Gurez valley

Amjed Jaaved On February 14, 2019, an explosive-laden vehicle rammed through India’s Central Reserve Police Force Convoy near Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway.  Forty CRPF personnel were killed. Without investigation, India blamed Jaish-e-Mohammad Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Adil Ahmed Dar and Pakistan for the incident. Recent media reports reflect the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), nicknamed Fidelity, Bravery Integrity; assisted India in corroborating the latter’s knee-jerk reaction. The FBI itself is in crisis in the US. Not only the Democratic Hillary Clinton but also President Trump blames it for dabbling in politics. Time dated May 14, 2018 reported `Democrats have questioned the integrity of the bureau as well, with both [Hillary] Clinton and her aides claiming [James]Comey and the FBI helped tip the election to Trump…President Trump has continually attacked the integrity of the institution and its leaders, alleging not just incompetence but bad faith in the com...

By Zaheerul Hassan  Strategically located Balochistan turned into a substantial framework of regional connectivity due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  After the cancellation of the contract with the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), on 18 Feb 2013, then-President Zardari government formally awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the construction and operation of Gwadar Port to China. Earlier, in Dec 2010, China had offered to the then provincial government to construct 20 more berths and make the port fully operational if the port was handed over to it. The handing over of port for development and operation to China was admired all over Pakistan but at the same time, Pakistan’s adversaries along with its ally the USA showed their concern over the agreement between China and Pakistan. Past and present governments admit that award of the contract to China as an auspicious development in Pakistan-China relations and expressed the hope that it would create ...

  ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan Sunday said that the brave Kashmiris who were fighting against the worst form of military oppression and tyranny should be inspired by Karbala to stay steadfast in their courage. “The brave Kashmiris who are fighting against the worst form of military oppression & tyranny should be inspired by Karbala to stay steadfast in their courage because their struggle against tyranny & injustice will succeed as the martyrs of Karbala showed us,” the prime minister said on Twitter. He said the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S), his family and followers gave three messages for the Muslims. Firstly, he said immortality was earned by those who gave the supreme sacrifice of their lives to stand against tyranny and injustice. “It is not earned simply by being rich, powerful or educated,” he remarked. He said throughout history, many great Muslims had been inspired by Karbala and sacrificed their lives to stand against oppressio...

PHOTO from Indian occupied Kashmir:  Indian forces use pellet guns and injured several Kashmiris at Muharram procession on Saturday 29 August 2020   ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris in a staged encounter in the Shopian region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the restrictions on religious processions and gatherings during Muharram. “Nearly three hundred innocent Kashmiris, including women and children, have been martyred by the Indian occupation forces in fake encounters, so-called “cordon and search” operations, and other instances of use of brutal force including pellet guns during the last one year,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement. He said that the Indian inhuman methods to subjugate the Kashmiri people through killings, torture, forced disappearances and incarcerations had failed in the past and would not succeed in the future too. The long communi...

Jahangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir   Pulwama, Aug 29:  Top officials of Indian security forces Saturday said that around 80 youth joined various militant ranks this year in Southern districts of Kashmir alone while seven out of eight new recruits were killed in separate encounters so far. Addressing a joint press conference in Pulwama, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police South Kashmir range, Atul Goel said around 80 local youth from South Kashmir districts joined different militant organizations this year among them several have been killed, few were arrested and some have surrendered.  “The seven militants killed in the past 24 hours were involved in several attacks on security forces and civilians. The killing of seven militants including two commanders is a big success for security forces,” the police officer said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). Speaking on the occasion, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Victor Force, Major Ge...

Jehangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Pulwama, Aug 29:  Three militants including Hizbul Mujahideen commander and a solider were killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces at Zadoora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, J&K police said Saturday. Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), acting on a tip off about the presence of militants in Zadoora area of Pulwama, joint teams of police, army and CRPF laid a siege late night Friday. “When the security forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired at the forces triggered a gunfight. A soldier was injured in the initial exchange of firing after which he was shifted to 92 base hospital Srinagar where he succumbed,” they said. Speaking to reporters at District Police Office Pulwama after reviewing the security in the district, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh today’s operation was clean and smooth without any collateral damage....

By Muhammad Umair* In the world full of wonders and new generation addicted to social media, everyone is covetous to know about the happenings across the globe. No one has enough time to read the newspaper, watch television and verify the news. One can get the updates whether it’s studying, dealing, travelling, hunting, or any other activity. A lot of news resources exist there, the main source in the modern age is social media. Various applications are being used as a source of current affairs in the world. So, in order to obtain better access to the world, everyone prefers social media e.g. Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube instead of reading the newspaper without knowing actual facts and figures. Social apps especially; Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram are being owned and controlled by a single owner. It has been such a profitable and powerful business spread around the world. India is a huge market in such a business. As there is a lot of fake stuff, one can easil...

  Altaf Hussain Wani   Enforced disappearances are a serious problem in almost all regions of the world; however, in the conflict-affected regions like Kashmir, the forced disappearance is being used as a political weapon to subjugate and silence the dissenting voices and instill a sense of fear in the society. The region that has undergone intermittent periods of sporadic violence since 1989 continues to be in the whirlwind of state oppression that has led to killings and forced disappearances of innocent Kashmiris by the Indian forces on an enormous scale. Decades’ long conflict had left tens of thousands of Kashmiris dead; more than 7000 bodies of missing persons still lay buried in unmarked and unknown mass graves unearthed in and around the Kashmir valley.   It was almost a decade back, that the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir released an eye-opening report on mass graves in the IoK. The report titled ‘Buried Evidence: U...

By Sajjad Shaukat It is most regrettable that by ignoring the modern global trends like a renunciation of war, peaceful settlement of disputes and economic development in wake of the spread of coronavirus and its negative economic consequences almost all over the world, India’s hegemonic designs are destablising the region and its peace. Through its military and intelligence agency RAW, India has continued intervention as part of hegemonic policies vis-à-vis her neighbouring countries, including those ones with whom India does not share a border. Besides supporting separatism in East Pakistan which resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan, India occupied Sikkim, subdued Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh—also sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, New Delhi has intensified meddling in the internal affairs of these countries. And Indian military and RAW have been given free hand to target these sta...

Umaisar Gull Ganie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Kulgam, Aug 27:  A young writer and poet from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district has failed to get his seven books published as the financial crunch he is facing has deprived him to make his writing public. Shahid Fayaz Bhat alias Saqi, 21, resident of Muhammed Pora Kulgam who is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Literature at Government Degree College Kulgam while talking exclusively with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that since childhood he was fond of poetry and writing and so far has written eight books. However, he said that seven are yet to get published. He said that his book “the sunset in my city” was published years ago and has got a positive response from the readers. He, however, stated the financial issue he has been facing has deprived him of getting his seven other books published. “My mother, teacher Imtiyaz Ahmad, some religious scholars besides a person associated with...

New Delhi (PR): “China’s 17 week-old intrusions into Ladakh are very worrying … one intention is to establish itself as Asia’s big power and cut India down to size … there are serious concerns about our response … China believes disengagement is complete … exercising a military option could lead to conflict which Pakistan is likely to exploit … we don’t have serious economic options that will deter Beijing … re-thinking relationship with Taiwan and/or The Dalai Lama will provoke a major Chinese response … Meanwhile the situation has affected how our neighbours see India … India may have the will to equal China’s standing but as of now lacks the capacity”: former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire. In a comprehensive interview covering multiple aspects of India’s relationship with China in the light of the 17 week-old Chinese intrusions into Indian territory at multiple points in Ladakh, former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said the situation is ...

PHOTO: An old photo from the archives of a Kashmir protest rally Faizan Wani reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, Aug 26:  Three persons have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for their complicity in recording and sharing a video on social media in which pro-freedom slogans were shouted during a Muharram procession on the city outskirts here last week. A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that police has booked three persons for their involvement in chanting pro-freedom slogans, during a Muharram procession, at Nowpora area in Hokersar on the outskirts of Srinagar. A formal case under FIR number 177/2020 U/S 13 ULA (P) Act, 143,188,269 IPC has been registered at police station Parimpora here and investigations set into motion. The police official said the police conducted nocturnal raids at the Nowpora area and rounded three persons involved in recording and circulating purported video on social media which h...

Jahangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Pulwama, Aug 26:  Aadil Rashid Bhat of Charsoo-Batpora village of Awantipore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district who recently announced that he has joined militant ranks, Wednesday qualified the Bachelors of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) with distinction. Aadil has secured over 80 percent marks in the 3rd semester of BUMS, the result of which was declared on August 25 (Tuesday). BUMS student from Awantipora area who announced his joining few days before has secured over 80 percent marks in the 3rd semester of BUMS examination whose result was declared a day before. Adil has got 897 out of 1100 marks—more than 80 percent. Adil’s 3rd-semester BUMS result comes barely a few days after he joined militant ranks. Altaf Ahmad, brother of Aadil told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that after checking the result of his brother, he came to know that Aadil had secured distinction in 3rd Sem BUMS. “All the family members...

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai On August 22, 2020, the pro-India leadership in Srinagar (Capital city of Kashmir) issued Gupkar Declaration, stating  that they “are committed to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the Constitution of J&K and the restoration of the State.” Let us analyze the Declaration dispassionately but from a Kashmiri perspective.   The Gupkar Declaration says, “The series of measures undertaken on 5th August 2019 was grossly unconstitutional.” But Gupkar Declaration fails to mention that these measures also  contravene the UN Security Council resolutions #122 and #126 adopted on January 24, 1957, and December 2, 1957, respectively. These resolutions prohibit any unilateral action targeted at changing the disputed nature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.   It is important to mention here that the United Nations Security Council Resolution #122 “reaffirms the affirmation of its resolution 91 (1951) and declares that th...

Jahangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, Aug 25:  The family members of three youth from Rajouri district of Jammu who were allegedly killed in a staged managed encounter by Indian Army on July 18 at Amshipora, Shopian, Monday alleged that authorities were unnecessarily delaying the results of DNA samples collected some 12 days ago for cross-matching. “In these advanced times DNA reports come hardly in two to three days but it’s been 12 days since they have taken the samples and we are yet to receive any information from the administration”,  Muhammad Yousuf, father of one of the slain youth Abrar Ahmad, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Families have been waiting for the authorities to come up with the results but the times are getting tougher for them with each passing day. With no resolution in sight, families have planned to contact higher authorities once again to press for the results of DNA samples. “So far we were cooperating with ...

JKCCS PRESS RELEASE Srinagar: The ongoing internet siege enacts a ‘digital apartheid’, a form of systemic and pervasive discriminatory treatment and collective punishment. It is a violation of international human rights law as well as the laws of armed conflict. The siege is a means of political repression that serves as a deliberate means of severing social, economic and political connections between Kashmiris, while also isolating them from the world. For the already vulnerable people of Jammu & Kashmir, who live amidst a state of perpetual war and permanent emergency, this siege is enforced by various modes of network disruption and state control over access to the internet. These disruptions disproportionately target essential civilian supplies and services, adversely impact human rights and preemptively silence all forms of online speech. Recent Indian Supreme Court judgments (in the cases of  Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India and Foundation for Media Professionals v. U...

By Sajjad Shaukat Despite the deployment of more than 100,000 troops in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK and use of every kind of state terrorism against the Kashmiris, the prolonged war has demoralised the Indian security forces. Failure in crushing the war of liberation has resulted in serious negative effects found in the Indian security forces. Particularly, since 1989, when Kashmiris accelerated war of liberation, Indian military and paramilitary troopers have martyred tens of thousands of the Kashmiris, including women and children through ruthless tactics such as the firing of pallets and extrajudicial killings. Despite the employment of brutal tactics like curfews, illegal detentions, torture, kidnappings, rapes massacre, sieges, killing the persons in a fake encounter, etc. and the lockdown of more than one year, Kashmiris have been protesting for their genuine right of self-determination as recognized by the UNO-related resolutions. Indian forces’ cruelties have compelled t...

ALI SUKHANVER Providing safety and security to all places of worship within their jurisdiction is the foremost duty of all governments; be it a temple, a mosque, a Buddhist monastery or a Church; all places of worship are the sacred and sublime but forceful conversion of a Church into a Buddhist monastery or of a mosque into a temple is, however, a crime. Mishaps do occur, unpleasant incidents are always in possibility but wise rulers lessen the acidity of such unpleasant incidents with their kind wisdom. Last year the most peaceful land of flowers and fragrances New Zealand witnessed a very heart-rending incident of terrorism when two consecutive mass shootings occurred at mosques in a terrorist attack in Christchurch. That was 15 th March 2019. According to the details, a single gunman entered the Al Noor Mosque during Friday Prayer and started non-stop firing and then targeted the people in the neighboring Linwood Islamic Centre. Reports say that he killed 51 people and injured 49...

‘Kashmir has a lot of talent but needs counselling’ Jahangeer Ganaie reports from Indian occupied Kashmir Srinagar, Aug 24:  Hizib Zargar, 30, who hails from Srinagar is known for providing personal development, communication, confidence and grooming sessions to various people in the valley. Hizib has completed her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Dubai and has counselled dozens of people who are now working at many important positions. While talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Hizib said that “After completing my MBA, I got an opportunity to work with government and semi-government companies in Dubai but the thought of living and helping people of Kashmir always fascinated me”. “After coming back from Dubai, some of my friends suggested me to appear for Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS), I joined coaching but found lot of talented people most of them were shy and lacked better communication skills”, she added. Hizib started her carrier as a...