Daily Diary (DD) - Day 269 of 2025

0947hrs:

Countdown to end of 2025: 97 days

Waking up in Bagh and continuing routine of walking on empty stomach first thing in morning. Today is Day 4 in this regard.

I have a critical target to reach here in this district - that of achieving the value of 1 share of #PeaceBondAJK2025 (equivalent to £1,000 UK pounds sterling) - and the potential of doing so in Bagh is probably higher than in any other district. 

Let's see what transpires....

....

The following notes are in reference to Sonam Wangchuk, who was arrested today and packed off to jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan about 1,000 miles away from his home in Ladakh.

I have always admired him as a polymath and innovator extraordinaire who is perhaps the foremost expert in JKA, who can navigate us all out of the ecological disaster we seem to be rushing towards, in the most ecologically sensitive region in the world.

News source: Al Jazeera   

Here's an excerpt from that news story:

Wangchuk was arrested and transported about 1,600km (1,000 miles) from home to jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, charged with “anti-national” activities, conspiring to overthrow the government, after a breakaway group from his protest engaged in violent clashes with security forces. Indian paramilitary soldiers shot dead four protesters after they had set the local office of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on fire, and authorities accused Wangchuk of instigating the violence.

End of excerpt..

Here is a (guest) article I'm sharing in relation to Sonam Wangchuk's character:

WHO IS SONAM WANGCHUK?

WRITTEN BY NARGIS NATARAJAN

(and don't let any Party IT cell version tell us otherwise 😉😀)

"It’s easier to fight foreign rule because then you are armed with the right emotional tools. But battling against your own becomes a tad more difficult. Welcome to our new POP culture- the Politics of Protest, where every demonstration is an International conspiracy. And where every voice of dissent is given innovative names. 

Who exactly is Mr. Sonam Wangchuk? He was one of the ‘Three Idiots’ who inspired a hit film. To sum up his ‘Anti- National activities’, he is a qualified Engineer and an Education reformist. Fresh out of college, he teamed up with his brothers and five others to set up the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL)- a programme training teachers to promote subjects relevant to the Ladakhi culture, prioritizing English over Urdu to prepare students for higher education. This ‘calculated’ effort proved to be a game-changer. In 2016, the earthen construction of SECMOL, designed by using solar technology, won the International Terra Award for the best building.

In 2018, for his ‘uniquely systematic, collaborative and community-driven reform of learning systems’ in a remote area, this ‘dangerous’ man was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award. If that wasn’t enough, the creative genius also went on to build a solar-heated tent for our soldiers to keep them warm in extreme cold. How appalling! I mean, can you even imagine people undertaking such personal sacrifices just to help their own people?

But wait. With his ‘cold’ and ‘chilling’ designs, this treacherous man is also credited with conceiving the Ice Stupa - tall artificial glaciers for storing water. Yes, he challenged Nature, terrorized the Himalayas, captured the retreating glaciers and invented a way to store winter water for irrigation. Just so the Ladakhi farmers would not face any more water crisis. 

These towering Ice structures (inspired by the Buddhist Stupas) stand as an awe inspiring symbol of innovation and sustainability in the enchanting region. The frozen project has also been recognized globally for its innovative approach to water conservation and climate adaptation. 

That’s not all, because the ‘anti-national’ was kind enough to share his environmental and educational innovations with mountain peoples across the Himalayan belt and went as far as Switzerland. WOW!  How can a simple, non-confrontational ‘radical rebel’, apart from repeatedly fasting unto death, also have time to continue to dream of ways to help the people of Ladakh? It’s ridiculous, right?  

Since 2019, when promises for Statehood were continuously ignored, the people of Ladakh felt alienated and cheated. Ever since, massive PEACEFUL protests have been going on, demanding jobs for the unemployed; democratic rights for Institutions; safeguards for the Constitution; and a greater role in the governance. 

Two years back Wangchuk announced a fast, to highlight the effects of climate change on Ladakh's fragile ecosystem. The authorities put him under house arrest. 

In March 2024, the then 58 year old started a fast-unto-death, not in the warmth of his room but in minus forty degrees at the Khardung La Pass, demanding protection of Ladakh from industrial and mining lobbies.  Nothing happened. 

Last September, armed with 20 others, the climate activist marched ALL the way from Ladakh to Delhi on foot. After a month long walk, they were detained outside Ladakh Bhawan. What he was asking for was nothing unreasonable. It was an assurance promised repeatedly for the Union Territory, but NEVER delivered. Nothing happened.  

On September 10th this year, the stubborn Mr Wangchuk began another 35-day fast. Yet again! Finally something happened.

After FIVE years of peaceful protest, when the floodgates of frustration was finally let loose and violence crept in, Wangchuk surrendered. He called off his fast saying his ‘message of peace failed’. When he was about to hold a Press Conference, he was arrested. 

‘All is well’ was a popular motivational chant in 2009. We were told that whenever ‘life goes out of control’, all we had to do was just yell ‘AAL IZZ WELL! And lo and behold, all our problems would be solved! If only it was that easy.

So is ALL well in the State of Ladakh?

You tell me; because change happens only when YOU decide who YOU want to become- the Know-It-All, the Blamer, the Cynic OR the Pragmatist, the Rationalist and the Realist!   

#AllIsNotWell 

#SonamWangchuk 

#IceStupas 

#SolarTent

..

End of guest article....

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 129 of 2024

1610hrs:

Momentum took me all the way to 0700hrs this morning before I finally fell asleep. I even almost got up for my morning walk at c. 0600hrs but thought better of it as it could have exhausted me for the rest of the day. Instead, I opted to sleep and got up at 1300hrs. It was 6 hours of sleep, an optimum amount but at totally the wrong time of day. Nevertheless, 129 days into the year and we battle on.

....   

This should be self-explanatory:

Averting a Security Crisis n #AJK via a #Conflict2Peace Strategy..Pls sign the updated petition 2 make up the numbers needed 2 implement this strategy.https://t.co/rISm5jHHKh via @UKChange
FAO:
1) @FCDOGovUK 2) @StateDept
3) @amnesty @hrw
4) @AJIunit @BBCUrdu @dw_urdu @voaurdu

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) May 8, 2024

....

An Urdu video explanation of the 'Averting a Security Crisis in AJK':

....

An example of how Pakistan's clandestine agencies try and threaten our people for peacefully protesting for their rights:

(The number of the person making the call is also included):

....

1981, Margaret Thatcher and the Mujahideen:

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 327 of 2022

0939hrs:

Day 171 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0753hrs

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 63%

107 days on time or early of 171

Punctuality surplus = 3 minutes 

Punctuality Consistency Status = 3 days

Thankfully, our punctuality deficit has reverted back to a surplus. Let's hope it stays that way until the end of this 365 day outing at the Square.

....

I felt prompted to watch the following video, given that it is that time every 4 years where a considerable amount of the world's population turns their attention to a sporting competition:

 

I was then tempted to write the following notes, a part of which I entered as a comment to the video above, indicated in brackets below:

FIFA World Cup 

Qatar

Globalisation

(Arabs deserve a respectable place in the world. They have a history and have contributed to global civilisation. They are not all terrorists or spoilt brats with nothing to contribute to the world.

Qatar has proactively used this and various other initiatives to show that they can be as much a part of the solution to humanity's problems as any other nation or people.  

Al Jazeera and other institutions have been developed to build this 'soft power'.

Obtaining the opportunity to host the most watched global event in the world at 300 billion US dollars is a very prudent investment.

In the backdrop of the most lucrative and popular sport in the world, we can bring some sport and support similar fair play in geopolitics.)

We began trying to obtain membership of FIFA since the day of the World Cup final in Russia 4 years ago. We were ignored by everybody without exception, despite even asking one of our co-citizens based in Zurich - global headquarters of FIFA - but unfortunately it seems that he ignored us too, although it is possible that he may have a valid reason.    

Incidentally, we understand that the whole World Cup event has been organised by a Swiss company. This is human capital export of the highest order. We, in Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) - JKA - have that capability too but we deny each other, sometimes even before the world denies us.

We - the people of JKA - are losing out because we are unable to organise ourselves as a people representing a country - in the manner that citizens of more than 200 countries are able to do - albeit the global geopolitical chessboard may have been a bit kinder to most of them. For example, citizens of India and Pakistan or even those of Nepal or Bhutan - presuming that most of them are proud of their national identity - have a head start ahead of us. Although for obvious reasons India and Pakistan have an unfair advantage over us.    

Google, Facebook and Twitter are earning billions globally including from us in #AJK and throughout #JKA . Yet, they are paying 0 to our territory because we do not have an 'organisational framework' in the shape of a de facto country, to take advantage of opportunities the world is offering us.

Our concept of neutrality in foreign relations can be described as giving each country equal opportunity to engage/trade with us. 

Our mutual economic relationships with other countries should be aimed as being 50:50 in terms of mutual benefit. We do understand that this may be difficult to achieve, given that global capital flocks to where there is greater opportunity. However, our neutral status and distinct geography can be an enticement in itself, that may confound traditional economic thinking. 

There are countries that are already engaged with our territory and there should be some others that we proactively engage with - as many as have already engaged with us - in order to then create a level playing field for the rest of the world to engage with us.     

We want to see #AJK or #JKA host the FIFA World Cup at some point in the next couple of decades, to enhance our 'soft power' credentials, if not anything else. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 313 of 2022

1735hrs:

Day 157 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0755hrs

My punctuality deficit has decreased to 8 minutes.

Punctuality percentage: 94 days on time or early of 157 = 60% punctual.

....

As we rapidly approach the most unique of football world cups ever in its history, we can rue our absence there and also try to enjoy the spectacle that it always presents:

I felt it appropriate to submit a comment too:

I think this has been a well presented programme. All the flaws were zeroed in and the viewer is better able to understand the achievement of Qatar to bring the most global of events in human history to its shores. 

We (civil society & public agency) in AJK (the 'free' part of Jammu & Kashmir) were not in a position to think 12 years ahead in 2010. Some of us who could have linked up the dots between Switzerland (Home of FIFA) and Qatar, were only beginning to work on obtaining FIFA membership for AJK & Gilgit Baltistan, during the final of the 2018 World Cup. Croatia also inspired us further by doing so well as a small country. 

Alas, 4 years was not enough preparation to get AJK to take part in a global spectacle of unparalleled exposure. We are yet to receive a response from FIFA in Zurich.

The thought of 'soft power' did go through my mind while watching the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, from AJK. I was happy for Qatar to have achieved this milestone. Hosting global conflict resolution puzzles and facilitating a global media channel are also examples of successful accumulation of 'soft power'.    

We in AJK and the rest of JKA will keenly follow Qatar's achievements into the future.

End of Youtube comment....

(Update: 1621hrs 11/11/2022)

As is almost customary, the thought police of India and/or Pakistan will always try and address any mention of any part of Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) on any global forum. They will try and correct any information or analysis according to their own country's narrative. Such an example happened here too:

Someone describing themselves as 'Eternal Gamer' intervened yesterday (10/11/2022) as follows:

"As a part of Pakistan of course."

My response (MR henceforth):

@Eternal Gamer  

No, it is precisely these types of assumptions and assertions that have destroyed Pakistan. These are matters best left to the inhabitants of JKA, without external interference.

(He promptly responded (as if duty bound):

@Tanveer Ahmed  

first of all, you mentioned Gilgit Baltistan. The people of Gilgit Baltistan have always wanted to remain separate from Kashmir and the overwhelming majority supports integration with Pakistan.

Second, if you really are Kashmiri, then you are disrespecting your ancestors and the people of Kashmir who fought and were ready to give their lives to make Kashmir part of Pakistan. 

You're definitely better off than the Kashmiris on the other side of the border.

MR (I responded today):

@Eternal Gamer  

I didn't think this would be the appropriate forum to discuss such matters but since you've raised them I'll just make a couple of brief points in the hope that you will agree to disagree, rather than continuing to pursue or clarify your 'ownership' credentials at the cost of the people of this territory, who have an inherent right to represent themselves, rather than a neighbour forcibly trying to represent their views to the world. 

You make assertions about Gilgit Baltistan while denying them basic fundamental rights for 75 years - which no-one stopped you from giving them. You restrict their freedom of expression, movement, assembly, association and deny them recourse to law and then make fantastic statements about them wanting to remain separate from Kashmir and that an overwhelming majority supports integration with Pakistan, without as much as a rudimentary public opinion survey to back up that assertion. It's a bit like Pharoah claiming that the children of Israel want to fully integrate with Egypt while denying them all avenues to express themselves or seek redressal for crimes committed against them.

The point about disrespecting ancestors also sounds ridiculous for a number of reasons. Anybody who fights for their rights and sacrifices their life does not do so with the intention of surrendering those rights to someone else. You maybe confusing blind faith with their co-religionists thinking that they would be helpful neighbours into a ridiculous suggestion that they sacrificed their lives for Pakistan. Most of the people who have died or been killed since 1947 is either because they found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of their own (religious minorities forced to migrate or be killed to validate the British created 2 nation theory), people who reside on the LOC being killed by Indian and Pakistani bullets, people in the Valley of Kashmir being killed for either being lured by Indian or Pakistani money and arms particularly in the late 1980's/1990's. The list is endless.

Finally, we may be better off than people on the other side of the border but Pakistan cannot take credit for that. Quite the contrary. Indian and Pakistani money and arms were used on the other side while no such intrigue took place on that scale on this side. An Indian wrong does not necessarily make a Pakistani right. The Pakistanis have foolishly tried to live off the misery of others thinking that it creates a groundswell of opinion in its own favour. Most of the world can see through you. Pakistan has closed our gateway to the world while it extracts resources mercilessly from our territory, forcing our people to migrate to all parts of the world for their livelihood. The conditions here are better because of our diaspora - whose foreign remittances enable Pakistan to continue surviving despite it being an economic debacle - and the Pakistanis know full well that if they try and repress our people like the Indians do, then it won't be long before they are kicked out of here. Pakistan does not have the diplomatic or economic clout of India to ride such tribulations.

As mentioned at the outset, I do not wish to continue using this platform to discuss matters that have nothing to do with it. You have made your points and I have made mine. Try and find me on an alternative platform if you're keen to continue the discussion. Try and represent yourself rather than others. Every human being is capable of representing themselves. Try to understand that.

 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 280 of 2022

1609hrs:

Day 124 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0806hrs

My punctuality deficit has increased to 29 minutes. Late yet again!

Punctuality percentage: 71 days on time or early of 124 = 57% punctual.

....

Day 25 on our evening Twitter slot brings us rapidly to the 4th and final subject relating to the Citizen's Charter, namely the Citizen's App (a bespoke software application for the inhabitants of JKA and their diaspora, wherever they are in the world):

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/5i4zdTFJ0e
Some call it 'Systems Thinking' & we relate it 2 #Governance & #PublicPolicy n #AJK
N episode 25 - n the trot - we focus our public's attention n a bespoke citizen's software application 2 provide D administrative hub

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) October 7, 2022

Associated reference:

I did mention Estonia as a country that has inspired me for many a year, especially in the manner in which it conducts e-governance. Other keywords to understand the Citizen's App is Human/Data Management or what is now commonly described as Big Data, Block Chain Technology etc. 

Link

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 46 (updated at 0514hrs on 09/10/2022) 

Average space count (25 days so far): 190

....

I took out some time to watch this, mainly provoked by the video title:

In turn, I was provoked to make the following comment in Al Jazeera's comments section:

An interesting conversation to an extent. What almost everyone wants for themselves they are unwilling to give to others ref. the title of this video: "Pakistan's FM: We 'can’t be held hostage' to superpowers’ games". What Pakistan wants for itself it seems unwilling to give to the people of Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) - JKA. They have violated our neutrality for 75 years and prevent us from having an open dialogue with India in respect to their violations and the overall security framework in the region. They must relent and concentrate on building (and rebuilding) their country, as their foreign minister seems to be stressing on. We are simply asking Pakistan to stop blocking our gateway to the world. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 276 of 2022

2303hrs:

Day 120 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0753hrs

My punctuality deficit has decreased to 40 minutes.

Punctuality percentage: 69 days on time or early of 120 = 58% punctual.

..

On Day 120 of our daily morning saunter to Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square it is time to review our punctuality performance over the past 40 days, as we have done on Day 80 and Day 40.

Punctuality Review over 120 days (with some statistics):

Day(s) - Time of Arrival at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal (hrs)

n.b. Remember that my declared timing from the outset has been 0800hrs to 1000hrs every day without fail. Attendance remains at 100% but let's see how punctual I've been:

*Percentages given are to the nearest whole number

Days 1 to 10:

18 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 10 days)

6 days late of 10 (viz. 60% late)

Days 11 to 20:

49 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 20 days)

14 days late of 20 (viz. 70% late)

Days 21 to 30:

133 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 30 days)

23 days late of 30 (viz. 77% late)

Days 31 to 40:

290 minutes late (as aggregate over 1st 40 days)

30 days late of 40 (viz. 75% late)

Days 41 to 50:

580 minutes late (as aggregate over 50 days)

38 days late of 50 (viz. 76% late)

Days 51 to 60:

507 minutes late (as aggregate over 60 days)

39 days late of 60 (viz. 65% late)

Days 61 to 70:

341 minutes late (as aggregate over 70 days)

41 days late of 70 (viz. 59% late)

Days 71 to 80:

214 minutes late (as aggregate over 80 days)

42 days late of 80 (viz. 53% late)

Now, we can break down our performance since Day 81 to Day 120:

81 - 0820 

82 - 0738 

83 - 0731 

84 - 0717 

85 - 0843 

86 - 0828 

87 - 0731 

88 - 0720 

89 - 0738 

90 - 0747 

107 minutes were gained (as aggregate over 9th 10 days).

Punctuality is improving and decreasing the overall punctuality deficit too.

Cumulative punctuality deficit over 90 days = 107 minutes

3 days late of 10 (viz. 30%)

Which accumulates as 45 days late of 90 (viz. 50%)

We can now summarise our stats as:

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 50%

45 days on time or early of 90 

Punctuality deficit = 107 minutes

91  - 0745 

92  - 0758 

93  - 0717 

94  - 0726 

95  - 0745 

96  - 0756 

97  - 0800 

98  - 0800 

99  - 0758 

100 - 0756 

115 minutes were gained (as aggregate over 10th 10 days).

The punctuality deficit that has accrued over 100 days has been converted into a surplus of 12 minutes (from a low of 580 minutes deficit on Day 50). 

This means that for the 580 minutes that I was cumulatively late for in the first 50 days has been reversed by 592 minutes of being cumulatively early during the next 50 days of visiting the Square.

Cumulative punctuality surplus over 100 days = 12 minutes

0 days late of 10 (viz. 100% on time)

Which accumulates as 55 days early or on time of 100 (viz. 55%)

We can now summarise our stats as:

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 55%

55 days on time or early of 100 

Punctuality surplus = 12 minutes

101 - 0757 

102 - 0748 

103 - 0800 

104 - 0800 

105 - 0801 

106 - 0757 

107 - 0758 

108 - 0831 

109 - 0825 

110 - 0757 

We lost 22 minutes due to lack of punctuality (as aggregate over 11th 10 days).

The punctuality surplus that had accrued over 100 days has reverted back to a deficit. It stands at 22 minutes on Day 110.

Cumulative punctuality deficit over 110 days = 22 minutes

3 days late of 10 (viz. 30% late)

Which accumulates as 62 days early or on time of 110 (viz. 56%)

We can now summarise our stats as:

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 56%

62 days on time or early of 110 

Punctuality deficit = 22 minutes

111 - 0757 

112 - 0826 

113 - 0757 

114 - 0757 

115 - 0806 

116 - 0757 

117 - 0814 

118 - 0756 

119 - 0755 

120 - 0753 

We lost a further 18 minutes during these 10 days due to lack of punctuality (our aggregate 'lateness' over the 12th 10 days has increased from 22 minutes on Day 110 to 40 minutes on Day 120).

Cumulative punctuality deficit over 120 days = 40 minutes

3 days late of 10 (viz. 30% late)

Which accumulates as 69 days early or on time of 120 (viz. 58%)

We can now summarise our stats as:

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 58%

69 days on time or early of 120 

Punctuality deficit = 40 minutes

Thus, we were late on 9 of the third 40 days (viz. 23% late) which is an improvement on 12 of the second 40 days (viz. 30% late), which itself was an improvement on 30 of the first 40 days (viz. 75% late) 

Thus:

1st 40 days -  75% late (30 of 40) 290 minutes deficit

2nd 40 days - 30% late (12 of 40) 214 minutes deficit

3rd 40 days -  23% late (9 of 40) 40 minutes deficit   

Total: 51 days late of 120 = 43% late!

By Day 80 we were 53% late, which was an improvement from being 75% late by Day 40 and now we have improved further to bring our ratio of late days down to 43% overall.

In short, we still have room for improving our punctuality further despite our incremental gains, especially since Day 50 when we had accumulated a punctuality deficit of 580 minutes and a late ratio of 76%.

....

Day 21 on Twitter brings us back to AJK as we review what we've discussed in the last 4 episodes:

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/qhoX5fKtyD
Reviewing what we've discussed in the previous 4 episodes on:#GilgitBaltistan#KashmirValley#Jammu#Ladakh#JKASovereignty#AJKPublicAgency

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) October 3, 2022

Associated reference:

We touched on the issue of multiple internal narratives within the State of JKA on an Al Jazeera programme in 2019. You can watch my contribution after 19 minutes: 

Link

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 66 (updated at 0235hrs on 09/10/2022) 

Average space count (21 days so far): 181

....

So, AJK has led England to victory over Pakistan in cricket. Congratulations once again to England after catching our attention in the Cricket World Cup of 2019:

 

Congratulations 2 both #England & #AJK 4 winning a very well fought series. #Pakistan has always had good talent but they have always been as undisciplined as unpredictable. They can B ungrateful 4 the bounties they have been bestowed with. I remember #JavedMiandad n Bangalore 96 pic.twitter.com/gODCGVQ4eg

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) October 2, 2022

.... 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 297 of 2021

1024hrs:

I rejoined the 'Watan Bachao March' (Save our Motherland/Country March) at Dothaan yesterday and am now committed to remain with them till their final destination to AJK's capital Muzaffarabad.

This morning, I've written a formal request to the following 4 global entities to provide some coverage to this unprecedented political event. 

1) BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

2) DW (Deutsche Welle)

3) VoA (Voice of America)

4) Al Jazeera 

Here it is:

Hi and good morning...this is Tanveer Ahmed - an independent action-oriented public policy researcher working un-interrupted on the ground in AJK (Azad Jammu & Kashmir) or more commonly described by outside sources as Pakistani-administered Kashmir, since April 2005. 

The reason I am troubling you as a global media entity in this time restricted age is to notify you of a novel protest march taking place in AJK since the 15th of October 2021, in a bid to raise awareness amongst the public of this territory and collect their opinion on the looming spectre of permanent division of the territory of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA) between India and Pakistan, without taking account of the will of the people in this territory.

On average, about 25 political activists from the Rauf Kashmiri faction of the JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) began walking from Bhimber (the southernmost district capital of AJK) towards Muzaffarabad (capital of AJK) in the north, which amounts to about 300 kilometres in total. Today (Sunday October the 24th) they are into their 10th day of continous walking and have reached the outskirts of Rawalakot (district capital of Poonch) at Kaigalla. 

Enroute they camped at: 

Kharri Sharif (Day 1) 

Mirpur (Day 2)

Chakswari (Day 3)

Dadyaal (Day 4)

Naar (Day 5)

Kotli (Day 6)

Tattapani (Day 7)

Hajeera (Day 8) 

Kaigalla (Day 9)

At each camp, they were welcomed by local representatives of various other political parties (including other factions of the JKLF) who hosted them while taking responsibility for their food and shelter. 

Apart from interacting with the public enroute, they are conducting public speeches wherever they stay with varying audiences (including press clubs at some places) and conducting what they describe as a referendum, whereby they set up a stall at each city/town where they had camped the previous night and put 3 questions to the public:

1) As a state citizen of Jammu Kashmir do you accept the imposed intention of India and Pakistan to negotiate with each other (supposedly on our behalf) and make the ceasefire line/line of control into a permanent border?

a) Yes b) No c) Certainly not

2) While acknowledging the citizens of Jammu Kashmir to be humans do you accept their right to decide their future in a free and fair manner according to the charter of the United Nations?

a) Yes b) No

3) Until the emergence of a permanent solution to the Jammu Kashmir conflict do you agree with the proposal to set up an embassy/consulate of the State of Jammu Kashmir in Islamabad (Pakistan) by a representative revolutionary government comprising of both AJK and GB?

a) Yes b) No

The name, place of residence and ID card number of each member of the public (who must be a citizen of Jammu Kashmir) is taken to add clarity to the questionnaire.

n.b. in developed countries obviously public opinion is collected anonymously and without being suggestive but here - in a conflict zone there is little room for ambiguity and thus the conditions here necessitate the collection of opinion in this manner.

The pamphlet outlining the reasoning behind their activity and the associated questionnaire are also attached here for your perusal.

Thus far, opinion has been collected from over 15,000 respondents and the target sample is at least 1 million (note that the 'referendum' activity began before the general elections in AJK in July 2019 and will continue beyond this particular political activity). It should be added that the overwhelming majority of people have given responses that are pro Jammu Kashmir state and this includes people who participate in general elections under the banner of Pakistani political parties.

It should also be noted that despite there being a multitude of political parties in AJK that espouse Kashmiri nationalism (viz. No India and No Pakistan) and despite following different political personalities and adopting differing political strategies; most have welcomed, embraced and hosted this faction of the JKLF in some shape or form.

What we humbly request you as a global media entity is to provide some form of coverage to this milestone political event in AJK, which has no precedent in this region. We remember your channel covering the various political events in this territory that took place in reaction to India's (supposedly unilateral) move to bifurcate and downgrade its administered part of Jammu & Kashmir on August the 5th 2019. For example, coverage was given to:

1) JKLF (Sagheer faction) that conducted a sit-in protest at Tithrinote (on the LOC in Poonch) between the 7th and 11th of September 2019.

2) JKLF (Amanullah faction) that marched from Muzaffarabad to Jaskol near Chakothi (on the LOC in Jhelum Valley) and then conducted a sit-in protest between the 4th and 16th of October 2019.

3) PNA (People's National Alliance comprising of 24 nationalist political parties) that converged on Upper Adda Muzaffarabad on the 21st of October and were prevented from marching to the AJK Assembly on the 22nd of October 2019.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further questions or queries. I have been accompanying this 'Watan Bachao March' (Save our Motherland/Country March) intermittently from Bhimber to Kotli and rejoined them yesterday before they entered Kaigalla. I will remain with them till their destination in Muzaffarabad.

You can see brief notes and video footage of this march in daily diary format at: 

ajkpublicagency.org

You can also read their (JKLF R's) own report at Kotli on the 21st of October 2021 at the following link:

http://tanveerandkashmir.blogspot.com/2021/10/daily-diary-dd-day-294-of-2021.html

End....

Pamphlet:

Front

Back

Questionnaire (Public Referendum)

......

It was a bitterly cold day combined with aggressive bouts of rain but we kept marching on:

.........

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 10 of 2020

1350hrs:

In Charoi today....and it is a very welcome bright day...whereby the Peer Panjaal mountain range is also glistening across the LOC.





.......

Welcome to our world:



.........

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 345 of 2019

1146hrs:

Despite sleeping at midnight last night, I couldn't get up in the morning till 1040hrs....it is a very cold room where we stay and one doesn't want to let go of the little bit of warmth that is generated over the night. We only have 34 rupees in our balance and thus we will have to forego breakfast yet again and make do with a few oranges (maltas) in the meantime.

.....

Pointed:

Where is media?
Media only shows beautiful scenic of #GilgitBaltistan .No media are here....#CPEC #studentsBlockedCPECRoute #Gilgit@GB_Family110 @Humansofgb @JKPNP3 @NSFGB @sahaafi @NaeemKa03777212 pic.twitter.com/hNee1tHUWP

— Ashfaq Kashmiri (@AshfaqKashmiri8) December 11, 2019

........

We can't absorb these lies anymore:

She chewed it all up and even tried to bring #China in to divert the interviewer. Honesty is important. You can't claim to support someone if you are not willing to support their right to decide, on their own terms. #SitDownPakistan on #InternationalHumanRightsDay https://t.co/TWSTG7H9k7

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) December 11, 2019

She even had the cheek to claim that AJK has its own Assembly, knowing full well who controls it. Despicable behaviour I say.

.......

We continue to roll in the capital:



It isn't easy retrieving missing/stolen items from AJK police custody or for that matter from Pakistani army/custody as I've experienced in the past. Most people waive their right and thus embolden these 'security' organisations to abuse citizens and their possessions at will. This is an attempt to stem the tide and of course it is time consuming. Here are our documents in pursuit of our 6 of 7 missing items:

Application to Qazi 291119

Written Response by City Thaana 291119 

2nd Application to Qazi 301119 1 of 2

2nd Application to Qazi 301119 2 of 2

Application to SSP 111219

Let me give you a summary of events rather than translate all these documents word for word:

When we were arrested and tortured on the 25th of October and into the early hours of the 26th the police (accompanied by Pakistan's clandestine agencies) didn't bother confirming our items which they were taking into separate custody from us. The next morning I did start looking and asking for my sandals but received a blank response from the police. In fact, I was physically beaten up once again! When we were taken from the police station to be presented in court, I enquired of my missing sandals once again and was hastily given somebody else's sandals while being assured that my sandals would be found and returned to me in due course. They weren't. 

When we were released - on bail - from Raara jail on he 31st of October, the police had been ordered to pick us up and deport us from our territory! (without legal reference). Here the PI (Police Inspector) returned 27 of our 34 witheld items. I explained to him that the following 7 items were missing and wrote them in the document he gave to me sign, to confirm that I had received my possessions:

1) Sandals (by Clarks of UK)
2) Glasses (frames by Rodenstock of Germany)
3) Perfume (by Dior of France)
4) Phone microphone x 2 with lead (of Sweden)
5) Black Sleeping Bag and Cover
6) Thermos
7) 500 rs (that somebody had given to the police for my use)  

When he (the PI) dropped us off in Arja (after intervention from some lawyers who helped us avoid being deported to Pakistan without legal reference), there was no means of obtaining a copy of the list of our possessions. 

It wasn't until our fourth hearing in court on the 29th (of November) - when I walked barefooted from my hotel room to the courts and then onto the police station - that the Qazi ordered a response from the police on my missing items. Upon arrival at the City police station barefooted, it took just about 10 minutes for the police to return my sandals. However, they did not mention them in their written response to the court and gave a statement that they had returned 27 items to me and that they had nothing else to return to me.

We then approached the court yet again armed with an affidavit in reference to our possessions on the 30th. We were acquitted on the 4th of December and our missing items issue remained suspended. It wasn't until the 11th of December (today) that we approached the learned Qazi yet again and he - in turn - instructed us to pursue SSP Muzaffarabad.

This is where we stand: A fresh application has been given to the SSP via his reader Mr. Anwar Khan and we have received a written acknowledgement of receipt.
    
.......

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 343 of 2019

1452hrs:

After a great endurance test yesterday whereby we (my assistant and I) had almost nothing to eat or drink from morning till almost 2100hrs (9pm), we are now in the clear after a blitz of contacting co-citizens at home and abroad. Our daily diary publishing structure is also almost up to date after a couple of weeks of grappling with various items scattered all over our offline space.

.....

For the past many weeks I have been meaning to pay tribute to a distinguished but alas late professor Richard Bonney, whom I should and could have associated with but didn't, in the later years of his 70 year existence on this earth.

Courtesy: University of Leicester 

My acquaintance with the late professor began soon after he quoted me and in particular my then recent article in Rising Kashmir, in a round-table Kashmir Conference at the House of Lords in May 2011.

From CBMs to OBMs 

He then took the initiative of critiquing the OBM (Ownership-Building-Measures) concept I had introduced. Details of this are also in the hyperlink above.

We had a good long conversation over Skype soon after and he was very keen to academically collaborate with me in reference to my work on AJK in particular and J & K in general. He also mentioned that the European Social Fund project on the origins of the modern state was led by him and he would be keen to include me (and my work) in it.

Professor Richard was also quite emotional about wanting to make amends for the ills emerging out of British colonialism, in what he described as his own modest way. At the time (2011) and until 2017 (in the year that he sadly died) I had been strictly and exclusively engaged with just the citizens of J & K (and AJK in particular). At the time, I felt that I needed to just communicate with my own people as they were my subject matter, it is they who I was trying to convince to exclusively fund me, support me and protect me. Ultimately it would be they who would be equipped to resolve our collective dilemma without external interference, which I have always felt to be the bane (poison) that killed our identity and subsequent right to exist on our own terms.  

I was conscious that Professor Bonney was a notable academic and also had his heart in the right place. However, I was so engrossed with my own people that I didn't reciprocate the professor's warm initiatives and since 2017 in particular when he died, I live to deeply regret my choice.

I was still fortunate to communicate with him just months before he died. It was touching of him to reply to me - via dictation to his wife Margaret - while in a hospitable bed and suffering from incurable cancer.

Here is what I wrote to him via email:

Inward while time flies

Tanveer Ahmed
3 Mar 2017, 02:14
to Richard

Dear Rev/Professor

I have felt very disturbed of late since I heard of your illness. I pray to the Almighty that he return your health and keep you going for much longer than you can imagine or feel.

I say this as a person who has experienced loss of extremely valuable people in these past few years - who through my negligence or miscalculation of priority - were not given the due attention that their intellect and knowledge of history deserved.

Particularly since 2011, my passion for addressing the stalemate otherwise generally described as the J & K issue has increasingly led me to look for answers from within the territory of AJK. Though this has provided much clarity on the direction ahead, the opportunity cost has been tragic too.

Just as I rue the missed opportunities of interacting more vigorously with the outside world - personally as well as professionally - I eagerly hope that with the publication of my impending 'public opinion' survey report on AJK, I can resume meaningful contact.

Please accept my apologies for not communicating more frequently in the past few years. It has been my loss and it hurts.

More importantly, I pray that you recover and give me the opportunity of learning from a critical friend.


God Bless you sir

End of my email....

I don't want to copy all of his reply as it could be disrespectful of the privacy that one deserves from a private conversation. There are but 2 sentences that can be deemed to be relevant to public interest:

"I would be very pleased to see your document, the 'public opinion' survey report on AJK.  Please do not be overly concerned about the relative lack of communication between us - you are a long way away, and have been working very hard on something which is dear to my heart."

The University of Leicester announced the news of his demise thus.

Some days later The Guardian wrote an obituary on the late but very dear professor.

He will be remembered for many academic accomplishments but I will remember him more for what could have been, if only I had used my time more wisely.

I'll finish with a link to a review of a book he co-authored with an Indian and Pakistani on the prospects for peace between the 2 foes, using the perspectives of retired Indian and Pakistani military leaders.

Rest in peace sir.

........

I can relate to this:

Journalists in Kashmir are taking up manual labor jobs due to the internet ban over 4 months.This Kashmir Life story by Umar Khurshid is a reminder of how little we have done for ppl from Kashmir to get to tell their stories. The ones parachute reporters will never find.#Kashmir pic.twitter.com/48vTKDnP5O

— جپسی🍁 (@Gipsi0) December 9, 2019

.......

Got in some reading today:

One can notice the British Empire's footprints if they read between the lines of this brilliant piece of research:
Guilty Men of The Two-Nation Theory: A Hindutva Project Borrowed By Jinnah https://t.co/0uKjSwYqUk

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) December 9, 2019

.........


After a traditional Sunday break from uploading a daily video update Monday is here:



.....

It is interesting and possibly timely that Al Jazeera is doing a week of shows - on AJ Stream - on colonialism. This was my opening salvo:

#BritishColonialism continues 2 shape the lives of > a bn people n the Indian subcontinent including #JandK , certainly from a structural governance point of view. There has been almost zero political evolution here & the UK 2day continues 2 shrug off its share of responsibility.

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) December 9, 2019

......