Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Kashmir Insight December
Kashmir Insight December
Kashmir Insight December
“India should come to the table of negotiations to discuss regional issues including the core issue
of Jammu and Kashmir instead of staying away. Pakistan looks forward to resolution of all
disputes in a peaceful manner and nations should keep in mind that they cannot oppress people
for long.”
(President Dr Arif Alvi at the inauguration of 10th edition of International Defense Exhibition
and Seminar at Karachi Expo Center, November 27, 2018)
“Kashmir is the only issue between India and Pakistan that can be solved if the leadership of
both sides shows determination.”
said that they were boarded in fascist and communal agenda in carried out Jammu genocide in
trucks to be taken to Samba. On the Kashmir Valley as well. 1947 was even today busy in
reaching halfway near a narrow The Chairman of Hurriyat massacring Kashmiri youth
lane, he said, they were de- forum, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in without any remorse or regret.
boarded, young and beautiful his statement said the entire Other Hurriyat leaders and
females were taken away and the population of Jammu and organisations including Agha
rest of people including kids Kashmir pays homage to the Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-
were pumped with bullets. He martyrs of Jammu and their Safvi, Ghulam Muhammad
said those blood thirsty vultures tremendous sacrifices. He said Khan Sopori, Muhammad
did not stop there but the that the sacrifices of all Kashmiri Yousuf Naqash, Bilal Siddiqi,
vandalism and bloodshed martyrs would not be allowed to Mir Shahid Saleem, Yasmeen
continued for months. go in vain and their mission Raja, Farida Bahenji, Zamruda
The APHC Chairman said that would be accomplished, come Habib, Hilal Ahmed War,
reports of loot, arson, torching of what may. Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Javaid
houses and unabated killings Ahmed Mir, Zafar Akbar Butt,
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and
had poured in from the Jamaat-e-Islami
every city and town of occupied
of Jammu region. Kashmir, Jammu
“Females were and Kashmir
molested and gang- D e m o c r a t i c
raped, some of them Freedom Party,
jumped in River Kashmir High
Chenab to save their C o u r t B a r
chastity and honour. Association,
Even the daughter of J a m m u a n d
Chaudhry Ghulam Kashmir Muslim
Abbas was not Conference and
spared and was J a m m u a n d
kidnapped,” he Kashmir Muslim
added. League in their
The APHC Chairman Kashmir Chairman, Muhammad separate statements
said that towns of Kathua, Riasi, Ashraf Sehrai, in a statement paid homage to the Jammu
Udhampur and other adjoining termed the Jammu massacre as martyrs. They appealed to the
areas were worst hit by these the blackest chapter in the international community to take
beasts in human skin. He said history of Jammu and Kashmir. cognisance of the sufferings of
since that day bloodshed of He said that the massacre was the Kashmiri people due to the
Kashmiris continues. carried out to change the demo- unresolved Kashmir dispute and
The octogenarian leader said that graphic composition of Jammu initiate measures towards its
these fascists and fanatics, with and Kashmir. settlement for ensuring durable
the patronage and facilitation by peace in South Asia.
The Chairman of Jammu and
political forces like RSS, Bajrang Kashmir Liberation Front, A prayer meeting was held at the
Dal and Shiv Sena, were time to Muhammad Yasin Malik, in his All Parties Hurriyat Conference
time exhibiting their power and statement said that the Jammu Headquarters in Srinagar for the
muscle along with the armory to carnage of 1947 reminded the Jammu martyrs. The meeting
challenge the humanity in Kashmiris of the brutal face of was attended by a large number
general and Muslims of the area fascism and the criminal silence of people including Hurriyat
in particular. of the international community. leaders, Muhammad Yousuf
The APHC Chairman said at that He said that the mass killing of Naqash, Muhammad Yasin
time these goons were only Muslims in Jammu was an ugly Attai, Molvi Bashir Irfani,
active in Jammu region but due blot on the face of humanity. Khawaja Firdous Wani and Syed
to traitors they are moving The JKLF Chairman said that the Muhammad Shafi.
forward to implement their colonial and fascist mindset that (KI Report)
members of Jamaat-e-Islami in
the past, the same pattern is now
being followed to eliminate the
leaders of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
The Chairman of Tehreek-e-
Hurriyat, Muhammad Ashraf
Sehrai, addressing mourners at
the residence of martyred Mir
Hafeezullah in Achabal said that
the plan to wipe out Jamaat-e-
Islami and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat
was being executed and people
had been armed to carry out this
job.
Other Hurriyat leaders including
Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi
Al-Safvi, Muhammad Azam Indian state terrorism in occu- killing of Mir Hafeezullah and
Inqilabi, Muhammad Yousuf pied Kashmir and take steps other Kashmiris. The protesters
Naqash, Mir Shahid Saleem, Bilal towards settlement of the were holding banners reading
Siddiqi, Hilal Ahmed War, Kashmir dispute in accordance “Stop killings of innocent
Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Zafar with the aspirations of the Kashmiris” and “Stop human
Akbar Butt, Muhammad Shafi Kashmiri people to save them rights violations”.
Reshi, Abdul Samad Inqilabi, from the brutalities of Indian Amid complete shutdown,
Barrister Abdul Majeed forces’ personnel. people staged forceful demon-
Tramboo, Wajahat Qureshi, The All Parties Hurriyat strations in Srinagar, Bandipora,
Yasmeen Raja, Farida Bahenji, Conference organised a demon- Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and
Zamruda Habib, Muhammad stration in Srinagar on other areas on November 23 on
Ahsan Untoo, Imtiaz Ahmed November 21 against the killing the call of Joint Resistance
Reshi and Syed Saleem Gilani in of Mir Hafeezullah. A large Leadership against the killing of
their separate statements paid number of Hurriyat leaders Mir Hafeezullah and other
glowing tributes to Mir including Muhammad Yousuf Kashmiris by Indian troops. The
protesters holding placards
raised slogans against the
ongoing killing spree in the
occupied territory.
Addressing the demonstrators,
Hurriyat leaders said Indian
democracy stands completely
exposed in occupied Kashmir.
They said, Indian military might
and its henchmen have miser-
ably failed to contain the
Kashmiris’ pro-freedom senti-
ment and commitment towards
the ongoing freedom movement
and that’s why they have
stooped so low to act upon the
kill list prepared two years ago so
Hafeezullah and said that the Naqash, Bilal Siddiqi, Noor that sincere and dedicated
mission of Kashmiri martyrs Muhammad Kalwal, leaders, workers and
would be accomplished despite Muhammad Rafique Ganai and sympathisers are eliminated in
all odds. They appealed to the Syed Bashir Andrabi assembled cold-blood in broad daylight and
world community to take at Aabi Guzar in Srinagar to deceitfully escaping the blame.
cognisance of the stepped up register their protest against the (KI Report)
determination.
The photo exhibition concluded
at the European Parliament in
Strasbourg on November 16.
This was for the first time that an
exhibition on Kashmir was held
at the European Parliament in
Strasbourg. A number of
European people including
members of EU Parliament
(MEPs) visited the exhibition
during these days. Visit by the
huge number of people to the
exhibition showed their specific
interest in the photographs from
occupied Kashmir displayed
during the event. The MEPs, who
visited the exhibition in Parliament on Kashmir dispute aimed at highlighting the
Strasbourg, included Theresa will be held in January. Kashmir dispute in Europe and
Griffin, Alex Mayer, Elmar MEPs, Julie Ward, Anthea making better understanding on
Broek, John Howarth, Arendt McIntyre, John Howarth and the issue in the region, as it was a
Kohn, Richard Corbet, Ana Amjad Bashir; Chairman of platform of awareness about the
Gomes, Marie Arena, Jean Kashmir Council Europe, Ali human rights violations in
Lambert, Sajjad Karim, Wajid Raza Syed; Dr Gul Die Osuri, occupied Kashmir.
Khan, Nosheena Mobarak, Javi Human Right Activist, Sumera Meanwhile, the AJK Prime
Lopez and Elena Valenciano. Khursheed; Member of Brussels Minister, Raja Farooq Haider
The speakers of a conference held Parliament, Dr Zahoor Manzoor; Khan, continued his activities in
at the European Parliament in former member of Brussels connection with the Kashmir EU-
Brussels on November 08 in Parliament, Daniele Caroon; Week in Brussels. He met the UN
connection with the EU-Kashmir Chairman of Kashmir Global Deputy Regional Representative,
Week, stressed for a peaceful and Council, Farooq Saddiqui; Paul D’Auchamp, in Brussels.
early settlement of the Kashmir Director of X-Theater Berlin, During the meeting, which took
place in the presence of KCEU
Chairman, Ali Raza Syed; former
Ambassador of EU, Anthony
Crasner; and Chairman of
Kashmir Global Council, Farooq
Saddiqui; the recent report of the
UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the human
rights situation in occupied
Kashmir was discussed.
About a likely visit of the UN
representative delegation to
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
(AJK), Raja Farooq Haider said if
the UN representatives want to
visit Azad Kashmir, the govern-
ments of Pakistan and AJK will
dispute. Yasmin Ibrahim and Councillor facilitate them.
Member of European Parliament from UK, Ateequr Rehman, Ali Raza Syed assured the UN
(MEP), Wajid Khan, who chaired spoke on the occasion. office-bearers that the KCEU will
the conference, told the partici- The KCEU Chairman, Ali Raza remain in touch with the UN
pants that hearing of Human Syed, informed the participants regional office in Brussels to
Rights Committee of the EU that the Kashmir EU-Week was update them regarding latest
situation of occupied Kashmir. become victims of forced families alive. She said the
A meeting between AJK Prime disappearances in occupied Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of
Minister, Raja Farooq Haider, Kashmir. Civil Society (JKCCS) estimates
and member of EU Parliament, Shamim Shawl said that the the number of half-widows at
Dr Sajjad Karim, also took place
in Brussels. The KCEU
Chairman, Ali Raza Syed, was
also present on the occasion.
Kashmiri representative and the
Chairperson of International
Muslims Women Union
(IMWU), Shamim Shawl, while
addressing a seminar in Brussels
on November 09, highlighted the
plight of the widows and half-
widows of occupied Kashmir.
The seminar “Widows of all ages:
Discrimination and abuse. What
can the EU do?” was hosted by
the Member of the European
Parliament from UK, Julie Ward,
at the EU Parliament in Brussels. Guild of Service (North India) around 1500. She said that a
Shamim Shawl said that the reported that the Kashmiri report prepared by the JKCCS
prevailing situation of occupied widows were witnessing the after its survey in Baramulla
Kashmir had hit the Kashmiri worst socio-economic conditions district of occupied Kashmir also
women in every aspect as every as their only bread-earners were called upon the Indian authori-
day women continued to suffer killed by the Indian forces. ties to conduct an investigation
due to the Indian state terrorism The Kashmiri representative said into the 2700 unnamed mass
in the occupied territory. She the ‘half-widows’ are those graves identified in 2009 to
said a Kashmiri woman who is a women whose husbands were ascertain the identity of the
mother grieving for her missing arrested by Indian troops and buried persons.
or dead sons, a widow or a half- Shamim Shawl urged the
international human rights
bodies to send their teams to
locate the whereabouts of the
disappeared people and also
look into the issue of thousands
of unmarked graves. She said the
EU and the UN should bring the
issue to the notice of interna-
tional bodies working for women
welfare so that these widows and
half-widows could be helped
and their voices could be heard
globally.
Ms Lois A Herman, (Moderator)
Founder/Coordinator Women’s
UN Report Network (WUNRN);
widow fighting for her existence subjected to custodial disappear- Ms Margaret Owen, Director of
and bringing up her children and ance. Widows for Peace Through
a refugee to find shelter once She said that sometimes Indian Democracy; and Dr Mohinder
displaced from her land. She said forces’ personnel used civilians Watson, Founder of Action on
the Association of Parents of as human shields during search Child Early and Forced Marriage
Disappeared Persons estimates operations but not many were also spoke on the occasion.
that 8,000 to 10,000 persons have lucky to return back to their (KI Report)
cooperation in his efforts to evidences on the atrocities suffering on daily basis should
secure a hearing on Kashmir in against the women in occupied be supported by all the peace-
the European Parliament. He Kashmir. loving people of the world and
also declared that though he is Lois Herman, Founder of help in bringing an end to the
not a Kashmiri but the suffering
of Kashmiris is a matter of great
concern for him and he would
continue to work for the Kashmir
cause.
Ms Zamurda Habib, the
Chairperson of Kashmir
Tehreek-e-Khawateen in
occupied Kashmir, in her video
message articulated the unprece-
dented consequences of the
Kashmir conflict that had led to
uncertainty, insecurity, militari-
sation and fear. She pleaded for
restoring the right to travel to the
Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership.
She said that she could not join
the conference as she was not
Women’s UN Report Network atrocities and human rights
issued travel documents by the
(WUNRN) sent her detailed abuse committed on the
Indian authorities.
paper on the subject that was Kashmiri women by Indian
Margaret Owen, the founder of
discussed. troops. The conference
Widows of All Ages for Peace
Dr Madeline, Founder of Health condemned the arrest of all the
and Democracy, said that she
and Environment, also shared women activists in fake charges
would work for widows and
her views from Geneva. and demanded their immediate
half-widows of occupied
Others, who spoke on the release. It welcomed the
Kashmir. She said that she would
occasion included Zara Zaidi announcement of a hearing in
also like to include them in her
and Nazia Rasool. Saima the European Parliament by the
global initiative of widows of all
Haroon, Secretary General KWM Human Rights Committee to be
ages.
conducted the proceedings. held on January 23, 2019. “We
Soroya Boyd, Chief Executive of
A documen- appreciate the services of Wajid
tary on Khan MEP and the Kashmiri
violence diaspora leadership for making
a g a i n s t
it happen,” it said.
women was
The conference welcomed the
a l s o
UN Human Rights
screened on
the occasion. Commissioner’s report on
Through the Kashmir and appealed to the
Birmingham international community to
declaration, endorse the fact-finding mission
the interna- as proposed by the High
t i o n a l Commissioner in his report. It
women’s called for the implementation of
Facilitate Global, announced her conference expressed its soli- the UN resolutions on Kashmir
support to the Kashmiris’ darity with all those women and resumption of tripartite
struggle for securing their right suffering in the ongoing conflict dialogue among the stake-
to self-determination and said areas of the world. holders to create a congenial
that women of Kunanposhpora It said that the victims of conflict environment for the settlement
were still crying for justice and particularly the women of of the Kashmir dispute.
there were documented occupied Kashmir who were (KI Report)
DECEMBER 2018 27
Chronology
Lidder River
The Lidder River or Liddar River (the East Lidder)
is a 73-kilometer long river in from Sheshnag
occupied Kashmir. It originates Lake and runs
from the Kolhoi Glacier two westwards until it
kilometers south of Sonamarg at meets the Jhelum
an altitude of 4,653 meters above River at Gurnar
the sea level. After the Sindh Khanabal village of
River, it is the second major Islamabad district.
tributary of the Jhelum River and It has crystal bluish
meets it at Gurnar Khanabal water as that of
village at an altitude of 1,615 Neelum River.
meters. It flows through the Pahalgam occupies
scenic town of Pahalgam and is the central Lidder
one of the most important Rainbow trout, Shuddgurn and
Valley.
attractions of the region, where Anyour.
The water of the river is mainly
adventure enthusiasts can enjoy The best time to visit Lidder
used for irrigation purpose
angling, trekking and rafting. River is between mid April to
through different canals - famous
The Lidder River gives mid November when the
rise to Lidder Valley. weather is conducive
Originating from for outdoor activities.
Kolhoi Glacier in the Amarnath pilgrimage
vicinity of Sonamarg, it an ecological threat
runs southwards The annual Amarnath
through an alpine Yatra organised by the
meadow called Hindu Shrine Board and
Lidderwat, from which t h e p u p p e t
the river has got its administration of the
name. The river flows occupied territory is a
through lush green big threat to the ecology
mountains of fir. The of the river.
tourist village Aru is Till 1995 the duration of
situated on its bank. It yatra was less than
among them is Shah Kol - and
covers 30 kilometers to the fifteen days, but now the Hindu
drinking through water
tourist destination of Pahalgam Shrine Board has increased the
treatment plants.
where it meets a major tributary period to two months in which
There are many different
varieties of fish lacs of Hindu pilgrims take part
present in the in the yatra en route the Lidder
river. A fisheries River.
farm has also Due to the negligence, incapacity
b e e n and lack of coordination between
constructed at the organising agencies, which
the bank of the care and spend most on the
river. Among security of the pilgrimage, there
famous types of is no sewage system in place
fish found in from Khanabal to Pahalgam, the
Lidder River are base camp for the annual
Brown trout, Amarnath Yatra.
DECEMBER 2018 30
Literature
DECEMBER 2018 31
Feedback
Remembering martyrs demanding their right to self- annihilation of an entire
Dear editor, the people of determination. The troops during generation. Indian forces have
Kashmir have not forgotten their their unabated acts of state unleashed a rampage against the
martyrs as was reflected by the terrorism killed 48 Kashmiris in Kashmiris as crackdowns,
observance of the Jammu the month of November 2018. killings, beating, torturing and
Martyrs’ Day on November 06, Killings, extrajudicial executions, humiliating common people,
2018 by the Kashmiris living on arrests, abduction, molestation of incarcerating political activists,
both sides of the Line of Control women and other human rights leaders and students and other
and the world over to pay violations by Indian troops are oppressive measures have been
homage to the martyrs. Hundreds the order of the day in the expedited in recent months and
of thousands of Kashmiris were occupied territory, turning the all this is being done to suppress
massacred in the first week of paradise on earth into a hell for its the voices of the Kashmiris which
November in 1947 by the forces of inhabitants. However, India’s is highly condemnable and world
Maharaja Hari community must take
Singh, Indian Army notice of the situation.
a n d H i n d u Thanks
hooligans in Zubair Khan
different parts of Peshawar
Jammu region while Pakistan’s support
they were migrating Dear editor, Pakistan
to Pakistan. Every has always denounced
year, Kashmiri the gross human rights
p e o p l e violations including
commemorate the killings, illegal arrests,
anniversary of torture, destruction of
Jammu Martyrs property and rape of
which reflects their women committed by
unflinching resolve Indian troops and
to assert their right brutalities and military might police personnel on daily basis in
to self-determination. This year, have not been able to intimidate occupied Kashmir. The people of
the Kashmiris observed the the Kashmiri people into Kashmir look with great respect
Jammu Martyrs’ Day amid the submission and they are very at Pakistan’s continued
stepped up Indian state terrorism much determined to carry diplomatic, moral and political
in occupied Kashmir where forward their struggle to secure support to the Kashmir cause and
hundreds of youth have been their inalienable right. the recent steps on part of
killed in fake encounters. It is a Sameer Ali Islamabad urging the United
fact that despite killing hundreds Muzaffarabad Nations to take concrete steps for
of thousands of innocent people Criminal silence resolution of the longstanding
since 1947, the Indian troops have Dear editor, the criminal silence Kashmir dispute. We, the
failed to intimidate the Kashmiris adopted by the international Kashmiris, are grateful to the
into submission and they are community over the unabated sincere efforts made by the
committed to take their struggle killing spree unleashed by Indian government of Pakistan for
to get freedom from Indian troops in the territory is quite highlighting the Kashmir dispute
bondage to its logical conclusion. deplorable. It seems willful at the global level. The
Thanks Indian killing machine has gone international community must
Obaid Ibrar out of control in Kashmir but no also fulfil its obligations
Rawalpindi one in the international regarding settlement of the
Genocide community seems to bother or Kashmir dispute to mitigate the
Indian troops have been engaged take a serious note of it. The brutal sufferings of the Kashmiri people
in the genocide of people in assassination of political leaders and ensuring permanent peace in
occupied Kashmir for the past and activists like Mir Hafeezullah South Asia.
over seventy-one years for and unrelenting spree of killings Thanks
opposing India’s illegal of young Kashmiris across the Sabir Shah
occupation of their soil and occupied territory amounts to Srinagar