Daily Diary (DD) - Day 199 of 2023

2230hrs:

Daily interaction across the LOC - albeit in a virtual sense - has been one of the many missing components of our struggle for existence since 1947.

It is no longer missing.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 117 of 2020

2328hrs:

Continuation.......

We are already into our 2nd week of a weekly 1 hour Urdu programme on #JKTV , every Sunday at 9pm #AJK time. The title translates as 'In search of an internal narrative ' & refers to #JandK as a whole including #Ladakh & #GB . Here's a link: https://t.co/xPO5qZix2k

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) April 26, 2020

In an attempt to develop a richer and more informative experience for the viewer/reader, we will also be providing references for further reading and clarification on what we discuss over the course of our weekly programme:

Here are today's references:

1) At 3 minutes and 20 seconds

A British delegation's visit to Kashmir in 1847, headed by Lieutenant Reynell Taylor

web reference

2) At 4 minutes and 20 seconds

Lord Avebury's visit to Kashmir in 2000

The timeline given in the link below maybe incorrect as I have checked Hansard (British parliamentary archives of verbatim proceedings) to verify the dates of his visit. There is also a very heavy tilt towards the Indian State's narrative in the report but the point that I made in the programme - that the people in the Kashmir Valley were indecisive about their future - maybe gauged from here.

web reference

3) At 5 minutes and 9 seconds

A British delegation's visit to Muzaffarabad in 2020, headed by Debbie Abrahams MP

web reference

4) At 15 minutes and 1 second

Aziz Ali Dad's article in The News entitled "Kashmiri identity and Gilgit Baltistan"

web reference

5) At 32 minutes and 41 seconds

Citizen Public Opinion Survey - AJK : Report 1.0 (Urdu)

web reference

6) At 36 minutes and 36 seconds

4 Civil Society Forums conducted in Gilgit Baltistan 2010. Links to the audio coverage of the forums have been broken, as the hosting company seems to have disappeared. However, here's a link to one of the introductory videos in Hunza: 

web reference

7) At 37 minutes and 13 seconds

Last week's programme

web reference

8) At 40 minutes and 15 seconds

Linking Hunza with Srinagar, Muzaffarabad and Jammu online

web reference

9) At 40 minutes and 50 seconds

BBC Article on Shujaat Bukhari

web reference

10) At 43 minutes

FIR against Nisar Baghi for reporting on sexual scandal in Bagh

web reference:

Awaiting from discussion participant Mujtaba Bandey 

11) At 46 minutes and 32 seconds

Video of Haider Shah Rizvi 

web reference

12) At 57 minutes and 36 seconds

Rubbish in the streets of Kotli

web reference

End.....

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 287 of 2019

1819hrs:

Day 11 of the 'Freedom March' and Day 9 of camping out at Jaskol, 7 kilometres from the LOC.

After 12 co-citizens began a 24 hour hunger strike at 5 pm yesterday, another 28 co-citizens including 3 female citizens decided to conduct a similar hunger strike for 24 hours, which began at 10am this morning:

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This is amongst the more biting commentaries of Dr. Nazir Gilani:

Kashmiris — on both sides of cease fire line https://t.co/pTioQVRXca via @dailytimespak

— Syed Nazir Gilani (@JKCHR) October 13, 2019

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Meanwhile, another large event (process possibly) is shaping up over the next few days. It's destination, the centre of power in AJK viz. Muzaffarabad:

Bagh(POK): #TeamPNA continued Signature campaign regarding 21 Oct Muzafarabad March for Quit Jammu Kashmir Movement. #NoIndia #NoPakistan #StopKillingUs #QuitJammuKashmirMovement #IndependentJK #PNA #StandWithPNA #MuzafarabadMarch21Oct19 pic.twitter.com/FZM9t0PenL

— JKPNP (@JKPNP3) October 14, 2019

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This clip merits introspection:



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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 283 of 2019

1922hrs:

The momentum is getting stronger by the day...almost everything that has happened since the 5th of August has taken all of us by surprise....

We are now in a position to start uploading content....

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We understand that there has been very heavy cross-fire and shelling between India and Pakistan in various parts of the Neelam Valley today. Even Sharda is affected once again. Here's some specific news:

Changan #NeelumValley
report of a ten years old kids death in indian and pakistan army shelling

Fizan Ahmad Mir S/o Fiaz Mir Age 10

Wife of Fiaz Mir is also injured #LoC #Kashmir #SayNoToWar

— #SaveRiverSaveMuzaffarabad (@khawajaatteeq) October 10, 2019

Areas affected:

- Sharda
- Khwaja Seri
- Dosut
- Tejian
- Dudhnial
- Lawaat

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A history lesson won't go amiss amidst the cacophony of voices near the LOC at Jaskol, near Chakothi:

24 نومبر کی رات اور 25 نومبر کی صبح کو منگلا سے پاکستانی فوج نے توپخانے کے ذریعے میرپور پر گولہ باری کی ۔
اس گولہ باری کے ساتھ قبائلیوں اور پاکستانی فوج نے میرپور پر حملہ کر دیا اور شہر کی حفاظتی دروازوں کو توڑ کر شہر میں داخل ہو گئے ۔
میرپور پر قیامت ٹوٹ پڑی ۔ pic.twitter.com/Nh5kxGnb0i

— Sameena Raja - J&K (@SamRaja21700228) October 9, 2019

Translated thus:

On the night of the 24th of November (1947) and on the morning of the 25th of November (1947) the Pakistani army using cannons bombed the (old) city of Mirpur.

Alongside this bombing, tribal (Pathans) and the Pakistani army attacked Mirpur. The city's protective gates were thus broken, to facilitate their entry. 


Doomsday broke out in Mirpur. 

End of translation.....

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This sounds ominous but is very true:

all over twitter, #Pakistan ISI accounts have been spreading vile abuse against pro-independence #Kashmiris. We know these accounts are Pakistani run accounts, (they're too dumb to be #Indian). Instead of fixing up, they carry on with their hate. There are consequences to hate.

— Rizwan Ali (@Sheikh_Miyagi) October 10, 2019

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 282 of 2019

1336hrs:

Yesterday's post was overlooked. When you're deeply involved in activity on the ground, as we are - 7 kilometres short of of the LOC at Chakothi - this is understandable.

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If I could convert 24 hours into 48 hours a day, I would have devoted half my time to Gilgit Baltistan. This is the next best thing. Cover them wherever and whenever possible:

People are living in fear in #GilgitBaltistan that if they will say something for their rights than they will get #Disappeared like in #Balochistan, #Sindh and #KPK.@a_siab @YawarOfficial @jamilnagri @DisputedGBPak pic.twitter.com/E49kzBLZAb

— Sayeed Ali Baig (@SayeedAliBaig2) October 9, 2019

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This was dreamt of 10 years ago, while breaking this cultural deadlock in AJK has taken almost 73 years:

@KiranKS @sahaafi @sgqadir @DrJitendraSingh @sonalkalra @Avmhfan @sunanda7711 @RavinderBJPJK @rsrobin1 @KirenRijiju @smritiirani @prahladspatel @YudhvirSethiBJP @vinirish @tusharcosmoo_g @priyasethibjp Jai sharda. https://t.co/n7R3KzAMa3

— Ravinder Pandita (@panditaAPMCC63) October 8, 2019

Here's another example of coverage in Indian media of this historic event:

@PM_AJK @ImranKhanPTI @KiranKS @SMQureshiPTI @sahaafi @mohsin_shakil @RVankwani @beenasarwar @TariqNaqash @PTIofficial
Time to reopen Sharda peeth on lines of kartarpur and Nankana sahib.The recent puja should be an eye opener to both govts.Jai shatda https://t.co/D0srSgnYn7

— Ravinder Pandita (@panditaAPMCC63) October 9, 2019

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A day late and even later to upload to Youtube:



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We thought of this together:



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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 277 of 2019

2359hrs....

With a few seconds to spare......

Over a thousand vehicles and over 10,000 aspiring citizens of AJK have entered Muzaffarabad as part of JKLF's 'Freedom March' from Bhimber to Srinagar via Chakothi (Muzaffarabad). They intend to continue their march towards Srinagar on foot from Domel bridge and along the Jhelum Valley road eastwards.

Thus, Muzaffarabad is sending a signal of high alert to China, India, Pakistan, the UK and the US of A.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 249 of 2019

1818hrs:

This following trend is amplifying itself on Twitter and Facebook:

Myself Tayyab Hameed From Hajira AJK. As a citizen of Jammu and #Kashmir , I demand a joint Constituent Assembly of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.#JammuKashmirHasOwnChoice
#Stand_With_PNA#StandWithKashmir #KashmirWantFreedom#TeamKashmir pic.twitter.com/fcuLJWyJwR

— kHaN TaYYaB (@74yy48) September 6, 2019

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Today happens to be an auspicious day for our Pakistani neighbours:

How can anybody beat that? The Pakistani State is the world's number 1 in this regard.

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 6, 2019

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We have received reports that a similar public initiative to cross the LOC - as conducted in Charoi the day before yesterday - has been emulated in Khuiratta today. Many people crossed and some have been injured. More reports in due course......



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The following is a growing trend too:



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The public is incensed at this move by the Pakistani State to quell the freedom of movement in AJK. Reports of up to 3,500 members of the Punjab Constabulary (PC) and possibly Rangers too have been brought into Poonch division to stop our public from converging at the LOC in Tithrinote, Hajeera tomorrow. 

Both security and freedom in AJK are the prerogative of the AJK public. The mere presence of Pakistani security forces incites and provokes unrest in the local population. There is already a lot of bad history between the PC and Poonch from the 1950's.

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This accurately depicts the economy of war, motored here since 1947.

Pakistan on the left and India on the right, with the apple of Kashmir precariously balanced between the 2: 




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While our public were on a mission to cross the LOC in Khuiratta, senior representatives of the Pakistani State were on a mission here too, on their Defence Day. This is Imran Khan's second visit to AJK since India's blockade of the Valley on August the 5th. He was met by his army chief and was accompanied by foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, defence minister Pervaiz Khattak and chairman Kashmir committee Syed Fakhar Imam:



Well, I did write about the proposed Pakistani army withdrawal from AJK beginning from tehsil Khuiratta on that very day in August when it seems all hell broke loose in Jammu & Kashmir. Day 217 of 2019 was the 5th of August. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 247 of 2019

2325hrs:

Some of our people have become more pro-active than others it seems. Charoi is a tehsil on the LOC with Khuiratta to its North and Smaahni to its South. A large procession of the public marched towards and beyond the LOC at Keri, near Naarakot earlier today. Police stationed to prevent the procession advancing towards the LOC were pushed aside easily on account of being heavily outnumbered. 

Four local residents crossed and one of them - Hussain Khadim - went to the extent of climbing a pine tree and pinning a flag of Azad Kashmir on it, on the Indian-controlled side of J & K. He was shot and injured by Indian fire, reports indicate that he has survived but remains in a critical condition. He was taken to DHQ Kotli from where he was referred to a hospital in Pakistan's capital.

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Here are some notes made earlier this evening:

The words 'securitise' and 'khidmat guzaar' (serviceman/woman) were floating about in this evening's public conversation in rural Dadyaal.

The following questions emerged for the public of AJK and its diaspora:

Do we not need to think about the security of AJK?

Is this even a part of our imagination?

Or are we just enjoying the Azaadi (freedom) marches taking place in various parts of the world in our favour?

Do we understand the functions of governance?

What is civil society, constitutionalism and public policy?

Indeed, what is public interest research and do we, as aspiring citizens of J & K value it? 

Do we participate in or contribute to it?

When does synchronisation take place?

Who takes the responsibility of identifying it and implementing the people's reference?

The nuts and bolts of an internal political process in AJK, was the title of this conversation....

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So, British engagement will become more intense as we proceed ahead. However, we must move away from the United Nations where the aspiring citizens of J & K have no agency:

We appreciate ur concern & effort n presenting ur points. However, with due respect restoring Kashmir's special status is not d aim of d besieged masses, it is something far more substantial, fundamental & enduring than that. Pls refer 2 IIA passed n ur Parliament n 05/07/1947.

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 4, 2019

And....

Please watch this short video for further elaboration on IIA (The Indian Independence Act): https://t.co/X1FSiS8pKP
Furthermore, as Britain created this law 4 the transfer of power, it remains their duty to implement it, without leaving any loose ends. We have no stake in the #UN

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 4, 2019

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Here some more poetry today which I incidentally have a habit of ignoring usually. However, at times a few lines can encapsulate the zeitgeist more accurately than thousands of words of commentary:

Zaalimo ka nahi koi mazhab
Zulm ki sarhadey nahi hoti.

Jo kisi ka uthaaye bhoj chaley
In ki phir manziley nahi hoti

Written in Urdu by Akram Sohail

Translation:

The oppressors have no religion
Oppression has no borders
Whoever carries the burden of others
Then has no qualms about the destination  

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 241 of 2019

1917hrs:

We must spare a thought every day for those who have been under heavy restrictions in the Valley of Kashmir for 25 days. Indeed some of our co-citizens have suggested that the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) be lobbied while food and medicine be given to them, bought from all major capitals of the world, to take to the besieged Valley.

While doing so, let's not forget the prisoners of conscience in Gilgit Baltistan:

See the video which depicts the plight of people of #GilgitBaltistan in the hands of #PakArmy & security forces at #Hunza Press Club. #GBisnotPakistan@a_siab @GBpak @jamilnagri @malik_astory pic.twitter.com/6O1kw4Uv0T

— Sayeed Ali Baig (@SayeedAliBaig2) August 29, 2019

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While thinking about the humans of this heavily contested territory, some thought should also be devoted to the effects of an unnecessary conflict on wildlife here too:

Border fencing and forest fires - caused by shelling - are putting the wildlife in the disputed territory of Kashmir at risk. pic.twitter.com/zcDy89k4IY

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 28, 2019

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This is a scene from a few days ago in Muzaffarabad:

To your right is Najeeb Naqi, minister for health in the AJK government with his head bowed down in deference and to your left is the Health Secretary, who always happens to be a senior member of Pakistan's army and on this occasion is a Major-General.

The body language should give an idea of the power relationship between the two and by logical extension between the Pakistani State and AJK. Our efforts to democratise and empower AJK includes these politicians who have stooped very low for personal interest, at the cost of public interest in AJK.

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Please stop standing, sit down! Let the Kashmiris work this one out for themselves. I'm sure the other divided parts can assist where necessary!

There is no need for a 'Pakistani Friday Vigil For Kashmir'; is the resounding message from AJK:

This is an adroit response to the Pakistani State wide directive to all its people and its colonies incl. #AJK & #GB , to observe a 30 minute standing vigil wherever they are at midday tomorrow - Friday. https://t.co/WGRuMvwjCO

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) August 29, 2019

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Earlier today, the lawyers of Muzaffarabad made an attempt to march towards Srinagar from Chakothi. A tussle emerged between them and local AJK police, who are deputed by the Pakistani State to ensure their bilateral agreement with India (Karachi Agreement - 27/07/1949) doesn't break. Of course, they only break it if they want to send militants across, not to oblige the aspiring citizens of Jammu & Kashmir whose fundamental right to movement is curtailed by this aforementioned agreement.

Here's footage of the scene today:



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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 234 of 2019

1718hrs:

Another day of protest in Dadyaal. On this occasion most of the bazaar (market) was closed too.



On this occasion, the chairman of the newly created Jammu Kashmir People's National Alliance (JKPNA) Zulfiqar Ahmed Advocate was invited to explain this new development in AJK, in the wake of India's seemingly unilateral action to downgrade and bifurcate its controlled part of the territory on the 5th of August.

The subsequent announcements were made:

As the poster suggests, JKPNA plans an AJK wide protest in all ten districts of the territory.

Here is a list of their 7 main demands (both in Urdu and translated by me in English):

1 of 7:

The curfew imposed in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir should be ended forthwith.

2 of 7:

The permanent division of the State of Jammu Kashmir is un-acceptable (repeat) un-acceptable.

3 of 7:

The formation of a joint constituent assembly including Pakistani-administered Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan is the correct procedure/process towards resolving the Kashmir dispute. 

4 of 7:

The fundamental stakeholders of the Kashmir dispute are the 20 million people (citizens/public) of the State of Jammu Kashmir.

5 of 7:

The State Subject Rule (20th April 1927) should be immediately reinstated in all parts of Jammu Kashmir.

6 of 7:

The mass murder of the Kashmiri public on both sides of the ceasefire line should end.

7 of 7:

Prisoners of the State ( of conscience) in Srinagar and Gilgit Baltistan should be unconditionally released at once.

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I also took this opportunity to interview Zulfiqar Ahmed Advocate and probe JKPNA's strategy in public interest:



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Earlier, in the initial hours of this date I felt compelled to post the following:

For those of you who cannot read the text of the FB post above:

There are 5 countries trying to permanently divide the J & K of 1947 in a hurry: China, India, Pakistan, UK and the US of A.

Hurrying matters which concern millions of people has to be the work of the devil.

All 5 paid relatively more 'lip service' to local public opinion here in 1947, than they are doing today.

We have what they don't have: time, time and more time to develop an internal political process, with democratic reference and citizen's legal/constitutional prerogative.

Unless someone can explain to me what is beyond local and global protests or marching or crossing the LOC?

End of FB post text....

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