1224hrs:
Coverage of AJK and its internal narrative by global media has reached unprecedented and even hitherto unimaginable levels. Al Jazeera and BBC Urdu covered the Poonch LOC March by Sardar Sagheer Khan's faction of the JKLF which began on the 7th of September. The New York Times yesterday. India's The Wire the day before and today BBC Urdu has yet again offered a new piece of commentary on this side of Kashmir, controlled by Pakistan.
Its title can be translated as 'Who talks of Kashmir's Independence in Pakistan?':
n.b. The title can be a bit misleading as the discussion is about AJK or Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and not Pakistan per se.
Here's an abridged video covering the same theme:
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A lesson on nationalism in the context of AJK:
Then there is geographic nationalism such as ours which is based on the concentration of resources in a territory desperately needed by all its neighbours. Such that it is a matter of life or death - water. It shares the concerns of liberal nationalism too.
Averting future conflict over water while preservIng the environment must be the responsibility of a nation State as that is the configuration of the world and the sole currency of global institutions. Whenever the world evolves to a different configuration, J & K will adapt too.
The reformation of this legally sovereign entity is being achieved through civic nationalism and citizens in all divided parts of the State have contributed to this emerging internal political process.
It is necessary that we take responsibility for water, soil and waste management in Jammu & Kashmir, that along with a modern, representative real-time procedure for making our public interest decisions will help us engage with the world meaningfully and practically.
Thank you.....written by Tanveer Ahmed in response to:
Nationalism, introduction and Types
Nationalism is the doctrine that one's national culture and interests are superior to any other, and that nations should act independently (rather than collectively) to attain their goals. It holds that a nation, usually defined in terms of language, ethnicity or culture, has the right to constitute an independent or autonomous political community based on a shared history and common destiny. It can also refer to the aspiration for national independence felt by people under foreign domination.
Nationalism seeks to order the world as a series of nation-states, each based on the geopolitical national homeland of its respective nation, and holds that each nation has a moral entitlement to a sovereign state. It seeks to guarantee the continued existence of a nation, to preserve its distinct identity, and to provide a territory where the national culture and ethos are dominant. In turn, nation-states appeal to a national cultural-historical mythos to justify their existence, and to confer political legitimacy.
Simplistically, Nationalism is the desire of a nation to self-determination. It is usually associated with patriotism (a positive and supportive attitudes to a "fatherland"), but it can also lead to chauvinism (aggressive patriotism, or blind or biased devotion to any group, attitude or cause), imperialism, racism and xenophobia, militarism, or ultimately to Fascism.
It is usually considered a relatively recent idea, based as it is on the concept of the nation-state which is a largely 19th Century phenomenon and, until around 1800, very few people had more than local loyalties. National identity and unity were originally imposed from above by European states, in order to modernize the economy and society.
Types of Nationalism
Nationalism may manifest itself along civic, ethnic, cultural, religious or ideological lines. These self-definitions of nations are used to classify different types of Nationalism, although such categories are not mutually exclusive and many nationalist movements combine some or all of these elements to varying degrees.
Ethnic Nationalism:
Where the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity and descent from previous generations. It also includes the idea of a culture shared between members of the group, and usually a shared language.
Civic Nationalism:
Where the state derives political legitimacy from the active participation of its citizenry and from the degree to which it represents the "will of the people".
State Nationalism:
A variant of Civic Nationalism, where the nation is assumed to be a community of those who contribute to the maintenance and strength of the state, and that the individual exists in the community expressly to contribute to this goal. This often results in Fascism.
Expansionist Nationalism:
A radical form of imperialism (and not really true Nationalism at all) that incorporates autonomous, patriotic sentiments with a belief in expansionism, usually by military aggression, e.g. Nazism (or Nationalist-Socialism) in Germany.
Romantic Nationalism:
A form of Ethnic Nationalism in which the state derives political legitimacy as a natural (or "organic") consequence and expression of the nation. It relies upon the existence of a historical ethnic culture which meets the romantic ideal (folklore developed as a Romantic Nationalist concept).
Cultural Nationalism:
Where the nation is defined by shared culture, and neither purely civic nor purely ethnic. Chinese nationalism is an example of Cultural Nationalism, partly because of the many national minorities within China.
Third World Nationalism:
Where nationalist sentiments result from resistance to colonial domination in order to survive and retain a national identity.
Liberal Nationalism:
Where it is claimed that individuals need a national identity in order to lead meaningful, autonomous lives, and that liberal democracies need national identity in order to function properly. John Stuart Mill expressed similar sentiments.
Religious Nationalism:
Where a shared religion can be seen to contribute to a sense of national unity, and a common bond among the citizens of the nation.
Pan-Nationalism:
Where Ethnic or Cultural Nationalism applies to a nation which is itself a cluster of related ethnic groups and cultures (such as the Turkic peoples).
Diaspora Nationalism:
Where there is nationalist feeling among a diaspora, (an ethnic population living outside their traditional homelands) e.g. the Irish in the United States, the Jews in the United States and elsewhere, etc.
Stateless Nationalism:
Where an ethnic or cultural minority within a nation-state seeks independence on nationalist grounds (e.g. the Catalans and Basques in Spain).
National Conservatism:
A political term, used primarily in Europe, to describe a variant of Conservatism which concentrates more on national interests than standard Conservatism, while not being unduly Nationalist or pursuing an excessively far-right agenda.
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In response to my explanation of nationalism in the context of AJK, the following comments in response were useful:
Comment 1:
But one thing I must say, strongest nationalism prevailing in AJK is Jatt, Raja, Gujjar and Sudhan Nationalism
My response:
That is very true to a certain extent as many of our people vote or supposedly support public interest ventures under such influences, which can be described as tribal nationalism. Indeed senior members of our diaspora who have lived in liberal democracies like the UK for decades still practice tribal nationalism when making political choices.
Comment 2:
Don't you think this movement should be above religion because the Pakistani government is playing religion card?
My response:
I think we have to think like humans without labels to solve the problems of humanity. We all live in the same world and have to find common solutions to common problems. We have to save our geography. We cannot allow it to be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu or Muslim geography. Neither can it be Shia or Sunni..or...
The State is a system. It requires ingenuity, efficiency and order to operate...not religious sentiments...they can be channeled in prayer or charity...
Comment 3:
Yeah probably we can say that to give confidence to our non MUSLIM Natives of Jammu and Kashmir. But in a Muslim dominant society, don’t you think we have to implement Islamic Rule of law. Where as Islam is a complete social system which provides full protection to minorities?
My response:
If only non Muslims would accept that, which they won't and many Muslims wouldn't either. Remember water belongs to everybody...it would be impossible to make efficient use of it if you can't agree on a set of rules.
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