A Journey in Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA)............................
from Subject to Citizen
.........autocracy to democracy
.........Dogra Raaj to Awaami Raaj
.........1947 CE to...........................
#WhiteFlags
#Neutrality
#WaterManagement #MirpurtoLondonviaCentralAsia
Furthermore..... ..... I thought the following paragraph to be a good summary of Pakistan's role here in AJK: "Article 257 of constitution of Pakistan residents of pok aren't citizens of Pakistan until State of Jammu and Kashmir decide its own future. Its a polity territory under control of Pakistan . no law of Pakistan can b implemented on POK. It has so called constitution and puppets assembly. But lent officers controlling under cover of so called cabinet of pok. Kashmir is not Pakistan according to official stance of Pakistan on Kashmir conflict . But Pakistan playing hypocrite role to grab Kashmir through hooks and crooks." End of quote..... n.b. POK stands for Pakistani Occupied Kashmir ..... Here's some work from the New York Times, on the ground in the Kashmir Valley:
...... This is perhaps the most concisely informative discussion on India's constitutional 'sleight of hand' on the 5th of August:
There is what I would describe as a virus doing the rounds in AJK ever since India's seemingly unilateral action to chop up Article 370 of its constitution, exactly 14 days ago.
The Pakistanis are on a charm offensive. Here are 2 examples:
Exhibit 1: (recieved via Whatsapp on August the 11th)
I have received the following message containing a political solution on present state of changed Kashmir Status from another friend. The Political Solution has been put forth by a former Brigadier (in the Pakistani army) namely Mr. Imtiaz Malik as under:
OUT OF BOX SOLUTIONS RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER FORUM:
India has made a political move, not a military one, therefore, our answer (while out of box), must also be of political nature and unsettling enough for India.
1. We can unilaterally call off Shimla Accord since India has integrated a territory declared disputed in that accord. This would change the status of Line of Control back to Cease Fire Line. It would also deny India an opportunity to tell others that India-Pakistan has a bilateral accord to settle disputes like Kashmir.
2. Even more daring step can be to ask Azad Jummu & Kashmir Government to declare independence of entire State of J&K. Act as a 'government in absentia' for Indian occupied part as well. Apply for membership of the UN and OIC, where Pakistan should strongly support its membership. India did same with us in 1971, when it supported Bangladesh government in exile. This step alone would change the entire equation. Domestically all people of valley will be energized and get united. At international level, the nature of dispute would change from Territorial issue between two states to that of self rule of Kasmiris. Security council resolutions which are dormant , will now become most relevant.
3. The new independent State of Azad J&K can still keep defence pact with Pakistan to defend it against Indian aggression, if any.
4. As soon as Azad J&K get the UN membership, it can also invoke International Court of Justice to declare instrument of accession being void as that accord as well as Contitutional agreement made by the past governments with Indian Union has been violated by India, and that would make Indian occupation illegal.
He thinks it a very befitting and effective proposition. All segments of proposal are very cogent, in fitness of things considering 7 decades of Indian treacherous conduct regarding Kashmir. It seems like an opportunity as we had in 1962 which we failed to materialize. Proposals must be propagated in all forums so that enough analytical and critical aspects surface.
Please share in your networks for wider discussions and building a more pragmatic approach for diplomatic campaign.
End of x. Brigadier's proposal....
My initial response:
Sounds like a similar suggestion of the 1980s which was bought hook, line and sinker by the JKLF and others....we don't want to repeat that. All Pakistan has to do is keep its mouth shut and slowly begin demilitarisation from AJK. They have been given a direction since 2012. They need to follow that.
Exhibit 2:
This is Professor Doctor Mehdi Hassan who is described as a leading intellectual of Pakistan; being interviewed for his opinion on the current scenario:
This was my immediate response:
I think the old gentleman is terribly misguided and contradictory. He talks of avoiding a territorial dispute but gives suggestions based on a territorial dispute. He is suggesting that Pakistan should allow AJK to be a sovereign State but follow the agenda given by Pakistan.
This is legerdemain once again!
Now, it should be clear that we in AJK are in no mood to allow Pakistan to pull the wool over our eyes yet again. It needs to demilitarise in phases as suggested in the internal political process. We don't need a defence pact with them, we need a defence pact with the whole world! Our destination is that of a neutral territory and thus we cannot engage in pacts or agreements which align us in any way to any country in particular. The Pakistanis must understand that their interference in J & K is a large part of the problem and thus, the less they interfere the more progress we can make towards a solution.
This is a battle for fundamental rights, dignity and identity. All countries involved in J & K should understand that. Our battle is legal, peaceful and democratic. We must tackle our obstacles bit by bit, getting Pakistan to demilitarise will pave the way for Indian demilitarisation. That in turn will enable us to tackle Chinese presence in our territory.
The energy, resources and mindset needed for Chinese eviction is more than that needed to evict India. Likewise, the energy, resources and mindset needed to evict India is more than that needed to evict Pakistan.
If we can't evict our Muslim neighbours who are at the bottom of the power equation in this complex puzzle and who claim to speak on our behalf, how on earth are we going to evict larger powers who show no such sympathy or inclination?
We must be clear about our objectives and the world must be clear about our utility as a neutral entity in Asia. The precedent of Switzerland is already available in Europe and has been since 1515. For us, 2020 is just around the corner! ...... While en route to public interest work this afternoon, I happened to come across this activity at the main thoroughfare. Was this a coincidence or was this done purposefully on my approach. Well, an Indian flag doesn't get created suddenly and neither are they in supply in AJK. However, as I'm not clear who is behind this and there is some choreographed aspect to this act, I am beginning to wonder!
........ A polite reminder:
people from POK taken by pkarmy in 2018:AJK 229,GB:53 No idea they are dead or alive.#NaeemButt was killed by paki forces in protest in POK. Sec 144 in #Muzaffarabad against any one gathering for protest Treason cases against JKLF NSF for demanding freedom Next Please
— #SaveRiverSaveMuzaffarabad (@khawajaatteeq) August 19, 2019
........ So it is now likely that the UK may not just be divided on Brexit, Jammu & Kashmir could also become contentious between the Conservatives and Labour:
..... Here's the UN Human Rights Organisation's view from Geneva yesterday:
I also thought it opportune to tweet a message to the above referenced organisation in reference to their 2 annual consecutive reports on Jammu & Kashmir (2018 & 2019):
The world's premier & most resourceful human rights organisation must continue engaging with power 2 provide a deterrence n behalf f d unrepresented people f d world. There is no alternative peaceful & effective means f ensuring a rules based world order. https://t.co/WecQAG90M6
Just to illustrate one example (in Azaadi Chowk, Muzaffarabad) of many in AJK over the past few days, whereby the Pakistani narrative has been overtaken by the local internal narrative of AJK in protests against the unilateral amendment of Article 370 by the BJP in India:
Meanwhile your Kashmiri brothers slapped on face of Pakistani officials by replacing Pakistani flags with their kashmiri flags while chanting slogans at Azadi chowk Muzaffarabad capital of Pak occupied Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/e9bB8j40zG
...... I always felt that the ghost of Maqbool Bhat will always haunt both India and Pakistan until they vacate the territory of Jammu & Kashmir. This article (written on February the 11th 2014) by a budding writer/economist from Rawalakot is a timely reminder of how India's preemptive unilateral action has not only embarrassed Donald Trump but more so the State of Pakistan who's inherent contradictions over the 'freedom struggle' of Kashmir have exposed it to the hilt:
A valid reminder of Pakistan's inherent contradictions towards the 'Kashmiri Freedom Struggle' Maqbool Butt: Kashmir doesn’t want any of it, no Indian rulers and no Pakistani generals! https://t.co/dJTG5Wrfat via @tribuneblogs
...... For some years now, I have opined that Shabana Mahmood is our greatest hope in the British Parliament. Judging from her speeches recorded in Hansard, she comes closest to espousing an internal J & K narrative:
An early start in Dadyaal today. Many people want to express their feelings over India's unilateral move to quash Article 35A and amend Article 370 in its constitution, in a bid to end Jammu & Kashmir's special status within the Indian Union. However, many do not realise Pakistan's complicity in the matter and their own attempts to integrate AJK and GB into Pakistan, right from the outset of breaking the Standstill Agreement with the Maharajah in 1947.
...... Here's a more representative view of what took place in Dadyaal today. There were a range of speakers from pro-accessionists (with Pakistan) including the AC (Assistant Commissioner of Dadyaal) to independent J & K minded citizens. One can make their own conclusions as to the sentiment of the locals:
..... Does he have a role to play in stunting this bold move by the BJP? Or am I interfering in politics? Regional politics or international politics or local 'Riyasati' politics?
National integration isn’t furthered by unilaterally tearing apart J&K, imprisoning elected representatives and violating our Constitution. This nation is made by its people, not plots of land. This abuse of executive power has grave implications for our national security.
Kashmir’s mainstream political leaders have been jailed at secret locations. This is unconstitutional & undemocratic. It’s also short sighted and foolish because it will allow terrorists to fill the leadership vaccum created by GOI. The imprisoned leaders must be released.
— #SaveRiverSaveMuzaffarabad (@khawajaatteeq) August 6, 2019
Indian cultural or political expansionism in the heart of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad? Well, at least Jammu & Kashmir is most certainly agenda no. 1 in both Delhi and Islamabad today......and perhaps for many days to come? ..... The following is true.....what the Indians have done in their controlled part has struck a raw nerve throughout AJK:
2354hrs: After a rigorous 18 hours journey I reached Dadyaal this morning at 1000hrs... A much needed break after many days on the road, consumed in pursuing public interest. ..... He may well be somewhere near the twilight of his long and eventful career but Dr. Karan Singh is still the most important citizen of Jammu & Kashmir. What he says will always matter: 'Man who knows too much' - Karan Singh says tread cautiously on Article 35A, 370 ...... This is the sort of sentiment emerging out of AJK about Pakistan's role in this integration fiasco:
کچھ الحاقی اور پاکستان کے لوگ کہتے ہیں آزاد کشمیر میں پاکستانی فوج نہ ہو تو انڈیا دوسرے دن قبضہ کر لے. جب انڈیا لائن آف کنٹرول پر گولی چلا دے تو پاکستانی وزیراعظم جرنل اور عوام کہتے ہیں عالمی برادری نوٹس لے . کیا فوج نالے صاف کرنے کے لیے ہے ؟
I did promise the gentleman who tweeted this, that I would translate it into English: "Some accessionists (those preferring accession of #JandK to Pakistan) and some Pakistanis say that if the Pakistani army vacates #AJK then India would occupy AJK the very next day. When India begins shelling on the #LOC then the Pakistani PM, his generals and public beckon the international community to take notice. Is the army (just) kept for sweeping the drains?" End of translation.... .......
