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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants of India

Agriculture Desk
http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
Srinagar, June 11: India is endowed with a rich wealth of medicinal plants.These plants have made a good contribution to the development of ancient Indian materia medica. One of the earliest treatises on Indian medicine,the Charak Samhita(1000 B.C),records the use of over 340 drugs of vegetable origin. Most of these continue to be gathered from wild plants to meet the demand of the medical profession.Thus, despite the rich heritage of knowledge on the use of plant drugs, little attention had been paid to grow them as field crops in the country till the latter part of the nineteenth century.

During the past seven or eight decades, there has been a rapid extension of the allopathic system of medical treatment in India. It generated a commercial demand for pharmacopoeial drugs and products in the country, Thus efforts were made to introduce many of these drug plants into Indian agriculture, and studies on the cultivation practices were undertaken for those plants which were found suitable and remunerative for commerical cultivation. In general, agronomic practices for growing poppy, isabgol, senna, cinchona, ipecac, belladonna, ergot and a few others have been developed and there is now localized cultivation of these medicinal plants commercially. The average annual foreign trade in crude drugs and their phytochemicals is between 60 and 80 million rupees and this accounts for a little over 0.5 per cent of the world trade in these commodities.

Ginkgo biloba seedling
The curative properties of drugs are due to the presence of complex chemical substances of varied composition (present as secondary plant metabolites) in one or more parts of these plants. These plant metabolites in one, according to their composition, are grouped as alkaloids, glycosides, corticosteroids, essential oils, etc. The alkaloids form the largest group, which includes morphine and codein (poppy), strychnine and brucine(nux vomica), quinine(cinchona), ergotamine(ergot), hypocyamine,(beeladona) ,scolapomine(datura), emetine(ipecac), cocaine(coco), ephedrine(ephedra), reserpine(Rauwolfia), caffeine(tea dust), aconitine(aconite), vascine(vasaca). santonin(Aremisia), lobelin(Lobelia) and a large number of others. Glycosides form another important group represented by digoxin(foxglove), stropanthin(strophanthus), glycyrrhizin(liquorice), barbolin (aloe), sennocides (senna),etc. Corticosteroids have come into prominence recently and diosgenin(Dioscorea), solasodin(Solanum sp.),etc. now command a large world demand. Some essential oils such as those of valerian kutch and peppermint also possess medicating properties and are used in pharmaceutical industry. However, it should be stated in all fairness that our knowledge of the genetic and physiological make-up of most of the medicinal plants is poor and we know still less about the biosynthetic pathways leading to the formation of active constituents for which these crops are valued.

Sage cashmerina
During the last two decades, the pharmaceutical industry has made massive investments on pharmacological, clinical and chemical researches all over the world in an effort to discover and still more potent  plant drugs ; in fact, a few new drug plants have suceessfully passed the tests of commercial screening. However, benefits of this labour would reach the masses when the corresponding support for agricultural studies for commercial cultivation is provided. Infact, agricultural studies on medicinal plants, by its very nature, demand an equally large investment and higher priority. India, in particular, has a big scope for the development of the pharmaceutical and phytochemical industry.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia(1966) recognizes eighty five drug plants whose ingredients are used in various pharmaceutical preparations. We shall, however, confine our treatment to a few important commercially grown medicinal plants whose cultivation deserves priority in out national economy.

Chinar cashmeriana
CINCHONA (cinchona ledgeriana Linn.and allied spp.). Sixty-five species distributed in the Andes at elevations of 800 to 2,800 m, occur mainly in Peru, Bolivia, Columbia and Ecuador. Commercial supplies of the bank are obtained from C.ledgeriana, c.officinalis, C.calisaya, C.succirubra and their numerous hybrids. The cinchona bark yields quinine which is used as a treatment against malaria. Quinine salts are now increasingly used in soft drinks as bittters and quinidine sulphate is use in the treatment of heart troubles, such as auricular fibrillation and venticular trachycardia. Cinchona plantations cover about 1,600 ha in the Nilgiris and the Annamalais Hills(Tamil Nadu). India, Indonesia and Zaire(the Congo) are major suppliers of quinine products to the world market ; the Indian export of quinine salts earns about Rs 10 million annually.

C.ledgerianna Moens is a small tree grown at elevations between 1,000 and 1,900 m, mainly in West Bengal. The average total alkaloid content in the root, stem and branch (of plants 10-12 years old) is 7.21, 6.01 and 4.0 per cent of which the quinine content is 5, 4 and 1.98 per cent respectively. Under less favourable conditions, a hybrid (ledgerianna X succirubra) is preffered ; the hybrid has a lower quinine content, but it produces a more robust tree, growth. C.officinalie Linn. is a weak straggling tree, about 6m high. It grows at altitudes ranging from 2,000-2,600 m mainly in the Nilgris. The root, stem and branch contain 1.75-4.16,2.56-4.42 and 1.44-2.35 per cent of quinine respectively. A hybrid, called robusta (officinalisX succirubra) is a hardy type and, as such, is adapted to a wider range of elevations (1,2000-3,000 m) and temperatures ; another hybrid(officinalisX ledgeriana) is grown in Mungpoo (Darjeeling District).

Ashwagandha seeds
C.calisaya Wedd. is a large tree which is not suitable for growing under excessive cold and humid conditions, is grown at lower altitudes of 400 to 1,000 m in the Moyar Valley (Nilgiris). The total alkaloids in the stem bark range from 3.89 to 7.24 per cent, of which quinine and cinchonidine are 0.78 to 5.57 and 0.03 to 1.56 per cent respectively.

C.succirubra Pavon is a hardy tree which grows between elevations of 1,200 and 2,000 m in some parts of Annamalais and attain a heught of 18-20 meters. This species possess a remarkable ability to withstand both high humidity and drought. Its main alkaloid is cinchonidine. The total Alkolid in the root ,stem and bark is 7.6,5.5 and 3.3 per cent respectively. Out of these amounts, quinine constitutes 0.76-1.42, 1.1-1.74 and 0.8-1.76 per cent respectively in the root, stem and bark.

Cinchona prefers deep, well drained rich loamy to clayey loam, acidic soils (pH 4.5-6) on sloping sheltered locations. Most species prefer high humidity, a well- distributed rainfall of about 150 cms,and only minor variation in the maximum and minimum temperatures during their growing seasons. All species are susceptible to frost and succumb to water-logged conditions.

Hazel nut seeds
Cinchona is usually propogated through seeds. The seeds are small and light (350 - 400 seeds per gramme) and loose viability soon. About 50g of fresh seeds sown per square meter during February-May produce about 10,000 seedlings in the nursery-beds, prepared with a mixture of leaf-mould and sand. The nursery is provided with partial shade and kept moist and free from weeds. Germination takes 25 to 40 days to be completed and the seedlings grow 4 pairs of leaves in 4 to 6 months when they are transplanted in another nursery at 10 cm X 10 cm spacing. The seedling grow 30-50 cm high in the next 4 to 5 months and are planted in the field at a spacing of 2 m x 2m ; the young-growing plants are provided with shade. The plantation is thinned when 4 to 6 years old and thus about 50 per cent of the stock is uprooted and debarked in two years. More bark is obtained in the 8th year by coppicing when only one strong stump is allowed to grow. The left-over trees are finally uprooted when 12-years old. The bark is moved by ringing the stem at a height of 60 cm from the ground and is dried in the open. The drying reduces its weight to 60-70 per cent.

Ginkgo biloba seed/plant
In Indonesia, the vegetable propagation of selected clones has helped to maintain a high quinine content, thereby upgrading the average quinine content from 4 to 7.5 per cent . Several methods of vegetative propogation, as patch and slit-budding, cincturing, layering and mould-layering, are recommended. Vegetative propagation is done during the monsoon, when root initials are produced in 40 to 60 days and the shoot is then cut off and planted.

The cinchona bark has 30 chemically related alkaloids, of which quinine (C20H24O2N2) is the most important. The alkaloids are formed during the descent of the sap and, therefore, its percentage is lowest in the twigs and it rises in the stem and is maximum in the root bark ; the collar portion of about 30-45 cm in length is the richest portion. The percentage of total alkaloids increases till the age of 8 to 12 years and then begins to decline.

Aris seeds
Damping-off is reported both from nursery and fields, particularly at lower elevations . The disease is controlled by fumigation with chloropicrin. Root-rot due to Fomeslamayensis (Murr.)Sacc. and Trott. has also been reported in nurseries; a better drainage of the nursery-beds and spraying with Bordeaux mixture help to prevent it.

ISABGOL (plantago ovata Forks.).It is an annual stem-less herb, a native of Persia, now grows as a cash crop on about 16,000 ha in the Mehsana, Palampur and Banaskantha districts of Northern Gujrat, India is the largest producer of isabgol and exports seed and huskworth Rs 25 million annually. The husk is the rosey-white membranous covering of the seed which constitutes the drug and is given as a safe laxative, particularly beneficial in habitual constipation, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery.

Howthorn seeds
Isabogal is an irrigated rabi crop which remains in the field for about 4 months. The crop is grown in marginal, light, well-drained sandy-loam to loamy soils having pH between 7 to 8. It requires a cool climate and dry sunny weather or light showers cause seed shedding.

After harvesting the kharif crops,e.g. jowar(Sorghum vulgare), the land is brougt to fine tilth and laid out into beds of convinient size for irrigation. It is preferable to mix with the soil 15 cartloads of well-rotted farmyard mannure per hectare during the preparation of the land.The optimum sowing time is early November ; sowing however, is extended till the end of December, but the delayed sowing decreases the yield. The seed rate is 7.8 kg per hectare. Seeds are small and light about 6000 to a gramme and are sown by broadcast. They are covered thinly by raking the soil. A light irrigation is given immediately. Germination starts in 6 to 10 days and the crop is given the second irrigation after 3 weeks and a third one at the time of the formation of the spikes ; thus the crop needs 6 to 7 irrigations.

Lavetra cashmerina
Isabgol makes a moderate demand for nutrients. Usually,25 kgof each N and P per hectare is given at plantation.The crop is given 1 or 2 hand-weedings during the entire growing period. The plants are about 50 cm high andeach plants gives out between 25 to 100 tillers,depending upon tje fertility of soil and wheather conditions. The plant bears the flowering spikes in about 60 days after sowing and matures in the next 2 months.The yellowing of the lower leaves is an indication of maturity,confirmed by pressing a spike between two figers when the mature seeds come out. The crop is harvested close to the ground in the early morning hours to avoid looses owing to seed shedding.The harvested material is stacked for 1 or 2 days,made to be trampled by bullocks, winnowed,and the seperated seed crop is collected . A boldseeded crop fetches a better price.

Kuth seeds
The seeds are processed through a series of grinding mills to seperate the husk, and about 30 per cent husk by weight is thus recovered . The husk contains a mucilaginous substance.

Powdery mildew sometimes attacks the crop and is brought under control by spraying the crop with wettable sulphur, e.g. 'Karathen' and 'Sulfex' two or three times at 15-day intervals after the apperance of infection. White grubs are reported to damage the roots ; soil treatment with 5 per cent Aldrin or Lindane to protect the crop is given at the time of the last ploughing during the preparation of the field.

OPIUM POPPY (papaver somniferum Linn).Poppy is a native of the western Mediterranean region,introduced into India in the early sixteenth century.India produces about 70 per cent of the world's production and 90 per cent of it is exported annually.The crop can be grown under a licence issued by the Excise Department and, as such, its cultivation is restricted to about 24,000 hectares in the districts of Neemuch,Mandsaur and Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh ; in Faizabad,Bara Banki,Bareilly and Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh,and in Chittoor,Jhalawar and Kota in Rajasthan.

Quercus robur
Poppy is an annual erect plant, 60-120 cm in height, rarely branching,with ovate-oblong leaves;it bears large showy flowers and nearly globose to spherical capsules, containing small white or black kidney-shaped seeds.It is a rabi crop,and remains for about 150-160 days in the fields .It is mainly(90%)self-pollinated ,since the dehiscence of anthers takes place before the opening of the flower. A large number of the forms of variety album DC. are cultivated inIndia; it has ovate globose capsules devoid of apertures.

The crop is grown on well-drained ,fertile,clayey loam to rich sandy-loam soils. It prefers moderately cool weather and open sunny locations;severely cold spells, frost dull cloudy weather ,high winds,and heavy rainfall during the lancing period adversely affect the yield.

Land is prepared to a fine tilth up to a depth of 20-25 cm during September and the fields are laid out into beds of convenient size. Twenty-five to thirty-seven cartloads of farmyard manure is mixed with the soil during the preparation of the land,penning of sheep or goats is preffered .Seed-rate is 2.5 to 3.5 kg per hectare.The seeds are minute weighing 0.25 to 3.5 kg per 100 .They are mixed with sand and sown thinly in rows 0.3m apart during mid-Octobor till early November(optimum temperature 9 -10 degree centigrade).The rows are covered with a thin layer of soil and are given a light irrigation,followed by another irrigation after 8-10 days when the seeds start germinating.Seed treatment with 1.0 %Agrosan protects it from seed-borne dieases.The crop is given about 15 irrigations in all,depending upon the texture of the soil and the variety sown;moisture defiency at the time of capsule formation affects the yield adversely.The crop needs a heavy nutrient supply and 50 kg N/ha is applied during the preparation of the land and another application of an equal quantity is given as top-dressing in two-split doses when the crop is one month old and at the time of the flag-leaf stage. The seedlings are thinned out to 20-25 cm apart when they grow 5-7 cm tall. The crop is weeded and hoed weekly till the plants are about 20 cm tall and thereafter ,weeding and hoeing are done once a month.The plants take 75-80 days (in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh)and about 105 days(in Uttar Pradesh) to come into flower ,depending upon the variety sown. The petals fall in 3-4 days and the growing capsule is ready for lancing in the next 6 to 10 days. The green unripe capsules contain the maximum amount of morphine which diminishes with its ripening and yellowing; conversely, codeine and narcotine increases with age.

Sorbus cashmerina
Lancing is done longitudinally in bright sunlight and the latex (crude opium)which oozes from the wounds dries during the following night and is scrapped with a sharp kitchen-knife in the early hours of the succeeding morning. Lancing is performed in the afternoon with a special knife, capable of making four incisions at a time ,each at about 1/12 cm apart. Each capsule is lanced for 4 to 6 times. A deep incision causes the collection of the latex inside the capsule and spoils the seeds. The crude opium is stored in earthen -pots and dried in the sun to obtain the raw opium of a uniform consistency.The dry produce should be stored in closed vessels. The entire produce goes to the Excise And Narcotics Department which pays according to its cosistency and purity.The average yield of raw opium varies from 13 to 33 kg per hectare,though much higher yields are recorded under good agronomic practices.The crop also yield 3 to 4 quintals of seeds per hectare.The seeds contain up to 50 per cent of a golden-yellow fatty oil which is devoid of narcotic properties.

Rheum emodi
There are 25 opium alkaloids identified in the raw opium.Of them,morphine, theabine,codeine,narcotine and papaverine are important; morphine is by far the most important.The Indian produce of raw opium contains,on an average,about 20% of the total alkaloids by weight.They,in turn,posses 9 to 14% of morphine,5-7% narcotine, 1.25 -3.75% codeine,0.4-1% papverine and 0.2-0.5% theabine. The produce obtained in Turkey and the Balkan countries is collected from one incision only and is therefore rich (10-21%) in morphine;conversely,the Indian opium is richer in codeine and narcotine.

The crop is attacked by the leaf-miner(phyllocnistis sp.),which can be kept under control by spraying with 0.2% Metasystox or Rogor.Sometimes ,cutworms {Agrotis suffura Hubn.)cause damage to the young plants;the flooding of the fields makes these worms float on the water and they are ultimately pickedby birds. Downy mildew (Peronospora arborescens(Berk)de Bary) sometimes causes serious damage to the crops at the time of capsule formation. It is controlled by the application of 0.2% Diathane Z-78. Root-rot due to Rhizoctonia is also reported on the crop. 

Phytolacca acinosa
Phytolacca acinosa: The root is antiasthmatic, antibacterial, antidote, antifungal, antitussive, diuretic, expectorant, laxative and vermifuge. The plant has an interesting chemistry and it is currently (1995) being investigated as a potential anti-AIDS drug. It contains potent anti-inflammatory agents, antiviral proteins and substances that affect cell division. These compounds are toxic to many disease-causing organisms, including the water snails that cause schistosomiasis. The root is used internally in the treatment of urinary disorders, nephritis, oedema and abdominal distension. Externally, it is used to treat boils, carbuncles and sores. The roots are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use. All parts of the plant are toxic, this remedy should be used with caution and preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Click Here: Cannabis Seeds
Cannabis indica: Plants are tonic, intoxicant, stomachic, antispasmodic, antiemetic, analgesic, narcotic, sedative, aphrodisiac, stimulant and anodyne. Seeds and leaves are used to treat old cancer. The seed is said to be a remedy for tumors and cancerous ulcers. The decoction of the root is said to help remedy hard tumors and knots in the joints. The leaf is digestive and astringent and is said to alleviate cancerous sores. The plant is also used for mammary tumors and corns. Also useful in asthma, blood poisoning, bronchitis, catarrh, convulsions, coughs, cystitis, delirium, depression, diarrhoea, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea, epilepsy, fever, gonorrhoea, gout, inflammation, insomnia, jaundice, malaria, mania, menorrhagia, migraine, neuralgia, palsy, rheumatism, swellings, ureteral prolapse and whooping cough.


Saffron seeds/flowers

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) contains chemical constituents that are responsible for its color, flavor and aroma. Saffron contains numerous phytoactive components, including crocetin, various crocins (such as picrocrocin), zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene and safranal (the main component of saffron's fragrant essential oil). Saffron components have been shown to have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties, as well as reducing blood pressure, anxiety and depression.
Oak-Quercus robur
Oak-Quercus robur : The oak tree has a long history of medicinal use. It is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, decongestant, haemostatic and tonic. The bark is the part of the plant that is most commonly used, though other parts such as the galls, seeds and seed cups are also sometimes used. A decoction of the bark is useful in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, intermittent fevers, haemorrhages etc. Externally, it is used to bathe wounds, skin eruptions, sweaty feet, piles etc. It is also used as a vaginal douche for genital inflammations and discharge, and also as a wash for throat and mouth infections. The bark is harvested from branches 5 - 12 years old, and is dried for later use. Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are "Despondency", "Despair, but never ceasing effort". A homeopathic remedy is made from the bark. It is used in the treatment of disorders of the spleen and gall bladder.

Habitat of the herb : Often the dominant woodland tree, especially on clay soils and in the eastern half of Britain, but avoiding acid peat and shallow limestone soils.

Edible parts of Pedunculate Oak : Seed - cooked. Nourishing but indigestible. Chopped and roasted, the seed is used as an almond substitute. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute. An edible gum is obtained from the bark. Another report says that an edible manna is obtained from the plant and that it is used instead of butter in cooking. This report probably refers to the gum.

Other uses of the herb : A mulch of the leaves repels slugs, grubs etc, though fresh leaves should not be used as these can inhibit plant growth. The bark is an ingredient of "Quick Return" herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost. The bark is very rich in calcium. Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff. A black dye and an excellent long-lasting ink is made from the oak galls, mixed with salts of iron. The colour is not very durable. When mixed with alum, the dye is brown and with salts of tin it is yellow. Trees can be coppiced to provide material for basket making, fuel, construction etc. The wood is a source of tar, quaiacol, acetic acid, creosote and tannin. Tannin is extracted commercially from the bark and is also found in the leaves. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains11.6% tannin and the wood 9.2%. The bark strips easily from the wood in April and May. A purplish dye is obtained from an infusion of the bark with a small quantity of copperas. It is not bright, but is said to be durable. Wood - hard, tough, durable even under water - highly valued for furniture, construction etc. It is also a good fuel and charcoal.

Propagation of Pedunculate Oak : Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.

Cultivation of the herb : Often the dominant woodland tree, especially on clay soils and in the eastern half of Britain, but avoiding acid peat and shallow limestone soils.

Milk Thistle-Silybum marianum seed    : Milk Thistle, also known as Mary's Thistle, Holy Thistle and Silybum marianum, is native to the Mediterranean.Milk Thistle is a beautiful and impressive plant with its large spiny leaves marbled with creamy veins. The common name Milk Thistle comes from the belief that milk from the Virgin Mary fell on the leaves and caused the white veining.

Sweet Violet-Bunafasha: Sweet violet has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough. It also contains salicylic acid, which is used to make aspirin. It is therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. The whole plant is anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, and laxative. It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, coughs, asthma, and cancer of the breast, lungs or digestive tract. Externally, it is used to treat mouth and throat infections. The plant can either be used fresh, or harvested when it comes into flower and then be dried for later use. The flowers are demulcent and emollient. They are used in the treatment of biliousness and lung troubles. The petals are made into a syrup and used in the treatment of infantile disorders. The roots is a much stronger expectorant than other parts of the plant but they also contain the alkaloid violine which at higher doses is strongly emetic and purgative. They are gathered in the autumn and dried for later use. The seeds are diuretic and purgative. They have been used in the treatment of urinary complaints are considered to be a good remedy for gravel. A homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant. It is considered useful in the treatment of spasmodic coughs and rheumatism of the wrist. An essential oil from the flowers is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of bronchial complaints, exhaustion and skin complaints.

Solanum nigrum

Solanum nigrum-Black Nightshade: Black Nightshade: Also useful in heart diseases, skin diseases, piles, gonorrhoea, prostate swelling, and inflammatory swellings. Useful in cough and consumption.

The JK Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre Srinagar is responsible for development of 50 well known Medicinal/Fruit/Ornamental plants.  JKMPIC one  of  the premier institution  involved in production,  development, introduction, & manufacturing of  Medicinal, Fruit,  Ornamental Plants and seeds.

Availability of  Seed/Planting material
(The following seeds  and planting material is available for distribution/purchase for growers only)

Planting materials : Saffron-Crocus sativus, Chinar- Platanus orientalis, Oak-Quercus robur,  Malus communis, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus serotina, Cedrus deodar,  Ginkgo biloba, Wild Cherry, Sweet Cherry, Sweet Appricort, Sweet Apple, Pear, Plum, Lukat, Peach,  Almond, Walnut, Sweet Chestnut Cypress  cashmiriana, Aesculus Hippocastanum, Sorbus cashmeriana, Cataegus oxyacantha Linn, Saussurea costus, Viola odorata Linn, Atropa belladona Linn, Urtica dioica Linn, Salix alba Linn, Geranium wallichianum, Amaranthus caudatus Linn, Allium victoralis Linn, Althaea officinalis Linn, Colchicum lutem, Crocus yellow, Iris ensata, Mallow-Malva Sylvestris.

Seed materials : Descurainea sophia, Banafasha-Viola odorata Linn, Aconitum heterophyllum, Achillea millefolium Linn, Rowan Kashmir-Sorbus cashmeriana, Milk Thistle- Silybum marianum, Cedrus deodar, Saw Palmetto, Atropa belladona Linn, Kuth- Saussurea costus , Ceratonia siliqua, Colchicum Luteum Bulbs, Saffron bulbs, Hawthorn-Cataegus oxyacantha Linn , Clary Sage,  Ginkgo biloba, Sweet Chestnut, Cannabis cashmeriana,  Mallow-Malva Sylvestris, Lavatera cashmiriana, Rosemerry-Rosmarinus officinalisetc, Red Hot Chili cashmeriana, Atropa belladonna, Aesculus Hippocastanum, Podophyllum Hexandrum, Pyrethrum Crysanthemum Cinerariae folium, Dutura Stramonium , Pear plant, Orange Cosmos, Shallot-Allium ascalonicum Linn, Garlic-Allium sativum, Iris ensata, Hyoscyamus niger Linn, etc. etc.

Herbs : Saffron, Shallot-Allium ascalonicum Linn, Banafasha-Viola odorata Linn, Ginkgo biloba leaves, Saussurea costus, Cannabis indica, Hyoscyamus niger, Achillea millefolium Linn, Acorus calamus Linn,  Adiantum venustum, Allium victoralis Linn, Althaea officinalis Linn, Amaranthus caudatus Linn, Anagallis arvensis,  Artemisia absinthium Linn, Cannabis sativa Linn, Cichorium intybus Linn,  Colchicum luteum, Shallot-Allium ascalonicum Linn,Allium sativum, Cannabis cashmeriana, Lavatera cashmerina,  Malva sylvestris Linn,  Nepeta cataria Linn, Origanum vulgare Linn.

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)

For more details about seed/planting materials:-
The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC
"Ginkgo House, Azizabad, Nambalbal, Via Wuyan-Meej Rd. BPO Konibal, Pampore PPR  J&K 192121
(Via New Delhi-India)
Mailing address: PO Box No: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in

New Delhi rulers - frustrating administration of justice

By Hassan Zainagiree
Srinagar, June 11: It's always guilty that must be punished, no matter who he is, what institution he belongs to. What matters is the nature of crime and the spirit of justice which must be the only standard to judge the merit of the case, comments -Aggressors like Halakoo and Changaiz did what history recorded them for. Genocides, macabre death dances, imperialistic arrogance and killing sprees. They hungered for blood and blood they had in full.

They played hosts for the owls to celebrate doomsday. They loved and enjoyed the “music” of innocent hapless yelling in pain, frying in agony. Unlike present day “civilized democrats”, champions of human rights and “secularists”, these “savage tormentors” however, did not wear gloves to hide their murdering hands, nor put on masks to conceal their identity. They raised the minarets of skulls in broad day light. They created tsunami of death and destruction quite openly. To let no one harbor any misunderstanding or misconception about their intentions. In the guise of saviors they didn't masquerade as brutal killers. Summary executions they would take at the wink of an eye. But would be ashamed of carrying out enforced disappearances, take encounters and custodial killings. Merciless tyrants they undoubtedly were. But duplicitous and cunning they certainly were not.

What the “civilized” world is doing today under various garbs and after taking “solemn pledges” of “respecting human dignity” and showing commitment to International Laws and numerous Geneva Conventions, makes it absolutely clear that medieval period ruthless warriors and despotic    monarchs had at least one moral edge over present day “democratic” rulers. In their not being guilty conscience they had not to hide their criminal profile under various “legal” nuances, nor fudge the records and resort to unmarked graves.

If by some miracle the Halakus and Changaizes were to arise from their graves, they would file in defamation suits against their “siblings” in death and destruction for unjustifiably maligning and accusing them for what they “excelled” in perfection themselves.

In a modern state if institutions of justice are deprived of serving the basic purpose of providing justice to the victim and their “constitutional powers” of prosecuting proceedings against perpetrators of heinous crimes, the state is, of its own, blurring the distinction between detestable regime it denounces and the democratic state it takes pride of giving it to its people. In this backdrop, invoking Armed Forces Special Power Act to halt administration of justice has all but exposed Indian state in its tall claims that every one is accountable before the law of land. On April 24 was stayed the trial of involving murdering civilians in fake gunfights by police and army. The ruling came after the counsel for union of India pleaded that army personnel named in case could not be prosecuted as the sanction has not been given by the government of India which is an essential requirement under the section 7 of the AFSPA. Earlier Supreme Court of India stayed proceedings in an identical case (Pathribal case) in which five civilians were murdered and then passed off as foreign militants responsible for massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chittisingpora. Forensic tests revealed they were civilians. It is to be noted that the chief judicial magistrate in Srinagar has asked the army to either stand trial in a criminal court or in an army court. But the army refused to exercise the option and stated it enjoys impunity under AFSPA. 

The fake encounter came to force last year. Eleven persons, including five army personnel, are accused of murdering of innocent people for promotion and “gallantry” award. The guilty police officers have already been arrested and are facing the trial. Justice demanded both troops and police personnel involved in the same crime and who are accomplice of each other should be punished and no discrimination shown. How can a killer in olive green be exonerated while the one in khaki be prosecuted? This is close to apartheid and smacks of neo-colonial approach. A sweeping generalization Delhi insists observers must avoid from making. “Individual aberrations”, it argues in defense.

Prosecuting erring soldiers doesn't mean prosecuting or maligning army as an institution. Only a “miniscule” from 'individual aberration', it means, have to account for their grave crimes they perpetrated against unarmed civilians. It is only when state shields such “action addicts”, under one pretext or other, that, infact, tars black the entire face of Indian army and drills holes in its claim that it is a “disciplinary” force. This attitude of authorities emboldens men in uniform to indulge in more excesses and atrocities. Even those immune to such “heroic” adventures loose the veneer of tolerance and get going. A message flows down the rank and file: We are above the law. State is behind us for every thing we will do. Thus it is state that gives them a license to kill and main, rape and destroy. On one hand Delhi repeatedly talks of “zero-tolerance” on human rights, on the other, it invokes the draconian law to ensure infringement.

The AFSPA requires pre-sanction of Delhi for prosecuting guilty soldiers, which usually is not given as Delhi's rigidness shows. More than 300 cases of gross human rights abuses against Indian forces like army and para-military troops could not be tried because Indian Home Ministry has not granted sanction. This is how authorities in Delhi are bent on frustrating administration of justice.

AFSPA and democracy are irreconcilable and can't be stuffed in one scabbard. Amnesty International too states that the black law encourages and abets abuse of human rights by men in uniform. Why authorities in Delhi allow a handful of soldiers to tarnish the image of the organization and the country they belong to, one fails to understand.For its own sake it is time Delhi repeal the law that has dented its credibility as a democratic state. 
(The edited version of the article written by Kashmiri writer Hassan Zainagiree)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Anna Hazare & Co. prove DV right on “Khatri Sick” PM : money corruption killing India

After our last Editorial of April 1 ,2011 (“DV  proves right on Khatri Sick PM: (Without his  blessing how  so many robbers can thrive?”) and during the course of our shifting from Bangalore to Mangalore, there was a countrywide furore  an the  stinking corruption  directly  pinning down the PM himself. The flood of criticism  was  not against private sector corruption but against the burgeoning  corruption right under the nose of the “Khatri Sick” PM .  Never before the  corruption of  politicians directly working under the PM and the bureaucracy was washed so openly. The corruption   scandals  under the PM  received international attention  following the hunger strike by a Gandhian.

Wikileak expose : What is more interesting is the comment of Julian Assange  heading the Wikileak .  He held the PM fully responsible for all the corruption and the PM’s silence on that. He blasted the PM saying: 
“It means he (PM) has a habit  of  reactively covering up allegations of corruption.”

PM called liar:  The PM shielded all the corrupt  fellows and encouraged the man-eaters  to devour anybody and everybody’. Not only  that.

Why he is closing his eyes?  What makes him close his eyes on all cases of highway robbery?  Man-eaters ? This is “intellectual   corruption” which is the most dangerous form of corruption.
The world famous Economist, which is very much pro-capitalist and pro-American  like the PM, called him a liar (Economist, March 26, 2011 p.33) and a dismally weak leader.

Anna  Hazare and company stripped the PM naked.
Nothing may come out of Anna Hazare’s  “fast” and the  subsequent  Lokpal Bill which is a product of the ruling  upper castes (15%)  who are the very promoters and perpetrators of   money corruption.

DV proves right: That is different.  Our point  is DV has proved right in directly indicting the PM  and holding him responsible for all the scams under his leadership as PM.
 Our views on corruption  are well known to all DV family members. In our book, India’s Intellectual  Desert (DSA-1999,Rs.50) . We have listed four varieties of corruption:-
  1. Intellectual corruption.
  2. Caste corruption
  3. Moral corruption
  4. Money corruption.
Of the four, we have given the last place to “money corruption” which is the sole target of Anna Hazare and company who also belongs to the ruling class.

Oppressed majority forgotten: Over 85% of India’s population, comprising SC/ST/BCs and Muslim/Christian/Sikhs plus women of all categories including upper castes, are the principal victims of the first two categories of corruption. Of course they are also victims of money corruption which cannot be eradicated without destroying the other three categories.

But neither  the Anna Hazare & co. anti-corruption  crusaders  nor their target, the “Khatri Sick” PM and his cronies, are interested in the first two varieties. That concerns the country’s oppressed majority (85%) who are forgotten by both the parties. That only proves the Hazare & Co. are not serious about the country’s basic maladies – except cheap publicity.

Parliament is supreme:   The problem with Hazare  and his tiny urban–based cronies    is they think the politicians  alone are corrupt. Fine. Yes. That is true.  But the MLAs and MPs are elected representatives of the   people as per the  Indian constitution,   according to which Parliament is  supreme. Whether we like it or not, we have to abide by the constitutional  principle .

That means our MPs  and  MLAs  cannot be  overlooked. Our urban elites may hate the politicians who are a negligible minority. But urban elites we noted  only for making nioise, criticizing everybody else but not caring for the public good. Left to themselves, they are all   for bypassing   the   constitution   and entrusting   the  government to the corrupt  corporates.

A second hunger –strike: That means the urban upper castes elites, who are  the backbone of Anna Hazare,  are taking a stand against the  constitution  which the country weaker sections – SC/ ST/ BC’s (65%) and Muslim / Christian/ Sikh (20%) will not agree.

In democracy, it is the people who rule through their representatives. The Indian Parliament will not accept the Hazare formula. He may have to come again to Jantar Mantar to start the fast again (and perhaps die?)

Be that as it may, the Anna Hazare & co. should be thanked at least for exposing the “Khatri Sick” PM’s role in the current money corruption poison killing the country. Their campaign received front-page publicity in India’s corrupt media and helped the outside world to know how “Hindu India” is stinking and degenerating.
This is what we have been writing and saying all these years. We are supremely happy that we have again and again proved right.  Meanwhile   the scurrilous smear campaign at the “top”   between different forces show how rotten is   India’ “top” which proves our point that corruption begins at the top. 

Terrorism will not end with Osama killing


MANGALORE: Osama Bin Laden  (54)  was killed by the American force in Pakistan on May 1,2011. The Western world and its admirers  danced   with joy.

We condemn all   terrorism. But at the same time we must also note that it is a reaction to an action.  Did they not say “Hindu terrorism” come as a reaction  to “Islamic terrorism” in India?. A major portion   of the world  any way had a different reaction.

China, the no.2 world power, had a different opinion.
In DV, we were the first to disclose   a  different version of the 9/11.  Many leading Western writers  have expressed that the 9/11 was  master-minded  by the   Mossad.  Many books have come out on the subject.

Since the West has the most powerful media it can sell   any product. That is how a major portion of the world had a different opinion on Osama killing.

However, this much can be said that terrorism will not end with Osama.
DV REFERENCE TO OSAMA BIN LADEN
DV FEb.1, 2007 p.20: “Osama did not attack WTC”.
DV Edit Oct.16, 2004: “War on terror turns into wholesale war on Muslims & converts Osama into darling of oppressed”.
DV Sept.1, 2002 p.9: “DV proves right on Osama”.
DV Oct.16, 1999 p.4: “Islamic terrorism & bin Laden”.
More details: http://www.dalitvoice.org

Iran’s missile systems are for the defense of Muslim nations: Majlis Speaker

JAKARTA - Iran will use its domestically manufactured missile systems to defend itself and other Muslim nations if they are threatened, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has said, reports Tehran Times.

“We do not hide our defensive advancement and (we) have designed advanced missile systems… Israel and the U.S. should know that if they want to act violently toward Muslims, we will stand in their way,” Larijani told students at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to the school of the late Imam Khomeini, the Founder of the Islamic Republic, Muslims should possess enough defensive strength to use against other countries in case they attack, he noted.

Commenting on the popular uprisings in Middle Eastern and North African nations, he said the people of these countries can no longer tolerate their dictatorial governments, which are subservient to the West.

The United States and other Western countries cannot manipulate these uprisings, he said, adding that they should know that the more they pressure these regional nations, the more determined their people will become, he opined.

Iran, Indonesia issue joint statement
Iran and Indonesia have issued a joint statement calling on every country to respect every other country’s rights and to avoid interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.

The statement was issued during a meeting between Larijani and Indonesian Parliament Speaker Marzuki Alie in Jakarta on Thursday.

The statement also condemned all interference, including military intervention, in other countries.

The two parliament speakers underscored the importance of respecting the legitimate right of the people of the Middle East and North Africa to determine their political destiny.

Larijani and Alie also expressed their support for an agreement between the Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to form an interim unity government.

They also called on all countries to recognize Palestine as an independent state. In addition, part of the statement reads that the Iranian and Indonesian parliament speakers believe that cooperation on economic, trade, energy, tourism, and infrastructure projects can be increased through the expansion of interactions between the two countries’ parliaments.

Kashmir Bleeds, Does Anyone Heed?- by Hafsa Khawaja

Srinagar, 10 June: Befittingly termed once as ‘Heaven on Earth’, with millions martyred since the past 6 decades, thousands of half-widows, orphans and missing – Kashmir today is a Palestine-in-the-making of Asia.

As the Kashmir intifada continues, anyone keeping a keen eye on the serpentine course of events there is bound to be surprised as to why the coverage and attention of international media does not keep up with the importance and intensity of resistance to the

Indian Occupation of the region?
[Read the precise history of the issue under the sub-title of 'Background of the Kashmir Conflict'.]

For the past six decades, Kashmir has hung in the region as a pendulum of conflict between two countries with only one demand of the Kashmiri people, Azadi or freedom from Indian Occuption and their right to self-determination.

It has been tried to stifle this voice of theirs by bullets, lynching, rape, arrests, arson and humiliation which are what solely today’s Kashmiri youth or the ‘Sang-baaz’ (Stonepelters) have grown up knowing as gruesome child-hood memories.

But what needs to be highlighted, is how the international community is turning a deaf ear to the cries of Kashmir today when they are ringing higher than ever.

Aalaw (Meaning ‘call’ in Kashur), is a site set-up by ordinary Kashmiris to help show the ground-realities there. It has updated the list of killings in Kashmir since 11th June:

“Summer in Kashmir has been drenched in blood which witnessed killing of many civilians, mostly teenagers, allegedly in police and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) action mostly since June.”

113 people have been murdered brutally and one can gage if this is the case for 4 months, what really has been happening in Kashmir for the past 63 years.

The atrocities in Kashmir can also be recognized by a data included by Pakistan’s Parliamenatary Committee on Kashmir a few years back :

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY INDIAN TROOPS IN DISPUTED STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
(FROM JANUARY 1989 TO FEBRUARY 2006)


Total Killings                                  1,73,779
Custodial Killings                              86,817
Civilians Arrested                            311,534
Houses/Shops Destroyed                205,143
Women Widowed                              82,371
Children Orphaned                        106,616
Women Molested                               9,637
Disappearances                                14398
(Source: All Parties Hurriyat Conference)
After much happening, recently the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon evinced his cognizance of the savagery in Kashmir by hesitatingly issuing a feeble statement (calling an “immediate end to violence” and pleading for “calm and restraint by all concerned”, thus equating the people of Kashmir with their oppressors)expressing concern over the situation there but by knwoingly not addressing India which should be diretly done as expected from the Head of an organization as the United Nations.

It is pertinent to mention here that Kashmiri population are only demanding that they should be given their rights of self determination under the UN Resolution. That leaves one to wonder what the purpose of the UN is if it lacks the will to exert pressure to execute the process defined under its own resolution leave alone stopping tyranny anywhere.

This dispute is also viewed as a possible cause of a future ‘nuclear clash’ between India and Pakistan therefore making the conflict a matter of international importance.

One would concur with what Ms.Maria Sultan wrote:
“The liberation movement is often depicted as a ‘terrorist’ militancy instigated primarily by Pakistan.”

It is doubtless that the foreign media, for a long period, has portrayed the freedom struggle of Kashmir wrapped in a dirty glaze of militancy and extremism (which is exactly what the oppressors in the case: India, have shown to be which would be similar to belieiing what Israel has to say about Palestine) showing the people of Kashmir to be terrorists funded by Pakistan which is certainly irrational to say the least.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated at the UN:

“No one any longer can seriously believe … that Pakistan can orchestrate thousands of people…”

This time, the Intifida in Kashmir is not about men only but it involves women and children, armed with stones and sticks, stepping out to defy the curfew or protest.

The Sang-Baaz have taken to the streets and have become a single force mirroring the rise of the third Kashmiri generation in resistance to Indian Occupation.

Tariq Ali wrote a brilliant article ‘Not Crushed, Merely Ignored’ in July over the killings in Kashmir, him being in oblivion about them and the Foreign Media hypocrisy over it :


“….As far as I could see, none of the British daily papers or TV news bulletins had covered the stories in Kashmir; after that I rescued two emails from Kashmir informing me of the horrors from my spam box. I was truly shamed. The next day I scoured the press again. Nothing. The only story in the Guardianfrom the paper’s Delhi correspondent – a full half-page – was headlined: ‘Model’s death brings new claims of dark side to India’s fashion industry’. Accompanying the story was a fetching photograph of the ill-fated woman. The deaths of (at that point) 11 young men between the ages of 15 and 27, shot by Indian security forces in Kashmir, weren’t mentioned.

Later I discovered that a short report had appeared in the New York Times on 28 June and one the day after in the Guardian; there has been no substantial follow-up. When it comes to reporting crimes committed by states considered friendly to the West, atrocity fatigue rapidly kicks in.

An Amnesty International letter to the Indian prime minister in 2008 listed his country’s human rights abuses in Kashmir and called for an independent inquiry, claiming that ‘grave sites are believed to contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses which occurred in the context of armed conflict persisting in the state since 1989. The graves of at least 940 persons have reportedly been found in 18 villages in Uri district alone.’

Friday, June 10, 2011

Illegal detentions in Kashmir unheard in Nazi Germany: Ram Jethmalani

Srinagar, 10 June :  Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and eminent Supreme Court lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, Monday hauled up the state government for detaining people without any charge or trial for years, saying the practice was 'unheard of even in Nazi Germany'.

Addressing a press conference here, Jethmalani, who is leading a four-member panel of Kashmir Committee currently on a visit here, said he was “shocked” to know that people in Kashmir were languishing in jails “without any trial or charge for years.”

Referring to  incarnated Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, ‘General’ Moosa , Jethmalani said it was “disgraceful” that a man could be detained for 18 years without trial.

“It was shocking to hear from his family that Moosa was being detained for the last 18 years without any trial. I mean this is something we haven’t heard of even in Nazi Germany,” Jethmalani said.

He said it was distressing that under a democratically elected government, human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests of “innocent people”, continued unabated .

Jethmalani warned that things could take an ugly turn if the state government continued to  “mishandle” the situation.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah must personally go through the cases of those detained under the Public safety Act (PSA), Jethamalani said.

“This lawlessness must end, innocent people must be freed, only then will the anger of  people subside,” he said, “It will also help create an atmosphere for a solution of Kashmir issue.”

Kheer Bhawani Mela, Ganderbal, Kashmir, Hindu-Muslim Communal Harmony, JKLF, Militants, Terrorisim, Christians-Muslims, Jews of India, RSS-BJP, Indian Army, Bita Karatay, Hizbul Mujahideen, Hilal War, 11th August Foundation, Sheikh Aziz, Shabir Shah, yaseen Mailk, L&T

GANDERBAL, June 10: Ganderbal district today was a grand display of communal harmony in Kashmir. Over one lakh people thronged the twin religious festivals of Kheer Bhawani Mela for Hindus and Babanagri Urs  for Muslims in the district.

According to officials, 72,000 mostly Kashmiri Pandit devotees from across India thronged to Tullmulla to participate in the annual Mela Khirbhawani, while more than 80,000 Muslims attended the two-day urs at Babanagri Kangan.

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Talking to Kashmir Times, a   devotee from Jammu Rakesh said, “It is a healthy and lively sign of Kashmiriyat. The locals here provide us everything we need. They feel incomplete without us and so do we without them”.

A local, Showkat Ahmad Bhat from Awami Behbood Committee Tullmulla was busy offering juice to the devotees at a stall.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who had installed a stall inside the shrine premises selling the items meant for the Puja looked cheerful doing brisk business. “I hope this business will grow further every year,” said Bhat.

“Mela Khirbhawani is the LIVE example of Hindu-Muslim harmony and has no parallel in any part of the world,” said Chairman of United Kashmiriyat Forum, Bharat Raina.

Kheer Bhawani temple of Godess Ragnya has become one of the main annual attractions for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Every year some one from the new generation of the minority Kashmiri Hindus makes the pilgrimage to Tullamulla for the first time.
Ajay Koul of Jammu, originally hailing from Sheikhpora Budgam who participated in today’s Mela Khirbhawani was one such first timer. His maiden visit to this famous shrine was only possible because of a government job he has recently got as compensation to return.

“I would definitely have visited here before but the financial security was a big hindrance for me,” Ajay, 29, told Kashmir Times.
He said all the Pandits who have migrated from valley in 1989 afterwards would definitely return if provided the special package including the financial security.

“See, I am here for the first time. And that is because of teacher job I have recently got as a migrant. Any special packages from the government aimed at the welfare of the Pandit community including the financial assistance will definitely paves a way for the return of Pandits,”, he said.

Ajay, who is now working as a teacher in one of the government schools in Srinagar before visiting Mata Khirbhawani at Tullmulla first made his way to Dastageer Sahab Khanyar and then to Dargah Hazratbal. After visiting these two places, he finally visited Tullmulla.

Echoing Ajay, Sandeep from Jammu originally hailing from (Anantnag) Islamabad said that the youth are definitely intended to return to their motherland. “We are emotionally integrated with our motherland Kashmir and any green signal in the form of job and other securities will definitely coax us to move back here”, he said.

“It was not only Pandits who suffered because of 1989 turmoil, but Muslims also did. My local Muslim friend at Islamabad is calling me everyday to return as he is even today feeling incomplete without me,” another youth said.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

India has dispatched roughly 60,000 troops to its border with China

By Johan Simth
Click here Sage seed
Srinagar, 11 June: In the last few days, India has dispatched roughly 60,000 troops to its border with China, the scene of enduring territorial disputes between the two countries.

J.J. Singh, the Indian governor of the controversial area, said the move was intended to “meet future security challenges” from China. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claimed, despite cooperative India-China relations, his government would make no concessions to China on territorial disputes.

The tough posture Singh’s new government has taken may win some applause among India’s domestic nationalists. But it is dangerous if it is based on a false anticipation that China will cave in.

India has long held contradictory views on China. Another big Asian country, India is frustrated that China’s rise has captured much of the world’s attention. Proud of its “advanced political system,” India feels superior to China. However, it faces a disappointing domestic situation which is unstable compared with China’s.

India likes to brag about its sustainable development, but worries that it is being left behind by China. China is seen in India as both a potential threat and a competitor to surpass.

But India can’t actually compete with China in a number of areas, like international influence, overall national power and economic scale. India apparently has not yet realized this.

Indian politicians these days seem to think their country would be doing China a huge favor simply by not joining the “ring around China” established by the US and Japan.

India’s growing power would have a significant impact on the balance of this equation, which has led India to think that fear and gratitude for its restraint will cause China to defer to it on territorial disputes.

But this is wishful thinking, as China won’t make any compromises in its border disputes with India. And while China wishes to coexist peacefully with India, this desire isn’t born out of fear.

India’s current course can only lead to a rivalry between the two countries. India needs to consider whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China. It should also be asking itself why it hasn’t forged the stable and friendly relationship with China that China enjoys with many of India’s neighbors, like Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Any aggressive moves will certainly not aid the development of good relations with China. India should examine its attitude and preconceptions; it will need to adjust if it hopes to cooperate with China and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. (Writer-South Asia)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Osama bin laden wanted an axis between China, Iran and Pakistan

By: Sheikh GULZAAR
You will be surprised. Every second Indian knows their name but a majority of Pakistanis won’t even know Hafiz Saeed or Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s name, especially in the rural areas. These people represent a very extreme school of thought in Islam — salafis — and involve a very tiny minority of Pakistanis. At one point Osama wanted an axis between China, Iran and Pakistan, even though the Chinese were not Muslim. His agenda was very different from the JuD and LeT. They are perceived not as jihadis but as a sectarian organisation. They are not popular. In 2002 they could form a government in one province only because the military was supporting them.


Saturday, June 4, 2011

Water crisis can trigger nuclear war in South Asia

By: Musharaf Zahoor
http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
Islamabad, 4 June: Water is an ambient source, which unlike human beings does not respect boundaries. Water has been a permanent source of conflict between the tribes since biblical times and now between the states. The conflicts are much more likely among those states, which are mainly dependent on shared water sources, reports Musharaf Zahoor in KMS.

The likelihood of turning these conflicts into wars is increased when these countries or states are mainly arid or receive low precipitations. In this situation, the upper riparian states (situated on upper parts of a river basin) often try to maximize water utility by neglecting the needs of the lower riparian states (situated on low lying areas of a river basin).

However, international law on distribution of trans-boundary river water and mutually agreed treaties by the states have helped to some extent in overcoming these conflicts. In the recent times, the climate change has also affected the water availability. The absence of water management and conservation mechanisms in some regions particularly in the third world countries have exacerbated the water crisis. These states have become prone to wars in future.

South Asia is among one of those regions where water needs are growing disproportionately to its availability. The high increase in population besides large-scale cultivation has turned South Asia into a water scarce region. The two nuclear neighbors Pakistan and India share the waters of Indus Basin. All the major rivers stem from the Himalyan region and pass through Kashmir down to the planes of Punjab and Sindh empty into Arabic ocean. It is pertinent that the strategic importance of Kashmir, a source of all major rivers, for Pakistan and symbolic importance of Kashmir for India are maximum list positions. Both the countries have fought two major wars in 1948, 1965 and a limited war in Kargil specifically on the Kashmir dispute.

Among other issues, the newly born states fell into water sharing dispute right after their partition. Initially under an agreed formula, Pakistan paid for the river waters to India, which is an upper riparian state. After a decade long negotiations, both the states signed Indus Water Treaty in 1960. Under the treaty, India was given an exclusive right of three eastern rivers Sutlej, Bias and Ravi while Pakistan was given the right of three Western Rivers, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The tributaries of these rivers are also considered their part under the treaty.

It was assumed that the treaty had permanently resolved the water issue, which proved a nightmare in the latter course. India by exploiting the provisions of IWT started wanton construction of dams on Pakistani rivers thus scaling down the water availability to Pakistan (a lower riparian state). The treaty only allows run of the river hydropower projects and does not permit to construct such water reservoirs on Pakistani rivers, which may affect the water flow to the low lying areas. According to the statistics of Hydel power Development Corporation of Indian Occupied Kashmir, India has a plan to construct 310 small, medium and large dams in the territory.

India has already started work on 62 dams in the first phase. The cumulative dead and live storage of these dams will be so great that India can easily manipulate the water of Pakistani rivers. India has set up a department called the Chenab Valley Power Projects to construct power plants on the Chenab River in occupied Kashmir. India is also constructing three major hydro-power projects on Indus River which include Nimoo Bazgo power project, Dumkhar project and Chutak project. On the other hand, it has started Kishan Ganga hydropower project by diverting the waters of Neelum River, a tributary of the Jhelum, in sheer violation of the IWT.

The gratuitous construction of dams by India has created serious water shortages in Pakistan. The construction of Kishan Ganga dam will turn the Neelum valley, which is located in Azad Kashmir into a barren land. The water shortage will not only affect the cultivation but it has serious social, political and economic ramifications for Pakistan. The farmer associations have already started protests in Southern Punjab and Sindh against the non-availability of water. These protests are so far limited and under control. The reports of international organizations suggest that the water availability in Pakistan will reduce further in the coming years. If the situation remains unchanged, the violent mobs of villagers across the country will be a major law and order challenge for the government.

The water shortage has also created mistrust among the federative units, which is evident from the fact that the President and the Prime Minister had to intervene for convincing Sindh and Punjab provinces on water sharing formula. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) is responsible for distribution of water among the provinces but in the current situation it has also lost its credibility. The provinces often accuse each other of water theft.

In the given circumstances, Pakistan desperately wants to talk on water issue with India. The meetings between Indus Water Commissioners of Pakistan and India have so far yielded no tangible results. The recent meeting in Lahore has also ended without concrete results. India is continuously using delaying tactics to under pressure Pakistan. The Indus Water Commissioners are supposed to resolve the issues bilaterally through talks. The success of their meetings can be measured from the fact that Pakistan has to knock at international court of arbitration for the settlement of Kishan Ganga hydropower project. The recently held foreign minister level talks between both the countries ended inconclusively in Islamabad, which only resulted in heightening the mistrust and suspicions.

The water stress in Pakistan is increasing day by day. The construction of dams will not only cause damage to the agriculture sector but India can manipulate the river water to create inundations in Pakistan. The rivers in Pakistan are also vital for defense during wartime. The control over the water will provide an edge to India during war with Pakistan.

The failure of diplomacy, manipulation of IWT provisions by India and growing water scarcity in Pakistan and its social, political and economic repercussions for the country can lead both the countries toward a war. The existent A-symmetry between the conventional forces of both the countries will compel the weaker side to use nuclear weapons to prevent the opponent from taking any advantage of  the situation.

Pakistan's nuclear programme is aimed at to create minimum credible deterrence. India has a declared nuclear doctrine which intends to retaliate massively in case of first strike by its' enemy. In 2003, India expanded the operational parameters for its nuclear doctrine. Under the new parameters, it will not only use nuclear weapons against a nuclear strike but will also use nuclear weapons against a nuclear strike on Indian forces anywhere.

Pakistan has a draft nuclear doctrine, which consists on the statements of high ups. Describing the nuclear thresh-hold in January 2002, General Khalid Kidwai, the head of Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division, in an interview to Landau Network, said that Pakistan will use nuclear weapons in case India occupies large parts of its territory, economic strangling by India, political disruption and if India destroys Pakistan's forces.

The analysis of the ambitious nuclear doctrines of both the countries clearly points out that any military confrontation in the region can result in a nuclear catastrophe. The rivers flowing from Kashmir are Pakistan's lifeline, which are essential for the livelihood of 170 million people of the country and the cohesion of federative units. The failure of dialogue will leave no option but to achieve the ends through military means.

The only way to discard the lurking fear of a nuclear cataclysm is to settle all the outstanding disputes amicably through dialogue. The international community has a special role in this regard. It should impress upon India to initiate meaningful talks to resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute with Pakistan and implement the water treaty in its letter and spirit. The Indian leadership should drive out its policy towards Pakistan from terrorism mantra to a solution-oriented dialogue process. Both the countries should adopt a joint mechanism to maximize the utility of river waters by implementing the 1960 treaty, Besides negotiations with India, Pakistan should start massive water conservation and management projects.

The modern techniques in agriculture like i.e. drip irrigation, should be adopted. On the other hand, there is a dire need to gradually upgrade the obsolete irrigation system in Pakistan. The politicization of mega hydropower projects/dams is also a problem being faced by Pakistan, which can only be resolved through political will.


The writer is a researcher at Department of Nuclear Politics, National Defence University, Islamabad and can be reached at ndu.nuclear@gmail.com

US intruders missile strike kills nine in Pakistan

Srinagar, June 04: US intruders missile strike kills five in South Waziristan MIRANSHAH: A US missile strike targeting a house killed nine  people and injured 13 others in tribal badlands near the Afghan border on Friday, security officials  of Pakistan said.

The strike took place in Ghwakhwa area, 10 kilometres (six miles) west of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan (SW) tribal region.
A security official confirmed the strike and casualties but said the "identities of those killed in the attack were not immediately known. (Writer-South Asia)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

$4.5bn Indo-Israel arms deal

NEW DELHI 29 May: India and Israel are in the process of inking a $4.5 billion (Rs 20,000 cr) arms deal for air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and other related systems. The deal could put Israel in the forefront once again as one of India's leading arms suppliers, reports Anuradha Mukherjee in The Sunday Guardian.

Official sources told The Sunday Guardian that the deal could contain a package of Derby and Python missiles, and even a hybrid of them, and other related equipment. The indigenous fighter, Tejas, is to be fitted with Derby air-to-air missiles from Rafael Advanced Systems.

Recent visits by the deputy chief of staff of the three services to Israel as part of a delegation led by Union Defence Secretary Pradip Kumar a few weeks ago indicated that the deals were meant for both the Air Force and the Navy. DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat was also in Israel recently to participate in the talks.

India's defence deals with Israel have faced criticism for the shroud of secrecy surrounding them. "We are buying arms without competitive bidding and transparency. To some extent, in the arms business, you have to make government to government deals. In our case, we don't even try to play one supplier against another to get competitive prices. The way India is making these procurements, we are paying much higher prices," said Brahma Chellaney, strategic analyst and professor with the Centre for Policy Research.

Saraswat's presence was required since these technologies were supposed to be undertaken as joint development programmes in which the DRDO usually ended up with a peripheral role, sources said.

Experts said that if the deal was cleared, it would be a major breakthrough from 2010, when several Israeli companies were blacklisted for irregularities in striking deals. The Israeli arms industry, which was beset by allegations of corruption, had also hit a bad patch in clinching the arms deals. The Ministry of Defence had admitted as much in Parliament in November 2010, but stopped short of naming the companies.

The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), one of the most powerful Israeli arms manufacturers, was blacklisted by the MoD for its alleged involvement in the Ordnance Factory Board scam. Several other foreign companies were also blacklisted.

Chellaney said that with its offset policy Indian indigenous defence research did not stand much of a chance in the face of defence procurements from foreign countries. India diluted its offset policy earlier this year. The offset policy mandated that 50% raw material used in such joint projects had to be sourced from India. "Now it is not needed," said Chellaney. (Writer-South Asia)

Pakistani Army was more anti-American than anti-India.

Pakistani Army was more anti-American than anti-India.
Sheikh Gulzaar (Journalist)
Writer-South Asia, POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: gulzar@journalist.com

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Enemy seeking to cripple Iran’s economy, dash people’s hopes: Leader

Srinagar, May 31:  Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has outlined the enemy’s scenario for undermining the Islamic system of Iran, reports MNA. from Tehran.

“Undermining Iran’s economy, creating discord among the officials, and weakening Islamic beliefs and sentiments are part of the scenario of the enemies of Islam,” the Leader said during a meeting with parliamentarians on Sunday.

“The enemy has openly directed its efforts toward economic issues in order to cripple Iran’s economy and dash the people’s hopes,” he said.

The second goal of the hegemonistic system is to sow discord among government officials, so they should be vigilant and should not allow their disagreements to deteriorate into serious clashes and conflicts, he added.

The officials should avoid unnecessary arguments and fulfill their duty, which is to try to foil the enemy’s plot to undermine the Islamic establishment, he stated.

The third objective of the enemy’s scenario is to undermine Islamic beliefs and sentiments, promote atheism, and open the door for atheists to infiltrate Islamic nations, he said.

The Leader pointed to the Western media outlets’ massive propaganda efforts to manipulate the youth in Egypt, Tunisia, and other regional countries and said that the hegemonistic system is promoting corruption and raising doubts about religious beliefs with the aim of containing the Islamic awakening.

He also said that the main goal of the arrogant powers’ propaganda machine is to “pollute the atmosphere and obstruct the process of enhancing nations’ awareness, but despite their efforts, the Iranian nation has increased their understanding and insightfulness day by day.”

He added, “If we neglect our main duties and become preoccupied with peripheral issues or proudly underestimate the power of the enemy, defeat by the enemy will become a real danger.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader highlighted the importance of synergy and cooperation between the Majlis and administration, saying each branch of the government should be tolerant toward the differing views of other branches of the government.

He advised the MPs to take the administration’s ideas into consideration before drafting bills and enacting laws and to try to facilitate the implementation of laws by the administration.

The administration should also do its utmost to implement the parliament’s ratifications without making excuses, he said.

“Anyone who has a responsibility in any position should view themselves as being on a battlefield of the Iranian nation’s confrontation with the enemies of Islam and the Islamic Revolution and fulfill their obligations from this standpoint,” he added.

Commenting on the parliamentary election scheduled to be held in March 2012, the Leader advised the lawmakers not to allow their election campaigns to negatively affect the routine activities of the Majlis.

The Leader also said no one should be allowed to manipulate the election and the election should be held according to the legal procedure stipulated by the law.

11th August Foundation pays glowing tributes to Abdul Qayoom Ganaie

Srinagar, May 31 : The 11th August Foundation, while paying rich tributes to Fakhar-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir, Abdul Qayoom Ganaie, on his 10th martyrdom anniversary, said that he had devoted his life for Kashmir liberation movement.

11th August Foundation  Chairman, Tahir Hamadani, and senior Vice Chairman, S. Ashraf in a joint statement said that the blood of Kashmiri martyrs like Abdul Qayoom Ganaie and  Hakim Jalal-ul-Dinwould not be allowed to go waste.

Quran Khawani was held at the Pampore for martyred  Abdul Qayoom Ganaie. It was participated by the freedom leaders and activists including Basharat and Sofi Ashraf.

Monday, May 30, 2011

India, Pak talk demilitarizing Kashmir

Srinagar, 30 May:  India and Pakistan on Monday began their first attempt in three years to demilitarize the world's highest battlefield in the Himalayan region that has claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers.

The defense secretaries began two days of talks in New Delhi on Monday how to reduce troops situated above the Siachen glacier since 1984.

Operation Meghdoot was the name given to the attack launched by the Indian Military to capture the Siachen Glacier in the disputed Kashmir region, precipitating the Siachen Conflict. Launched on 13 April 1984, this military operation was unique as the first assault launched in the world's highest battlefield. The military action eventually resulted in Indian troops managing to gain control of the entire Siachen Glacier. Today, the occupation of locations along what is known as the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) continues to be known as Operation Meghdoot, with up to 10 Infantry Battalions each of the Indian Army and Pakistani Army actively deployed in altitudes up to 6,400 metres (21,000 ft).

A cease fire went into effect in 2003. Even before then, every year more soldiers were killed because of severe weather than enemy firing. The two sides by 2003 had lost an estimated 2,000 personnel primarily due to frostbite, avalanches and other complications. Together, the nations have about 150 manned outposts along the glacier, with some 3,000 troops each. Official figures for maintaining these outposts are put at ~$300 and ~$200 million for India and Pakistan respectively. India built the world's highest helipad on the glacier at Point Sonam, 21,000 feet (6,400 m) above the sea level, to supply its troops. The problems of reinforcing or evacuating the high-altitude ridgeline have led to India's development of the Dhruv Mk III helicopter, powered by the Shakti engine, which was flight-tested to lift and land personnel and stores from the Sonam post, the highest permanently manned post in the world.India also installed the world's highest telephone booth on the glacier.

One of the factors behind the Kargil War in 1999 when Kashmiri fighters  to occupy vacated Indian posts across the Line of Control was their belief that India would be forced to withdraw from Siachen in exchange of a Pakistani withdrawal from Kargil. Both sides had previously desired to disengage from the costly military outposts but after the Kargil War, India decided to maintain its military outposts on the glacier, wary of further Pakistani incursions into Kashmir if they vacate from the Siachen Glacier posts without an official recognition from Pakistan of the current positions.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Supperpower Pakistan

World's top 10 Superpowers, 20 Years from Today
Srinagar, 29 May: Surprise, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Yes two great Muslim Nations will be competing for the number one spot, twenty years from now? 20 years ago, the United States and Soviet Union were Cold War adversaries. Nobody expected that in five years from then, the Berlin Wall would fall and the Soviet Union would implode. Here is an assessment of the top 10 World Powers.

10. Brazil
This country is emerging as the dominant military and economic force in Latin America. It operates the only aircraft carrier outside the US Navy in the Western Hemisphere. Currently, Brazil is trying to build up its forces still more, and is pursuing a program to build a nuclear-powered attack submarine and could be pursuing nuclear weapons development as well.

9. South Korea
This country has an indigenous naval program that is quite solid, and one of the better armies in the world. The only thing holding it back is a reliance on foreign designs for aircraft, although it is manufacturing F-16s locally.

8. Germany
Despite reductions in the German defense budget after the end of the Cold War, this military has several quality systems (like the Leopard 2 main battle tank and the Type 212 submarine). Germany also has had a tradition of effective military forces (just ask the Romans).

7. Japan
This is a country which has, with one hand tied behind its back, developed the number two navy in the Pacific Rim, and arguably the second-best air force (tied with China). The only thing that holds Japan back is an apparent lack of desire. Things could rapidly change on that front, though.

6. Russia
This country has a lot of nukes, and a lot of bombers. While naval designs (like the Kirov-class battlecruisers and Oscar-class submarines) are good on paper, they still have quality issues, and accidents are not unheard of. Still, this is a country that has some advantages, and is no pushover.

5. France
Probably in better shape than what one would expect. This is largely because of the quality of the troops (due to career NCOs). Has remained self-sufficient in terms of producing major weapons systems (see the Rafale), and operates the only CVN outside the U.S. Navy (even though it has had problems).

4. China
This is a force that has quantity on its side, and is rapidly trying to improve its quality. Their air force will probably have the largest force of Su-27 fighters in the world (at least 580, compared to the 550 in Russian service). The Chinese navy is rapidly introducing new classed of destroyers and frigates that are close to the quality of American and Japanese surface combatants. That said, it is still behind, and the Chinese financial situation could go downhill
rapidly.

3. US
While it has been historically a superpower, because of its lax morals where women dress sexy, shave their legs and dress scantily to tempt men, reeks of promiscuity. In fact 58.8 % of the unmarried women aged 18 have lost their virginity. This will create a mass exodus in the population to adopt Islam as the religion of choice because Islamic women are not sexy, don?t shave facial hair or the hair on their legs and have sex only after they are married to make babies. Therefore the morals of Islam and Islamic Sharia laws will become dominant. But in the meanwhile this turmoil will be a potent threat to internal stability. Inspite of this, the US has adequate military forces that not only has a tradition of high quality, but can operate half a world away and still accomplish impossible and difficult missions. Sailor for sailor, with the exception of the Pakistani Navy, there is no better navy than the U.S. Navy.

2. Saudi Arabia ? 
Probably the most dynamic country in terms of the leaps. Saudi Arabia, supported by its oil dollars is rapidly becoming self-sufficient in a number of areas, and what it cannot produce, it is able to buy. It also has some of the best educational systems and training in the world, and can give an unsuspecting opponent a surprise. Probably the next superpower due to a more firm economic footing, and the fact that its Navy is much more advanced than even China?s. Besides oil the Saudi Arabians have a world wide monopoly on software engineering which is critical in establishing stochastic models for guided missile systems to have near pin point strike capability.

1. Pakistan ? 
Even while fighting a war on terrorism, Pakistan is pursuing new technology (such as UCAVs) to maintain an edge over any potential challenger. The forces are well-trained, and the Pakistani Navy is still the most powerful in the world. Pakistan has the biggest and strongest army, navy and air force the world has ever seen. The term superpower greatly understates what the Islamic Republic of Pakistan can do. It is most definitely a hyper-superpower.

In a recent article, “Turning Challenges into Opportunities” we argued that Pakistanis are a brave, resilient, and highly intelligent people who, under a strong, determined, and patriotic leadership, can surmount any crisis. Furthermore, there are many reasons that Pakistan could become a global superpower within few decades.

Of course, in the sublime sense, the only superpower is the Almighty Allah. However, in more mundane terms, a superpower can be defined as having the ability to influence events and project power on a worldwide scale. Unfortunately, the traditional definition of a superpower represents a raw and crude psyche that only exacerbates violence, environmental decay, inequality, tyranny, and instability.

We must then redefine “superpower” to emphasize morality, international cooperation, world peace, clean and healthy environment, eradication of poverty, and promotion of equality among nations. Pakistan can take up the challenge under a two-pronged doctrine, namely possessing an effective and successful deterrence against aggression and the will and the means to enhance international cooperation, peace, and prosperity.

The defeatists, uttering doomsday scenarios, will question our proposition. These elements have always infused distress, despondency, and despair among the masses. Pakistan has survived many odds since its birth. To the dismay of its detractors, Pakistan has achieved a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency in food and other essential commodities. The poverty level has declined to 25%, while wealth distribution has been relatively much better compared to many developed and developing countries.

In the vital fields of agriculture, science and technology, industry, medicine and engineering, nuclear technology, art and architecture, as well as in sports, cultural, and the literary world, it has won a respectable place in the community of nations. The Pakistani people have courageously defied what the proponents of gloom and doom had wished. At the time of its inception in 1947, the country lacked the basic infrastructure for development, but it had the romance of youth, the diversity of its people, and a kind of mysticism for survival. The birth of Pakistan in less than ten years since the idea of nationhood was conceived in the 1940 Resolution is truly a gift of Allah to the Ummah. And its survival is a miracle.

Many serious analysts believe that with proper management and governance, Pakistan can become the sixth biggest economy within the next fifteen years and one of the most developed economies by 2050 AD. (Adjusting for unreported economic activities and comparative prices, the current GDP estimates can actually be four times higher putting Pakistan in the middle-income category.) Moreover, with an estimated population of 350 million by 2050, it will be fourth largest country in the world. Similarly, the literacy rate, 52% at present, is expected to reach 90% in next twenty years.

However, Pakistan’s biggest asset is its 100 million people below the age of 25, a highly productive age, which can play a vital role in the economic development of the country. These young people have entered the phase of their economic life cycle, whereas in many other countries most of the population is aging. Moreover, some ten million overseas Pakistanis, with estimated assets of $500 billion, constitute a huge reserve and strength as well as a source of considerable remittances and investment.

On the geo-physical scene, Pakistan has adequate natural resources. For example, of a total land area of nearly 882,000 sq.km. (ranking fifth among the developed countries while it is larger than France, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Italy), it has over 30 million hectares of land under agriculture. It has rich soils, favorable agro-climatic conditions, one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the world, and a hard-working farming community. Pakistan also has a large population of cattle, buffalo, goats and sheep, camel, and poultry while it ranks among the highest producers of meat, milk, and animal products.

In addition, the country has tremendous opportunities for developing fresh water and sea fisheries. With the introduction of improved farming techniques, the country can produce at least 60 million tons of food (wheat, rice, and maize) — enough to meet the nation’s food requirements and for exports. Pakistan can also boost its existing significant production and export of fruits and vegetables. The potential exports of food products alone to the Middleast are estimated at $200 billion per year. Development of the agriculture sector could also release surpluses of income and manpower for the industrialization of the country.

Pakistan has been bestowed with huge deposits of mineral resources and stands among the top ten nations in the world in vital mineral resources such as gold, copper, silver, gas, precious stones, and coal. In the case of energy, the country has immense hydroelectric power generation potentials as well as solar, wind, nuclear, and thermal power and can boost electricity production several times its present levels. For example, Pakistan has the world’s fourth largest coal reserves equivalent to over 600 billion barrels of oil, which can be developed for electricity generation both for domestic and export markets, coal byproducts, gasification, petrochemicals, and many other chemicals.

In terms of its geography, Pakistan enjoys a unique central and strategic setting. It is also a potential hub of trans-regional trade and commerce, and scientific and technological linkages. In addition, its over 1,000 kilometers of coastline has many suitable sites for developing the most modern ports linking all five continents. Pakistan’s proximity to the Islamic world, accessibility to the Indian Ocean and to the markets of East Asia, steadily growing economy, and principled stand in international affairs, good relations with other important neighbors, the PRC, Iran, and Turkey, and its emerging relations with the Central Asian countries and Russia should be a positive force in bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to this region.

It could also help integration of the region with the rest of the world, and promote international peace and cooperation. Pakistan could benefit from increased exports to these countries of agricultural, textile, engineering, and steel products, as well as advanced weapons, fighter aircrafts, tanks, UAVs, and ships, electronics, mobile phones, chip, and computers and software.

Pakistan’s armed forces have attained global dimensions since the end of the Cold War. It has a million strong, fiercely patriotic, battle-hardened, and highly mobile professional armed forces equipped with advanced weaponry. The country has nearly achieved self-sufficiency in production of arms and ammunition while its nuclear weapons and short and long-range missiles are awesome. For many years, Pakistan’s armed forces have played an important role in the security of its friends and under the aegis of the UNO. While they are capable of deterring any aggression, they could become a force for peace and stability for the region and the world.

Finally, Pakistan’s cultural and historical diversity and a challenging topography truly offer a delight to those seeking the most exciting adventures. The country is blessed with terrain ranging from coastal areas with attractive sea spots to the highest mountain summits. In terms of the beauty and magnificence of its landscape, Pakistan can also rightfully claim to have at least five of its mountains rising above 8,000 meters. There are many other spectacular mountain panoramas, glaciers, treacherous rives, valleys, and gullies containing some of the most dangerous cliffs in the world.

Its soil contains the ruins of the Gandhara University, unique historic places such as Mohenjodaro and Taxila, and sites in Balochistan with the oldest civilization (estimated to date back to 4000 BC) known to-date. Its colorful cities, with a beautiful mix of ancient culture and modern habitations, beautiful architecture, mosques and shrines, and cuisine are of great interest to visitors. Finally, Pakistan’s free and vibrant media can play its role in projecting the country’s true image to the world.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that Pakistan can become a superpower by 2050. China, which at the time of its independence in 1949, was behind Pakistan in many vital sectors, has made it to the superpower status. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, with sheer intelligence and will power, created a homeland for the Muslims of the region in less than ten years since the 1940 Lahore Resolution.

The greatest strength of 170 million Pakistanis is their strong faith in religion, their glorious history, their culture, their beautiful geography, and their immense natural resources. The birth of Pakistan was the first step; for it to become a formidable force in the world is the ultimate objective of its birth. Much hope for the present and the future rests upon the steely will of the people. With “unity, faith, and discipline,” the people and the leaders of Pakistan can transform the country to its fullest capabilities and superpower status.