Jammu Martyrs Day

By Sajjad Shaukat

 

This time Jammu Martyrs Day has come at time when the people of Kashmir have accelerated their legitimate struggle in the aftermath of the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfew. Since July 8, 2016, Indian forces have martyred more than 100 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani. By manipulating the false flag terror attacks at a military base in Uri and Baramulla, the BJP-led Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also intensified war-hysteria against Pakistan. After deployment of heavy arms and weapons at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces have increased troops and continue shelling in Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir. New Delhi’s main aim is to deflect the attention of the international community from the new phase of Kashmiri Intifada, while ressure has been mounting on the Modi government both domestically and internationally to resolve the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan.

 

However, like other “black days”, Jammu Martyrs Day which is another gloomy day in the history of Kashmir, is celebrated on 6th of November by the Kashmiris and the Pakistanis on both sides of the LoC and by those, living abroad to remember the great sacrifices of 2.50 lakh inmates of Jammu including men, women, children and elderly Muslims who were mercilessly slaughtered by the armed Hindu gangsters, the Indian occupying and the Dogra military troops near Jammu Sialkot working boundary under a nefarious pre-planned conspiracy, while they were proceeding for migrating to their beloved homeland Pakistan. This tragedy occurred on this very day in 1947.

 

During the first week of November in 1947‚ hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were killed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh‚ Indian army and Hindu extremists in different parts of Jammu region, while they were migrating to Pakistan. But, their brutalities were not confined to it. As part of pre-planned scheme, on November 5, 1947, announcements were made everywhere in Jammu, asking Muslims to assemble in police lines where from they would be sent to Pakistan. On November 6, Jammu Muslims including men women and children were seemingly dispatched towards Pakistan in trucks. But before they could reach the destination, Indian army, forces of Maharaja and Hindu extremists at Samba Reasi and other places martyred them in gruesome manner. Thus, over 2.50 Muslim inmates of Jammu city and adjoining areas were martyred.

 

Nevertheless, the huge deaths had stunned the world. In this regard, the ‘Time” magazine, in its November 47 publication also pointed out the figure of 2, 50,000 deaths of Jammu people.

 

But, these sacrifices did not go waste, as they have kept the Kashmir issue alive. As regards the historical background, during the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan according to the British-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was ruling over the J&K, in connivance with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India.

The design to forcibly wrest Kashmir began to unfold on August 16, 1947, with the announcement of the Radcliffe Boundary Award. It gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into Kashmir. There was a rebellion in the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja and were joined by Pathan tribesmen. Lord Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar.

 

When Pakistan responded militarily against the Indian aggression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise of holding plebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India-an integral part of the Indian union.

 

The very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

 

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations.

 

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

 

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

 

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

 

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.

 

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

 

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

 

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

 

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

 

Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule.

 

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries.

 

In this context, Egbert Jahn in his book, “Kashmir: Flashpoint for a Nuclear War or Even a Third World War?” has pointed out, “The Kashmir conflict is embedded in the wider conflict over the incomplete creation of nations and states on the Indian subcontinent, which during the east-west conflict even threatened at times to escalate into a nuclear world war between Pakistan and the USA on the one side and India and the USSR on the other. Until now, there have been three wars between India and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir: in 1947–49, 1965 and 1999… finally, the Indo-Chinese border war of 1962…after these wars…and could unexpectedly again lead to a regional and under certain circumstances…even a major nuclear war or a Third World War.”

 

Meanwhile, like the previous year, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the recent speech of Pakistan’s prime minister and his meeting with the American president, highlighting the Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

 

Nonetheless, 6th of November is commemorated by the Kashmiris and Pakistanis as the Jammu Martyrs Day to remember the supreme sacrifices of lives, laid down by 2,50,000 people of Jammu, who were ruthlessly massacred by the Hindu extremists, Indian forces and the Dogra military troops on November 6, 1947.

 

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

 

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

 

 

Modi’s despicable agenda

 

Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal

THE probability of the conflict escalation between India and Pakistan has multiplied in the recent months due to Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi’s despicable agenda. In reality, his jingoistic attitude has been haunting the peace and prosperity of the entire region. Ironically, international community seems reluctant to reprimand the irresponsible behaviour of the Prime Minister of India. Since his oath taking as a Prime Minister of India, the people of Indian occupied Kashmir and minorities, especially Muslims, in entire India have been suffering from the Hindu Fundamentalist brutalities. He has been punishing Kashmiris because they did not support his party in the state elections in 2014 and thereby BJP had failed to secure 44 plus seats in the state assembly to make first Hindu Government in Srinagar.
Premier Modi’s cunning tactics to decisive Islamabad, especially in the realm of dialogue process have negative impact on both states relationship. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did his best to engage him for the prosperity of the region. Regrettably, he failed to convince him that nuclear alarmed states could only resolve their disputes through dialogue instead of war. Islamabad is adamant to not cave in to the Modi’s unrealistic despicable coercive diplomacy and threat of the use of force including surgical strikes. Moreover, the Indian hawkish ruling elite’s irrational arrogance and overbearing demands on Kashmir dispute are equally unacceptable. Certainly, the firm stance of Islamabad annoyed the Hindu fundamentalists in New Delhi.
The prevailing tension between the belligerent neighbours triggered due to the sudden upsurge in Kashmiris freedom movement in the Indian occupied Kashmir. The extrajudicial killing of Burhan Wani, a 22-year-old pro-freedom leader on July 8, 2016 amplified Kashmiris frustration and resentment. The Indian law enforcement agencies’ atrocities augmented the resilience of the insurgent. Prime Minister Nerandra Modi is desperate as well as frustrated. His government’s internal and external policies have exposed his Hindu Fundamentalist agenda. The continuing suffering of the minorities in India have shaken many Indians conscious and therefore they have been questioning the Modi’s governance style.Perhaps, they are not comfortable with the ruling BJP government sanctioning of RSS agenda. Whereas; without RSS, the BJP is a politically inert entity in India.
The Indian Army’s atrocities, especially targeting the Kashmiris youth resulted in the attack on Indian Army Brigade Headquarter in Uri, Baramulla District, Indian Held Kashmir on September 18, 2016. The attackers killed 19 Indian soldiers. The killing of the Indian soldiers at the protected Brigade headquarter not only exposed the Indian security agencies vulnerability to the freedom fighters but also amplified Premier Modi’s anger. He immediately announced to take punitive measures against Pakistan. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also unnerved Premier Modi and his associates. They cannot accept prospering Pakistan. He made many attempts to scuttle CPEC project. After realizing that Chinese leadership is not paying attention to his irrational demands, he articulated threats of water wars, surgical strikes and above all announced to isolate Pakistan internationally and economically. Precisely, he is determined to undo Pakistan through his vertical and horizontal escalation strategy.
The alarming issue is that Premier Modi has been employing warmongering tactics to attract the attention of common man within India or to sustain his popularity among the Indian voters. He seemed convinced that increasing tension at the India-Pakistan border would assist BJP in winning the elections in Utter Pradesh province. Ironically, Premier Modi and his advisors have been failing to realize that increasing bellicosity between the nuclear-armed nations and jingoism could spiral out of control and likely turn into full-blown military confrontation entailing nuclear annihilation. Its an open secret that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) have been patronizing terrorists groups to attack soft targets in Pakistan. For instance, the terrorists who were involved in attack on the police training college, Quetta were constantly in contact with their leadership and handlers in Afghanistan. They killed 61 trainees in the college and wounding at least 117 people.
The apathetic attitude of the international community on the Indians atrocities in the Indian held Kashmir and New Delhi’s aggressive approach towards Pakistan encourage Modi government to further deteriorate the situation in the sub-continent. Delhi Police illegally detained Pakistani High Commission’s official for a few hours on the suspicion of espionage. The detention and manhandling of a diplomat contravened the 1961 Vienna Convention. Notwithstanding, the Indian police violated Vienna Convention;the Indian foreign secretary summoned Pakistani High Commissioner, Abdul Basit on October 27, 2016. He was conveyed that his Commission’s visa officer Mehmood Akhtar was involved in espionage activities and therefore declared persona non grata.
The foreign secretary also demanded that Mr. Akhtar should leave the country within 48 hours. Conversely, Pakistani Foreign Office has rejected the Indian allegations as “false and unsubstantiated.” In a tit for tat response the government of Pakistan declared Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non grata on October 28, 2016.To conclude, Premier Modi instead of addressing the Kashmiris legitimate demands; has been accusing and intimidating Pakistanis without realizing that latter are capable to defend their country. Thus, Modi’s despicable agenda is equally perilous for the Indians.
— The writer is Associate Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.

 

Refocus on Anti-Pakistan Elements in Balochistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

 

When during the regime of the President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan initiated the construction of Gwadar deep-seaport in Balochistan province in March 2002 with Chinese assistance, sirens went off in the capitals of some European countries, especially the US, India and Israel which took it as a threat to their global and regional plans.

 

Located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar seaport is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its ideal location among South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic significance. Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources irritate the eyes of the US, India and Israel which intend to destabilize Pakistan for their collective aims, as the latter is also the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.

 

In fact, based in Afghanistan, operatives of American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW which are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this regard, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target of these anti-Pakistan elements.

 

In this respect, ISIL claimed responsibility for a terror attack on the Police Training College in Quetta-the provincial capital of Pakistan which left at least 60 individuals dead on October 24, this year.

 

As regards the terror attack, IG FC Major General Sher Afgun informed the press that the attackers acted on directions from Afghanistan and the initial investigation suggests that the terrorists were affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-e- Jhangvi Al Almi militant group. He elaborated, “We came to know from the communication intercepts that there were three militants who were getting instructions from Afghanistan.”

 

Earlier, an affiliated faction of the ISIS and TTP, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (TTP-JA) took responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Quetta, which killed at least 74 people on August 8, 2016 in an attack at the government-run Civil Hospital.

 

However, it is part of ploy that two terrorist groups accepted responsibility for the terror assaults in Quetta to divert the attention from the US-led India and Israel. Especially, Washington and New Delhi are playing double game with Pakistan to obtain the clandestine aims, particularly by trying to sabotage the CPEC.

 

As part of the dual strategy, CIA, RAW and Mossad are in connivance with the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and other terrorist groups. With latest capture of six NDS supported terrorists in Balochistan, the number of NDS backed terrorists arrested and killed by Pakistani Intelligence agencies has crossed over 126. These external secret agencies are particularly supporting the TTP which is hiding in Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan. Reportedly, Mullah Fazlullah led TTP is being prepared to carry out a fresh wave of terror activities inside Pakistan, as the latter has become center of the Great Game owing to the ideal location of Balochistan.

 

As regards Balochistan, every Pakistani knows that separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and their affiliated outfits, including Jundollah (God’s soldiers), Lashkar-i-Janghvi which have been creating unrest in the Balochistan get logistic support from RAW and Mossad with the tactical assistance of CIA. In the recent years, these terrorist outfits massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. In the recent past, these externally-supported insurgent groups kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan including Iranian diplomats. They have claimed responsibility for a number of terror assaults, including those on Shias in Balochsitan and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan.

 

It is of particular attention that arrest of the Indian spy Kulbushan Yadav in Balochistan has exposed Indian undeclared war against Pakistan. While addressing a joint press conference with Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheed, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said on March 29, 2016, “Kulbushan Yadav’s arrest is a rare case that does not happen very often.” He disclosed that Yadav was an active officer of the Indian Navy prior to his joining RAW. He also served as a scrap dealer and had a jewelry business in Chahbahar, Iran, after he joined RAW in 2013.

 

A video was also shown during the press conference in which Yadav confessed that he spied for India. Yadav admitted that he was assigned with the task to create unrest in Karachi and Balolchitan by stating, “I supported the individuals who worked to destabilize Pakistan…I promoted the criminal mindset that was there in Balochistan.” Another task assigned to him was to target the Gwadar Port. Yadav also confessed—funding Baloch separatists along with other terrorists. During investigation, RAW agent Yadav admitted that during his stay, he contacted various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, to execute the task to damage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

 

It is also of particular attention that the armed forces of Pakistan have broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the successful military operation Zarb-e-Azb, which has also been extended to other parts of the country, including Balochistan. And Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants, while thwarting a number of terror attempts.

 

It is mentionable that since the government of the Balochistan province announced general pardon and protection to the Baloch militants as part of reconciliation process, many insurgents and their leaders have surrendered their arms and decided to work for the development of Pakistan and the province, peace has been restored in the Balochistan.

 

But recent terror assaults in Balochistan shows that the US-led India and Israel have again started acts of sabotage in the province.

 

Besides backing subversive activities in the province, as part of the propaganda, foreign entities are also supporting other anti-Pakistan elements in Balochistan.

 

In this connection, Naila Qadri, President of the World Baloch Women’s Forum during her visit to India in an interview stated that Balcoh activists want to form “Azad Balochistan Government in Exile” and they want India, Afghanistan and SAARC countries to support Balochistan Government in Exile. She also thanked Indian Prime Minister Narindera Modi, Minister of External Affairs Shusma Swaraj, Indian people and media for their support.

 

She also held a conference on October 29 for Baloch people for expressing solidarity with their brethren across the border, organized at All India Institute of Local Self Government— Sthanjkraj Bhavan, C.D, Barfiwala Road, Juhu Gali, Coordinator Andheri (W), Mumbai, India. Shri Ramdas Athawale (Union Minister for Social Justice), Professor Naila Qadri and Mazdak Baloch (Son of Naila Qadri) participated in the conference.

 

Hamdan Baloch (Baloch Republican Student Organization) lashed out at Naila Qadri on issuing statement regarding formation of government in exile and stated that no single person can speak on behalf of Baloch people without any support from people of Balochistan. He added that Baloch Republican Army (BRP) condemns any such move to form such a government in exile and BRP will do nothing without taking government of India into confidence.

 

While this anti-Pakistan woman is not a Baloch and was rather a Mahajar from India, She married a person who was actually a Pashtun and lived in Balochistan. This is the only relationship of her to be called as Baloch. She is Naila Qadri daughter of Syed Ahmed Mohibullah Qadri who migrated from Hyderabad, India, but now she is showing herself as a Baloch. Orya Maqbool Jan who know her history revealed in a TV programe that how this lady tries to hide her Mahajar accent and pose as a Baloch and she is working on India’s behalf (presumably on their payroll) posing herself as Baloch.

 

Taking cognizance of the anti-Pakistan elements in Balochistan, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif who visited the Civil Hospital and met with the victims of the deadly bombing of August 8, 2016 had said, “Having been defeated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terrorists shifting focus to Balochistan…incident is an attempt to undermine improved peace in Balochistan, specially targeting CPEC.”

 

Addressing a seminar titled “Development of Balochistan and Economic Corridor” in Gwadar, Gen. Raheel Sharif had stated on April 13, 2016, “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the grand manifestation of the deep-rooted ties between China and Pakistan…indeed a corridor of peace and prosperity for the region and beyond, however Indian agency RAW is sabotaging the mega project.”

 

During his earlier visit to Quetta, Gen. Raheel Sharif on April 15, 2015 warned foreign forces and spy agencies against destabilizing Pakistan by supporting insurgents in Balochistan. Gen. Raheel elaborated, “Army will continue supporting the Balochistan government till terrorism is wiped out…those found involved in funding and facilitating terrorists will be dealt with iron hands.”

Nevertheless, anti-Pakistan elements in Balochistan have reactivated themselves to misguide the loyalist Baloch against the federation. Now, these patriot people must castigate the conspiracy of these external entities, especially India, including other anti-Pakistan elements which want to create obstacles in the development of the province.