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Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 260 of 2025

1001hrs:

A momentum is developing as we approach the final 100 days of this year. 

I will also be travelling today. 

....

The following is an guest Urdu article written by the very energetic writer, broadcaster & activist Yusuf Ali Nashad; on the current scenario in what is sometimes described as the '3rd Pole' or the 'Roof of the World' viz. Gilgit Baltistan and the dangers of natural resource extraction from the territory:

Yusuf Ali Nashad - Gilgit GB

(صدائے حق)

 

گلگت بلتستان کے وسائل پر دست درازی      :                        ایک قومی سانحہ کی طرف اشارہ

 

پاکستان کے وزیر اعظم میاں شہباز شریف نے حال ہی میں ایک امریکی کمپنی کے ساتھ معدنی وسائل کے حوالے سے ایک اہم ایم او یو پر دستخط کیے ہیں، جس میں ایف ڈبلیو او بھی شامل ہے۔ اس معاہدے کے تحت بلوچستان اور خیبر پختونخوا کے قیمتی معدنی وسائل امریکہ کو فروخت کرنے کی منظوری دی گئی ہے۔ حکومت کا دعویٰ ہے کہ یہ اقدام ملکی معیشت کو مستحکم بنانے کے لیے اٹھایا گیا ہے، لیکن تلخ حقیقت یہ ہے کہ اس طرح کے وعدے اور دعوے پچھلی کئی دہائیوں سے عوام سنتے آ رہے ہیں اور ان کا نتیجہ ہمیشہ عوام کی محرومی اور اشرافیہ کی خوشحالی کی صورت میں نکلا ہے۔

 

ماضی کے تلخ                           تجربات

 

تقریباً چونتیس برس قبل بھی یہ دعویٰ کیا گیا تھا کہ بلوچستان کے وسائل ملک کی تقدیر بدل ڈالیں گے۔ کہا گیا کہ قرضے اتر جائیں گے، خوشحالی آئے گی اور ملک ترقی کی نئی بلندیوں کو چھوئے گا۔ لیکن عملاً ہوا یہ کہ قرضوں کا بوجھ کئی گنا بڑھ گیا، مہنگائی آسمان کو چھونے لگی اور عام آدمی کی زندگی خطِ غربت سے نیچے گر گئی۔ البتہ اقتدار اور دولت پر قابض بالادست طبقے کی تجوریاں ضرور بھر گئیں۔ یہی تجربہ بار بار دہرا کر عوام کو خواب دکھانا دراصل استحصالی سیاست کا حصہ ہے۔

 

گلگت بلتستان کی منفرد                   اور حساس حیثیت
 

اس معاہدے کا سب سے سنگین پہلو گلگت بلتستان سے متعلق ہے۔ یہ خطہ آئینی طور پر پاکستان کا صوبہ نہیں، نہ ہی یہاں کے عوام کو قومی اسمبلی یا سینیٹ میں نمائندگی حاصل ہے، اور نہ ہی ووٹ کا حق دیا گیا ہے۔ 13 اگست 1948 کی یو این قراردادوں کے مطابق گلگت بلتستان ایک متنازعہ علاقہ ہے جو مسئلہ کشمیر کے حل تک اسلام آباد کے انتظامی دائرے میں بطور امانت رکھا گیا ہے۔ اس حقیقت کی روشنی میں کسی حکومت یا ادارے کو یہ اختیار نہیں کہ وہ گلگت بلتستان کے وسائل پر قبضہ کرے یا بیرونی طاقتوں کو بیچے۔

 

عوامی            ردِعمل اور بڑھتا               ہوا                 غصہ

 

جیسے ہی ایم او یو کی خبر سامنے آئی، گلگت بلتستان میں بے چینی کی لہر دوڑ گئی۔ مختلف عوامی حلقے سراپا احتجاج ہیں۔ لوگوں کا کہنا ہے کہ وہ اپنی جانیں قربان کر سکتے ہیں لیکن اپنے وسائل کو کسی کے حوالے نہیں کریں گے۔ یہاں کے عوام کے دل میں یہ زخم پہلے ہی موجود ہے کہ دہائیوں سے ان کے حقوق کو پسِ پشت ڈالا گیا ہے۔ نہ انہیں آئینی شناخت دی گئی، نہ ہی ان کی زمینوں اور وسائل پر ان کا اختیار تسلیم کیا گیا۔

 

محرومیوں کی ایک طویل داستان

 

یہ ایک تلخ حقیقت ہے کہ آج تک گلگت بلتستان میں ایک میڈیکل کالج تک قائم نہیں کیا جا سکا۔ تعلیمی اداروں، جدید اسپتالوں اور بنیادی سہولتوں سے محروم عوام کو صرف وعدے سنائے گئے ہیں۔ irony یہ ہے کہ پاکستان کی 60 فیصد زرعی زمین گلگت بلتستان کے پانی سے سیراب ہوتی ہے، لیکن خود مقامی عوام بجلی کی لوڈشیڈنگ سے دوچار ہیں۔ خاص طور پر سردیوں میں 22 گھنٹے کی لوڈشیڈنگ عوام کے لیے ایک عذاب سے کم نہیں۔ ایسے حالات میں معدنیات پر بیرونی قبضے کی کوشش عوام کے زخموں پر نمک چھڑکنے کے مترادف ہے۔

 

وسائل کی اصل ملکیت

 

گلگت بلتستان کے عوام واضح الفاظ میں یہ پیغام دے رہے ہیں کہ پہاڑ کی چوٹی سے لے کر دریا کی ترائی تک جو کچھ بھی ہے وہ انہی کا ہے۔ ان وسائل پر نہ اسلام آباد کا حق ہے اور نہ کسی بیرونی قوت کا۔ عوام کے مطابق ان کے وسائل پر قبضہ دراصل ان کے وجود اور شناخت پر قبضہ ہے، جسے کسی صورت برداشت نہیں کیا جا سکتا۔


نتیجہ

 

یہ معاملہ صرف معدنی وسائل کا نہیں بلکہ ایک پورے خطے کے مستقبل اور شناخت کا ہے۔ اگر حکومتِ پاکستان نے عوامی رائے کو نظرانداز کرتے ہوئے ایسے معاہدے جاری رکھے تو یہ نہ صرف سیاسی بے چینی کو ہوا دے گا بلکہ خطے میں شدید مزاحمت اور بداعتمادی کو بھی جنم دے گا۔ ضروری ہے کہ حکومت گلگت بلتستان کے عوام کو ان کے جائز حقوق دے، ان کی رائے کو تسلیم کرے اور ان وسائل پر ان کا حق مانے۔ 

بصورتِ دیگر، یہ معاہدے آنے والے کل میں قومی وحدت کے لیے بڑے چیلنج کی شکل اختیار کر سکتے ہیں۔

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An English translation of the above article will follow in due course....

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Tuesday, 16 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 259 of 2025

1202hrs:

Have made some headway yesterday in both time and health management.  

I hope to make some further improvements today.

....

Monday, 15 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 258 of 2025

1136hrs:

Still struggling with time but conscious of short-comings and I know which areas I need to work on to get a highly necessary yet improbable result.

....

There are many concerns of our co-citizens - both at home and abroad - which we as JKA PUBLIC AGENCY are dutybound to give an ear to. Here is one such example from Italy:


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Sunday, 14 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 257 of 2025

1708hrs:

One is always navigating between the 'easy' and the 'hard' way of living their lives and pursuing their ambitions.

If one doesn't choose their 'hard', it will be chosen for them. At the macro level I have most certainly chosen my 'hard' but it is the micro level in which I have struggled, particularly of late.

....

Saturday, 13 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 256 of 2025

1622hrs:

Operating a lot better than yesterday but still very distant from the optimum manner in which to spend a 24 hour cycle as an activist.

.... 

Friday, 12 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 255 of 2025

2207hrs:

Routine haywire once more. Yesterday was an energetic day beginning at 0700hrs and going beyond midnight.

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Thursday, 11 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 254 of 2025

1113hrs:

Have returned to Kotli courts today after a week of absence. Since the 19th of June 2021 when we were released on bail (on appeal of our sentence in the famous Pakistani flag case in Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square reference 21 August 2020) and today we attended our appeal date for the first time since being released. The case was immediately adjourned to the 14th of October 2025 (next month).

There is another case on our back. This time based on a complaint by my paternal uncle. The details of the case have been logged on the 29th of July 2025 and duly responded to on that date. However, as the inhumane system we live in does not like formal written communication - seeing it as an impediment to their endemically corrupt practices - they've not responded to my written communication and instead have sent me another summons yesterday, threatening to issue a warrant if I don't attend. Here's the summons:


I will be discussing this matter with the Deputy Commissioner shortly. Let's see what he has to say. I will of course keep you all posted.

....       

(Update: 1400hrs at DC Office)

I've just had a reasonably thorough discussion with the DC (Kotli) Nasir Rafiq of Tain in Poonch. We have very different views on what constitutes legality and what doesn't. In any case, he has taken the written letter that I sent to the Tehsildar on the 29th of July 2025 as referenced with a hyperlink above. Here's a receipt from his office confirming that he has received it:


 ....

Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 253 of 2025

0914hrs:

At least I got to sleep last night and woke up at 0700hrs today but still nowhere near the optimum day that I'm targeting. Will try again and again until I succeed.

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 252 of 2025

0322hrs:

This is more like it, although if I had gone to sleep yesterday evening at 2000hrs and just woke up, the timing of today's weblog would have been more authentic.

It has always been authenticity that I have searched and strived for in 2 decades and counting. 

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Monday, 8 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 251 of 2025

0958hrs:

A better start but I need to get back to 0300hrs. 

Still in Dadyaal.

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Sunday, 7 September 2025

Saturday, 6 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 249 of 2025

1409hrs:

Better than yesterday but still suffering from the effects of that lapse yesterday. Today was a public holiday on account of the beloved prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and thus a form of reprieve has been bestowed on us, in the shape of a free weekend.

We remember through both written and oral history how our co-citizens from other faiths would also participate in such events to commemorate the holy prophet of Islam's birth. 

We must make the most of this weekend to prepare for the next stage of attrition. 

.... 

Friday, 5 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 248 of 2025

2014hrs:

A great lapse in these past 24 hours, to the extent that yesterday evening's X Space was not delivered. A lapse that broke a 1,055 day daily record of delivering a Space came what may.

I couldn't proceed to Kotli for what should have been Day 3 of 'Awaami Adaalat' District Kotli either.

We may still recover to make amends but the margin for error is now almost zero.

....

Thursday, 4 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 247 of 2025

0309hrs:

Back at home after a 2 day excursion. So, this time has to be the time to share thoughts that are for public consumption. 

We are entering the last few laps of a very long marathon and we will pick up speed as required at this stage.

Today is also Day 2 of Awaami Adaalat - District Kotli. A daily photo will also feature in due course. 

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Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 246 of 2025

0311hrs:

This will have to be a regular time as if dear life itself depended on it, with now only 120 days to go in what should go down as a bullish year.

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I witnessed a very concerning level of rain yesterday evening while driving from Nikyaal to Kotli. We must respect nature like never before. Foreign militaries of all colours should take note too.

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The 3rd of September Public Statement 
(to the people of AJK in particular and JKA in general)

As a patriot of my motherland (Dharti Maa) I've worked pro bono (voluntarily conducted independent action-oriented public policy research in public interest - free of charge by devoting an average of 16 hours a day) for over 2 decades, for and with my fellow co-citizens, who are all equally entitled to determine their own future as referenced by international law.

Even at this stage, over 99% of our population (inheritors of the hitherto autocratic State of Jammu & Kashmir pre 1947) are yet to understand the value of independent research: as witnessed by this devoted, focussed, un-interrupted and un-compromising patriot.

If this matter is not addressed by this referenced and documented population - in these 120 days before the end of this bullish year of 2025 - it will most likely be too late to address it ever again - given the practical barriers to self-determination - structured with the complicit approval of the 'international community' as many among this population perceive.       

It will also terminate this voluntary contract as a fellow Owner (Maalik) & Inheritor (Waaris) of the territory that 'I' (Tanveer Ahmed s/o Khan Muhammad Rafique) has operated in as 'we' - to fulfil conditions of public interest - in the shape of JKA PUBLIC AGENCY, have inclusively revised as Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) or JKA for short.   

#PopularSovereignty
#DirectDemocracy

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #E212803092025

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Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 245 of 2025

0316hrs:

I'm counting down the days left in the year, as well as automatically counting the days already behind us this year, courtesy this daily weblog.

Inclusive of today, there are still 121 days left. If I manage to get up at 0300hrs every morning and sleep at 2000hrs (8pm) every evening until the end of this year, then I can guarantee that there will be fireworks in this region.

....

Monday, 1 September 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 244 of 2025

0957hrs:

A little over 121 days remain to make a breakthrough in #RightsMovementAJK to the extent of giving solid shape to a genuinely free government in AJK.

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Sunday, 31 August 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 243 of 2025

1127hrs:

Better than yesterday for a start. Another journey beckons today.

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Saturday, 30 August 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 242 of 2025

1411hrs:

Today should be the day that my daily routine finally plugs into the right groove. There isn't any room for error remaining, given that there are only 123 days left this year.

....

Matters in Rawalakot are still at a standstill as the city moves into its second day of a publicly enforced lockdown over arrests of students since August the 13th, whereby some fellow students continue their hunger strike till death.

Update (2055hrs):

The students were released at around midday, after all that battle of attrition over the past so many days. Normalcy returns to the region for the moment.

.... 

Friday, 29 August 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 241 of 2025

1444hrs:

A very lax past 24 hours, reflected in the timing of today's post which is even later than yesterday.

Family commitments have kept me engaged otherwise, although that can never be an excuse to not conduct all daily duties in a timely manner.

....

I was requested to draft a brief summary of the people's narrative from a historical perspective up to the present day; for the purposes of politicians, diplomats and other monitors of this territory that we describe as Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) or JKA for short:

The Terms ‘Jammu’ & ‘Kashmir’

Although written history can be traced back at least a couple of thousand years, the terms ‘Jammu’ & ‘Kashmir’ came together at the ‘Treaty of Amritsar’ on the 16th of March 1846, emerging as a result of the ‘Treaty of Lahore’ a week earlier. These were a series of events that signalled the downfall of the Ranjeet Singh era and the ascendancy of the British Indian colonial empire.

Both regions being adjacent to each other (viz. Jammu & Kashmir), one can trace a fluidity (like many other parts of the world) whereby each region in different eras would have had a different shape depending on its influence and relative power. No doubt, the term ‘Kashmir’ has been more widely known and used throughout history compared to ‘Jammu’.  

A lot of modern historians have tended to classify the history of the region using the terminology of religious identity. For example, there was a Hindu era pre Buddhist era (3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE) before another Hindu era emerged in the 8th century. Thereafter began the Muslim era in the 14th century viz. 1320 CE.  

Throughout history, the region has generally remained independent and this is exemplified through the writings of Pandit Kalhana in Rajatarangini (The chronological history of Kings) first published in 1148-49 CE. This historical account is generally described as the first of such in the whole Indian sub-continent & surrounding areas.

Pushing forward towards the modern day, it is generally noted by historians that the region of Kashmir lost its independence to the ascendant Mughal Indian empire in 1586 CE, followed by the Afghans who ruled this region from 1752 to 1819 before Sikh rule under Ranjeet Singh coincided with the gradual accumulation of territory by Gulab Singh, using Jammu as his power base. 

Birth of the State of Jammu & Kashmir

This is what then led to the formation of the State of Jammu & Kashmir (Referred to as J & K here on) in 1846, under British suzerainty.

Gulab Singh of Jammu and his family had prospered under Sikh Rule, signified by accumulation of territory up to Tibet (Ladakh), including Baltistan and other areas surrounding what is the Kashmir Valley. With the demise of Ranjeet Singh in 1838 began a series of in-fighting over succession and as the family of Gulab Singh also got caught up in these intrigues, they gradually made distance from what was left of the Sikh Empire and transferred their allegiance to the ascendant British colonial power. These events eventually facilitated the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846 (upon defeat of the remnants of the Sikh Empire by the British) as a quid pro quo between Gulab Singh and the British.

In turn, what was now termed as ‘Dogra Rule’ (indicating the region of Jammu where Gulab Singh and his successors originated from) developed their rule over what became c. 85,000 square miles of territory, including the regions of Gilgit Baltistan, Ladakh, the Kashmir Valley, Aksai Chin (Tibet Ha adjacent to the territory of Tibet), Jammu and what is today AJK (essentially splintered from the regions of the Kashmir Valley & Jammu).        

Although rule between 1846 and 1947 remained autocratic and harsh by some accounts, it remained consistent and stable. By the emergence of the 3rd successor to Gulab Singh (after his son Ranbir Singh followed in turn by his son Pratap Singh) Hari Singh was the nephew of Pratap SIngh (as the latter didn’t have any children) and was comparatively modern minded, introducing various socio-economic reforms including a definition of citizenship (State Subject Rule 20 April 1927), compulsory education and the introduction of a parliament (conducting 3 elections between 1934 and 1947 albeit with limited adult franchise). It is also important to note that bilateral agreements made between the State of J & K and British India were more balanced in terms & conditions while being protective of the territory of J & K, compared to all agreements made between post 1947 politicians and India & Pakistan. Examples include the Upper Jhelum Water Canal Agreement of 1904 and the Gilgit Lease Agreement of 1935.

It is also important to acknowledge that the public (or subjects under an autocratic dynasty) played a significant part in activism which led to some of the reforms described above.

Failure or Success of Outside Intervention?

It is within this framework ‘autocracy vs democracy’ that the rights movement pre 1947 should be understood rather than from a religious identity prism (viz. Hindu autocrat vs Muslim majority subjects), which tends to play into the 2 nation theory that the British colonial setup worked so successfully to establish post 1857 (Indian Independence Movement). This had led to the experiment of partitioning Bengal in 1905 and the Minto Morley Reforms of 1909 that created separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims in British India. These strategies to control the ‘locals’ compelled colonial subjects to conceptualise their rights based on their religious identity and perceive their fellow compatriots as the ‘other’, rather than the colonial power manipulating them.

What essentially should have been a peaceful transfer of power from ‘autocracy to democracy’ coinciding with British colonial departure from the region in 1947 and the end of British suzerainty in J & K, was converted into a question of accession to either India or Pakistan. The goalposts had been changed. Both the autocrat and his former subjects were marginalised in the process.

The United Nations was invoked to create a conflict resolution framework after both Indian and Pakistani troops under British command (at different intervals and under differing pretexts) were sent into the State of J & K to ostensibly protect the local population. 
It is important to note that the notion of asking the people (through a plebiscite) based on a non-binding conflict resolution framework that sough voluntary withdrawal of troops from both sides; was both a convenient way for Britain to avoid accountability and for India & Pakistan to cement their respective presence in the State of J & K, which endures to date.           
Indigenous Freedom Struggle Post 1947

With the autocrat (Hari Singh) adeptly thwarted from retaining the independence of the State of J & K and his former subjects lured into a split between an Indian (National Congress via National Conference & Sheikh Abdullah) and a Pakistani (Muslim League via Muslim Conference & Sardar Ibrahim), while simultaneously being given the impression that the United Nations would imminently resolve this matter, gradually transpired as an ‘eyewash’ for the people. 

Their rights struggle which was many decades old and for some communities even over a century old, was now tied in a straightjacket, with intermittent yet regular conflict between India & Pakistan, ensuring mounting casualties of the local population and apparently nobody even acknowledging their cries in 2025.   

Various freedom icons (Maqbool Butt being the most prominent) and rights movements have emerged to date, to try and help their compatriots break free of these modern chains of slavery; characterised by a structural absence of freedom of expression, association, assembly & movement on both sides of the divide. The Chinese encroachment into 17% of the State and looming ecological disasters throughout the region, only add to the complexities: which if pre 1947 - the autocratic ruler and his subjects had come to an understanding together - would have ensured a geopolitically neutral territory adopting the highest forms of direct democracy (surpassing the standards set by Switzerland) in a region which is most certainly - in relative terms – the most precious and thus sought after territory in the world, on account of its geographic location and the resources (particularly downhill inclined fresh water) flowing through it. 

Continued external manipulation would ensure indefinite multipolar conflict and internal strangulation of aspirations, while an internal political process without external influence based on the stakeholders binding each other into a contract clarifying each other’s rights & responsibilities (particularly over water management), would provide the most feasible opportunities for peace & prosperity of the whole region, which ultimately accounts for half the world’s population.         

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The above brief historical summary of where the people (descendants of former State Subjects of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas) find themselves in 2025; was written on the 29th of August 2025 by Tanveer Ahmed, an independent action-oriented public policy researcher - working un-interrupted on-the-ground in AJK since April 2005 - operating through direct public funding of the people of this territory, in an inclusive & equitable manner.  

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Thursday, 28 August 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 240 of 2025

1318hrs:

Better than yesterday but still stuck without proper synchronisation and timing of daily activities.

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Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 239 of 2025

1522hrs:

A delay in logging today compared to the gradual improvements made over the past few days.

....

The following report provides important information about how nature has responded to the decades old ills of human kind, in the most ecologically sensitive part of the world:

************

A Himalayan Crisis 

* Soumya Dutta, MAUSAM/ NAPM.

A deadly combination of Climate Change Crisis (which itself is a result of the  "extractive-expansionist-capitalist" economic model adopted globally) and all round 'insane  developmentalism' - is wrecking havoc across the Hindukush Himalayas.  

Most of these were predicted for over a decade by many climate scientists, climate & ecological justice activists and few concerned planners, but those warnings were largely ignored. 

Now it's Payback Time.

The year 2025 has most likely seen an increase in climatic disasters in the Himalayan region (excluding Earthquakes, which are not Climate change driven), primarily driven by intensified monsoon rains, cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts, exacerbated by climate change and western disturbances. Not to talk about the intensified Heatwaves in the lower Himalayas. 

And it's to be noted, that no La Nina (which increases rainfall in the Indian subcontinent) is prevailing in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean now, nor an El Nino. It's ENSO neutral condition prevailing now.  So the entire effects can be likely attributed to Climate Crisis & local mal-development .

From the better known media reports, no Major Himalayan disasters were reported from January to May 2025, with events ramping up during the monsoon season starting in June. The list below, which is not an exhaustive list; shows distinct, verified events with available dates or timeframes, noted from news reports and analyses.

Cumulative death tolls for the monsoon period include over 145 in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh combined, 130 in Himachal Pradesh alone (from 74 flash floods, 39 cloudbursts and 73 major landslides) and around 300 in northwest Pakistan (including Pakistani-administered Jammu & Kashmir).

A. Late June 2025: Cloudburst in Kullu and Kangra districts, Himachal Pradesh, India

A cloudburst triggered deadly floods near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric Project, killing 2 people and leaving up to 20 missing, with significant damage to infrastructure in this vulnerable Himalayan area.

B. July 2025 (multiple incidents): Flash floods and landslides across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, India

Ongoing heavy monsoon rains led to nature's fury through multiple flash floods and landslides, causing deaths (exact toll unspecified in reports) and widespread destruction in these states, highlighting the region's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather.

C. July 28-29, 2025: Cloudburst in Mandi town, Himachal Pradesh, India.

An intense cloudburst-type rainfall event, influenced by a western disturbance, triggered a flash flood that killed 3 people and caused localized havoc in the area.

D. August 5, 2025: Flash flood in Dharali and Harsil villages, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India

A sudden flash flood, possibly caused by a cloudburst, glacial lake outburst, or glacier collapse, overwhelmed the Kheer Ganga river, submerging markets, destroying 50 hotels and 40-50 houses and damaging an army camp. At least 5 confirmed dead, with over 70 presumed dead and 43 still missing as of mid-August; a temporary lake formed upstream, raising further flood risks.

E. Early-Mid August 2025: Cloudburst and flash floods in Chashoti, Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, (Indian-administered)  

A massive cloudburst caused devastating flash floods and landslides along a pilgrimage route in this remote Himalayan area, killing at least 44 people, leaving dozens missing, and requiring extensive rescue operations by NDRF, SDRF, army and volunteers amid challenging terrain.

F. August 17, 2025: Cloudburst in Kathua district, Jammu (Indian-administered)

A severe cloudburst led to terrifying flooding, with water and debris surging through the area; army, NDRF and RSS teams conducted relief and rescue operations, though specific casualty figures were not detailed in initial reports.

G. August 22, 2025: Glacial lake outburst flood in Gilgit-Baltistan, (Pakistani-administered) 

A GLOF in this northern Himalayan region triggered cascading floods, demonstrating the dangers of warming-induced glacier melt, though specific casualty details were not immediately reported.

H. August 2025 (ongoing monsoon period): Widespread monsoon floods in northwest Pakistan (including Swat River and Mingora)

Torrential rains caused powerful floodwaters and debris flows, killing at least 227 people overall in the region, washing away homes, and triggering landslides; this is part of broader monsoon devastation in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.

I. Summer 2025 (specific dates unspecified, reported in late August): Devastating floods in Kashmir region, (Indian-administered) 

Recurring floods highlighted climate instability and human impacts, compounding geopolitical tensions and hindering solutions; exact casualties not specified but part of the season's havoc.

J. August 26, 2025: Landslide en route to Vaishno Devi shrine, Jammu (Indian-administered)

A landslide, amid monsoon rains wreaking havoc on Himalayan states, killed and estimated 13 people and injured 14, with experts warning of risks from unchecked construction along riverbanks and slopes.

The Himalayas have been ringing the warning bells very loud and clear, for the past few years especially. It's up to us all to rise to the challenge, restraint the destruction engines and heal the Himalayas. The question is not how to do that, we already know. The main question is will the profiteering juggernaut of extractive-expansionism be called to account and halted in its devastation path? And that's not a billion dollar question, but a question of choosing between the long term sustenance of the Himalayan ecosystem and its slow destruction. 

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Note: The report above has been slightly edited for clarity and ensuring the outstanding people's reference on either side of Jammu & Kashmir is acknowledged, rather than these areas being assumed to be an integral part of either India or Pakistan.   

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 260 of 2025

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