans.

The highlight of the year is in the autumn when the large white fruits are displayed, up to 12mm across, hanging in clusters from the tree.  The fruits are shiny and white, resembling marbles and remain on the tree long after the leaves have disappeared, often well into December.

Plant/seed available at: 
Chenab Industries
Mailing address: PO Box 667 Srinagar SGR J&K- 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Call us: 09858986794
e.mail: iirc@rediffmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in,cikashmir@gmail.com
web: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Kashmir is fighting for Right to Self Determination

Egypt and Kashmir

To draw a comparison between the two would be a fallacy

Burhan Majid

After Tunisia, Egypt is the buzzword. Indeed Egyptian people deserve applause. They have shown the world that how dedication and collective endeavour can bring a revolution. Even as the Egypt’s future remains to be precarious, a thirty year old dictatorship had fallen, reports Burhan Majid.

Though this major political development has its impact on the world politics, unfortunately, a section of people has surfaced, both within and outside, which drew parallels between Egypt and Kashmir, a Himalayan valley. Infact their argument is that Kashmiris should learn from the Egyptians.

To me it is a flawed argument, sufficient enough to add insult to the injury. The courage shown by Egyptian is worth inspiring, however, in no possible way can we draw a similarity between the recent protests in Egypt which toppled a regime and the struggle Kashmir is involved. If we do so, we delude our people.

At the first instance, Kashmir is fighting for Right to Self Determination; the Egyptian people want the change of regime that has been governing them for past thirty years. There is a world of difference between the two. In Egypt protests are related to governance and economy. In Kashmir the case is entirely different. Kashmir is a geopolitical issue. The world saw a sea of people at Tahrir Square (Egypt) for consecutive eighteen days. Can we think of same gathering for the same duration at Red Square (Lal Chowk) in Kashmir where at times people are not allowed to assemble for a peaceful demonstration? Where, last year alone, 112 youth fell to bullets while protesting against the atrocities committed by Indian forces and local police; where children as young as eight are killed mercilessly.

Another significant difference is that the protests in Egypt were given a widespread coverage by international media. Major media houses of the world ran the news about Egypt minute after minute. Live updates, videos photographs, debates, analysis and opinions were broadcasted. On the other hand, Kashmir is seldom talked or debated in the international media circles.

Though Indian media reported the events in Kashmir however the intention was only to malign the cause of Kashmiris and to label the genuine protestors as terrorists, paid agents and what have you. It was after so many killings that Kashmir was discussed and debated in Indian media circles.

The protests in Egypt were gaining momentum, the coverage by the media across the length and breadth of the world also intensified.  The BBC, CNN, New York Times, Guardian and many other international media outlet continuously reported about the situation unfolding in Egypt. Who voiced the voice of Kashmiris at the time of unrest?

Leave alone the question of international media as the agitation gained ground in Kashmir, the local electronic media was gagged and it continue to be till date.

Moreover, according to the media reports, Egyptian Army exercised maximum restraint while dealing with the protestors. Look at the way police and security agencies used power to crush the people and protestors.

Egyptians acknowledged that social networking websites played an important role in accomplishing the goal of ousting Hosni Mubarak. Though social media wasn’t the cause of revolution in Egypt, it hastened its pace and transferred the voice from one to millions.

In Kashmir, the youth tried to use the facebook in the similar fashion; tried to highlight the atrocities committed upon hapless people; but, they were arrested and few were charged under criminal offences.  SMS were banned. The service is yet to be restored for prepaid customers after ‘normalcy’ returned. The bottom-line is that the two are different and to draw comparison is fallacious.

Author is a researcher in Laws at University of Kashmir, and can be reached at burhan.mjd@gmail.com

U.S. does not support freedom in Egypt

By Christoph R. Horstel

With courage, enthusiasm and readiness to endure police brutalities and other hardships, the Egyptian people have managed to oust their hitherto nearly unchallenged president Hosni Mubarak and his son Gamal as designated political heir plus assurances for substantial changes in the constitution, a referendum and more attention to the needs of the poor. So far, so good, reports Tehran Times

But are we sure, how much freedom and social justice this new constitution will grant the people? How do we know, that the next set of government measures will gradually overcome the widening gap between rich and poor, mass poverty and joblessness in Egypt?

To check the chances of the people’s will to prevail, we look at history: Since the last 15 years serious transition or succession problems in the Arab world were discussed in western countries. Does anyone truly believe the U.S. never developed any change strategies and/or contingency plans to readiness status?

Then we consider social change in Egypt and elsewhere: A new class of mainly young and often secular-minded Arabs has developed among a larger change from a patriarchal society with hand made goods to an economy with wealthy capitalists, regional entrepreneurs and exporters of natural goods. And it were the wealthy, who used governmental power to further enrich themselves, thus pushing back the traditional set of landlords and bazaar traders.

At least three more key issues should be observed: It was the Serbian movement “Otpor” (once supported by the then U.S. ambassador Richard Miles), and nowadays renamed to “Centre for Non-Violent Action” (CNA) (at least indirectly financed through the “Open Society” network of the U.S. billionaire George Soros), which trained activists of several countries including Egypt and Tunisia. Does that mean the Egyptian revolution is in the hands of the U.S.? Not at all. These activists have a common trademark of working mainly via internet.

“Facebook revolution” is the new buzzword in western capitals – that says more than the eager commentators may have intended. Since all those wonderful internet platforms are subject to U.S. law obliging them to full disclosure of all information on all clients any time to U.S. intelligence, it is very clear, that little happens in Egypt that is not on the intelligence agenda.

No matter how often observers write that the U.S. were taken by surprise, stumbling behind events etc. – that is what those intelligence circles want us to believe. We still hear official blabber on intelligence failures on 9/11 and before the Iraq invasion. Had the U.S. with and through their leading Egyptian collaborators wished to stop the uprising early on, that had never put serious problems in the past and would not have this time. Rather the U.S. had helped prepare the events and let them happen:

The U.S. proxies, namely ex-IAEA boss ElBaradei, were ready, the military was faithful and ready, intelligence well informed. For a political steam pot like Egypt just a tiny, well-calculated reduction in pressure on the lid means heavy spill-overs. Imprisonments, torture and killings even continue to this day. For years the U.S. had used some of their support funds for Egypt to finance all those opposition groups susceptible to U.S. influence, translate: “democratic groups” or “development of civil society”. In vain did Egypt protest against this blatant interference in its interior affairs, as we know through embassy cables in WikiLeaks. And there are enough pictures and records of meetings hosted by Hillary Clinton for Egyptian friends of “Freedom House”.

Does this take any credibility off the Egyptian revolution? Not at all. But the U.S. is trying all the time to influence the results and hijack the benefits. Only awareness and efficient counter activities can stop this.

But this background induces us to look at second key issue: the present leadership personnel, since it will be those leaders to organize the start of Egypt’s future – and maybe more, if they do not abandon power as promised. The CIA lists Omar Suleiman as the most powerful Middle Eastern intelligence chief, the people dub him “Mubarak II”. Suleiman enjoys best contacts to the U.S. intelligence leadership. He has made Egypt a preferred CIA rendition hub and has personally overseen torture.

Therefore it is little wonder, that the demonstrators asked for his removal and were pacified only somewhat by introduction of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) as the real though unconstitutional leadership, comprising among others the defense minister Tantawi and army chief Enan. But what does this mean? In order to fully and truly do the will of the Egyptian people, the army and its intelligence shooting-star Suleiman would have to ultimately give up its obedience to the U.S. That is highly improbable: Location and time are not ready yet for Egypt’s Erdogan.

Until the end of February, the SMC will publish a proposal for changes to the constitution, a nationwide referendum is to be held within two months. That means, as the third key issue: turmoil in Egypt, is far from over. Three simple truths call for attention: The only single intact coherent power base in Egypt is the army. Like in the German army, many higher officers are more or less closely linked to the U.S. by multiple bonds - including years of consecutive training steps, many of them held in the U.S. The whole political fabric in Egypt: social groups, parties, internet-based groupings – are no viable power base, since they lack structure and experience. The one exception is the Muslim Brotherhood. And these valuable people are just by name a political monolith. But that is already enough for the U.S. to riddle them with government spies and make sure their influence will be limited at least for now – and mainly limited to those parts and personalities, which are “constructive” or, more accurately put: “open to influence”.

Another thought for accurate political calculation: Exchange old puppets by fresh puppets is old style. Modern U.S. policy accepts even full chaos as a viable “system” – in case a stable obedience can neither be reached quickly nor guaranteed for the next 20 years: Afghanistan and Pakistan are sad examples.

And, last not least, Obama’s speech on the Middle East held Tuesday made it clear: In their struggle against Iran the U.S. want to be sure to enlist any of the new and unstable leaderships. That is also one of the non-public but rock-hard pre-conditions to U.S. support.

For any opposition movement in the region a tough question appears: How to make sure, that no foreign power can hijack or misuse the accomplishments of political activities? Check the priorities: If the government is not pro-U.S., a one-year time delay in mass demonstrations may help to avoid being identified as part of the present U.S. regional plotting. And publicly as well as credibly disassociating the movement from U.S. government policies may prove helpful in many ways.

*The author is a government and business consultant in Germany, multiple book author and expert since 25 years on issues of Central Asia, the Middle East and security-related questions

Why America loves Israel and hates Iran

[Photo by www.sodahead.com/]
By A. Faizur Rahman 

By announcing fresh sanctions against Iran the UN Security Council has once again displayed a kind of motivated obstinacy which makes one suspect that it is not really serious about establishing peace in the region. But then the UN rarely exudes neutrality. It has always been subservient to American interests, particularly the pro-Israel US foreign policy that has kept West Asia on the boil ever since the creation of the Zionist state.

On the face of it, it may appear strange that the US-controlled Security Council should let go of the historic opportunity offered by the Turkish-Brazilian initiative to amicably resolve the Iran imbroglio. But West Asia watchers know that US response to Iran’s nuclear program cannot be seen in isolation because it is dictated by the US-Israeli relationship which again is not a mere political alliance but a symbiotic bond firmly secured by Judeo-Christian theology.

An analysis of the U.S. political scene would reveal that it is the Evangelical Right, also known as the Christian Zionists, led by extremist televangelists such as John Hagee, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who, along with the Jewish lobby, call the shots, in so far as the U.S. Middle East policy is concerned. It must, however, be said that mainstream Christianity (including the Catholic Church) does not identify itself with the fanatical beliefs of Evangelical Right such as those discussed below.

In a recent article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz titled Why Christian Zionists really support Israel Hagee wrote; “Our support for Israel starts with God’s promises in the Hebrew Bible, but it does not end there. Christian Zionists recognize that we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. As I have stressed to my Christian audiences for years: If you take away the Jewish contribution to Christianity, there would be no Christianity.” (http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/why-christian-zionists-really-suppor...).

By “God’s promises” Hagee is actually referring to the deliberate misrepresentations of certain biblical verses. One such verse promises Prophet Abraham and his descendants the land “from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). In another one God offers to give Abraham and his “seed” after him the entire land of Canaan (Palestine) “for an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8). It may be noted here that according to the Old Testament the Arabs and the Jews are the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael and Isaac respectively which, hypothetically speaking, makes them the joint owners of the “promised land.”

But for obvious reasons the Zionists and their Christian supporters do not recognise Ishmael as the legitimate son of Abraham as he was born to a “slave woman” named Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarah, the first wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac (Genesis 16:1-6). This divide was further aggravated by St.Paul who advised the Christians saying, “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way [Ishmael] persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit [Isaac]. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? ‘Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’” (Galatians 4:28-31).

It is therefore the belief of the Christians Zionists that the occupation of all Arab lands by the Jews (in fulfillment of the prophesy in Genesis 15:18), after driving out the children of the “slave woman”, is a prelude to the Second Coming of Christ and Armageddon, the biblical concept of the last battle between the Good and the Evil before the day of Judgment (Ezekiel 38-39). It is in this context that the US attitude to Iran must be seen and understood, and once again John Hagee personifies this extremist mindset. In his provocative book Jerusalem Countdown Hagee advocates a war on Iran saying; “The rise of terrorism in our world and the emerging crisis in the Middle East between Israel and Iran are part of a much bigger picture – that of God’s plan for the future of Israel and the entire world. We are going to discover we are facing a countdown in the Middle East – the Jerusalem Countdown, a battle such as the world has never seen or will ever see again.”

But what many Israelis are unaware of is that the Zionist Christians are not exactly honest in their support for their country. They have their own hidden religious agenda according to which, Jesus in his second mission will convert all the Jews to Christianity, and therefore, to hasten this process all must be done to help the Jews take over the Arab lands between Nile and Euphrates. This belief is based on a statement in Mathew 23:39 in which Jesus is quoted as saying, “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” As Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience at that time the Zionist Christians interpret this statement as having one meaning: for Jesus to make a second appearance all Jews must be converted to Christianity.

No wonder Hagee was forced to clarify in his aforementioned article that, “I am not at all surprised that many in the Jewish community are skeptical of Christian support for Israel. Some worry that our efforts are motivated by a desire to convert Jews. Others posit that our Zionism is tied to an effort to speed the second coming of Jesus. Both of these allegations are flat wrong. All we ask of our Jewish friends is that they get to know us before they judge us harshly on the basis of myths such as these.”

It is a strange paradox that, on the one hand we have the Christian Zionists supporting Israel with financial, moral and military aid in the dogmatic hope of one day converting all the Jews to Christianity, and on the other, we see the cunning Zionists - who never accepted Jesus as their Messiah - successfully manipulating the Christian Right using their own Bible to further their diabolical expansionist agenda. The ultimate victims of this unholy scheming between two Machiavellian religious groups are the innocent Palestinians who have been rendered refugees in their own homeland.

(The author is the Secretary General of Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought Among Muslims. He may be reached at faizz@rocketmail.com).

India is afraid of China : ‘Forget maps, Delhi better takes up incursions in Ladakh with Beijing’ PDP Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 15: After Indian  Home Minister P Chidambaram warned of action against the Peoples Democratic Party for displaying controversial State-map, the party president Mahbooba Mufti Monday accused New Delhi of being silent on Chinese incursions in Jammu and Kashmir.“PDP is the only party which talks about the parts of JK’s territory under China. When we talk about final Kashmir resolution,

we demand JK’s territory under China back,” Mahbooba told Rising Kashmir at her Gupkar residence.She said the party displayed the map of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir  which includes the then territory currently under China’s control. “One should not forget that Kashmir used to remain connected with Central Asian countries like Iran, China and Afghanistan through the ancient routes like Yarkand and Kashkghar.

About Home Minister’s warning, the PDP chief said, “I respect Chidambaram. But instead of issuing warnings against PDP, he (Home Minister) should check the Chinese incursions in Ladakh and settle the visa row with Beijing as well”.

She said India takes bold stand when it comes to getting back the part of Kashmir under Pakistan. “But it (India) seems to be afraid to talk about Chinese incursions and the huge infrastructure including roads being built by China in Ladakh,” she said.

Claiming that China is constructing huge infrastructure especially roads every year on the State’s territory, Mahbooba said, “Why isn’t India talking about such things”.

“We want freedom to walk on all ancient routes of the State. We want restoration of all roads which were used by the people of Kashmir when they were travelling on horses. We have Karakoram pass, which can connect JK not just with India but with the rest of the world as well. We want JK to be trade-hub and a gateway of Central Asian countries,” she said.

The PDP chief said her party’s stand had been to see Kashmir as it existed before 1947, which means Prime Minister, Governor (elected), joint council having member of PaK as well, dual currency, State as a free economic zone and full administrative powers.

The PDP in a power-point presentation in Srinagar on Saturday depicted Aksai Chin in red colour and as part of China, while the Pakistan Administered Kashmir was coloured in green.

The move, however, triggered strong criticism first by the chief minister Omar Abdullah and then by Home Minister.

“Mahbooba should clear her stand on map. We cannot gift State’s territory to China,” Omar had said.

Chidambaram had also reacted sharply to the development. He told a news channel that PDP had made a big mistake and if it did not correct it, he would take action against it. (Writer-South Asia)

Kashmir hub to 2100 species of medicinal, fruit & aromatic plants

Srinagar, Feb 5: Jammu and Kahsmir is home to around 2100 species of medicinal and aromatic plants with most of them found in the forests of the Valley, experts said. Experts said all these herbs were beneficial to man in one way or the other.

 “There is a tremendous potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Kashmir. The entire Kashmir vale is having this natural wealth in abundance,” said Director, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction  Centre (JKMPIC), Sheikh GULZAAR.

He said forest institutions must include medicinal and aromatic plants in “major forest produce” like they have included timber.

“These plants are considered as minor forest produce. They may be minor by quantity, but so far as their value is concerned, they are worth crores of rupees, which may outnumber the potential of timber,” said Sheikh GULZAAR.

He said there were number of uses of both medicinal and aromatic plants. “A medicinal plant namely Texus baccata Linn, secrets an anti-insect drug called Taxol, which has got a very high medicinal value,” said Sheikh GULZAAR.      

To name a few other traditional medicinal herbs, the very popular Artemisia absinthium is used for curing Ascaris (round worms), Rheum emodi Wall for useful in dyspepsia, ulcers and wounds for quick healing, Valeriana jatamansi Jonesis used in ladies’ tonic, where as Aconitum heterophyllum secretes essential alcoholides.

“Then Origanum vulgare cashmeriana, a gynecological product, has got a huge demand both in national and international markets. Kashmir is the only place in South Asia , Origanum vulgare cashmeriana is useful in Bath to ladies after child birth; antiseptic.. So this is the right place for Origanum vulgare cashmeriana, for the topography here is good and environment and temperature are also conducive for this product,” he said.

Globally, he said, people were moving from allopathic medicines to natural remedies because of “least chances of side-effects in them and their affordability.”

Some of the aromatic plants found in forests include wild Rose, Lavender, Rosemarry, and Juniper. “Although wild rose is not abundant in forests, however it can be cultivated there,” he said.

Sheikh GULZAAR said aromatic plants usually secrete essential oils “that are used in making perfumes, soaps, rose oil, cosmetics, confectionaries and so on.” He said the rose oil extracted from Kashmir has been found to much better than that of China and other countries.

An aromatic plant called Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss is used in incense sticks, Dyscorea is used in soaps, where as Pyrethrum secretes a natural anti-mosquito insecticide.

“The anti-mosquito insecticide that we generally get in markets is not natural but synthetic, besides it is not environment-friendly. However, we have got a good natural anti-mosquito insecticide, chemically called Pyrithine, which may not be available in high contents here, but Kashmiri temperature is ideal for the aromatic herb locally called Pyrethrum, which secretes this natural insecticide,” he said.

 “There was a time when this herb was cultivated in South Kashmir region  by Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre (JKMPIC), ” he added.

Sheikh GULZAAR said there were also some aromatic plants “that can be used for food as well.” “For instance (Black cumin) plant is both an edible and aromatic plant,” he said.  

He said earlier apart from growing in forests, some valuable herbs would grow in Srinagar city as well. “There were a number of natural herbs found here, for which we didn’t need to go to the forests. Some of these were  Oak-Quercus robur Colchicum Luteum,Saffron  (Crocus sativus Linn), Marijuana-Cannabis cashmiriana, Hawthorn (Crataegus  oxycantha), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea), Celosia Linn, Pyrethrum, Malus communis, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus serotina, Cedrus deodar,  Aeaxulus indica Colebr, Capsicum annum, Ginkgo biloba Seeds,Wild Cherry, Sweet Cherry, Pomengranate , Sweet Appricort, Apple, Kewi, Plum, Lukat, Peach, Almond, Walnut Grapes, Sweet Chestnut, Ginkgo biloba , Althaea officinalis, cypress cashmiriana ,Ceratonia siliqua, Viola serpentine cashmiriana (Bunafsha),  Dioscorea  deltoidea, Saussurea costus cashmiriana, Gladiolus  , Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens), Atropa Belladona , Kuth (Saussuria lappa), Phytolacca acinosa, Rosmarinus officinalisetc, Rosemerry.

In order to popularize medicinal plants, particularly those used in  Unani,Ayurvedic/Hemopathy, The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre  is  one of the premier  Agriculture, Horticulture & Floriculture based institution involved in production, development, introduction, trading and manufacturing of  Fruit, Medicinal Plants, Vegetable seeds of Kashmir.

For Planting materials
Available in : 15th Feb- 15th March (Every Year)
Some plants are available in Polybag/without Polybag

For Seed materials
Available in : January - December (Full Year)
(Depending on availability)
Available in With and without Poly bag and seeds Available in our Centre.
Fruiting years will be Depend on Your State or country climate.

Seeds and planting materials would be supplied against advance payment depending upon the availability at JKMPIC Headquarter/ International Information Resource Centers.

Get more details for seed/planting material:-

The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR J&K 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com

home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

(Hindi)

कश्मीर औषधीय, फल एवं सुगंधित पौधों की 2100 प्रजातियों के लिए हब

श्रीनगर, 5 फरवरी: जम्मू Kahsmir उनमें से ज्यादातर के साथ 2100 के आसपास औषधीय और सुगंधित पौधों की प्रजातियों के लिए घर है घाटी के जंगलों में पाया, विशेषज्ञों ने कहा. विशेषज्ञों ने कहा कि इन सभी जड़ी बूटियों एक ही रास्ता या अन्य में मनुष्य के लिए लाभदायक थे.

उन्होंने कहा कि जम्मू और कश्मीर राज्य में औषधीय और सुगंधित पौधों की एक जबरदस्त क्षमता कश्मीर में, विशेष रूप से है. , निदेशक, जम्मू और कश्मीर मेडिसिनल प्लांट्स परिचय सैंटर (JKMPIC), Sheikh GULZAAR कहा पूरे कश्मीर घाटी बहुतायत में इस प्राकृतिक संपदा चल रहा है ".

उन्होंने कहा कि वन संस्थानों में औषधीय और सुगंधित पौधों में शामिल हैं "प्रमुख वन उपज" की तरह वे लकड़ी शामिल होना चाहिए.
"ये पौधे के रूप में लघु वन उपज माना जाता है. शेख GULZAAR ने कहा कि वे मात्रा से मामूली हो, लेकिन अभी तक के रूप में उनके मूल्य का सवाल है, वे करोड़ों रुपये की है, जो लकड़ी की संभावना बढ़ सकती हैं. '

उन्होंने कहा कि दोनों औषधीय और सुगंधित पौधों के उपयोग के नंबर थे. "एक औषधीय पौधे अर्थात् Texus baccata Linn, रहस्य एक विरोधी कीट Taxol नामक दवा है, जो एक बहुत ही उच्च औषधीय मूल्य मिल गया है," Sheikh GULZAAR कहा.

कुछ अन्य पारंपरिक औषधीय जड़ी बूटियों का नाम, बहुत लोकप्रिय Artemisia चिरायता उपयोगी के लिए अपच अल्सर, और त्वरित उपचार के लिए घावों में (गोल कृमि) Ascaris, Rheum emodi दीवार के इलाज के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है, Valeriana jatamansi Jonesis 'महिलाओं के टॉनिक, जहां के रूप में प्रयोग किया जाता Aconitum heterophyllum आवश्यक alcoholides secretes.

"तो फिर Origanum vulgare cashmeriana, एक gynecological उत्पाद, दोनों राष्ट्रीय और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय बाजारों में भारी मांग हो गया है. कश्मीर दक्षिण एशिया में ही जगह है, Origanum vulgare cashmeriana स्नान में बच्चे के जन्म के बाद महिलाओं के लिए उपयोगी है, एंटीसेप्टिक .. उन्होंने कहा, तो यह Origanum vulgare cashmeriana के लिए सही स्थलाकृति के लिए जगह है, यहाँ है अच्छा है और वातावरण और तापमान भी इस उत्पाद के लिए अनुकूल हैं ".

विश्व स्तर पर, उन्होंने कहा, लोगों को एलोपैथिक दवाओं से की वजह से प्राकृतिक उपचार के लिए आगे बढ़ रहे थे "उन्हें और उनके पक्ष में सामर्थ्य का प्रभाव कम से कम संभावना है."

सुरभित जंगलों में पाया पौधों में से कुछ जंगली गुलाब, लैवेंडर, Rosemarry, और जुनिपर शामिल हैं. ", यद्यपि जंगली गुलाब जंगलों में प्रचुर मात्रा में नहीं है, लेकिन यह वहाँ खेती की जा सकती" उन्होंने कहा.

Sheikh GULZAAR कहा. कर रही है कि इत्र, साबुन, तेल, सौंदर्य प्रसाधन, confectionaries और इतने पर गुलाब में किया जाता है "उन्होंने कहा कश्मीर से निकाले तेल गुलाब ज्यादा चीन और अन्य की तुलना में बेहतर करने के लिए पाया गया है सुगंधित पौधों आमतौर पर आवश्यक तेलों छिपाना देशों के.

एक खुशबूदार संयंत्र बुलाया Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss लाठी, Dyscorea साबुन, जहां के रूप में Pyrethrum एक प्राकृतिक विरोधी मच्छर कीटनाशक secretes में प्रयोग किया जाता है धूप में प्रयोग किया जाता है.

"विरोधी मच्छर कीटनाशक है कि हम आम तौर पर बाजार में लाने के प्राकृतिक सिंथेटिक नहीं है, लेकिन, इसके अलावा यह पर्यावरण के अनुकूल नहीं है. उन्होंने कहा, हालांकि, हम एक अच्छा प्राकृतिक विरोधी मच्छर कीटनाशक, रासायनिक Pyrithine कहा जाता है, जो उच्च सामग्री में यहाँ उपलब्ध नहीं हो सकता है मिल गया है, लेकिन कश्मीरी तापमान खुशबूदार जड़ी बूटी के लिए आदर्श है स्थानीय Pyrethrum है, जो इस प्राकृतिक कीटनाशक secretes बुलाया गया ".

 "वहाँ एक समय था जब इस जड़ी बूटी दक्षिण कश्मीर क्षेत्र में जम्मू और कश्मीर मेडिसिनल प्लांट्स परिचय केन्द्र (JKMPIC) द्वारा खेती की गई थी" उन्होंने कहा.

Sheikh GULZAAR कहा. "है कि अच्छी तरह के रूप में भोजन के लिए इस्तेमाल किया जा सकता है" "वहाँ भी थे कुछ सुगंधित पौधों (काला जीरा) उदाहरण के संयंत्र के लिए, वह दोनों एक खाद्य और खुशबूदार संयंत्र है" कहा.

वह अलग पहले जंगलों में बढ़ती से कहा, कुछ बहुमूल्य जड़ी बूटियों श्रीनगर शहर में भी होने लगा. "वहाँ थे प्राकृतिक जड़ी बूटियों के एक नंबर यहाँ पाया है, जिसके लिए हम जंगलों में जाने की जरूरत नहीं थी. इनमें से कुछ ओक-Quercus robur Colchicum luteum, केसर (Crocus sativus Linn), मारिजुआना, कैनबिस cashmiriana, (Crataegus oxycantha) नागफनी, Clary (Salvia sclarea) बाबा, Celosia Linn, Pyrethrum, Malus communis, आलू armeniaca, आलू serotina थे, Cedrus देवदार, Aeaxulus इंडिका Colebr, शिमला मिर्च वर्ष, जिन्कगो biloba बीज, वाइल्ड चेरी, मीठा चेरी, Pomengranate, मीठा Appricort, एप्पल, Kewi, बेर, Lukat, पीच, बादाम, अखरोट अंगूर, मीठा अखरोट, जिन्कगो biloba, Althaea Officinalis, सरू cashmiriana, Ceratonia siliqua, Viola चक्करदार cashmiriana (Bunafsha), Dioscorea deltoidea, Saussurea costus cashmiriana, gladiolus, देखा (Serenoa repens) Palmetto, Atropa Belladona, Kuth (Saussuria lappa), Phytolacca acinosa, Rosmarinus officinalisetc, Rosemerry.

आदेश में औषधीय पौधों, विशेष रूप से उन यूनानी, आयुर्वेदिक में प्रयोग किया जाता / Hemopathy, जम्मू और कश्मीर औषधीय पौधों का परिचय केंद्र एक प्रमुख कृषि बागवानी, फूलों की खेती और उत्पादन आधारित, विकास, परिचय, व्यापार में शामिल संस्था और फलों के उत्पादन में से एक है लोकप्रिय बनाने के लिए , औषधीय पौधे, कश्मीर की सब्जी बीज.

सामग्री रोपण के लिए
में उपलब्ध है: 15 फ़रवरी - 15 मार्च (हर साल)
कुछ पौधों में polybag polybag बिना / उपलब्ध हैं

बीज सामग्री के लिए
में उपलब्ध है: जनवरी - दिसम्बर (पूर्ण वर्ष)
(उपलब्धता के आधार पर)
साथ में और पाली बैग के बिना उपलब्ध है और बीज हमारे केन्द्र में उपलब्ध है.
फलने साल आपके राज्य या देश जलवायु पर निर्भर हो जाएगा.

बीज और पौध रोपण सामग्री अग्रिम में उपलब्धता के आधार पर भुगतान के खिलाफ की आपूर्ति की जाएगी JKMPIC मुख्यालय / अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सूचना संसाधन केंद्र.

बीज / रोपण सामग्री के लिए और अधिक जानकारी प्राप्त करें: -
जम्मू और कश्मीर औषधीय पौधों का परिचय केंद्र
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घर: Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre

US complicit in India’s systematic use of torture in Kashmir

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By Deepal Jayasekera
Washington,  3 Feb: US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks show that Washington has long had evidence of Indian authorities’ systematic use of torture against opponents of Indian rule over Jammu and Kashmir, but has chosen not to speak out against New Delhi’s gross human rights violations.

In a classified cable sent in April 2005, the then-US ambassador to New Delhi, David C. Mulford, reported to the US State Department on a “confidential briefing” embassy officials had received from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) “on widespread severe torture in Indian prisons in Kashmir between 2002 and 2004.”

“The continued ill-treatment of detainees,” reported Mulford, “despite longstanding ICRC-GOI (Government of India] dialogue, have led the ICRC to conclude” that New Delhi “condones torture.”

In their briefing, the ICRC officials emphasized that those subjected to torture by Indian authorities were generally not anti-Indian insurgents—since Indian security forces have a standard practice of summarily executing suspected insurgents. Rather they were noncombatants, those accused of providing the insurgents support or suspected of having useful information: the “detainees were rarely militants (they are routinely killed), but persons connected to or believed to have information about the insurgency.”

The ICRC officials said they had made more than 177 visits to detention centers and had interviewed 1,491 detainees. Of these, according to the US embassy’s summation of the ICRC findings, 852, or well over half, had suffered abuse. 171 were beaten and 681 were “subjected to one or more of six forms of torture.” 498 persons were subjected to electric shocks; 381 to suspension from a ceiling; 294 to crushing of leg muscles through use of a “roller”; 181 to 180-degree leg-splitting; 234 to various forms of water torture; and 302 to sexual abuse.

The “numbers add up to more than 681,” says the cable “as many detainees were subjected to more than one form of IT (ill-treatment.) ICRC stressed that all the branches of the security forces used these forms of IT and torture.”

Indian and international human rights organizations have presented numerous reports documenting Indian authorities’ horrific human right abuses in the two-decades-old counterinsurgency war in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state.

Nevertheless, the evidence presented by the ICRC to the US diplomats was both damning—given the access the ICRC had had to Indian detention centers—and highly significant. As a rule, the ICRC does not make its findings known to anyone but the government having jurisdiction over the facilities it inspects. It argues that if it assumes a public advocacy role, its status as a neutral organization will be jeopardized and governments will deny access to prisoners, making it impossible for the ICRC to fulfill its humanitarian mission.

But in this case, ICRC officials had apparently become so frustrated and angered by the stance of the Indian government they chose to reveal their findings to US officials. The cable reports, “There is a regular and widespread use of IT and torture by the security forces during interrogation; -- This always takes place in the presence of officers; -- ICRC has raised these issues with the GOI for more than 10 years; -- Because practice continues, ICRC is forced to conclude that GOI condones torture.”

Horrific as were the ICRC’s findings, its officials reported that conditions had improved from the mid-1990s, when security forces invaded villages in the middle of the night and arbitrarily and indefinitely detained many of their residents.

Still, the ICRC had never been allowed right to speak with prisoners at the most “notorious” detention center, the “Cargo Building” in Srinagar. And increasingly the Indian government was seeking to curb the ICRC’s activities, even though, in keeping with its traditional mode of operation, it had not made any of its findings public. According to the April 2005 cable, the ICRC had told the US diplomats, “the MEA [Indian ministry of external affairs] also protested the ICRC’s presence in Srinagar [the capital of Jammu and Kashmir], asking it to ‘wind up’ its operations, advising that its ‘public activities must stop’ (believed to be a reference to a seminar ICRC staff held at Kashmir University on IHL in 2004), and warning against ‘unauthorized contacts with separatist elements’.”

In another cable from 2007, the US’s Indian embassy noted that a member of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature, Usman Abdul Majid, was the leader a pro-Indian government militia “notorious for its use of torture, extra-judicial killing, rape and extortion of Kashmiri civilians suspected of harbouring or facilitating terrorists.”

But while US officials in India have been keeping the State Department informed of the conduct of the Indian security forces and allied militia in Kashmir and of the support this enjoys from the highest levels of the Indian government, neither they nor their superiors in Washington have publicly condemned the Indian authorities. On the contrary, under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, India has been touted as the world’s most populous democracy and a “natural ally” of the US in promoting “democratic values” around the world. When Obama visited India last month, in deference to his hosts, he studiously avoided any mention of Kashmir.

The US’s silence on the Indian state’s repression in Kashmir is yet another example of the cynicism and hypocrisy of US foreign policy under Republican and Democratic administrations alike. Washington routinely issues ringing condemnations of the human rights violations of foreign governments whose interests and policies are cutting across those of the US corporate elite—condemnations that are then amplified by a pliant media. But India is being assiduously courted by Washington and Wall Street, because it is viewed as a counterweight to a rising China. Hence the US silence on the repression in Kashmir.

Declaring that the US wants to assist India in becoming a “world power,” the US, under George W. Bush, secured India special status in the world nuclear regulatory regime, giving it the right to purchase civilian nuclear technology and fuel, although New Delhi developed nuclear weapons in defiance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And Obama, also touting the US’s support for India’s global aspirations, announced during his recent trip to India that Washington supports India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The Indian elite’s reaction to the WikiLeaks cables about Kashmir has been telling. A spokesman for the India’s Congress Party-led coalition government brushed the ICRC findings aside, declaring “India is an open and democratic nation which adheres to the rule of law. If and when an aberration occurs, it is promptly and firmly dealt with under existing legal mechanisms in an effective and transparent manner.”

The reality is India’s security forces have and continue to enjoy impunity.

Not surprisingly, the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which led India’s government from 1998 to 2004 and presided over much of the repression in Kashmir, had nothing to say about the ICRC findings.

As for the Indian press, it gave the matter short shrift. In some of the major dailies, such as the Hindu and the Indian Express, there were perfunctory reports, but there were no editorials demanding that the government and security forces be held to account. The attitude of the press and the ruling class toward the Kashmir question is exemplified by the recent widespread calls for the writer Arundhati Roy to be charged with treason for suggesting that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should have the right to choose to leave the Indian Union.

In response to the WikiLeaks revelations, the head of the National Conference (NC)— which leads the current state government in Jammu and Kashmir in a coalition with the Congress Party and is also a partner of the Congress in India’s national government—tried to shift the blame on his political rivals.

“We don’t condone torture and will not turn a blind eye to reports of human rights violations,” declared Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “Not only the state government, but the Center too has a policy of zero tolerance to human rights abuses.”

Refusing to comment directly on the WikiLeaks’ exposure, Abdullah said, “I am not getting into it… It pertains to 2005 and you know who was in power that time.” Abdullah was referring to the fact that the state was then ruled by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also in a coalition with the Congress Party.

Abdullah’s claims to uphold democratic rights are belied by the actions of his government. Under its direction, security forces killed more than a hundred unarmed demonstrators this summer in a bid to quell a popular mobilization in the Kashmir Valley provoked by the police killing of a youth. (See Kashmir seethes: Indian elite resorts to repression and political maneuvers)

In answer to Abdullah, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said, “Omar Abdullah should be the last person talking about human rights abuse. The PDP’s tenure is for everybody to see and we don’t need any certificate from anybody but the people.” Turning the tables on the NC, she added: “We inherited from the National Conference (in 2002) a Kashmir in which human rights violations were at their peak.”

Both Kashmir regional parties have served as junior partners of the Indian state and the principal parties of the Indian bourgeoisie, the Congress Party and the BJP, in the systematic violation of democratic and human rights in Kashmir, including the torture of political prisoners as documented in the diplomatic cables exposed by WikiLeaks.

Pakistani nuclear weapons are heavily deployed near its border with India

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has doubled its nuclear arms stockpile to 110 warheads, developing new weapons to deliver them and significantly accelerating production of uranium and plutonium for bombs to edge ahead of India.

Islamabad's nuclear weapons stockpile now totals more than 110 deployed weapons in a sharp jump from an estimated 30-80 weapons fours years ago, 'Washington Post' reported.

"Pakistan has expanded its nuclear weapons production capability rapidly", the Post quoted David Albright President of the Institute for Science and International Security as saying.

Albright said that based on accelerated production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium, Pakistan may now have an arsenal upto 110 weapons.

The non-government US analyst said that while continuing to produce weapons-grade uranium at two sites, Islamabad has sharply increased its production of plutonium, enabling it to make lighter warheads for more mobile delivery system.

Pakistan's has developed a new missile Shaheen II, with a range of 1,500 miles which is about to go into operation deployment. The country has also developed nuclear capable land and air launched cruise missiles, the Institute said in a new report.

"The Pakistanis have significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them. After years of approximate weapons parity, experts said, Pakistan has now edged ahead of India, its nuclear-armed rival", Washington Post said.

The paper said while Pakistan has produced more nuclear-armed weapons, India is believed to have larger existing stockpiles of such fissile material for future weapons.

Dubbing Pakistan as one of the world's most unstable region, Post said an escalation of nuclear arms race in South Asia possess a dilemma for Obama Administration.

It said in politically fragile Pakistan, the Administration is caught between fears of proliferation or possible terrorist attempts to seize nuclear materials and Pakistani suspicions that the US aims to control or limit its weapons programme and favours India.

Quoting Pakistan's Defense attache at its embassy in Washington, Post said the number of Pakistani nuclear weapons are heavily deployed near its border with India.

The paper said that in December 2008, Peter Lavoie, US national intelligence officer for South Asia, told NATO officials that "despite pending economic catastrophe, Pakistan is producing nuclear weapons at a faster rate than in any other country in the world".

Will expose the Ministers, Politicians, Bureaucrats: Hilal War

By: Ajaz Ahmad
Srinagar, 2 Feb:  editor.kmw  An emergency meeting PPP was presided over by Engineer Hilal Ahmad War was held at the Rajbagh Headquarters of the People’s Political Party (PPP)   wherein it was declared that the party won’t allow the culprits of the infamous 2006 sex scandal to go scot-free, reports Kashmir Media Watch.

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The meeting was held in response to the ‘clean chit’ that the main accused Raman Mattoo, a former Minister, Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary (Planning) former Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi etc.were given by Two main victims-cum-witnesses who  were  being forced to retract from their earlier statement under a big conspiracy to  pave the way for CBI court to give ‘Clean Chit’ to the accused Ministers, Bureaucrats and Police officers etc.Recently two key witnesses and ‘victim’ turned hostile in the Kashmir sex scandal case, a 25-year-old ‘rape victim’ and a 45 year old Police Constable, key witness in the case has retracted from their statement in the CBI special court in Chandigarh.

Chairman PPP, Hilal Ahmed War said Kashmiris will never forgive the culprits of the well planned sex racket through which innocent girls were lured and exploited. “It was a well planned policy to involve innocent Kashmiri girls, both by blackmail and temptation, into flesh trade, so that immorality and promiscuity could be infused into Kashmiri society which would be a great impediment to the freedom movement,” said War adding “Agencies have always been  on a hunt for innocent people in Kashmir to not only dilute our values but also to draw the attention away from the Kashmir issue.”

It was decided in the meeting that PPP would fight tooth and nail to expose all the people involved in the scandal. “We will not forgive anybody,” said PPP Chairman. He said PPP has a complete list of all the bureaucrats, ministers, politicians, businessmen and everyone else who was a part of the racket in one way or the other. “We will definitely come out with the detailed, complete list at the right time,” said War adding “If an honest investigation would have been carried out, we would have seen the real face of a number of our ministers and bureaucrats and some so called respectable citizens.”

Mr.War said, “Some favourite  Ministers of PDP- Congress Coalition Government ,involved in the infamous Sex Scam 2006, were left scot- free by CBI, few of them Cabinet Ministers in Present Govt. are also using their influence to hush up the case fearing that if the case would be investigated their names would figure”. PPP Chief, appealed the Jammu and Kashmir Govt to reinvestigate the infamous Sex Scam of 2006 and punish all those Ministers, Political leaders, Bureaucrats and other officials involved in the exploiting underaged girls inkling those who were let-off by CBI, failing which PPP will be constrained to take the case in People’s Court. He further said that we will come up with a Solid Evidence –cum-Proof.

The infamous sec racket, had shook the valley, protests from all quarters had shaken the administration. The political parties in power, political parties without power, separatists, social groups, citizens, lawyers and even bollywood had demanded answers from the government as well as a thorough probe. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir had handed over the case to the federal investigation agency of India, the Central Bureau of Investigations, but has saved the favourite ones. This has satisfied none. According to reports Nine Ministers of the previous coalition government figured in the 2004 investigations and Mufti Sayeed personally intervened to save his government.

He said his party cannot allow eyewash in the name of probe. “Kashmiris will stand up and we will make sure nobody among the exploiters is spared,” he said.

War also threatened to launch a full-fledged agitation if the culprits were not brought to the book. “If these criminals are not named and punished, we will not take it hands down.” He said that the girls were first exploited and are now being threatened into submission. “They are threatening these girls to fall in line with them to save these people,” said War “We will never allow this. These girls were first victimized physically and now they are constantly being harassed to hush up the truth.” (Writer-South Asia)

British Muslim population could double in 20 years

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London, 31 Jan: THE population of Muslims in Britain could almost double to 5.5 million within 20 years, according to new research. According to a worldwide study by a Washington think-tank the growth will mainly be driven by immigration, reports Christian Messenger.

Pew Research Center researchers have made projections that the world’s Muslim population could increase by about 35 per cent over the next two decades.

The report noted that today the number of Muslims make up 4.6 per cent of the population in the UK. However, Pew researchers predict an increase to more than eight per cent by 2030.

Speaking about the Muslim share of the population, the report said: “The greatest increases – driven primarily by continued migration – are likely to occur in Western and Northern Europe, where Muslims will be approaching double-digit percentages of the population in several countries”.

The Pew report also cited high birth rates. It said that “generally, Muslim populations tend to have higher fertility rates (more children per woman) than non-Muslim populations”.

A survey conducted last year revealed that most Britons are concerned about the growing influence of Islam in the UK and believe that Islam is dividing the nation.

The annual British Social Attitudes survey found that 52 per cent of the population believe that Britain is deeply divided along religious lines, with just one in four people feeling positive about Islam.

The survey also revealed that 55 per cent of the population would be strongly opposed if a large mosque was built in their area. The results suggest that unhappiness over the influence of Islam is now a matter of national concern. (Writer-South Asia)