text:
Kashmir's long road ahead
After India last held state elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, the Kashmir Valley witnessed a period of relative peace only to see it shattered when plans to give land to Hindu pilgrims triggered the biggest protests since the Kashmir separatist revolt erupted in 1989.
The latest elections – which produced a turnout of more than 60 percent despite a boycott call by separatists and ushered in a new state government led by Omar Abdullah – have provided a second chance to change the mood in the volatile Kashmir Valley. But do India and Pakistan, and the Kashmiris themselves, have the ability to turn this second chance into a real opportunity for peace?
Despite the outrage over the Mumbai attacks, blamed by India on Pakistan-based militants, there are some promising signs. The elections were remarkable for the fact that armed separatists based in Pakistani-held Kashmir made no attempt to disrupt the campaign, as they did during the previous polls in 2002. If Indian assertions are correct that the Pakistani security establishment controls the level of armed separatist activity in Kashmir, then the absence of violence would not have been possible without the active cooperation of Pakistan – a factor acknowledged by The Hindu in an editorial.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has spoken repeatedly of the need to make peace with India, including over Kashmir (as discussed here, here, here and here) and despite widespread scepticism in India that his views are shared by the powerful Pakistan Army, Pakistan does seem to have delivered in keeping the militants at bay during the elections.
Meanwhile trade between the Indian and Pakistan-held parts of the divided former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir has continued even through the heights of the post-Mumbai tensions.
And perhaps one of the more promising signs is that Indian newspaper columnists have been careful on the whole to avoid any hint of triumphalism in proclaiming the high turnout an endorsement of Indian rule, suggesting that New Delhi may have learned the lessons of last year's land protests – that peace in Kashmir cannot be taken for granted.
Instead columnists stress the long road ahead in bringing any kind of normality to the state. (The political parties which fought in the elections made a point of trying to delink Kashmir's status from the polls, running their campaigns instead on issues of governance.)
In the Hindustan Times, columnist Prem Shankar Jha analyses the voting patterns across the state and concludes that behind the overall high turnout there were still strong pockets of resistance, particularly in the Kashmiri capital Srinagar. "The voting pattern shows that 'separatism' has not died, but become more localised," he writes. "While the government has been congratulating itself in the jump in the turnout in Srinagar from barely 5 per cent in 2002 to 20 per cent this year, it has chosen to forget that in a truly free and contested election, such as that of 1983, the turnout in the city was over 80 per cent," he adds. "The abstention is significant because except in China nearly every successful rebellion has begun in the cities and has been led by precisely the kind of people who remain alienated today."
Writing in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar says the elections offer a new opportunity to hammer out a solution in Kashmir which is acceptable to India, Pakistan and Kashmir. However, he adds that "New Delhi would be deluding itself if it believes in the aftermath of the elections that it can arrive at a settlement without the separatists," and urges both India and Pakistan to provide greater autonomy to the parts of the former kingdom under their control. "Without doubt, the Kashmiris want to have an identity of their own," he says.
So what are the pitfalls ahead?
The Arab News highlights the risk of communal discord following a strong showing in the elections by the hardline Bharatiya janata Party (BJP) in Jammu, the Hindu-dominated part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Any increase in Hindu-Muslim tensions would provide fresh fuel to the militants, just as support for the armed separatist movement appeared to be waning, it said. "The lesson for India — and Pakistan — surely has to be that Kashmir is put into cold storage as an issue on which they are prepared to fight a war. The minute they commit themselves to that, the militants have lost their greatest weapon. "
The Economist calls the elections "a good vote in the angry valley" but warns that India should not be lulled into thinking that Kashmiris had been won over to Indian rule. "Many Kashmiris, as the recent protests served to re-emphasise, are deeply unhappy to be in India," it said.
That view is echoed by the BBC's Andrew Whitehead, who also writes that the new government ushered in by the elections will find it hard to convince Kashmiris that their grievances can be addressed through local politics until relations between India and Pakistan are repaired following the Mumbai attacks.
Kashmir has always been unpredictable, and remains a tinderbox vulnerable to any sparks coming from inside or outside the Valley. The Indian government's long-awaited decision on whether to carry out the death sentence of Mohammad Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri convicted of involvement in an attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001, could be one of those sparks. Many Kashmiris believe he was wrongly convicted.
And if anyone needs a reminder of the anger bubbling below the surface in India's only Muslim-majority state, they need look no further than Friday's protests against Israeli strikes on Gaza. At least 50 people were injured when police in Srinagar fired teargas to disperse protesters.
(Photos: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah waves to supporters/Fayaz Kabli
Kashmiris protest in Srinagar against Israeli strikes on Gaza/Fayaz Kabli)
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Alas Myra,
It seems you have completely bought the Islamist propaganda such as from Arab news and the long time backers of Muslim aggression(since 1947 and before) in UK exemplified by The Economist and BBC.
Under this aggressive Islamist view, Muslims can carve out 2 different countries for themselves in the subcontinent, expel the Hindu populations from those territories, gurantee second-class citizenship in their lands.
Under this aggressive Islamist view, after getting lands for themselves, Muslims can have 100 parties of Muslim Leagues, to convey and represent the endless grievances of Muslims, but HINDUS SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY POLITICAL PARTIES. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HINDUS TO HAVE ANY GIIEVANCES. How can they? Hindus in Jammu were genuinely aggreived by the Amarnath land row.
But then how can they get aggrieved? If they are Hindus, they are not supposed to
Do you personally subscribe or agree with this aggressive Islamist view?
A simple solution let the people of Kashmir decide what they want because we will not accept if anything is imposed on us.
Indian security forces out of the Kashmir valley…
Pakistani troops out of AJK….
Both countries provide security for kashmir, simple. We want a Kashmir where out hindu brothers live side by side with and the Buddists in peace n harmony. By firstly de militrising the whole of Kashmir would be good start. Kashmiris can have their own police force but overall security in the hands of India n Pakistan. The LOC should no longer be there so the Kashmiris families on both sides can travel on the other side vise versa.
And for the record, has Arab news, BBC, Economist any of these have ever expressed concerns about the communal discord created by the muslim political parties of Kashmir and Pakistan?
Interesting that this report cites what Arab world, bledding heart Indian liberals, or Pakistanis saying on Kashmir Vote. But it does not cite what mainstream Indians say on this issue.
For decades, India falsely pursued Nehruvian policy, special rights for J&K just because its a muslim majority state, though claiming India is a secular country.
Why Muslims be given special rights in a secular state?
Also, consider what will happen to 500,000 kashmiri Pandits who have been driven out from the valley?
The solution of J&K lies in integrating it with india like any other state. A hard policy is required, as appeasement has only fuelled separatism and Jehadi terrorism.
I couldn't have agreed more with you, yes this is a true opportunity to make meaningful progress. The world is getting more volatile now more than ever, any chance of peace and stability cannot be wasted by India and Pakistan. If Kashmir dispute is settled, both countries can concentrate to improve quality of life of their people. Pakistan has gone an extra mile probably due to international pressure to keep things calm in Kashmir. Onus is on India now, the ball is in their court to make meaningful progress. Talk to Kashmiris, understand the sensitivites and settle the dispute. Just like people in Kashmir who get upset over Israeli aggression in Palestine, so do people in Pakistan over any Indian agression in Kashmir. Muslims across the world are like one body, if one part is in pain the whole body feels the pain.
More tragedies like Mumbai can occur if Kashmir continues to be a bone of contention between the two countries. For Pakistan also, making peace with India is very important and is understood by the present government.
In response to the above comments, I don't "agree" with or "endorse" any of the many different views expressed about Kashmir.
If, as I have done, you spend time with Buddhists in Ladakh, Kashmiri Hindus in Jammu, and Kashmiri Muslims in Srinagar, and then travel between India and Pakistan to try to understand the views in both countries, you realise there are not just three sides to this dispute — there are many, many different sides.
My job as a journalist is to try to capture as many of these different views as possible and, rather than grab at simplistic answers, to find a way of explaining its complexity.
If I have not highlighted op-eds or news stories that deserve to be included in this post, then please post a comment with the appropriate links.
But don't over-simplify. If there is any subject I have covered in my career that I have learned not to have an opinion on (or rather learned that there are far too many different opinions for my views to count) then it is this one.
So let's try to have a debate on this blog that doesn't descend into the usual mud-slinging?
India and Pakistan should get on with the business of settling the Kashmir dispute to their satisfaction and, most of all, to the satisfaction of the suffering Kashmiri populace. Of course, the Pandits' grievances must be addressed and they must be allowed to return to Kashmir in peace and security. Other problems must be resolved such as the interests of the people of Ladakh. And very importantly, all groups must be allowed to stay in place in Kashmir with no transfer of population such that happened in 1947.
I know that it is very difficult for India to accept even the idea of the possible loss of Kashmir. Any country would be resistant. And from that perspective I am very sympathetic to India.
But India should come to terms with reality. Perhaps the ultimate solution would not be so bad.
I will not offer any solution of my own except to say that the Kashmiri people, the Indian people and the Pakistani people need a solution
You may believe that you are being dispassionate but can you show me one editorial/commentary that you have linked in this post that does not have as its thesis – "India should not think that these elections suggest an end to separatism"
Every op/ed or commentator you quote here had predicted abysmal turnout. Mr. Jha, I recall said that the turnout overall would be less than 10%.
What credibility do these guys have?
Isn't it hypocritical and self-serving to say that low turnout means Kashmiris dislike India but a high turnout does not mean the opposite?
Is is always heads I win/tails you lose?
Please re-check your objectivity. The post does betray an agenda, sad to say.
Balochis and Pakistan should get on with the business of settling the Baloch dispute to their satisfaction and, most of all, to the satisfaction of the suffering Baloch populace. Of course, the Pashtuns' grievances must be addressed and they must be allowed to return to Balochistan in peace and security. Other problems must be resolved such as the interests of the people of Punjab. And very importantly, all groups must be allowed to stay in place in Balochistan.
I know that it is very difficult for Pakistan to accept even the idea of the possible loss of Balochistan. Any country would be resistant. And from that perspective I am very sympathetic to Pakistan.
But Pakistan should come to terms with reality. Perhaps the ultimate solution would not be so bad.
I will not offer any solution of my own except to say that the Balochi people, the Pakistani people and the Afghani people need a solution.
The situation in Baluchistan is not in dispute between two countries (you are incorrect that it is in dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan). It is not a dispute with resolutions on the books of the United Nations Security Council as Kashmir is.
Your sophistry is not going to work.
How many times have you covered the "elections" in Pakistani controlled Kashmir? Have you posted on the views of the people there as to whether they want to stay in Pakistan or be free? How about the people in Gilgit and Skardu whose legal status is is murky?
It is tiring to see some Western reporters abuse the relatively better access on the Indian side and end up portraying the entire Kashmir issue being restricted to the discontent of Urban Kashmiri-speaking petite-bourgeoisie Muslims, without mentioning the Gujjar Muslims of Rajouri or the Shias further north in Kargil, let alone the chased out Hindu pandits and the Dogra Hindus of Jammu and the Ladakhi Buddhists.
Kashmir is more complicated than most people here can figure out in one lifetime. And the Srinagar/Baramullah clique that masquerade as the sole representative of "Kashmiris" should know that their "grievances" are no more important than that of any other group, anywhere else in the world.
Since you don't like sophisticated reasoning, how about a simple one.
Pakistan will not get a single inch of Kashmir. Ever. No plebiscite, no referendum and no border changes, period.
You can agree to the LoC as a border or go pound sand.
As long as Pakistan tries to bleed India with jihadists, the only change in territory will happen on the Western side of Pakistan. You can try 100 more Mumbais and then blackmail us but India will not budge. The only thing accomplished by Kargil was to make the LoC into a border.
BTW, if I recall correctly, the Kabul government does not recognize the Durand line. I wonder why?
Moderation on all the sides is need of the hour.
On the one hand extremists in India demand that India should not accept anything less than taking over the entire occupied Kashmir (POK) from Pakistan. This extremist Indian view extends to support for the liberation of Balochistan, Paktoonistan, Sindhudesh, Jinnahpur for the Mohajirs and so on.
On the other hand, extrmists in Pakistan feel having India give up Kashmir valley will be the first step in the dismantling and breaking up of India into numerous pieces.
Instead of indulging in on such self-destructive objectives, both sides could focus on economic development. Once religion based terrorism, sponsored by Pakistan is eliminated, LOC could be made a soft border. Every one can work on improving the living standards of ordinary people on both countries.
Kashmiris have spoken they want a democratic society. They woke up to stark relities of life. They realized the Paki and terrorists intention of supporting K cause.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-in dia_pakistan/jihadi_2941.jsp
@ Myra, Alethia, Umair, Ali, Kashmiri,
I have not heard one person mention India's right to territorial integrity. Why should India set the precedence on giving away its land?
Why does not Pakistan give the Balochi's independence, or the Sindh, or SWAT or NWFP? It is really quite silly and strange that Indian Kashmir would be a sore spot for Pakistan. Pakistan already got its much larger portion of Kashmir during Partition. Please provide an answer to this.
India is an inclusive and secular democracy. A political power hungry and Islamicist radical mindset, fueled by hatred from Pakistan has been fomenting this separatism from Pakistan.
I can finish this discussion right now. If Kashmiri's especially the militant ones don't like India, they should go to Pakistan and be with their own bretheren, where there is a much larger portion of Kashmir. They can live in even worse poverty and government subjugation there.
Myra, will you please be a voice of reason once in a while here? The so-called Kashmiri's wanting independence are the same ones with madrassa education, they don't want to be educated in a modern sense and they don't want to function in a secular, democratic modern society.
Myra, what I want you tell these people is actually how they really should realize how good they have it, but don't want the opportunity to seize it. They don't want to be like modern, or educated muslims. It is a culture of apathy where one keeps blaming a fictitious "boogey man" and blaming them for all their foes. Its like black americans blaming all whites for their misfortunes. That excuse cannot work forever. The hate must stop somewhere, it can start in the madrassas.
In short, Myra, you need to be a voice of reason here for pro-Kashmiri separatists and tell these people "Suck it up, Princess, things are not that bad, try harder and you will succeed and be successful"….
If Indian Kashmiri's want to embrace the past and can not look forward to being a part of India, maybe they should take the "SUMJ-HOTA" bus to Pakistan Kashmir and just go away and stay there.
It is also a danger to let India Kashmir separate, as it will become another terrorist state from where the Pakistan Army or other Terrorists like them will use that land to launch Terrorist attacks against India.
Myra, India has been nice during 1965, 1971 and 1999. In either of these three wars, India could have flattened Pakistan into extinction, but India has a soft-heart towards Pakistan, since we share a common ancestory and common past.
The exact opposite is however true, Pakistan and those who sypathize quietly, with its expansion through hate and terrorism, quietly wish India a slow death to extinction.
Myra, again please remind all of our friends here that India Kashmir really is a non-problem. The real problem here is Islamic Radicalism and hate taught in almost every Mosque in India and Pakistan, that is the true enemy, the enemy called hate, manufactured in the minds of so-called religious men, searching to expand their influence through hatred, death terrorism and in the name of God.
It is a certain guarantee that if you dismantle the terror and madrassa network in Pakistan and remove all the Terrorists in Kashmir (yes, Kashmiri separatists are Terrorists, even by Pakistan, Zardari's own admission) that the Kashmir issue and agitation will stop and all Kashmiris in India will live in peace and harmony.
Victor you are always a voice of universal reason and I respect your opinion. However, India cannot ever have a full, wholesome and trustworthy neighbourly relationship with Pakistan, until the Pakistani Terrorist Production Structure (ISI, Madrassas, Jihadis, Radicalized Mosques, Pakistan Army, Rogue Elements, my favourite "non-state actors") is permanently flattened and destroyed into a billion pieces. Once that has happened, I am in full favour these two countries becoming very close siblings, with cricket matches, full trade and cultural ties resumed and all friendships resumed.
Nothing will happen, we will not budge an inch until the Terrorist Infrastructure is flattened and permanently destroyed. Doing so, will also remove impassioned right wing hindu groups in India, which are formed as an anti-thesis to the Terrorism, first directed, as always from Pakistan.
We are a forgiving people in India and can move on, once this happens, fully, in front of the world, with full transparancy, and no lies and no double talk.
Is separating Kashmir from India really an option?
Option 1: Kashmir a separate country
Problem1: India and Pakistan will never agree and even if they do it will continue to be a stage for proxy wars from both sides. China will not mind adding another Tibet to its country.
Problem2: ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID. A land locked country with only two major industries Tourism (doesnt look to promising since its still a troubled region) & Agriculture (mostly fruit exports). Kashmir cannont function as an independant country.
Option2: Kashmir merges with Pakistan.
Problem1: Pakistan's economy all ready on the brink of disaster. Presently there is a near civil war like situation in Pakistan because of lack of electricity, water, gas, fuel other necessities. How will Kashmir benefit from joining a country all ready on its way back to "stone age".
Problem2: Taliban at the gates, I dont see how the moderate/sufi culture can withstand the imminent threat of radical islam. Bangladesh has already seen the results of joining pakistan, massacare, genocide at the hands of west pakistan.
Option3: Kashmir stays with India (Turn current LOC to international border).
Problem1: Continued violence and unrest of the local population against India. Punjab and Assam had much more intense and violent independent movements. Over time after cross support for spearatist movement have stopped all separatist movement have died its natural death, Assam is on its way (sporadic events still exist). Kashmir will not be any different once a stable comptent local government work towards the regions growth.
Problem2: Continued pressure from Pakistan and other world communities to resolve Kashmir issue. In the current economic, political, terrorist and geo political conditions it will be a miracle if Pakistan doesnt break into separate states. I dont see a UN council petition in the future to merge Kashmir into Balochistan, Sindhidesh, Greater Punjab or Jinnahpur.
Solution: Wait and watch the situation will resolve itself.
They (Indian) says there was 50/60% turn out at the recent election, were thereany independent observers to endorsed these claims. World knows that 700 thousand Indian troops are guarding the every nook and corner of Kashmir so how one can be sure about genuiness of this election.
I fail to understand what your country's fixation with Kashmir, other than grabbing land. How is Pakistani progress and nationhood tied to Kashmir?
As someone pointed out, Kashmir is just an Indian state mismanaged by Indian Govt. vide article 370. There is no case for Kashmir to seperate from India. While India is home to the largest Muslim population in the world, there is no reason Kashmir can't be a part of India. All Kashmiri grievances are either self inflicted by Kashmiris or by Pakistan. Indian state is just trying to protect its territorial integrity.
Pakis, you are better off improving your nation than think about annexing territories of other countries. First protect your own territories and put in some semblance of civil rule.
You are the biggest jokers of the world, albeit sinister ones.
Mr RAJAT& .. Hima Bindu…
I am a kashmiri and tell me what i want …???
india, pakistan or A SOVREIGN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY…..
My answer is definitely sovreign independent country called as " UNITED STATES OF KASHMIR"
Now how we are going to fulfill this dream …??
Till date you have seen , political struggle , armed srruggle of kashmiries … but we are now more powerful than ever with our INTELECTUAL ARMY of brave minds who are going to take this cause to its logical end…..
concerning your anguish about kashmiri pandits they are more than the part of the kashmiri oneness and are being guranteed that they are more secure in kashmir than in india, about budhists and dogras of jammu…..
it is only the wickedness of indian so called democrecy which has communalised the mindset of innocent people of jammu and put their intrests on stake during the recent land row of AMARNANTH SHRINE…
otherwise you better know thair are examples of communal harmony in kashmiris for whole world……..
Now comming to the basic issue why kashmiris want FREEDOM……??
the ANSWER is simple ……
THAT KASHMIR WAS NEVER THE PART OF india , AND NOR IT WILL REMAIN IN FUTURE…….
I WILL WELCOME IF YOU WAKEUP SOON….. OTHERWISE YOU KNOW THAT THE DREAM WHICH YOU PEOPLE HAVE IN YOUR SLEEPY EYES IS GOING TO PERISH WITH GREAT DISASTER….Als……..
1. In India controlled Kashmir, there is no question about Independence / Pakistani control / India control. People have voted with great enthusiasm, proves Kashmiri people want to be part of India. Which was obvious choice looking at the progress India is making in many fields, where as Pakistan is all but going down with it's LET and covert ISI plans.
2. I don't understand why some people (very few, residing in some parts of Srinagar) in Kashmir are demanding independence (or Pakistani occupancy). India is better country than Pakistan, and promises to become a world power in near future.
3. There is no point Kashmir being Independent state. This will not help them in any way. They will have hostile neighbors like Pakistan (always ready to occupy reminder Kashmir ), China (already eaten up a part of Kashmir, sold out by Pakistan), and of course we have Afghanistan (Kashmiri's definitely don't want to be ruled by Taliban). People are intelligent enough to understand this.
4. Kashmiri people are intelligent enough to understand that big united country is more powerful than a small independent state.
5. Kashmir has been integral part of India since ancient times. With changing times the people got converted to other religion. But India has absorbed people with all the religions in the course of time. And future will show that India will do that again for Kashmiri people, (some people will talk about Amarnath row here, but let me tell you what happened there was not as serious as it was made to look by Kashmiri media controlled by separatist). Indian government is committed to people of all states may it be Tamilnadu, Gujarat or J & K.
6. Kashmir issue is going to become history with time, as has happened with the Khalistan issue (which was also backed by Pakistan). But I don't think Pakistan will keep quiet, they will try to make one more state unstable.
The bogus thing called "Kashmiriyat" was exposed when the Srinagar mafia could not agree to lease a small piece of land for people of another faith. This shows that if the Hurriyat gang ever had full power, their first job would be to tell all Hindus and Buddhists to convert to Islam or get their throats slit.
The reality is that the Princely State of J&K is now split between THREE nuclear powers – don't forget China. Three monkeys fighting for a banana will always end up splitting it into three pieces and the banana has no hope of existing as a single entity.
If anyone has ideas on how everyone can stay happy without territorial changes, let's talk. If not, tough.
you are right, but small correction. neither the civil government in pakistan wants to dismantle india and civil government in india wants to dismantle pak. it is the intention of the radicals on both the sides. just think who is creating and supporting the radicals. it is created by US in pakistan to dismantle USSR. Now the same US is using these radicals to dismantle inida. after india it will be china. so US is having bigger aim in asia. it always endeavours spreading religionism and regionalism across the world, dismantle the countries, unipolar the world and rule like king of the world. US always supports disintegration of countries. pak can also become as you said and india can also become as you said. all countries having different ethinic peoples have comman enemy. it is not their neighbours as they think.
I am Indian muslim and have always felt let down by the behaviour of Kashmiri muslims.
Why are you so selfish and think only about your Kashmir. Have you thought about what will happen to Indian muslims when separation of Kashmir from India happens?
We have our own weaknesses and bicker among ourselves. Finally all of us put the entire blame on the US,because it is universally accepted US has its trace on every regional problem in the modern times [img]http://www.smileycons.com/img/emoti ons/107.gif[/img]lem
Myra also mentioned about Afzal Guru , that guy himself is tired of living and want to die. I remember him mentioning to the press that he prefer L.K.Advani to be the prime minister of India because he's the only one who can hang him..[img]http://www.smileycons.com/img/ emotions/99.gif[/img]
at the height of Khalistani militancy this is exactly what most Sikhs were saying.
I wonder what makes your state different.
looking at your postings, you don't appear to be a neutral party here.
If indeed you are neutral, I am amazed at your failure to take into account the Islamic hatred that comes out of Pakistan which is the basis of most problems not only in Kashmir, but also the terror attacks in many parts of India and world.
I have been to both India and Pakistan have found the people in both countries to be eager to be friendly with people the other country.
It is a myth that most Pakistanis hate India and visa versa.
You ask Kashmir was ever part of India.
Was Sindhudesh ever part of Pakistan? What type of self-determination did the people of Sindh have? Their Hindu brothers were expelled from their beloved ancestral homeland, a land where they had lived for thousands of years. Now they are scattered all over India. Meanwhile, the Sindhi Muslims resent the fact Karachi has been taken over by Pashtuns and Jinnahpuris.
You say you are Kashmiri, don't speak for Pakistan. But Pakistan does use you, and thinks that's a leverage against India. This wants India to support the aspirations of Jinnahpuris and Balochis.
http://www.petitiononline.com/mohajir/pe tition.html
In 1816, Jammu was annexed by Ranjit Singh. In 1941 Gulab Singh extended his kingdom by annexing Ladakh. Where is/was your United States of Kashmir? It wasn't there, it's not going to be there.
The Indian subcontinent hosts hundreds of ethnicities, speaking 1000 languages and practicing all the religions in God's earth. There are linguistic ethnic groups- Sindhis, Gujaratis, Bengalis, Maratis, Pathans, Punhabis, Tamil, Telugus,Kashmiris …the list is long. The only ethnic, linguistic group in the subcontinent that constitutes a separate country is Bangladhesh- whose birth was precipitated by Pak army's genocide of Bengalis in 1971.
Kashmiri muslims wanting a separate country seems to have born out of sense of entitlement out of events of partition, UN resolutions, etc. In any case another intolerant country based on religious exclusivity is the last thing the subcontinent needs.
The priorities are – control of religion based terrorism, as waged by Kashmir "freedom movement" should be eliminated. Once this is achieved LOC could be liberalised. Other genuine grievances of Kasmiri muslims could be fullfilled without redrawing of India's current borders which includes the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
No need to erect new Berlin walls!!!
+++It is a myth that most Pakistanis hate India and visa versa.
– Posted by Alethia ++++
The vice versa part of the above statement is correct. However, the first part of statement about the "myth" of "most Pakistanis hating India" has a serious caveat. Most Pakistanis vigorously support sponsoring terrrorism on the unarmed civilians of India. Have done so, and continue do so. Major part of this strategy is simply denying the sponsorship of terrorism.
You yourself is an example!! I'm sure you know you haven't convinced any Indian here.
"How many times have you covered the "elections" in Pakistani controlled Kashmir? Have you posted on the views of the people there as to whether they want to stay in Pakistan or be free? How about the people in Gilgit and Skardu whose legal status is is murky?"
Rajat, well said. I do not expect Myra, at least on this blog, to provoke a well informed discussion on the resolution of Kashmir issue (Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Northern areas, POK, Aksai Chin). Myra, for her reasons, is restricted to criticize based on her largely unrestricted visits to the Indian side of Kashmir and unbiased media coverage that exists there. She will get a clear perspective only if visits to POK and Northern Areas are open to journalists, without any intervention from the generals in Rawalpindi. Until then, people like Myra will continue to interpret a one sided view of Kashmir as total resolution to the old dispute.
Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved on the lines of the demands of the militants or that on the lines of the plebiscite designed in 1952. Kofi Annan, in 2005, openly declared the UN plebiscite to Kashmir inappropriate on his visit to South Asia.
If you think good, you'll get good.
If you think bad, you'll get bad.
You are free to think the way you like, but your negative thinking contibutes nothing to understanding between people and countries.
I fervently believe in better understanding between people and countries and I certainly do not believe in terorism.
Hima Bindu,
I dont think Myra is biased in any way, please refrain from making such observations.
I dont know what you mean by "Islamic hatred that comes out of Pakistan" ??? is this something that can be quantified and even if so I am sure there is equal negative feeling from India.
Lets all hope for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir.
Wish everyone here a very prosperous new year!
++++I certainly do not believe in terorism.
– Posted by Alethia ++++
If what you are doing now is based on not believing in terrorism, one shudders to think what you will do
if you start believing in terrorism!!
BTW, anywhere in the world when people think of better understanding between peoples and promotion of peace, the first and only country that comes to the minds of people is Pakistan. No kidding.
And on the latest post from "belligerent". You didn't have to steal nother person's ID.
— How about giving these sermons (if you think good, you'll get good.If you think bad, you'll get bad.)to Israel? asking them to think 'positive'of Palestine, contributing to some understanding between people and countries.Asking America not to label Hamas as 'thugs'…or do you have different yardsticks for the Israeli reactions?
You are a noble person saying good begets good. Sure that is quite good thinking, when you are thinking of people who are from Guilt based societies, which often have rule of law, democracy and secularity. As a latte-liberal, you have a "bury" your head in the sand type of attitude.
Its this exact liberal ness that will be your undoing, as well as the undoing of the Western World and India.
Secular and democractic societies have common core values, those of the right of the individual to exist, the right to free speech, the right to question, the right to freely develop one's own endeavers.
I never cease to be amazed at how gullible and naive you are, with regards to "Shame" based societies. These shame based societies, often do not value or have any of the core values, I listed above. They often follow a dictatorial, facist, communist, or totalitarian mindset that the individual is expendable for the common good.
Time and again History has shown that Guilt Based Societies, as they show liberality towards Shame based society people, because they share different core values, either the shame based society individuals will be at your feet (if you are superior, militarily and by numbers) or they will be at your throat and try to overwhelm you mentally and physically by destroying you.
Alethia, you do not have a realistic, practical approach to analyze events and offer little to resolve anything here. Your "niceness" will be used against secular societies and their destruction.
If the tables were turned, and you were living in a Shame Based society, in most of those countries, you would be forced to marry some guy and be his chattel.
It is dissappointing to naive and gullible "latte-liberal" as your self, so freely and stupidly apologizing constantly for not being nice enough to those from Shame based societies.
Since shame based societies must blindly follow a doctrine, there is no real room to question outside of those rules. The only thing, at the end of the day, people from Shame based societies respect and respond to in a positive manner, is a firm hand and overwhelming, sledgehammer might.
Please educate yourself on shame vs. guilt societies.
Does your " UNITED STATES OF KASHMIR" include Jammu, leh, Ladakh? & POK & the Northern Areas, Aksai Chin & the territories gifted by Pakistan to China? or do you mean only POK & The Kashmir Valley?
Mayra, again you came up with your stupid artical.Why don't u devote yourself some time to study the reality instead of posting these kind of baseless articles.Before writting anything about kashmir you must know half of the kasmir has been captured by pakistani terrorists and they are launching strikes from there to original(indian) kashmir.Real problem is pakistan and their international terrorists.And you must remember mayra,India hasn't forgot about kashmir occupied by pakistan.It has to be rejoined with india ,no matter how long it will take.
The success of fair and free elections does not bode well with the Jihadis residing in Pak occupied Kashmir. If history is any witness, when things start looking up in Jammu and Kashmir militants start attacking at the Line of Control trying to infiltrate on the Indian side.
As I speak, a long battle with the militants is on at Poonch, near the line of control. It looks, every attempt will be made by the Pakistan based jihadi groups to bring violence back to Kashmir.
I am Indian muslim and have always felt let down by the behaviour of Kashmiri muslims.
Why are you so selfish and think only about your Kashmir. Have you thought about what will happen to Indian muslims when separation of Kashmir from India happens?"
– Posted by Khurram
maybe you should ask yourself this question first, why should the people of kashmir suffer under a brutal occupation so that people like yourself can have comfort and an enhanced feeling of citizenship?
bilal sarwar,
Come out of your dream world and accept reality, there can not be an 'independant' kashmir unless you can move your geographical location somewhere else, the people of Azad kashmir are happy as part of pakistan, I am of half kashmiri ancestry and in pakistan we face no discrimination accept that brought about by the views of people like yourself.
When kashmir bleeds Pakistan hurts; can the same be said of anywhere else?
The geography of pre-1947 Kashmir includes Jammu, Kashmir valley, Ladakh, Leh, Pak Occupied Kashmir, Northern Areas and Aksai Chin. Each geographical part has divergent political aspirations and it does not want to join Pakistan. I have few questions for you when you say Pakistan cares for Kashmir. They are as follows,
1) If Pakistan cared for Kashmir, why would it hand over large chunk of J&K land – Aksai Chin – to China?
2) If Pakistan cared for Kashmir, why would the demography in Northern Areas altered by an infiltration from Pakistani Punjabis & Pashtuns? (Northern Areas are treated as federally administered areas like FATA & NWFP)
3) If Pakistan cared for Kashmir, why did Pak Occupied Kashmir and Northern Areas are treated as colonies?
(Evidently, POK got the civil right to vote in 1974 and Northern areas in October 1994. The elections, often rigged, are a sham over there. Despite the name "Azaad", those areas are not sovereign.)
4) If Pakistan cared for Kashmir, why has Pakistan not invested in the development of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and the Northern Areas? (The dams built on the rivers in POK gives water to the fields in Punjab & Sindh. The Kashmiris do not get anything in return)
5) If Pakistan cared for Kashmir, why the secessionist movements in Gilgit & Baltistan are brutally squashed by the Pak military? (No foreign journalist, such as Myra, or the UN, is allowed to go there are report)
On the one hand you say that the absence of violence during these elections would not have been possible without Pakistan's co-operation. Isn't that also an admission that Pakistan has been creating and abetting violence? Yet you then talk of Indian 'assertions' of Pakistan's culpability in terror attacks. You seem to have doubts about Pakistani involvement and yet have no hesitation in congratulating the Pak military of keeping its nose out of Kasmir during the elections. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here?
As far as Zardari's oft repeated proclamations of friendship for India, have you not heard similar statements from the Indian side over the years? But coming back to Zardari, lets see now how many other statements he has also made. A few months ago he said that those who indulge in violence in Kashmir are terrorists..do you think he was referring to Indian militants in Kashmir or Pakistanis operating in Kashmir? A few days ago he said there are no terrorists operating from Pakistan. Have you read what Gordon Brown had to say, just to give one non-Indian example. Now we have fairy tale of non-state actors. Again, arent these a bundle of contradictions? Your comments and analysis could have been more balanced.
Nikhil ,
1, The small piece of land Pakistan accepted as a part of china is inhabitable; unlike India we are more concerned about the well being of the people and the lands where they reside.
2, When people see themselves as essentially the same; concepts such as infiltration have no meaning, Pakistani Punjabi's and pakhtuns are historically, socially and genetically related to the majority of kashmiris. The main connection between Kashmir and the rest of the world
has always been through sialkot.
This was also why hundreds of thousands of Muslims lost their lives in Amritsar at partition as it was handed over to India unexpectedly, otherwise India would have no land route to Kashmir.
3, When an area is under the constant threat of war elections have little meaning, I find an Indian talking about election and specifically rigged elections in Kashmir quite disturbing considering the violence the majority of kashmiris in Indian administered Kashmir are put through when the real sham elections take place. By azad the reference is being made to Indian occupied Kashmir, as we don't need force to hold Kashmir.
Here's a question for you, what percentage of the hundreds of thousands of Indian security forces in Kashmir are originally of kashmiris majority population.
4, Pakistan has invested alot in Kashmir, unlike Indian Kashmir people are free to visit azad Kashmir and see for themselves.
5, You obviously haven't been keeping track of the news, many journalists have recently visited gilgit and surrounding areas, I have myself visited the northern areas of Pakistan and felt no hostility from the local population. Any movements in these areas are directed at the federal government, generally politically motivated and to do with resources rather than the any question separation.
let me put this question to you, why is it that large numbers of NGO's/ human rights organisations regularly condemn the Indian government for actions in occupied Kashmir yet the same can not be said of azad Kashmir? are they biased?
'let me put this question to you, why is it that large numbers of NGO's/ human rights organisations regularly condemn the Indian government for actions in occupied Kashmir yet the same can not be said of azad Kashmir? are they biased?'
—because they can then beg for alms & emotionally black mail thegullible & obtuse Saudi's Arabs & others such claimant of sham brotherhood,(even by some western powers for ulterior motives as it keeps India's diplomacy in check & humor Paki's for whose Punjabi landlords & army top brass Kashmir is actually a real-estate deal,their father-in-laws Hillstation) they get handsomely paid for their deceitful propaganda…
'The small piece of land Pakistan accepted as a part of china is inhabitable;'
—for us Indians it is a part of our motherland— It's you Pakistani's who can do this to your own mothers when they turn unproductive , not us, we remain loving her till our last breath…
Do you people want a solution to the kashmir issue?
I have one….
stage 1) Let the Pakistani Government honestly-honesty is very important here- flush out all the militant activities against India and Kashmir and provide India the proof.
stage 2) Assure India that because will be no more terrorist attacks ,they have to move their army away from the disputed territory .So people cannot accuse the Indian army of violence against locals any more..
stage 3) Now in a peaceful Kashmir , get a consensus from the Kashmiri people using the media and force the Indian Government to come to the bilateral talks and resolve their issue..
As the militants try to attack India more and more, India will place more and more armymen in the borders and that will only strengthen Indian hold towards Kashmir.So the crucial process is in the hands of Pakistan – destroy terrorism in exchange for some useful talks with India..
In response to the comments above, this post is primarily about the Kashmir Valley and not about the other parts of the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, each of which probably deserves a blog entry of their own. Yet many of the comments have addressed other parts of the former kingdom, particularly those under Pakistani control.
So let me ask this question. Would those of you who have posted comments about places outside the Kashmir Valley argue that the Kashmir problem can be resolved only if the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir is addressed as a whole? The UN resolutions of 1948 do apply to the whole of the former kingdom.
But taken to its logical conclusion, would you really argue that the unrest in the Kashmir Valley could be resolved if China were to hand back the Shaksgam Valley (ceded by Pakistan in 1963 pending a final settlement on J&K)?
Or try another question to take it out of the Kashmir context. If there were suddenly to be a great deal of unrest in Scotland in favour of autonomy or independence from England, would you immediately start posting comments about Wales?
By the way, I'm not taking a position on this — I've heard people argue that the former kingdom has to be taken as a whole, just as I have heard others say that the LoC should be turned into a permanent border. I'm just making a plea for consistency and rigour. In other words, you can't respond to unrest in the Kashmir Valley by pointing to the conditions of the Baltis without taking that view to its logical conclusion.
On your point about Pakistani involvement/non-involvement in violence in Kashmir. The operative phrase is "if Indian assertions are correct" – ie if you believe Pakistan is behind militant violence in Kashmir, then you have to also assume that it made a deliberate choice to prevent violence during the elections. And re what Gordon Brown had to say, I think you'll find I quoted him in an earlier post about the Mumbai attacks. But going back to the point I made at the beginning, this blog was focused on the Kashmir Valley, and I haven't heard Gordon Brown make any comments recently specifically about the Valley.
"Muslims across the world are like one body, if one part is in pain the whole body feels the pain…"
Well when pain becomes more wide spread, and forms a gangrenes and maybe septic and spread infection to others. The surgeons do come to make surgeries.
Finally, people came to know that the cat was closing its eyes and drinking milk all these years…
"—for us Indians it is a part of our motherland— It's you Pakistani's who can do this to your own mothers when they turn unproductive , not us, we remain loving her till our last breath…"
I don't see you fighting China to get your 'mother' back, I also think you are having trouble recognising your mother as you seem to have similar border disputes with all your nieghbours including Pakistan, china and Nepal.
Even if we can convince China,pakistan and India to give away the parts of the Kashmir territory they had occupied for all these years ,it will be very hard to form a good Government for the people .If suppose kashmir is liberated in this decade, a talibaniztion is most likely to occur in the valley , seriously affecting the women's rights .Therefore Pakistan must put its own house in order and weed out the violent fundamentalists before trying to unite the kashmiri territories..
"I don't see you fighting China to get your 'mother' back,"
I don't see any logic here .After 1947 When had India fought with Pakistan to get the rest of Kashmir , so it can also pick up a fight with China .India had always shown restraint in dealing with disputed territories. History shows only Pakistan wants to liberate kashmir desperately .Even in 1971 ,India could have occupied the rest of Kashmir when Pakistan lost at least one third of the forces ,why didn't it do then ?..
Kashmiri culture, its religion and its distance from mainland India gives it a distinct identity -somewhat similar to Bhutan or Sikkim.
How many kashmiris has a regular Indian met in his lifetime. I have met a few of them and even visited Kashmir Valley. Some of them do not like Pakistan at all. Religion alone cannot bind people from different cultures together.
I am an Indian Muslim from Middle India – I have not really jelled with them nor with a Bengali or Keralite Muslim. A Keralite christian and keralite muslim will get along fine with each other – its the same with the Kashmiris they have their own cultural tastes and habits which is far off from mainstream India.
Solution: Let Kashmir be allowed to function independently on its own but within Indian constitutional framework. We can use Sikkim as an example. If the POK (Azad Kashmir) wants to join Kashmir it should be allowed. Borders between Both Kashmirs should be open.
With regards to the Amarnath Land issue – if it was handled properly – most kashmiris wouldn't have minded giving the land on lease basis – simply because it makes economic sense – in terms of tourist trade.
One obstacle to the solution to the Kashmiri issue is most Indians feel that they have the right to determine destiny of Kashmiris. Probably Pandit Nehru who was a Kashmiri didnt feel that way and agreed to Article 370 which is a very good deal for the Kashmiris if it is implemented in the spirit in which it was written. Currently it has been truncated to a large extent.
I'm a Kashmiri Muslim, I migrated to Bangalore for education and a job with dreams. Believe me or not, I have got almost everything what I wanted, a good education, a respectable job, and of course a good people around me.
I even went back to valley and got few of my cousins here, now everyone of us are settled down here and we are slowly rebuilding our land, homes, and business in Kashmir. Therefore, in reality i would say most of us in the Valley know that life in India is must more superior than in Pakistan. At least we have freedom to move around the country for a job and earning, I don't think we get such freedom in Pakistan.
Please note most of the Valley people have changed our minds now to be a part of India just because some of us were are the best examples to those who live in the valley.
We at first believed in a Separate or freedom state with the help from outside, however our lives were miserable, suffering for a single meal with no business and earning, then we thought to try the other way and we are well settled now.
This is the reality. We The people of Valley were part of India and will always be a part of India.
To my fellow Kashmiris here, please open your eyes and see the reality, its been almost 25 years I migrated to south of india, and now living with a good life. My parents and relatives still live in the valley, and we are supporting them from here to rebuild our business, homes etc back, I hope sooner the valley will be opened for tourism.
The comparison of Jammu +Ladakh with Wales is rather frivolous. For startes Scottish people are not waging a jihad on the Welsh. Wales is far away from Scotland and there are no Scottish terrorists going around slughtering villagers sleeping in Wales.
a) If the valley is freed now taliban & other 'non-state' actors will occupy Kashmir.
b) India would have really occupied Kashmir during 1971 War as most of the Pakistan Army were lost in Bangladesh, however at that time even India was a little afraid about China trying to occupy Arunachal Pradesh.
Anyways, India didn't do this. This shows the good democracy and gesture, however I do think that if such situation was at Pakistan's hand they would have gone extra mile to do.
I would like you people to put some thoughts on the below basic questions:
1) When Pakistan has it's own so called Kashmir (Occupied) why are they messing up life of Indian Kashmir.
2) Supporting The so called Kashmiri Freedom fighters, India doesn't need anyone to support them, infact as far I know India is a good nation to fight for freedom (history).
3) When the voters opted for Democracy by looking into the developments happened in the valley and ousted the Boycott from the separatist groups, what's wrong? They are expecting a good life there, and why would still Pakistan wants to mess up with Kashmir?
I think the best solution is you live in your home and Indian Kashmiris live live their home. Never mess up with each other.
Pakistan has really invested a lot in Kashmir tensions, really if they would have invested these into development of their own nation, we wouldn't have seen them asking for IMF bailout today. Well it is evident that India has just invested a troops there and they are covered in the annual budget, nothing more, so look at the Indian economy.
I mean taking patriotically and economically are 2 faces of a coin. Well some think they are the same and commit mistakes.
It's high time for Pakistan to stop all these activities and concentrate on its people upbringing and economic development.
Myra,the Shaksgam Valley & Aksai Chin…
—INSHALLAH! We shall have every inch of her back! What you see today as the reality is perceived by us as merely a transitory stage, do not forget we, the Indian race, have been around for thousands of years & by His Grace will outlive all temporary phases…
Thank you! Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bengal, even Sri-Lanka are but temporary phase, are nothing but a blink in time. The Grand Mother India is where all of their final destination is. An inclusive, secular, democratic India is where they will all be.
Even the ravaging by the British and the Moghuls and Aurangzeb, we remained peaceful and soft. Our loving nature is unconquerable, we are ancient, we are quiet and we are forever.
Let it be, Inshallah, Jai-Ganesh-Jai Shiva. Old places which were renamed after invasions, will be restored to the their original ancient names.
Kashmir will cease to ever be a problem. All of history, which is seldom discussed will now be openly discussed, known by all and never forgotten.
"Even in 1971 ,India could have occupied the rest of Kashmir when Pakistan lost at least one third of the forces ,why didn't it do then ?.."
If they could they would have, pakistan wouldn't blindly send all their forces and leave kashmir undefended, in any case India must have been in extreme fervour after having taken advantage of pakistan's internal civil war to get revenge for what India's then prime minister indhira gandhi described "the last 1000 years of Muslim rule". Next time try thinking things through more carefully.
To the so-called kashmiri, we can see right through you, you are obviously a bengali/goan.
@Ali, Sam
I never cease to be amazed at how ignorant and hateful you two are at the benevolence of India. You two just hate hindus. I don't hate muslims, I don't hate the British, and I don't hate the Chinese.
You two really need to be more grateful at India and the opportunities given to all muslims, if they choose to grab them and elevate them selves.
You should know that during Ramadan and Hajj, the Indian government recognized the religious significance of these holidays and sends Pilgrims free to Saudi, via all paid, all inclusive stays on boeing 747 jets and hotels in Saudi. I don't see Pakistan, or another other non-Kaffir country sending expatriates to their countries during Christmas, or Nav-Ratri, or Shiv-Ratri, or any other national Holiday.
Despite that Hindus were ravaged by other nations over the last 800 years, we remained largely peaceful with other nations and never attacked another country.
We never did suicide bombings against Muslim countries and we never did suicide killings or bombings against the British either.
Deep down, our philosophy is not one of looking inward, it is not a philosophy of hate, it is not a philosophy of conquering and butchering others, it is not a philosophy of subjugation, it is not a philosophy of erasing other people's cultures and religions, it is not a philosophy of selfishness, it is not a philosophy of stagnation and it is not a philosophy of being retrograde, as we are forward thinking and embrace spiritual and technical advancement together.
We are India, we are unconquerable and indestructible. We are mature in our response.
We think before we speak and we never use God and any foul word like :death, conquer, kill in the same sentence as God. We are ancient, all encompassing, ever evolving, we are everywhere, we are friendly with all, loving with all and believe all people deserve happiness, just not at our expense, like anybody else.
Never again will we be conquered by any Nation, or ethnic invaders of any kind. We will never conquer others either.
Nobody will dare challenge our might, as we will always win their minds and hearts with our logic and peaceful nature.
We will always give flowers, where others even after receiving flowers always complain and give thorns in return.
Mr. / Mrs. Ali,
I don't know but by not accepting reality, you seem to be just like other pakistanis in Kashmir. Are you?
Well whether you accept me as a Kashmiri or not is not a bother to me, however the ground reality is we are having a good life here in India, and what else a common person in this earth deserves?
"Even in 1971 ,India could have occupied the rest of Kashmir when Pakistan lost at least one third of the forces ,why didn't it do then ?.."
Ps. unlike pakistan which is only a fifth the size of India and still has india running for cover; India did 'try' to pick a fight with the larger china in 1963, didn't last very long though…
"however the ground reality is we are having a good life here in India, and what else a common person in this earth deserves"
Mr/Mrs. 'Kashmiri'
I must have imagined the 100's of thousands of kasmiri's marching for freedom from India last month…
lol @Anup,
Who know what other parts of Pakistan is gifted or sold Arab Sheiks 😛
Myra, The Gaels & Welsh are a different race from the fusion Anglo-Saxon race & UK is relatively a recent formation, such cannot be said of the Indian sub-continent, which has been always been referred as one land Bharat,one race, irrespective of all it's diversities…
"I must have imagined the 100's of thousands of kasmiri's marching for freedom from India last month…"
Those were the people Pakistan had sent to destabilize Kashmir election and support to India. I am sorry, we know the correct people and wrong people now, therefore all those arguments you guys make on Kashmir is not reality.
Look at Mirwaz he didn't had face to show, looked at lone, she clearly accepted defeat.
Sorry to say bro, we no longer support Pakistan, and we feel secure to have Indian arm forces to protect us from Militants Pakistan sends.
Inshah Allah, we see peaceful Kashmir in future under India.
"I must have imagined the 100's of thousands of kasmiri's marching for freedom from India last month…"
"Those were the people Pakistan had sent to destabilize Kashmir election and support to India. I am sorry, we know the correct people and wrong people now, therefore all those arguments you guys make on Kashmir is not reality"
India must have the worst security forces in the world if they let so many people get through at one of the most heavily militralised zones on the planet, in anycase, you have proven my previous point that you can not be kashmiri, and I'm not your 'bro'.
You cannot convince these "non-state" actors friend. They are well versed in Denial. 😛 Someone will come to wake them up from their dreams.
Taliban already doing in NWFP, if you can they pullout some people and start doing towards your border.
—The 100 thousands were on a free fun trip, they didn't mind joining any chorus – Independence / Pakistan or maybe even India, as long as the picnic was on the house…
What did Pak army acheive by launching Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008?
The same things it achieved in 1948, 1965, 1971, and 1999. Making Pakistan weaker, its democracy (if there is one), its instituitions weaker, making it explicit to the international community that Pakistan is a reckless, irresponsible country.
Ali, Alethia here exemplify this militaristic Pak mindset. For example he mocks at India not standing upto China in 1963. Yes, India has no interest in picking up fights with China, because India is more interested in achieving stability and economic prosperity.
This is so unlike Pakistan of course. The only thing it has ever done for 61 years is "standing up" against India thus producing a failed state.
Because you asked me questions, I am compelled to answer, albeit briefly.
1) You said, "Aksai Chin is inhabitable and it does not matter if Pakistan gave it away to China."
This proves that regarding Kashmir, Pakistan can be a sell-out to China. Interestingly enough, Pakistan wants to save Siachen, which is also inhabitable. How hypocritical!
2) You said, "When an area is under the constant threat of war elections have little meaning"
I know that any free and fair elections conducted in Indian Kashmir rubs the jihadis in Muzzafarabad and the generals in Rawalpindi in the wrong way. Unlike Pakistan, India at least attempts to create normalcy in a conflict prone area. It has succeeded in some instances, failed in others.
3) You asked, "what percentage of the hundreds of thousands of Indian security forces in Kashmir are originally of kashmiris majority population."
India has been using the J&K state police and the paramilitary forces to fight Jihadis coming in from Muzzafarabad. The para-military forces come under central government's command. Like any police force, J&K police is incapable of facing well-armed Pakistani Fidayeens; as a result their presence is smaller than other forces.
4) You said, "Pakistan has invested a lot in Kashmir, unlike Indian Kashmir people are free to visit azad Kashmir and see for themselves."
Now, that is a typical Paki comment, overblown and jingoistic! The POK and Northern Areas are the forgotten frontiers of pre-1947 Kashmir. The reason you cannot cite examples of development there because in reality there is very little primary research available that proves your argument.
5) You said," You obviously haven't been keeping track of the news, many journalists have recently visited gilgit and surrounding areas, I have myself visited the northern areas of Pakistan and felt no hostility from the local population."
Why should you, a Paksitani, face hostility in Gilgit and in the surrounding area. It's the foreign journalists, such as Myra, who cannot visit there to report without intervention from the generals in Rawalpindi and the annoying ISI agents following them everywhere.
6) The reason NGOs and other news channels cover human rights issues in Indian Kashmir because they are largely given a free hand to visit, to interview and to write on the situations on the ground. This confirms my last argument that Pakistan does not allow free hand in its occupied territories in Kashmir to neutral or foreign agencies (Much like it is done in Baluchistan).
This is my attempt to briefly respond to your questions posted in one of your comments. They are as follows,
Myra: "Can the Kashmir problem resolved only if the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir is addressed as a whole?"
The crisis in Kashmir is a political one. If you want to talk of independence to J&K – highly unlikely – the entire state, Indian occupied territories, Pakistan occupied territories and Aksai Chin must be seen in total. With due respect, most western commentators have their heads buried in the sand when they equate the UN mandated plebiscite, designed in 1952, as the permanent solution for an old dispute. In fact, the UN plebiscite does not give the third option of independence to J&K; it asks Kashmiris to join either India or Pakistan. Needless to say, Kofi Annan, in 2005, openly declared in his visit to South Asia that the UN plebiscite is inappropriate for the ground realities that exist today.
Myra: "Or try another question to take it out of the Kashmir context. If there were suddenly to be a great deal of unrest in Scotland in favour of autonomy or independence from England, would you immediately start posting comments about Wales?"
If Wales had state sponsored Jihadi camps churning out Fidayeens and United Jihad Council that is answerable to generals in Cardiff, you may retract your comment. Your attempt to draw parallel between the dispute in Kashmir and that in Scotland is compelling, but not relevant. The violence/unrest in the Kashmir valley is directly related to the militants that dance on the tunes of the generals in Rawalpindi. In my view, Indian Kashmir may get back its autonomy in near future. Independence to Kashmir, on the other hand, is not feasible for various reasons.
Myra: I have heard others say that the LoC should be turned into a permanent border.
In my view, this is a feasible solution. International borders between countries can be made irrelevant but they do not need to be changed. If Belgium, France & Spain could do it in the past, so can India, Pakistan and Kashmiris. The real challenge is to change the mindset of the generals in Rawalpindi who will loose the levers of power in Pakistan after Kashmir is peacefully resolved.
Myra: "You can't respond to unrest in the Kashmir Valley by pointing to the conditions of the Baltis without taking that view to its logical conclusion."
Fair enough! On the same token, Myra, you cannot take position on Kashmir that is stitched together based on the news that appears only on the Indian side of the border. For a serious reader, it is an unbalanced view of an old dispute. It is also a blatant ignorance to the history of the region, the nuances that exist on both sides of the border and the psyche of different communities contributing to the crisis in Kashmir.
Re your comment of 9.57 am on 4 Jan. Thank you for a timely rejoinder.Please let me clarify that my earlier comments were not aimed at the point made by the Hindu and your own views on the absence of militant activity during the elections. I can see the logic in that line of thought. By accepting that Pakistan kept away from disrupting the elections it was also an admission that Pakistan does control and directs the militancy in Kashmir. My point was that then it was just not India's assertion of Pak involvement but that it was fact.
The Gordon Brown comment was referred to, not to draw the discussion away from Kashmir, but merely to point to the inherent contradictions in Zardari's various statements – militants in Kasmir are terrorsist, no terrorist activity is directed from Pak etc – and his credibility. This was with reference to your comment that Zardari has often said he wants to better relations overall, including Kashmir.
I know of very few on either side who don't want this to happen. The problem, according to me, lies in what they intend doing about it and how they go about doing so.
I am your neighbor and please love me 😛 .I always wanted Kashmir to be free but not at the cost of talibanization. Will you Pls tell me what are your views on the 1965 Indo-Pak war,I just wanna know your views .. I am sorry Myra, this is irrelevant to the topic 😛
Ok for the record, here again is a link to the UN resolutions for anyone who wants to argue about them:
http://www.un.org/documents/sc/res/1948/ scres48.htm
Nikhil, you said that you can't have a balanced view of the region without understanding history. But isn't the problem that no one can agree on the history of the region? Do you go back to 1947, or to 1846 when Kashmir was sold to the Dogras, or as some people posting comments have suggested, even earlier? Try reading William Moorcroft's memoirs of his travels in the 1820s (among other things he writes about leaving Kashmir to go to Muzzafarabad) to see how complicated it can get. I've asked this question before, but do India and Pakistan really have to agree on history in order to make peace, or can they agree to differ?
Certainly my own experience of trying to untangle the roots of the Siachen conflict was that no matter how hard I tried, I would never come up with a common version of history.
And I guess you could argue that the United States and the Soviet Union ended the Cold War without either of them agreeing who started it or who was to blame for building it into a massive nuclear arms race.
You would like to know about war with India 1965…that was the day when Indians thought in the darkness of night whilst whole nation slept. Indian Army began its assult from various point but the main one from Lahore and their generals thought it would be so easy that would have their tea in lahore.
But they were so wrong when Pakistan woke to the that morning realising the Enemey is at the gate the public and the army became one. There was a small unit guarding the bridge from where the indian army had taken that would have brought in 3 division would have rolled into lahore.
But the brave soldiers and his commardes fought, fought so feriouslsly he was awarded the Nishan-e-e Haider biggest milatry award and the first one. Just like him many other people were willing to put bombs to their body and lie under the indian arnmour and send them on one way ticket to hell.
Pakistan won that war and taught India a lesson as long as the pople of Pkaistan are with Army no power in the world can shake this country.
Then 1971 with the help of benglis they helped in everyway to cut Pakistan in two. We taught them a leson and they wanted to get back anyway its better benaglis can decide their own fate.
Thanks for replying 😛
"India started the war and Pakistan won the war" This is your view on 1965 war, isn't it?
Now I now have a measure of what you have been taught in your school 😛 I can understand the same ignorance is reflected in your views on Kashmir.
Myra, The UN resolution was defunct from day1, the UN itself is a farce & probably the most corrupt International Body, There was no Pakistan in history (does it exist even now?) so the question of 'looking' in any 'history doesn't arises at all! The cold war was a struggle for global supremacy, where neither of the party was aiming to annexe the other, whereas, the issue in the sub-continent is not of supremacy but of wielding regional Power by subjugating the other…in the garb of religious idealogies
I think you will be interested in this…
Hey Ali,don't abuse me , I am sorry if I had offended you..
Please follow this link.
http://pakistaniat.com/2007/09/06/1965-w ar-a-different-legacy/comment-page-7/#co mments
if you find cancer in the body you remove it totally not give up that part of the body to cancer. same thing with kashmir, it is necessary to remove cancer from kashmir society rather than give up kashmir to cancer. thats how i see it.
Well worms (LeT, JeM, non-state actors) again started acting in poonch area near by LoC.
I still don't understand that such a pathetic denial job from Pakistan side.
I have seen people / person lieing, but a Nation / Government… Give me a Break.
The problem in Kashmir is not a "cancer",as you put it, but the suppression of the basic human rights of the Kashmiri people over a period of 60 years. Yes, there are terrorists in Kashmir and a large number of innocent citizens have been targetted by both the terrorists and by the Indian military forces. They are squeezed in the middle.
It is those innocent people who demonstrated peacefully en masse this past fall (which was covered by several eminent journalists) and these voices should be heard by India and the international community.
The continuing discord between India and Pakistan over the human rights of the Kashmiri people has become a threat not only to the peace of the region but to world peace also. This is not merely a land dispute, but one which directly affects the dignity and well-being of the innocent populace there. Furthermore, the non-resolution of this dispute coupled with the non-resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute make it impossible for the world community to effectively fight terrorism and turns the best efforts to do so into groping for a rope made of sand.
suppression is a propogation created by pakistan and western countries to split india. they will not leave with that they will perculate down crying suppression, agression etc., till my country is torn in to pieces. can you give any evidence for suppression. if what is happening is suppression then that is happening in every part of this world. greece is suppressing its nationals. australia is suppressing. it retained indian with out any charge. i can add many. you need to understand the difference between maintaining law and order and suppression. one should not view it as per their conveniance. this is the main reason for peacelessness in the world.
To Alethia:
The problem in Kashmir is political, period! Everything else, terrorism, human rights, conflicts between India and Pakistan, is a manifestation of it. Please do not confuse the two.
Civilized nations, unlike Pakistan, do not use terrorism as a state policy. If terrorism infrastructure on Pakistani soil is wiped out, the Indian para-military forces in J&K can also be phased out. Only then, there will be climate conducive for political resolution in Kashmir.
Not to digress from the issue, but unfortunately, human rights are violated in various degrees in many places. As I write, there are freedom struggles going on in Tibet, Balochistan, Gilgit/Baltistan and the lesser know Alaska. (ref: Alaska Independent party) among others. The dignity and well being of the people may have also being violated in those places, more if not less, than in Kashmir. Just because Islamic terrorists use violence and hold the world hostage, does not give them the right for quick resolution.
—How come??? the goody goody (diabetic) Paki symphatizing western moral brigades are silent on the Guantanamo Bay detention camp & the draconion, anti-human (if not anti-muslim) American Patriotic law…
Myra, Is criticizing America considered a blasphemous act on Reuters?
The problem with Indian public is that they have been mislead by Indian govt for the last 61 yrs. Indian public is being told that Kashmir is an integral part of India. While as the truth is that United Nations millitary observers are in the heart of Srinagar for the last 60 yrs. How come internaltional force is present in Srinagar? This clearly shows that Kashmir is a disputed land. There are several United Nations resolutions passed for kashmir and none have been implemented. Kashmirirs are only asking to implement the resolutions so that we can decide our own future.Shameful Indian forces have killed more than 90000 innocent unarmed Kashmiris.Kashmiris were forced to take guns by the Indian govt by way of delaying tactics on the resolution of Kashmir and denial of basic right to choose, killing of innocent Kashmiris, rapes , torture and subjugation. We are a weak people and weak people ultimately become terrorists as has been seen in Palestine where Palestinians fight with stones against the tanks of Israel. Go and visit kashmir, you will see that 700 thousand Indian forces means that for every 10 unarmed Kashmiris there is one Indian Machine gun ready to kill them…..God will never forgive Indian nation for the injustice to Kashmiris. We have faith that one day we will become an independent country with peaceful relations with our neighbours…email@example.com
dear all,
what is ment by basic human rights? I think kashmiris enjoy them. they are entitled to polical system. participate in elections. right to speak. right to move free etc etc. They enjoy more rights than a londonier who is being watch every second.
for those who do not want to accept. Kashmir is integral part of India. The presence of UN observers is not a symbol of disputed region. It there to keep eye on LOC to stop further escalation. India is capable to take all actions to rootout anti-national elements from the region. but lack of political will cause these problems. Further, Kashmiries are themselves responsible for the present day crisis. Do residents of gujarat, maratha or anyother part of India need a separate identity? they are distinguished and share fruits of progress equally. they are all free Indians. what identity kashmiris are looking for? please explain.
there have been many independent nations after USSR. Has it resolved any problem? No. It has made it worse security scenario in the world.


text:
Today we said good-bye to my sister-in-law, Lizzie Ardena (Poole) Yarborough. May she rest in peace.
Formerly, "Just Thinking", this blog presents the thoughts and experiences of a family historian working to demystify the past and uncover the stories of an elusive ancestry. NC surnames are YARBOROUGH, GREEN, HAWKINS, DUNSTON, DAVIS, BROWN, ROSS, HILL, BRYANT, and DAVENPORT in Franklin, Warren, Halifax, and Tyrrell Counties. With so much of my family's history shrouded in darkness, is my personal mission to uncover the hidden details of my ancestry and bring them INTO THE LIGHT.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Memory Monday
Posted by Renate Yarborough Sanders at 9:26 PM
Labels: North Carolina, obituary, Poole, Virginia Beach, Yarborough
Educator, Genealogist, Mother, Grandmother
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A village in Anatolia; Village of Aslı… Aslı brings her classmates from university in İstanbul with her to her village for the summer holiday. In the house they will stay for holiday, there is a paralyzed and bedridden old person: Aslı's grandfather… They do not enjoy staying there and seeing him; however, it is too soon to turn back for them. Ideas and admiration for Necip Fazıl Kısakürek of this strange old man whom they do not expect to see will cause them to question their life.
+90 - (212) 453 1453 +90 - (212) 453 14 00
Follow @hasansuvertr


text:
SII Group
You have talent ?
Apply online for your new job.
Job offers
SII and you
"With SII, we designed together our IT project."
Contact us
SII is now developing its Corporate Social Responsibility policy by working on a harmonized approach to three areas of sustainable development: a fair economic policy, rational environmental measures, and fairness in the labor and social practices of our subsidiaries, agencies, and facilities.
SII has made a commitment in these different areas and stepped up dialogue with its shareholders, employees, customers, and all stakeholders associated with its activities. SII subscribes to industry codes of conduct, such as those of Syntec Numérique (France) and the EICC Code of Conduct (Romania), to promote best practices.
SII's corporate culture is based on commitment, transparency, trust, and professionalism. We are aware of the reach of our activities throughout the world, and we strive to limit their impact as much as possible.
SII is committed to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Global Compact and the universal principles of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and corruption prevention. We aim to sign the Global Compact in 2016.
SII's investment in sustainable development is not a matter of mere optimism; it is a way to improve our company's economic performance.
Promoting sustainable development is not just a trendy thing to do. It reduces expenses (by saving fuel, energy, and paper), improves employee morale, and fosters internal consensus.
It also offers us a competitive advantage, both in attracting customers and recruiting new employees.
Our objectives are ambitious, and so far, we have been able to meet them. But we do not intend to stop there or rest on our laurels.
Our social, environmental, and economic achievements are just the first step in meeting our objectives. The second consists of sustaining these achievements in the future.
Our efforts are not shortsighted; our action plans include monitoring our practices and ensuring their sustainability over time.
SII aims to be a responsible company that respects its employees, its customers, and the environment, with a humble but ambitious system of governance.
That, in short, is how we tackle sustainable development: by focusing on a few aspects on a daily basis in order to quantify our approach.
SII aims to maintain internal social cohesion and its employees' adherence to its corporate values, all while remaining competitive.
'Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' – Rio Earth Summit, 1992.
SII's success and the satisfaction of its customers depend directly on the quality of its employees.
In 2015, SII had employees of 47 different nationalities.
There can be no sustainable development without the sustainable satisfaction of our customers.
Groupe SII © Copyright All rights reserved - Powered by Portal Framework ©
v3.2 r5766 -


text:
Last updated 10/28/02
Review Granted orders are provided here in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF) in chronological order.
Click here for more information on Acrobat format. To view an order, click on the case number.
October 28
SC02-796 Evelyn Barlow, etc. v. North Okaloosa Medical Center, Inc., etc.
October 22
SC01-2315 Deandre Baker v. State of Florida
October 21
SC02-107 Alwin J. Jacobs v. State of Florida


text:
In Japanese, wa have Japanese-English and Loanword (etc.); which makes it hard for foreigners to learn English besides basic three characters "hiragana, katakana and kanji". They are written in Katakana as they are originally from foreign language for us. Sometimes it is really hard to get the definition or which category to put. I will make a list to get my head straight.
Loanword (katakana-Eigo: katakana-English)
*Ones we use in original meaning
table(テーブル・te-buru), bus(バス・basu), milk(ミルク・miruku), door(ドア・doa), tent(テント・tennto)
*Ones we use in different meaning
(Should be carefully used to the foreigner)
J.> meaning in Japanease
mansion(J.>apartmant,condominium), shortcut(J.>short hair), naive(J.>sensitive), cunning(J.>cheating), claim(J.>complain), bike(J.>motorcycle)
Japanese-English (coinage, derivative can be in this category)
night game (ナイター.nighter) custom-made(オーダーメイド.order-made) mechanical pencile(シャープペンシル. sharp pencil) breakfast special(モーニングサービス,morning-service) autograph(サイン.sign)


text:
The Most Advanced Learning Technology in a Mobile Device.
Take this Leopard Certification and then and Simple Upgrade Exam and you will be both Leopard and Snow Leopard Certified!!
Leopard 10.5 - Support Essentials -
Certification Exam - 9L0-402
NOTE: This App works on 1st Generation iPod Touches as of 11/27/2009. If you have previously purchased it for your 1st Generation iPod Touch and were unable to install it, follow the instructions here on or after 11/27/2009:
Follow "Tech2000Inc" on Twitter for iphone App information, New Releases, Bugs, Fixes,Special Promotions, Periods of Price reductions
Apple Certification Course: Leopard 101
Explanations, Links, etc.. Learn Apple Leopard 10.5 topics
1.Resume/Bookmark - Now you can pause
2.Expanded Question View - Pop-up window for long questions
3.Dynamic Advertise Offer - Special Offers will be updated on the "About page"
4.Configure Assessment by Topic/Module - Now you can study a Single Topic individually or all topics
Get it now and receive FREE updates
Coming Soon
Apple Leopard 201, Snow Leopard 101, Snow Leopard 201
CCNP,CSE,CCVP is coming in Sept/Oct!!
Watch for CompTIA, CIISP, Video e-learning,
Created by Go4cast and Tech 2000,who are both Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC) we are proud to bring you the most comprehensive Apple Certification Exam Prep available. Based on the concept of Assessment Based Learning. The System will also help you study by identifying your weaknesses using the Patented Relevance Engine. It will automatically create a Learning Plan for you as well guide you to Instructor Led training.
Covers all of the Official Course Modules
Chapter 1: Installation
Chapter 2: User Accounts
Chapter 3: File Systems
Chapter 4: File Management
Chapter 5: Applications
Chapter 6: Network Configuration
Chapter 7: Accessing Network Services
Chapter 8: Providing Network Services
Chapter 9: Peripherals
Chapter 10: Startup Process
Relevance Engine- A patented system that allows a selection of the appropriate content based on the users performance as it relates to the hierarchy of the learning objectives.
-Provides Users with Multiple choice, True False Questions, randomized and delivered in selected Topic and Quantity.
- URL links tied to right and wrong answers - (Allows Internet access to Pages of content for remediation)
-Selectable question Bank - Randomized or Not - Missed or Not
-Capable of Providing Performance Statistics
REVIEW MODE: allows the Engines Prescriptive and Relevance feature to be utilized. In this mode a users performance on the Practice Engine will spawn a Lesson Plan based on their individual Knowledge-gaps.
Provides Users with Direct access to Cisco Official Training. As with the Study Mode this mode uses the Prescriptive and Relevance engine to create a Customized training plan.


text:
Daybreak over Ronda
Rihla (The Journey) – was the short title of a 14th Century (1355 CE) book written in Fez by the Islamic legal scholar Ibn Jazayy al-Kalbi of Granada who recorded and then transcribed the dictated travelogue of the Tangerian, Ibn Battuta. The book's full title was A Gift to Those who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling and somehow the title of Ibn Jazayy's book captures the ethos of many of the city and country journeys I have been lucky to take in past years.
This rihla is about Ronda, Andalucía, Spain.
Around the time that Ibn Jazayy was recording Battuta's travels in Fez, where the ruling Marinid dynasty had withdrawn for good from mainland Spain after a decisive defeat by Alphoso XI of Castile at the mouth of the river Salado in 1340, Ronda had become part of the Nasrid Amirate of Granada and was described by a near contemporary of Ibn Jazayy, Abu al-Fida (d.1331) in his Geography, as an 'elegant and lofty city in which the clouds serve as a turban.' It was to remain so until the 22 May 1485 when Ronda surrendered to the army of Ferdinand and Isabel, seven years before the fall of Granada and the eradication of the final part of Moorish Spain that had been in existence since Tariq and Musa ibn Nasyr had brought their Berber armies across the Gibraltar (Jebel Tariq) Straits in 711 CE.
I usually take my annual holidays in March and travel but this year was different and had made no plans. My father has been seriously ill since the middle of February but with his indomitable will, his condition stabilised enough to encourage me to take a few days break and thus the decision for my wife and I to board a flight to Malaga, hire a car and head for Ronda.
For many reasons!
Driving northwards on Route 346 through the Sierra Palmitera, and the Serrania de Ronda, the overwhelming sensation on that serpentine road from the coast was of a sense of a pilgrimage being made rather than a journey of exploration. In August of 2010 I'd bought a book of short-stories for my father by Ernest Hemingway called Men Without Women (see blog entry for August 9, 2010), to replace a copy he had lost many years previously. The first short story in the 1928 book is entitled 'Undefeated' and recounts the exploits of an aged, once-great bullfighter 'Manuel Garcia' discharging himself from hospital to fight one more fight, to achieve one more victory at whatever cost.
And I had willed him on…Manuel and my father. I needed to see the bullring.
(Bullsh***er in the middle)
Hemingway's love affair with Ronda had begun in 1923. The city of Pablo García Baena's 'sleepless lime' is the home of modern bullfighting where the bull is primarily fought on foot with the estoque and muleta, rather than on horseback, a development introduced by Francisco Romero in 1754 and fully elaborated on in later years by his grandson Pedro Romero Martinez.
In Death in the Afternoon, published in1932 Hemingway wrote,
'There is one town that would be better than Aranjuez to see your first bullfight in if you are only going to see one and that is Ronda.'
In the 1950s Hemmingway spent a great deal of time in the company of and at the estate of the other famous Rondian bullfighting dynasty the Ordónez family.
Being mid-March the town was quiet when we arrived and I drove with ease to the Plaza de Espana and into the entrance of the Parador de Ronda Hotel. I booked in for two nights at very reasonable rates and was shown to a rooftop balcony room that directly overlooked the Puente Nuevo bridge and the El Tajo gorge. It continued to rain, and rain, and the heavy 'turbaned' sky appeared to meet the rising mist from the torrent cascading over the waterfall at the base of the bridge.
A confluence of tears, I thought!
Lightening strikes lit up Mt. Hidalgo (the Romans called the town Arunda – 'surrounded by mountains') in the distance and the rolling thunder coming from the direction of the Puerto de Viento (Gate of the Wind) to the east merged with the Rio Guadalvin's roar from below.
Like crying almost! Ronda is both beautiful and ugly and a microcosm of the paradox that Spain is…and has been.
As I stood on the balcony, soaking wet, and watched the streetlights come on and illuminate the bridge I felt a great deal of sadness. The Parador de Ronda is the former town hall or ayuntamiento of the Mercadillo 'New Town' part of Ronda. Ronda was a Republican town at the start of the Spanish Civil War; a city of disenfranchised peasants, an illiterate peasantry that was created by the abandonment of Moorish agriculture in favour of sheep rearing by the land-grabbing 'hidalgos' of Ferdinand and Isabella's reconquistra army in 1492.
In the first month of the war in July 1936, 512 or so perceived Nationalist sympathizers, the new hidalgos of church and state, were rounded up in Ronda, jailed in the former town hall that I now looked down from, given a summary trial and marched ( called paseos) through lines of baiting and spitting onlookers – a preamble similar to the tercio de varas and tercio de bandilleras of the bullring nearby – the short distance to the Puerto Nueva bridge to be thrown over into the gorge below, the tercio de muerte. When the Nationalist forces subsequently took Ronda approximately 1100 to 1600 Republicans were executed in revenge and buried in a mass grave in the San Lorenzo cemetery to the north of the town.
I thought of the fatalities in the current civil-war 'peasant' or disenfranchised revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya and then of the extraordinary estimated figure of 250,000 deaths from execution, starvation and suicide in prison attributed to Franco's Nationalists and the 50, 000 (including about 20% of Spain's priests and nuns) attributed to the Republican side during and following the Spanish Civil war.
From 1937 the last word on death sentences handed down by regional 'trial' was with Franco, not as a head-of-state but as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It was reported that "The Caudillo" used to read through sheaves the sentences of death often when taking his coffee after a meal. He would write an 'E' after those he decided should be executed, and a 'C' when commuting the sentence. For those whom he considered needed to be made a conspicuous example, he wrote 'garrote y prensa', a particularly savage and medieval form of execution and that the execution by garroting was to be announced in the press. He would tell his brother-in-law Ramon Serrano Surer that the decision-making was just 'routine stuff.'
Spain has a history of their generals determining atrocity to be 'routine stuff' with Pizzaro's 'management' of the Inca of Peru and Cortes of the Aztec in Mexico but the person before Franco most associated with a governmental passion to kill was Tomas de Torquemada, one of five inquisitors appointed by Pope Sixtus IV on the 11 February 1482, three years before the fall of Ronda, but like Franco, Torquemada managed to become the Grand Inquisitor in a short space of time with the right to appoint all other inquisitors. For Republicans, or Incas, or Aztec read Jewish conversos, humanists, Lutherans, illuminati, and witches. This is the paradox of death that even now Spain, and Ronda is only getting to grips with.
These thoughts and more stayed with me as I took a walk around the old walls of Ronda. Starting with a descent and worthwhile visit to the Arab baths beside the oldest of the three bridges (Roman) that cross the gorge I continued round the outside until at one point came back through a gap in the walls into the old city near the Church of the Holy Ghost. Leaving again through the Almocabar ( al-maqabir or cemetery gate) gate seemed appropriate as the final part of the walk took me around the remainder of the walls to a view of the gorge and the Puente Nuevo Bridge from its base. Here the 512 Nationalists were rendered by their descent and must have been buried somewhere downstream. To the north of the city the exhumation of the San Lorenzo Republican graves has just begun.
On a lighter note the last visit I made in Ronda was to the Lara Museum. In the basement is a permanent exhibition dedicated to witchcraft. One of the exhibits present is a wooden chair with a small pulley wheel at the front. At the rear is a padded seat and through the centre of seat arises and falls on turning the wheel a 9inch dildo. The machine is called a maquina cosoladora or consolation machine and thanks to Irish missionary ( excuse the pun!) 6th century penitential handbooks, its association with sexual gratification of a women could only mean witchcraft, and the attention of the Inquisition.
I thought of my father again and Hemingway's Men Without Women.
Here in the Lara Museum, Ronda was another story concerning Women Without Men.
Consolation indeed!
Hemingway and Ronda:


text:
Her worship began in Bharat, (India), as the supreme mother, one to take comfort in, a loving figure who embodies everything, everywhere, including the forces of nature like death, time and passion. In the masculine sects devoted to Siva or Vishnu, she is given a high place of honor as the most powerful weapon of the most high, and as the fierce aspect of Parvati, wife of Siva in India's most popular sect. To the Tantric adept, she represents supreme ultimate reality, bliss, ascension to godhead and is the one to whom we must ultimately surrender to safely and appropriately meet the cascading onslaught of an ever changing world.
Strong, Fierce, Naked Woman
Ramprasad Sen
Sri Krsna as Kali
It is not without coincidence that Krsna's name means "black" as there are two reasons for equating Krsna with Kali. The first is that Krsna is repeatedly named as the supreme god, as Kali is in Shakti belief. Kalya is given as Krsna's name when he is represented as the popular Jagganath (literally "Lord of the Universe") form, a small limbless idol with large white eyes and a red painted smile accompanied by his brother Balarama and his sister Subhadra. This form of worship is very old. Originally the idols were comprised of Jagganath and his consort, until the white skinned Balarama was added to appease Saivite sects. In Tantra, Krsna is said to be a Lila expression of the goddess Lalita Tripurasundari, the red goddess, underscoring her importance. (lit. "She Who Plays" – another of the ten devi forms called the Mahavidyas) She is considered as a red flower in all forms.
Her yantra parallels the doctrine of the five koshas, which is of immense importance to students of the Body of Light, so she is more than a simple adjutant of the most high consciousness, although this is half of god. She is an important teacher pertaining to the map towards star consciousness, which as of yet we don't know very much about. Below is the image of the TwinStar and the Kali Yantra. Note the five rings which I will talk about in later curriculum from The Abrahadabra Institute – these are the koshas, the layers of the Body of Light.
Warning…the image you are about to view will accelerate your dharma!
In the Vedas, most importantly to be understood for this image we are viewing, Kali is named as the black tongue of Agni, the fire god. Agni's importance cannot be overstated. He is the first god mentioned in the oldest Indian text, the Rig Veda. The Hermeticists refer to Fire as the first element. (At least in the tetragrammal system where fire=spirit). I'm proposing that the TwinStar can be primarily identified with Agni and with the secret alchemical formula for fire in this image, Kali reveals the true nature of the TwinStar.


text:
50 Years Ago (week of Feb. 2- Feb. 8, 1941):
* A dance to celebrate President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's birthday was conducted at Brendel's Manor Park.
So many people came out for the event that some had to be turned away. Music was provided by Gene Hardy's orchestra.
Tom Harmon, a two-year all-American halfback from the University of Michigan, was the guest of honor.
Proceeds from the dance were donated to what was then known as the "campaign for dimes and dollars" to fight infantile paralysis, or polio.