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:
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.
.. I also took this opportunity to interview Zulfiqar Ahmed Advocate and probe JKPNA's strategy in public interest:
.....
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.... .....
We understand that the first ever British Kashmiri protest took place in Glasgow, Scotland - 1962:
....... Day 17 it is of an unprecedented lockdown in modern human history. There are no signs of normalcy returning anytime soon in the Valley of Kashmir:
..... Although the following is purely a propaganda video, it has gone viral in AJK and elsewhere:
Such has been its impact that I feel compelled to translate someone's comment on FB, which provides some sort of local (internal to AJK) context: Mirpur is a piece of heaven on earth (Indian channel) - Our neighbours (Pakistanis) drowned the people of Mirpur in water twice. - Vehicles with number plates of Mirpur are looted as soon as they cross Dina (nearest Pakistani city to Mirpur), as if it were a noble religious deed. - It has always been exclaimed that "What is there in Mirpur but rocks (and pebbles)?" - Today, our enemy country viz. India has described Mirpur as Paris, a piece of heaven on earth and there is uproar in every direction. - Since yesterday, this video has been sent to me over a hundred times (by different people) via my Whatsapp inbox. - If only those living around us were to think likewise. - There are countless TV channels who conduct programmes with such stupid people as Maryam Aurangzeb and donkeys such as Talal Choudary, in their studios round the clock (day and night). - If only one such programme like the Indian channel which highlighted the beauty and simplicity of Mirpuris were to be conducted.
- Regret upon regret is our refrain.... End of translated FB comment.......
I could've easily forgot about typing an entry today......
....
The subject of a consensus is always a difficult subject for Muslims.........and I'm in the thick of a Muslim majority area trying to develop an internal political process, which isn't possible without all stakeholders. If we exclude anybody that would hamper our legitimacy.
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:
Appreciation and execution of tasks have to be bridged in public interest to succeed. .... Let us not forget the following from yesteryear: In July 1946, Hari Singh stated that people would "work out our own destiny without dictation from any quarter which is not an integral part of the State," writes Ramachandra Guha in his book 'India After Gandhi'. Singh famously wanted J & K to be the 'Switzerland of the East'; effectively a neutral territory between India and Pakistan. Source Link ...... As we're on the theme of British legacy here, here's an article in foreignpolicy.com that echoes our viewpoint:
Locals are still paying for the mess the British left behind in Hong Kong and Kashmir. https://t.co/e0pWrU7AeG
...... Today, Its one slogan and one track in the district capital of Neelam Valley, Athmaqam: India and Pakistan go back!
....... Cross LOC confrontation between India and Pakistan has stepped up again since yesterday and inevitably civilian casualties are also rising. Today, the Poonch region and in particular Darra Sher Khan, Battal and Mandhol have seen a level of intensity and heavy lighting used for targetting, that have never been seen before:
Heavy Lights on LOC 1
Heavy Lights on LOC 2
....... Now, this is what I would describe as a wholesome internal narrative:
UNSC rejected both countries Stance on Kashmir. Both ridiculous countries befooling their domestic audience about so called victory in the UN. But you both r failed on international level. Simple solution is withdraw ur armies from All occupied J&K. We dont need and don't want u. https://t.co/LqHrk3uoLY
— All Occupied Jammu Kashmir (@AzadiYaShahadat) August 18, 2019
Here's further footage from 7,000 feet in Jandaali, Poonch on the 14th of August, uploaded by one of our star activists in AJK, Imran Shan of Dathote, Poonch. What was the gist of the clip? Each divided part of J & K should represent itself. An Inclusive and representative internal discussion should proceed.....
It's always an honour for me to receive so much attention from Imran....
..... The following is a dilemma for our citizens, which they have yet to overcome: If you cannot recognise the efforts and achievement of a citizen working on a collective responsibility, then how can you recognise the importance of the State (of AJK > J & K)? Please note that the State is defined here as an aggregate of a given number of citizens holding title to ownership of a geographically defined territory. ..... The following image is very apt and current:
...... This type of disaster is likely to happen with more frequency in AJK as Pakistan has little clue about water management and is hell bent on extracting whatever it can from this territory:
...... Although this interview was recorded on the 13th in Muzaffarabad, it was uploaded today. It should give one a sense of how an internal narrative is rapidly crystallising in AJK:
This morning I was rudely awakened by an email alert that informed me that my online petition to the UK parliament, submitted on the 11th of August had been rejected!
Details of email:
Dear Tanveer Ahmed,
We rejected the petition you created – “Take your share of responsibility for the avoidable dispute over Jammu & Kashmir”.
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action. We're not sure exactly what you'd like the UK Government or Parliament to do. You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.
Take your share of responsibility for the avoidable dispute over Jammu & Kashmir
(Title of Petition is limited to 80 letters)
At least 5 reasons:
-Words 'for ever' used n Article 1 of AmritsarTreaty 1846
-Maharaja's bid to avoid accession dilemma foiled by Brits pre1947
-BhutanBurmaNepalSikkimSriLanka avoided such, why not J&K?
-IIA 05/07/1947 still makes UK liable authority
-Mountbatten's proviso on J&K's accession.
(Background is limited to 300 letters)
We appreciate that J & K is coveted for its geography & water resources. We also understand that the issue of water was raised in British parliamentary debates pre 1947. However, dividing the region on the basis of religious identity was always going to be a recipe for war & existential claims on water. As the UK oversaw all that happened & didn't directly suffer from the decisions it made, it has a moral responsibility as well as technical grounding to take its share of responsibility to avert.
(More information is limited to 500 letters)
This reminded me of the difficulties I had in trying to obtain details of their communication with the Dogra rulers pre 1947, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I have written the following to the petitions committee:
I've given reasons for why the UK are at least partly responsible for the J & K issue and as the petition title suggests, specifically ask the UK government to take a share of that responsibility. Defining what those responsibilities are should be a matter for debate in parliament, based on interaction with appropriate stakeholders in the J & K dispute. Forgive the cliche but this is a process and not an event. One could provide a longer detailed specific plan on request. Given that we are given only 80 letters to draft our initial petition, is there any scope for us to challenge the original decision to reject the petition?
........
While I wait for a response to my possibility of challenging the rejection of the petition, I will be writing to my local MP in Luton, Kelvin Hopkins on the possibility of moving an EDM (Early Day Motion) in the parliament on this very subject.
Meanwhile, here's a freshly worded petition. I wonder if this passes the parliamentary radar:
Support democracy in an internal J & K political process, not Indo-Pak hegemony.
Our forbears in J & K pre 1947 were transitioning from autocracy to democracy. Post 1947, we feel even more disenfranchised for becoming victims of an imposed land dispute that consequently nullified indigenous voices & divided our State. This transition was effected by the British Parliament.
Having adhered to a long deliberated sequence of independent research in AJK since 2005, an internal political process has been created here. Link: http://bit.ly/2ZbUxIR Since 1947, many a MP in the UK has reiterated that J & K belongs to its people & only they can determine their future. What was lacking was an internal resolution process & the UK's disinclination to share responsibility in this avoidable dispute. Our geography & water resources should be a blessing for humanity, not a curse.
End of petition... For some contextual background, one could also read this article I wrote for Rising Kashmir in Srinagar on February the 9th, 2011 entitled, Britain's responsibilities in Kashmir
..... I don't think I need to add anything on the UN Security Council deliberations in New York today:
But, Pakistan can say that we internationalized Kashmir. That's the biggest bullshit I have ever seen. South China Sea is internationalized, ICJ has a damn verdict about it. Has it changed the status quo? It did NOT, despite all ASEAN and shit. International bodies can't do shit.
Hey @Natsecjeff I seriously think China put UNSC meeting just to satisfy Pakistan. That too a closed door meeting. Moreover China is concerned about CPEC on one side and it can't speak more as it has Hong Kong issue. So it tried it's best to make Pakistan happy.
...... I'm always keen to receive academic critique on my work and in this respect I'm equally keen on taking questions from experts, academics, think-tanks and political scientists in general. Here's an example of part of an exchange today: Me: Their (Pakistan's) internal contradictions have reached a nadir. They are now at the most difficult crossroads of their 72 year history. Academic/Expert: What kind of internal contradictions are these in your opinion? Me: - To support self determination for the Valley of Kashmir and deny it to AJK and GB. - To change demographics of AJK and GB and protest such changes in Indian-controlled J & K. - To insist that it is an advocate of J & K at the cost of drowning the internal narrative and then seek to find more powerful advocates than itself to support its point of view on J & K. - To insist that it is a stakeholder on the basis of UN security resolutions which made it a respondent to India's complaint that it was an invader. To dance around steps suggested to it to demilitarise and use its presence in UN deliberations as a means to control AJK and GB, repress their citizens and loot their resources. To cry 'UN resolutions' and 'Our Principled Stand' yet engage in bilateral negotiations with India to divide the territory. To launch militancy across the LOC in parallel to such negotiations and lofty rhetoric. - To describe yourself as a fortress of Islam yet unable to muster any practical support from the Muslim World. - To base your economy on conflict, chicanery, magnificent delusions and naked self-interest, gradually hollowing out your economy for 80% of your citizens. - To indulge in geographic expansion when your economy and standard of governance is in the pits of hell.
End of discussion..... There are of course many more contradictions that can be cited. ........ I would add the following to the tweet below. Hypocrisy has no religion or nationality either:
All liquor stores in Pakistan are registered under a Hindu or a Christian name but mostly owned by Muslims. Money has no religion. https://t.co/gwJ9ssbBr6
..... Its difficult enough for a public rights activist to gain the attention of the powers-that-be in a conflict zone, even the world's premier institution for human rights is having trouble communicating too:
“According to the UN records, more than 20 such visit requests, including to Kashmir, are pending at present. UN sources also said that between 2016-2018, the OHCHR Special Rapporteurs had sent as many as 58 communications, and had received no response” https://t.co/5sprwgg1Y5
If just as an after thought, I saw far more Pakistani flags for sale in Dadyaal today than I noticed yesterday anywhere between Dadyaal, Kotli, Sarsaawa, Baloch, Trarkhel, Jandaali, Banjosa, Kaigalla, Hajeera, Tattapani and via Kotli back to Dadyaal. In actual fact, I saw exactly 3 Pakistani flags on our entire journey and every 1 of those were mounted on vehicles, who could have belonged to anybody.
I would be really interested to learn of how many Pakistani flags have been sold in Dadyaal, in the days leading up to this year's 14th of August.
...... There are reports of cross-LOC firing today, in Leepa Sector and Battal Sector. Here's a 'must translate' tweet in relation to a civilian casualty in Battal:
@tariqfarooq60@PM_AJK بٹل پونچھ کا رہاٸشی منیب الرحمان آج جب بھارتی فوج کی گولہ باری کی وجہ سے زخمی ہوا تو بٹل یا ملحقہ علاقوں میں ایمبولینس نہ ہونے کی وجہ سے بروقت ہسپتال نہ پہنچ سکا۔ اپنی مدد آپ کے تحت جب اسے راولاکوٹ پہنچایا گیا تو زیادہ خون بہنے کی وجہ سے اس کی موت ہو گٸ pic.twitter.com/Iwz41nWqt7
A resident of Battal in Poonch, Muneebur Rehman who was injured in mortar shelling by indian forces, couldn't reach hospital in time as there were no ambulances available in the vicinity. When other residents of the area transported him to Rawalakot using their own initiative (community self-help), he (Muneeb) had already lost too much blood and hence succumbed to his injuries.
..... Ayesha Siddiqa has always been on the ball. I was fortunate to meet her at her residence in Islamabad in 2009. She was wrong on one thing that I'll always remember though: She thought - at the time - that Pakistan's 'deep State' would never allow me to conduct public forums throughout AJK and GB. Why? She thought they were too powerful in AJK and they would obstruct my work, by hook or by crook. I said at the time that I didn't think they could do as they liked in AJK because deep down; they always knew that they don't have a locus standi in AJK, the people do.
2327hrs: A day of travelling from 2,000 to 7,000 feet and back, to obtain the blessings of a martyr.
At Amjad's grave near his home in Jandaali. His elderly father is in the middle
.... While we were traversing through a chunk of AJK, our prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan was busy entertaining Pakistan's prime minister, who came along with a size-able entourage of other parliamentarians from that neighbouring country: We have been reliably informed that the following 3 suggestions were put to Imran Khan and his team by Farooq Haider: 1) AJK be accepted as a sovereign state by Pakistan so that we could plead case of Kashmir as their representative Government. 2) No such solution of Kashmir is acceptable to us which involves division of State of Jammu & Kashmir in any manner. 3) If flag of Kashmir falls, next will be Pakistan. So Pakistan needs to back us by trusting us.
End.... When AJK's President K. H. Khursheed made similar suggestions to Pakistan in 1961, he was gradually made to pay for them in many ways. Marginalisation from power politics and over a year in jail were just 2 of them. ...... He's very worried and so is the rest of Pakistan I imagine:
..... Indian civil society has shown its clarity and strength once again:
......
Her message is very clear: Pakistanis and Pakistan, stop calling us traitors! This is the height of disgrace. Take responsibility for all that has gone wrong because of you and your State's policies in particular: ............
