Contours of conflict: Naivety of Omar Adullah..

It is not the pro azadi movement in Kashmir which has a potential to create news. But it is the resistance applied to the movement by the state which is creating news. Let us examine this hypothesis form the time Shopian incident rocked the nation.
In one of the most unfortunate incidents two women were raped and murdered. The pro azadi elements took no time to en-cash it. They swiftly organized a protest accusing Indian security forces for the rape and murder. Reacting to the situation CM Omar Abdulla initially opposed the allegation and as the crescendo of disagreement build up, he suspended the DC. He applied central forces in haste to stem the tide which was inflationary. This resulted in deaths of protestors.

The entire episode would have not created much uproar if asymmetric force would not have been applied. The situation should have been left to Jammu and Kashmir Police. It was due to this application of force the separatists’ were able to rally crowds on grounds of mutilation of human rights in the state.

In the first instance we need to clarify that is there a requirement of application of asymmetric force in Kashmir. My answer to this would be a blunt NO. Kashmir lies at the end of a supply line. It is a state which has 90% of religiously homogenous population. Article 370 has ensured that there is no major outside investment. There are no mineral resources that feed the national economy. The tourism industry including the Amarnath Yatra sustains economy of the state. So the disobedience is going to hurt whom? The answer is Kashmirs. All political parties, pro Azadi, pro Pak or pro Indian know that a prolonged economic shutdown will affect the people who form their vote bank. So the possibility of mass violence and damage to property can be ruled out.
Jammu Kashmir Police is by far the best force to tackle the unrest. They being locals are feared. And fear brings in respect. The CRPF being a central force with no clear command structure is the piggybacked by everyone for their moment of glory. The most hardworking and sincere of the forces gets handicapped with the clause of in aid to civil police where the decision to baton charge or opening fire lies with a Kashmir Cadre officer. Believe me it is the ultimate leadership skill to convince your men to get hit successively without retaliating. I salute the Junior CRPF officers on ground for accomplishing these almost impossible feet.

A question here arises why the State police which is trained and capable is not used to its fullest extent? The answer is simple. Application of state police does not create any Sansani-ationalism. Application of CRPF does. CRPF is deployed stating that the situation out of control with a mandate to restore the normalcy. The state police are made to recede to background. This is when the casualties occur. The design is flawless. If you use minors for stone pelting, only minors will die. This can be further exploited.

Now let us see the alleged issue of Human Rights Violation. The crowd gathers after Friday prayers. (Mausima, Down Town in Srinagar, Hathikhan and Bag e Islam in Sopore, Old Town in Baramulla ONLY). It starts protesting and slowly the crowd turns into a mob and stone pelting begins. Several passersby are hit and injured. Police persons get injured. Last year one such stone hit the eye of a CRPF jawan. The private hospitals in Sopore refused first Aid! Almost three civilians and one Child have died due to these senseless protests. Will Mehbooba Mufti, SAS Gilani and their surrogate Parents in Pakistan Tell me Who is violating Human Rights?( Amnesty International is welcome to answer this.)
http://www.zeenews.com/news623118.html

What were the conditions then, which impelled CM Omar Abdulla, to deploy the Army to the streets of Srinagar? The Answer is Simple. It should be seen in this context. In March he made a statement in That Kashmiri Blood is not cheap. He then stated in Srinagar that Human Rights Accesses will not be tolerated. He then stated that that the anger of stone peters is not directed at the state government. I agree to his self admission of political naivety here. No one noticed him.
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Apr/21/kashmiri-blood-not-cheap-omar-83.asp

The Answer is hidden in his statements. Raise the level of force application. This will certainly paint a picture of a state of desperateness to the Global audience. If God forbids any major casualties occur, the Indian Army will be at the receiving end. (Bommai incident last year is a precursor to this).Within no time the protest will gather an unprecedented momentum. The AFSPA will be challenged on the streets of Kashmir and army will be forced on the back foot. This will give an edge to the terrorist cadres which are presently in hibernation. And we will see resurgence in the terrorism.

The challenge now lies with the Indian Army to come out unscathed from this acid test.

Contours of Present Conflict

The violence in Kashmir is a result of a dubious design. APHC stands at the apex of this paroxysmal display of lawlessness. And all political parties equally contribute to the chaos.
The unprecedented public support to Amarnath land row agitation initially gave APHC the glory it always dreamt off. Later as the public suffered the sheen started to wean away. The refusal of Pakistan to accept the horticultural produce of Kashmir, and simultaneous land blockade gave a strong dose of realities to the separatists. By the end of August 2008 the historic movement faded into oblivion. The lessons from this moment were simple and straight. The movement was successful in coercing all centers of power of Indian Union. The unsung hero of Gurkha Rifles who opened fire at the protesters who were trying to enter the Paribal complex of Rashtriya Rifles did send a message across Dont mess with the army.

The lessons were used to effect in 2009 where in the Sophiyan incident was exploited to set the furor. As the movement began to die the separatist were on lookout of new issues. One such attempt was made at Trehgam on 8 July 10, 2009 when the accidental death of Amina Massodi was exploited as a case or Rape and Murder by Armed forces.

http://theskandnayal.blogspot.com/2010/04/ballad-of-ashique-hussain-pir.html

The second incident happened at Baramulla. A woman whose brother had eloped with a neighbor was called at police station. The SO an old God fearing man spoke to her in a rash tone to produce the couple. She went out weeping. Within an hour the protestors took to street accusing that she was molested. The resulting perpetrated over the next few days resulted in death of four youths.

http://theskandnayal.blogspot.com/2010/03/jihad-ii.html

The stone pelting duels are intriguing to watch. Children of 8 to 15 years are paid upto 500 rupees a day for stone pelting. The younger the child the better it is. The police (Jammu and Kashmir Police) columns retreat. The stone palters move ahead. The police moves back further. Then, the police charges ahead, firing tear gas shells at the protestors. This goes on till it gets dark.

If the movement does not die its own death in few days, CRPF is inducted with a mandate to end the protest. These troops do not retreat. They stand their ground. If need be they fire rubber bullets and tear gas shells. The crowed buoyed by their victory pick up the fired tear gas shells and throw them back at CRPF. Then the shells are fired straight in a flat trajectory. The impact sometime proves to be fatal.

Then the fresh deaths propel the movement.

After Friday prayers, Down Town, Mausumia Srinagar, Hathikhan Mohalla, Chinkipora Sopore & Old Town Baramulla are rocked by violent protests. Rest of the valley remains entirely peaceful. If any death occurs the protests are prolonged.

Now we shall understand the timing and the design. The preparation for apple crops is completed by last week of May every year. The crop is watered, tendered and sale dead are completed by this time. The interim period upto August end the trades are free with an assured income. This period coincides with the Amarnath Yatra. The protest rock let me be specific Part of Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla, where the writ of Jamat and APHC prevails. Remainder of the valley sulks by the suffering this will bring. The moment the apple crop is ready for dispatch, the protests come to an end.

The reality is, Militancy in Kashmir is dead. Local terrorists are not seen not heard .The infiltrated foreign terrorists are in hibernation to complete their two year tenure in valley. There are no Terrorists in sight to be killed. There is no actual violence. People have lost interest in this endless quagmire. They want betterment and peace. This threatens all those who yield power in the valley.

This year witnessed a new trend. The justification of their existence by the players of this game. It started with Chinkipora, Sopore. After the security forces (SF) operation was over, Gilani visited and distributed Rs 5 lakh to the effected family. Next day Yasin Malik visited and distributed Rs 9 lakh. The place was visited in quick succession by Mehbooba Mufti and other booty hunters. Similar trend was visible after incidents in Magum, Rafiabad. It is clearly written on the wall the whole issue is political. Gen Singh is of the same opinion.

Two incidents which has shaped the contours of the valley today are firstly are the response to Sophiyan incident by Omar Abdulla and apprehension and trial of BSF Commandant Randhir Kumar Virdi. They have sent a message across that the state is open to political coercion.
This series of protest will fizzle out by first week of September. This year infiltration has been at ebb. The resident terrorists are on back foot. The public is antagonized by the series of bandhs. The time is ripe for some strong political maneuver to bring this suffering to a logical conclusion.

Now Or Never

British were always obsessed with their superiority. Their failure in Second World War gave them a bloody nose. To sustain the empire “Where the sun did never set,” become economically unviable.

America was the new God, Basking under the glory of its victory in Europe. Together, the Brits and Yaks feared the neo Devil, Communism.

Oil was important for the recovery of war torn Europe. It was Middle East from where the oil came from. At this juncture ceding independence to India was a strategic risk. But if India was not liberated, it would have been direct pronunciation of Hypocrisy of western ideology of Liberty and Freedom. After all it was this philosophy for which Americans have fought the war.

Churchill administration was certain that an India under leadership of Mahatma will not allow them to operate military bases in South Asia. And these were needed.

So the conspiracy of partition of India was hatched. What all they needed was Baluchistan and NWFP. Since Baluchistan was technically Afgan territory and Pathnas were allied to Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan it was a difficult task.

The Idea of Pakistan saw light of the day.

It was a result of ambitions, distrust, misunderstanding on both sides; the Congress and the League, that partition of India became viable.

Radcliff did a brilliant Job. On close observation one can decipher the sinister design of the boundary. Kishangarh Buldge, juts into Pakistan where it is narrowest. Chicken neck, threaten Indian communication with Kashmir, Siliguri corridor is 80 Km wide and the Bay of Bengal is just 60 Km from Lungetlai salient.

The events during partition left a stigma which will take generations to wane. Who so ever stated it; both nations suffered, and are still suffering. To top it all Kashmir was invaded. Now if the British Commanding general of Indian and Pakistan army pleads ignorance, he is a liar. The nascent Pakistan was convinced by British that Kashmir or Part of it is necessary for their existence. One way it was. But the method employed in haste entangled the two nations in a 63 years old animosity.

We were Brothers and we could have settled it amicably.

If a policy for 63 years has produced no result. The policy has resulted in four wars. It is high time we need to relook at it. 63 years of hatred, why not give chance to love?

Now let us have a look at some facts.

In 2008-09 Pakistan allocated a sum of Rs 296 billion for defence. India laid down a defence budget 1.42 trillion rupees (28.4 billion dollars) in year 2010. Over the next 12 years, India is set to spend a whopping US$200 billion on defence acquisitions to replace its outdated inventory. This Money can be utilized for better purposes.

Here are some more recent comparative indicators:

One out of every three illiterate adults in the world is an Indian, according to UNESCO. Pakistan stands fourth in the world in terms of illiterate adult population, after India, China and Bangladesh.

One out of very two hungry persons in the world is an Indian, according to World Food Program. Pakistan fares significantly better than India on the hunger front.

Poverty:

Population living under $1.25 a day - India: 41.6% Pakistan: 22.6% Source: UNDP

The reason for higher levels of poverty in India in spite of its rapid economic growth is the growing rich-poor disparity. Gini indexmeasuring rich-poor gap for India is at 36, higher than Pakistan's 30. Gini index is defined as a ratio with values between 0 and 100: A low Gini index indicates more equal income or wealth distribution, while a high Gini index indicates more unequal distribution. Zero corresponds to perfect equality (everyone having exactly the same income) and 100 corresponds to perfect inequality (where one person has all the income, while everyone else has zero income).

Nutrition:

Underweight Children Under Five (in percent) Pakistan 38% India 46% Source: UNICEF

Health:

Life expectancy at birth (years), 2007 India: 63.4 Pakistan: 66.2 Source: HDR2009

Education:

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, male Pakistan: 80% India 87% Source: UNICEF

Youth (15–24 years) literacy rate, 2000 to 2007, female Pakistan 60% India 77% Source: UNICEF

Economics:

GDP per capita (US$), 2008 Pak:$1000-1022 India $1017-1100

Child Protection:

Child marriage under 15-years ; 1998–2007*, total Pakistan - 32%India - 47% Source: UNICEF

Under-5 mortality rate per 1000 live births (2007), Value Pakistan - 90 India 72 Source: UNICEF

The time has come for us to make a choice. Weather we continue our attitude of mutual distrust and spend money preparing for a battle that is costing future of our nation.Or we reconcile our difference and work together for progress.

It is not that difficult also.

We start with India taking the initiative. Revamp Indus water treaty to establish Joint Hydro Electric Projects in Kashmir. India will provide Investment and Expertise and Pakistan will get Electricity and water. With a Hydroelectric potential of 28000 MWin Kashmir, Pakistan can easy get up to 8-10 Thousand Watts.

This should be followed by Pakistan closing its terrorist infrastructure. A joint commission for investigation of Anti India and Pakistani activities should be established hereafter.

Pakistan to provide India the status of most favored Nation. India should provide soft lone for revitalization of economic activity. India should invest in Pakistan. This should be followed by establishment of common free market, and if possible unified currency.

The visa regulation is next. Like EU a common citizenship card should be established for both nations.

During this period Military to military interaction should increase. Exchange program for Military establishment should take place. Further a joint command should be established for UN operations. Later this can be extended into joint South Asian Command.

We should aim at field a Joint team in 2023 Olympics.

Then we can talk about Kashmir.

i for India

Current Population of India in 2010 is around 1,150,000,000 (1.15 billion) people and it has a total land area of 3,287,263 square kilometers
The official GDP growth rate in 2009-10 has been 6.1% .
Service industry accounts for 62.6% of the country's GDP while the industrial and agricultural sector contribute 20% and 17.5% respectively.However Agriculture is the predominant occupation in India, accounting for about 52% of employment.

Poverty in India is widespread with the nation estimated to have a third of the world's poor. According to a 2005 World Bank estimate, 42% of India falls below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day (PPP, in nominal terms Rs. 21.6 a day in urban areas and Rs 14.3 in rural areas); having reduced from 90% in 1980. According to the criterion used by the Planning Commission of India 40% of the population was living below the poverty line in 2004–2005, down from 51.3% in 1977–1978.

These statistics indicate that it is not the end of road.
The Country has been growing steadily having fought five Conventional wars and being engaged in long drawn sub conventional conflict.
Yes politicians are corrupt. I should say most of them are incapable to run the country. This leaves a lot of latitude in hands of bureaucracy.
Then there are Self interests, Regional -Communal interests, Political compulsions. The National interest is missing.
In 25 years of wandering around the country i have met,
“Punjabi, Sindhi, Guajarati, Marathi,
Dravidians, Utkalis, Bengalis….”
Sorry to say no one was an Indian first.

So we have Mayawati. I appreciate her courage but she has NO policies. And her coterie of bureaucrats does not have courage of conviction to tell her that Grand Parks, statues do not feed hungry children in hinterland. Often in conflict of self interest and National interest unfortunately the latter is sacrificed.
We have Sibu Soren, convicted for homicide, but CM of a state. Political computations overrule National Interests.

I do not watch World Wrestling Federation matches. You see much better version of contact sports in Parliament. Should we not be ashamed that we elect send this muck to Parliament House? (Why Should I be? I don’t vote!) 50% of Indians Don’t Vote most and most of them are educated elite.
So who will bell the cat? There are no short term solutions. Education is must. Then we have to ensure that right people reach where it matters, by participating in elections as candidates and as voters.
And yes we have to discover India within us.

“I,” for India.

Radcliffe Wrath

Radiecliffe Wrath
who were we
little children of lesser gods
to be cursed by Radcliffe Wrath
a masterstroke of deceit which left a million dead in a tsunami of blood bath
and sowed the seeds of hatred
between who were brothers once

who were we
gullible ignorant children of lesser logic
who did not understood the underpinnings of the GREAT GAME
and greed for global gold
black gold
yellow gold

who were we
arrogant and self centered demons of greater devil
who demanded to divided this land for HINDUS and MUSLIMS
He who dwelt in the land of Hind is a HINDU
and he who has a clear conscious is a MUSLIM
we all are HINDUS
we all are MUSLIMS
so why we still stand divided
INDIA is as much mine as it is yours
INDIA is PAKI STAN ( a pure land)
who was Radcliffe to tear our heart
we must ponder now
till how long will we suffer from Wrath