Jammu and Kashmir’s Monthly Magazine RNI : JKENG/2007/26070 ISSN 0974-5653

Now
Epilogue
because there is more to know
Telling
The J&K Stories
Jammu, April 1, 2009 / Vol 3 / Issue 4 || Price Rs. 30 || Postal Registration No. JK-350/2009-11 || www.epilogue.in

PAKISTAN
TREADING FAILURE
Epilogue’s Consulting Editor D Suba Chandran
travels to the troubled country to bring home
ground reports with fresh perspectives

Race for Lok Sabha

J&K's Voting Trends

in Parliamentary Polls

BEING MINORITY
Muslim Factor in Indian Elections

CINEMA IN HIGH HIMALAYAS KASHMIR PROBLEM :

An Exclusive Study on Film Industry in Ladakh Gandhian Perspectives and Practices
Economic Reconstruction Agency under the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank has
launched several schemes to augment the water supply in Srinagar city. The various schemes with a
cumulative storage capacity of 39 MGD include Rangil water supply scheme, Nishat-Doodhganga
water supply scheme and Nishat-Dalbund water supply scheme which will cater to the drinking
water needs of the population of about 10,93,995 souls of Srinagar city.

Scope of Works Total Storage Capacity Population to be benefitted (souls)

Rangil water supply Scheme 10MGD 294000

Areas to be benefitted
Khulmulla, Zakura, Owantabavan, Bakshipora,Tengpora, Muj-Gund, Parimpora, Lawayopora, Shalteng,
Colonies on Right and Left side. National Highway, Left side of National highway Bypass (Bemina,
Muminabad, Firdousabad, Tengpora(left), Right side of National highway Bypass(Hamdania colony,
Khumani colony (partly), Nundreshi Colony, JVC)

Nishat Doodhganga water supply Scheme 21.5 MGD 614132

Areas to be benefitted
Jawahar Nagar, Kralpora, Natipora, Rambagh, Nowgam, Rajbagh, Gulshan Nagar, Gogji Bagh, Solina,
Chanapora Colony, Budshah Nagar, Allochi Bagh Part, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Tulsi Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Lal Mandi,
Hazuri Bagh, Amira Kadal, Shivpora, Rajbagh and Magarmal Bagh, Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Abiguzar, Kral
Sangri, Karapora, Brein, Patnta Chowk, Sonwar, Buchwara, Gupkar Road, Ram Munshi Bagh, Athwajan,
Mahraja Bazar, Sari Payeen, Lal Mandi, Jawaharnagar (partly), Basant Bagh, Bar Bar Shah.

Nishat Dalbund water supply Scheme 7.5MGD 185863

Areas to be benefitted
Saida Kadal Bridge, Zinsha Masjid, Rainawari Chowk, Soorateng Chowk, Shiraz Chowk, Nowhatta,
Naidyaar, Hasibhat, Chowdary Bagh.
B R I D G I N G T H E I N F O R M A T I O N D I V I D E

Taking J&K Closer to World

Bringing World Closer to J&K

Epilogue
because there is more to know

28
F O R T H E
Volume : 3, Number : 4
ISSN : 0974-5653
RNI : JKENG/2007/26070
www.epilogue.in

M O N T H O F A P R I L 2 0 0 9

Developments in Pakistan have always

been a matter of keen interest in India
and particularly in Indian side of
Jammu and Kashmir as they directly
impact the peace process. Our
Consulting Editor and IPCS Deputy
Director D Suba Chandran offers, in
this issue, fresh perspective on the
situation

Epilogue Ø
1×
April 2009
 INTRA-KASHMIR CONTACTS AND TRADE

S hortly before the historic cross-LoC trade was launched between two parts of
Jammu and Kashmir, the United States Institute of Peace had come up with a most
comprehensive study on making borders irrelevant. Under a special endowment from
USIP, Epilogue carried reproduced the study in fall. It was a painstaking research
taken by Hassan Askari and PR Chari, two leading policy experts of Pakistan and India,
respectively.
Oct. 2008

ELECTIONS: CHALLENGE 2008

W e have brought out three issues on assembly elections 2008 and the November
issue was first in the series. Elections were being held in the backdrop of a worst
separatist and communal agitation in state. With a commentary on the prevailing
political and security atmosphere, the November issue carried a complete
backgrounder on the past elections.

Nov. 2008
HUNG ASSEMBLY

I n the middle of elections our small team of staffers along with some 30 volunteers
traveled across the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir to gauge the public
mood. The conclusion was that there will be a hung assembly with NC as largest party,

A limited number of unbound back volumes is available in our stocks.

PDP second and Congress third. Looking at the pages of our December issue one can
see all parties have come up with same number of seats as we had predicted except
the BJP.
Dec. 2008
A R E Y O U M I S S I N G O U R PA S T S T O R I E S

MANDATE :

A collectors issue, the special number on our second anniversary came as fastest
possible, yet professionally correct work, on J&K elections. Result were declare
on December 28 and our issue carrying complete elections analysis and elections
trends at constituency level was out before the government was sworn I.

For booking your copies call us at 9797599365

Jan. 2009
AGENDA FOR OMAR GOVERNMENT :

T he coalition government of National Conference and the Congress headed by

Omar Abdullah Omar Abdullah took over on January 5 but it did not declare a
shared agenda. Epilogue's February issue put together opinions of well meaning
people from across the country setting out an agenda for Omar Abdullah government

Feb. 2009
CONNECTING J&K

C onnectivity is a major issue in J&K and people in many areas taunt the
government saying that roads were laid in remote areas only because
they close to borders. Our March issue looked at the connectivity via roads,
rail and air to bring to the fore the missing links.

Mar. 2009
 Epilogue
because there is more to know

www.epilogue.in CONTENTS

Editor
Zafar Iqbal Choudhary Who Said What 4
PAKISTAN Prologue 5
Consulting Editor
D. Suba Chandran TREADING FAILURE Letters 6
Epilogue’s Consulting Editor D Suba Chandran
Associate Editors travels to the troubled country to bring home
Irm Amin Baig ground reports with fresh perspectives Note Book
Tsewang Rigzin 11 Essential Entries 7
Art Editor
Document
Keshav Sharma IN FOCUS
Pakistan President Obama’s Remarks 36
Research Officer Treading Failure on New Strategy for
Raman Sharma
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Mailing Address
PO Box 50, HO Gandhi Nagar, 14 Jammu and Kashmir : Ecology
Jammu Trends in Parliamentary Elections Ecology in the Face of
Phones & email
Economics 41
Office : +91 191 2493136 20 Muslims Factor in Indian Elections

Editorial: +91 94191 80762 Column

Administration: +91 94190 00123
editor@epilogue.in
editor.epilogue@gmail.com
subscription@epilogue.in
Edited, Printed, Published and
Owned by Zafar Iqbal Choudhary.
Published from : Ibadat House,
Madrasa Lane, Near Graveyard,
Bathindi Top, Jammu, J&K -
180012 and Printed at : DEE
DEE Reprographix, 3 Aikta
Ashram, New Rehari Jammu
(J&K)
25 Pakistan : Kashmir Problem :
Treading Failure Gandhian Perspectives 44
and Practices
31 From Lahore to Lahore :
Prof. Noor Ahmed Baba
The Road to Anarchy
Emperor Jagangir on
History, Culture of Kashmir-II 47
33 From Mumbai to Lahore :
Does Pakistan Understand ? Prof. Jigar Mohammad
Special Report
A film industry ripening
51
in the Himalayas

Disputes, if any, subject to

jurisdiction of courts and Culture
competitive tribunals in Jammu
only. Red faces, Crimpson Roses 54
and Pink Panties
RNI : JKENJ/2007/26070
ISN : 00974-5653
Price : Rs 30

Epilogue Ø
3×
April 2009
 H E A R & H E A R
Who Said What

In Verbatim
“Elections are always attractive targets for the militants”
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while interacting
with media persons in Srinagar.

“I believe stronger governments not only in Pakistan but

India will help in reaching out to an amicable solution
of the dispute,”
Senior Separatist Leader, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq in a
newspaper interview.

“Kupwara encounter was definitely an indication of

stepped up infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir”
The chief of army staff, General Deepak Kapoor on a
prolonged gun-battle in North Kashmir

“There is no stopping to the killings of Kashmiris by

troops despite government of India acknowledging that
militancy had come down to all time low and there were
no militancy related incidents taking in the Valley,”
Chairman of J&K Liberation Front Yasin Malik while
addressing a gathering after Friday prayers.

“The situation in Kashmir is improving. The present

government can widen the canvas of dialogue process
for development and peace-building initiatives in the
state,”
Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, at a news conference
in New Delhi

“BJP remained a supporter throughout and I myself was

a member of the BJP. They were actively supporting me
and they were a part and parcel of the (Amarnath land
row) agitation”
Leela Karan Sharma, Former Convener SAYSS and BJP
Candidate from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha Constituency.

Epilogue Ø
4×
April 2009

Leadership Vacuum
Zafar Choudhary
A
little over three months
after the keenly watched
and most competitive
assembly polls, Jammu and
Kashmir is once again in the
middle of elections and the parties are
engaged in interesting battle of political
survival. Again in the poll season, one
can see the vivisection of politics in the
state which has been a key factor after
the death of Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah in 1982. For last over two and
half decades Jammu and Kashmir could
not produce a leader to command
support in all three regions and
different sections of people. As leaders
take the narrow lines to protect their
shrinking bases, the parties are now
being seen more like sub-regional
entities. There are five key political
players –National Conference, Peoples
Democratic Party and Panthers Party as
regional parties and BJP and the
Congress as national parties –in the
state and they can be fixed at the levels
of districts or sub-regions comprising
three to four districts. National
Conference is though the only party
with some representation in parts of the
state but its main influence is mainly
concentrated in central Kashmir district
of Srinagar, Badgam and Ganderbal.
South Kashmir is arguably in complete
grip of Peoples Democratic Party while
in North Kashmir there is a stiff
competition for survival between NC
and the PDP. In Ladakh, the Budhist
P R O L O G U E
From the Editor
dominated Leh district has allowed
Congress to dominate the political
scene while the Muslim dominated
Kargil district has strong presence of the
NC. There are 46 assembly
constituencies and three Lok Sabha
constituencies in Kashmir Valley while
four assembly segments and one Lok
Sabha constituency in Ladakh. Coming
down to Jammu, it is wrestling between
BJP and the Congress –the two national
political parties –over 37 assembly
segments and two Lok Sabha seats
where another regional party, the
Panthers Party and key Kashmir players
–the PDP and the NC- are also
stakeholders. How limited role and
space the parties have been left with in
the overall political landscape of bases of political parties, limited
Jammu and Kashmir can be clearly seen popularities of their leaders and the
through the current electoral battle. In deepening divides on the lines of
the ensuing Lok Sabha elections while regions, religions, castes and languages
the ruling coalition partners NC and define the complexity of Kashmir issue
Congress are contesting six seats in an and bring home a point that there is a
uneasy and imbalanced alliance, other complete leadership vacuum in the
parties are concentrating on one or two state. Leaders of the parties with their
seats each and with symbolic acceptance not going beyond three or
participation on other seats. While NC four of the 22 districts command very
and Congress decided to share three little to negotiate for resolution of the
seats each, the decision could not be Kashmir issue. Elections offer a good
formally announced as both parties opportunity of taking policies and
wanted to have one secure seat. And in programmes of parties to all regions and
their calculation Ladakh emerged as the all sections of societies but the leaders
only secure seat for either of them. This have their priorities fixed in the areas
clearly underlined that none of the where they can actually get some votes.
ruling coalition partners was confident Feedback :
to win any of the six seats. Shrinking zafarchoudhary@epilogue.in
Epilogue Ø
5×
April 2009

Promising peace without progress?
P eace, progress and prosperity are inseparable
both in letters and spirits and therefore our
leaders must take care that while promising one, the
other should not be overlooked. From Sheikh
Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad and then
Omar Abdullah, all leaders in Jammu and Kashmir,
have always played and politicized peace at the cost
of development. While peace factor is yet to be
achieved, the progress and prosperity has been
blatantly compromised with. Epilogue's March issue
(Connecting Jammu and Kashmir) was an eye opener
on where our state stands on road, rail and air
communication network. We are indebted to
Epilogue for highlighting the issue of poor road
connectivity and frequent accidents but this
concern should not stop here. It is very unfortunate
that the native district of the former Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad, is the home to many major road
accidents in the state. The self acclaimed advocate
and champion of progress and development, Ghulam
Nabi Azad must respond for these fatal accidents. He
is known as Progress- ambassador of the Congress
party but unfortunately he could not mend the
quality of roads even in his own district forget the
entire state. Now again in the election season the
political parties in the state are out with their
political agendas, whereas the partners of the
coalition government are even hesitant to declare
their manifesto(s) in the absence of any Common
Minimum Programme of governance. Both PDP and
BJP are fighting the elections on provocations of
anti-nationalism and communalism respectively. But
the people of the state must not get entrapped and
vote only for peace and prosperity and that can be
achieved after bridging the gap of progress. The only
key to attain peace in the state is through over all
development and progress of the state with
accountability of the political bosses. It is good to
witness that Jammu and Kashmir receive its first and
only International Airport at Srinagar, it will of
course help the Horticulture and floriculture
Epilogue Ø
L ETTERS
Readers Write
industry of Jammu and Kashmir but the decade-long
pending railway project of Jammu-Udhampur-Katra
is still seems a whim, crores of ruppess have been
spent on this prestigious rail-link but its future is
doubtful. The so called pro-Jammu and pro- Hindu
Bhartiya Janta Party never ever even whispered on
this serious issue, millions of pilgrims across the
world visit the holy shrine of Mata Shri Vaishno Devi,
they were the first to lead the Jammu agitation on
the lines of religions just to score political mileage
but they themselves never rose the issue of
development of the state, likewise the Pro-Kashmiri
PDP do also concentrate less on the issues of
connectivity and development of the state but keep
their politics around de-militarization and dual
currency. The oldest party of the state N.C is also
not and exception, they had ruled the state for
longest period but again they also failed to deliver to
the people.
AMRITA TALWAR
Udhampur
…and after three months
C hief Minister Omar Abdullah after assuming the
chair himself formulated an agenda of
governance for first 100 days for his government.
Though the young leader exhibited enough political
maturity in all the three months of his government
but now the people of the state reserve the right to
know where they actually stand after three months.
The youth of the state celebrated the victory of
Omar irrespective of their region, religion and party
affiliation. Perhaps they wanted to give Omar a
chance to lead the state and work for their welfare.
However, such a change is yet to be seen.
K MAHMOOD,
Srinagar
6×
April 2009
 NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories

AGRICULTURE

17 more varieties of rice in

Jammu and Kashmir
A s many as 17 new varieties of rice have been released by the
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology
(SKUAST), Kashmir, in the state in the recent past. With this a total of
60 varities of rice had been released by the university so far, Vice
Chancellor Prof Anwar Alam said.
Giving details of various achievements made by the University, Prof
Alam informed that the University had released 17 varieties of rice in
the recent past. He said animal disease and pest diagnostic control
measures and vaccines have been also been developed at the
University. The University has identified vaccine for foot rot, which is
a unique achievement, the Vice Chancellor added. Mr Alam said the
University has established Rajiv Gandhi Chair in contemporary studies
under UGC funding. He said the University is the 10th such University
out of 227 Agriculture Universities in the country to do so. Prof Alam
said the University has a proposal of establishing five more Krishi
Vigyan endras.

TERRORISM

26/11 mastermind appears in J&K

T he recent infiltration bids in
Jammu and Kashmir have come in
for some surprise for security agencies
when they found Muzamil, one of the
main Lashker-e--Taiba mastermind of
the Mumbai terror attack, as the brain
behind large-scale intrusion from
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Security agencies monitoring wireless
intercepts along the Line of Control
(LoC) tracked a conversation where
Muzamil was asking Hizbul Mujahideen
Chief Syed Sallahuddin to push a large
number of militant cadres into the
state.
Muzamil alias Yusuf, whose real
identity was yet to be established, has
been seen as the brain behind the
large-scale infiltration bids from
across the border, official sources
said, adding the new strategy adopted
this time was to push in more and
more terrorists before the snow
melted at the passes.
The sources said the Mumbai
mastermind, who is among the 38
people named in the chargesheet filed
by the police in 26/11 attack, had
held a meeting with other terrorist
groups earlier last month including
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Jaish-e-
Mohammed despite the fact that
these two outfits belong to a
different sect of Islam.
The terrorists later spoke to Hizbul
Mujahideen chief Syed Sallahuddin --
a conversation intercepted by
security agencies -- asking him to
prepare some of his men to be ready
for large-scale infiltration into the
valley.
The border in North Kashmir has
witnessed large-scale infiltration in
last fortnight which includes the one
that led to a fierce encounter at
Kupwara leading to killing of 18 LeT
militants. Eight soldiers of Army's
para commando unit including a
Major were also killed during the
encounter.
Muzamil is considered as one of the
hardcore terrorists with very good
knowledge of topography of Kashmir.
Besides several suicide attacks, he is
also wanted in connection with
masterminding the Akshardham
temple attack in 2002 at Gujarat.
His sudden surfacing on the terror
network of Jammu and Kashmir has
belied the claim of Pakistani
authorities that he had been detained
during a special operation following
the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Security agencies have also seen an
increase of wireless traffic between
terrorists in Kashmir and their
handlers in Pakistan-occupied-
Kashmir thus breaking the three-
month-long lull after 26/11.

Epilogue Ø
7×
April 2009
 NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories

EMPLOYMENT STONES REPLACING GUNS

Little more industrial How Islamic is stone

growth can offer over
4 lakh jobs A s gun is seen fading away from conflict landscape of
Kashmir it is now over to stones. This has, interestingly,
triggered a debate in the religious circles. Is stone pelting by
mobs permissible in Islam? Religious and separatist circles in
J ammu and Kashmir government is one of the largest
employers among all state governments in India but
still unemployment is seen as a major problem in the
Jammu and Kashmir are busy debating the issue these days.
A statement by Maulana Showkat Ahmad of the Jameet-e-
Ahle Hadis last month said stone pelting was not allowed in
state. As government finds it difficult to live up to its
Islam. He had advised the local youth not to resort to stone
promise of providing employment to every educated
pelting. He had also quoted
youth, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is trying to
a saying of the Prophet
tackle the problem by focusing on industrial development
against stone pelting.
and campaigning to convince the job aspirants to look for
Now Syed Inayatullah
private sector avenues. Speaking at a leadership session
Andrabi, an Islamic scholar
organized by the Federation Chamber of Industries,
and chairman of Mahazi
Kashmir in Srinagar, Abdullah said that small industrial
Azadi, has asked Maulana
sector has a pivotal role in sustained economic
Showkat to 'apologize for
development. He said that small and medium
his quoting the Prophet's
entrepreneurs in the State provide jobs to 8 lakh people.
sayings (Hadith) out of
“The sector, if properly supported to grow, can absorb
context'.
another 4 to 5 lakh people easily reducing the pressure Andrabi said: 'Let us note
on job market. Here comes the role of government which that what the most revered
it will render in its full capacity”, he said and added that Prophet has said in the
the thrust area in the education sector would be on Hadith cited by Maulana
enhancing employability of the educated youth. The was basically regarding the
Chief Minister said that in the past, it has been observed ineffectiveness of a small
that big industrial houses came in the State, took stone to deliver the desired
advantage of the packages and concessions but left result when it comes to
midway without contributing to the larger goal of hunting or taking on an
industrialization. “We have to encourage local enemy.'
entrepreneurs at large, but continue our efforts to rope Andrabi said all the Hadith
in big industrialists as a bonus”, he said. Answering a said was that 'the small
point raised in the session regarding State's joint power stone would not produce
ventures with NHPC, Abdullah said that he is open to the desired result, it would
pragmatic views in this regard, but they should be based only harm the person or the
on sound facts and not merely slogans. “If you convince animal'.
me on the subject, you will find me logical”, he said and Senior separatist leader and
added that it is wiser to get at least 20 per cent free chairman of the breakaway
power out of 100 per cent potential rather than zero per Hurriyat group, Syed Ali
cent, waiting for indigenous funding for power projects Geelani, had also said that
for decades. stone pelting could not
The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali been regarded as 'an anti-
Mohammad Sagar says that the industrial growth was Islamic act in a situation
kickstarted in the State by late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah where harsher measures
in 1977 and private sector received a considerable boost were being resorted to by
under his leadership. He said the number of small the security forces against
industrial units in the State which were around 600 in the protesters'.
Seventies, jumped to 33,000 in over a decade. Police and security forces

Epilogue Ø
8×
April 2009
 NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories

J&K BANK

pelting? Retirement age up by 2 years

have been facing severe stone pelting mobs,
especially in the old city areas of summer I n A late-night swoop,
the Board of Directors
of Jammu and Kashmir
capital Srinagar ever since the land row
protests broke out over the allotment of Bank pre-empted the
forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board retirement of over a
(SASB) in July last year. dozen top executives by
Hundreds of protesters and security men extending their
have been injured across Kashmir during retirement age from 58
these years to 60 years. While the decision may bring cheers on the faces of the
protests and older lot on the verge of retirement, those who retired in the last twelve
shutdowns. months were found sulking.
Typically, Reports say that the Board of Directors on March 29, enhanced the age of
these superannuation of officers from 58 years to 60 years with effect from April 1,
situations 2009. The resolution further says that in pursuant to above the words “58
see mobs years” in Rule No 250 of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited Officers
indulging in Manual-2000 stands substituted by the words “60 years” with effect from
heavy stone 01.04.2009.
The officers who received the warm send off by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank
pelting at
during the last one year feel like sons of lesser Gods and term their farewell
the security
party as a cold send-off by the bank.
men who
The decision of extension in retirement age was taken on the
respond with
penultimate day of closing of financial year by the Board of Directors
batons and
with two State Government directors on board. The consent of two
tear gas
government nominees on the Bank's Board cannot be taken in isolation
shells and in
as it reflects the opinion of the Jammu and Kashmir Government and its
extreme
likely resolve to accede to the demand of government employees for
situations enhancing their retirement age.
even open A dozen top executives who got a breather in mid-marathon service span and
fire to quell were due to retire during April to June quarter this year included AK Mehta,
the mobs. executive director & chief operating officer, Abdul Majid Mir, executive
Srinagar director & chief financial officer, Ajit Singh, President. Haseeb A. Drabu, the
senior Chairman and Managing Director has already been granted extension for
superintende three years by the State Government, which was endorsed by RBI from
nt of police, September 1, 2008. Previously, he had been granted an extension of three
Afadul months expiring on August 31 last year.
Mujtaba, had Reports of behind-the-curtain move of enhancing the age of superannuation
quoted in officer cadre was on its peak during August last year when the Kashmir
verses from Valley and entire Jammu region was engulfed in a frenzy for and against the
the Holy government's order cancelling the allotment of land to the Amarnath Shrine
Quran in Board when all offices and establishments remained closed for over two
December months.
last year Efforts were made by the Bank's top management to gather all relevant
saying that provisions pertaining to superannuation in some of the public sector banks
stone pelting from the central offices in Mumbai. While the decision was well within the
was against knowledge of all beneficiaries, the contents of the said resolution was made
the tenets of known to the bank staff and people on April 1 only when most of the people
Islam. took this news as a goof up on All Fools' Day.

Epilogue Ø
9×
April 2009
 NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories

SHOOTING DESTINATION

Bollywood returns with 'Love in Kashmir'

B ollywood is fast resuming its honeymoon with
the picturesque Kashmir Valley - once the most
favoured location for filmmakers in the country.
Several film units have already started shooting in
Kashmir, which has been in the clutches of violence
since 1989, when insurgency erupted in the valley.
Film producer Sunil Kapoor is presently in the valley
shooting for 'Love in Kashmir'. The producer has
completed 30 percent of the film's shooting.
Kapoor received great help from the state government
to shoot the film, Minister for Tourism and Culture
Nawang Rigzin Jora said, adding more producers were
willing to come to the valley. Jora said the tourism
department was keen to lure the big Bollywood
banners back to the Kashmir Valley and was
committed to providing them the best of facilities for
their shoots, including free access to locations.
He asked Bollywood filmmakers to also make use of
locales in Ladakh and Jammu regions, which also
provide vast and varied potential for film production
houses. He said shooting a film in the state was much
cheaper than in Europe. 'Kabhi Kabhi' and 'Arzoo' were shot in the valley. However, the
The Kashmir Valley used to be the favourite destination of the militancy forced filmmakers to look for other places with the
Bollywood producers and many hit films like 'Kashmir Ki Kali', worsening security situation in the valley.

GLOBAL WARMING

Kashmir glaciers facing meltdown

K ashmir is experiencing the effects
of global warming, with high
altitude glaciers retreating at an
unprecedented rate, thus threatening
the eco-system of the valley. Owing to
global warming, most of the small
glaciers in Kashmir have melted totally,
while the larger ones have decreased in
size.
According to a study carried out by the
Action Aid International (AAI) last year,
many areas in Kashmir have seen a
complete disappearance of small
glaciers.
"The surface area of the glaciers has
been decreased by two third in many
cases in Kashmir. In the Peerpanjal
mountain range, some glaciers have
been totally disappeared. You know
now you can't find glaciers beyond July-
August in most of the Peerpanjal range.
So, those glaciers which used to be
there for the whole year, are difficult to
find now and those who were the bigger
ones have receded tremendously," said
Arjimand Talib, the head of Kashmir
branch of Action Aid International.
According to the data collected by the
AAI from the eight districts of the
Kashmir showed that the water level in
almost all the streams and rivers has
decreased by about one-third, in some
cases even by half, during the last 40
years.
According to locals residing in Sonmarg,
most of the glaciers, including Thajiwas
and Kolahoi, have receded during the
last 50 years.
"The glaciers of Sonmarg, which were
very popular once, due to the global
warming it is being felt that glaciers are
reducing day by day. No one is taking
care of it otherwise if care is taken
there are 90 percent chances of saving
Sonmarg glaciers," said Abdul Rehman
Malik, a local resident.
The recent springtime floods in Kashmir
have largely been as a consequence of
fast melt down of snow in the
mountains, coupled with the spring
rains.

Epilogue Ø
10 ×
April 2009

LADAKH
Confusion causes chaos and closure of
Khardongla road
H eavy snowfall together with
unnecessary confusion in the
movement of traffic on Khardongla road
this winter resulted many passengers to
frequently strand on the road for many
days in the severe cold winter months
with temperature dropping down to
below – 40 Degree Celsius. Khardongla
Pass is the road that connects Nubra
region with the rest of Ladakh.
Khardongla road, at an altitude of
18,380 feet, is famously known for
being the highest motorable-road in the
world.
In view of the difficulties with the
movement of traffic in winter months,
the traffic regulatory authorities have
laid down scheduled directions/days for
traffic to move between Leh and Nubra.
According to which traffic movement
from Leh to Nubra are on every
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and
from Nubra to Leh on every
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (this
system is also called the 'up convoy'
and 'down convoy' days). Every
Monday is the road maintenance day.
As the road remained closed for days
this winter with many passengers
stranded in large number Mr. AK Sahu,
deputy commissioner, Leh had to
depute some top district officers to
see if the road restoration was carried
out at full speed and passengers were
safe. Passengers and some public
representatives expressed their
concerns against the army for
allegedly violating the traffic rules
which had apparently caused road
blockade a few times.
Anguished stranded passengers and taxi
drivers had resentments against the
army for allowing military convoy
movement on non scheduled days to
cross Khardong without taking into
account the 'convoy days' which
reportedly led to the road blockade.
The army authorities were also accused
for allowing passenger taxis and buses
to ply on this road only after the military
convoys. Annoyed by the road blockade,
allegedly caused by the army, stranded
passengers in a letter addressed to the
deputy commissioner cautioned that
such inconveniences and negligence
towards the civilians by the army, if
repeated, would amount to damage the
civil-army liaison in Ladakh region
which had so far been an exemplary for
the last many decades. It has been
observed that on few occasions road
closures were also caused on account
of the lack of communication among
the army, the police and the Border
Road Organization (BRO) personnel
that are stationed at North and South
Pullu and the Khardongla top posts.
But the police say it becomes difficult
to liaise with the army and the BRO
every time since a police post is not in
place on Khardongla top.
On repeated confusions and chaos over
movement of traffic on Khardongla road
in addition to the frequent road
blockades, the deputy commissioner
convened a meeting with all concerned
organizations on March 6 to discuss the
matter. The meeting was attended by
the chief engineer Project Himank
Brigadier Bhadwan, SSP Leh S.R Samuel,
Col. Bikramdeep Sighn of the 3 Infantry
Division and army officials from the 14
Corps besides other district officials and
representatives of the passengers who
were stranded at Leh at that time. Some
of the important decisions that came
out of this meeting are:
Epilogue Ø
11 ×
April 2009
NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories
Traffic shall be regulated as per the
schedules already in place and no traffic
either civil or army shall be allowed to
move on non scheduled directions/days.
Following the road clearance report by
BRO, light vehicles of civilian traffic
such as taxis shall be allowed to move
first and then the army convoy including
army buses which shall be followed by
civilian buses and heavy vehicles.
The BRO will place information boards
at different locations on the Khardongla
road which shall have information about
the condition of road in Ladakhi, Hindi
and English.
District Administration and the Police
shall arrange two Gypsys to be attached
with the North and South Pullo police
posts to help them monitor the road
inspection smoothly, and police shall
have their personnel posted at
Khardongla Top with a wireless set.
Ladakhis, with required driving licence,
shall be recruited to operate bulldozers
at Khardongla as locals are found more
acclimatized to the inhospitable
atmosphere at Khardongla.
All civil and army traffic shall be asked
to follow the rule strictly and not to
move without proper permission to
avoid danger of road blockade and loss
of life and property.
Khardongla road is an important axis
from the strategic point of view as well
as for the inhabitants of Nubra valley.
The movement of defence convoy is also
very frequent since a large number of
troops are deployed in the inhospitable
terrain at Siachen Glacier.

LADAKH
BSNL Connecting and
Disconnecting Ladakh
T he breakdown of the Optical Fiber Line
(OFC) laid down between Srinagar and
Leh paralyzed the entire
telecommunication system in the region in
the month of February. With the installation
of two satellite media on an emergency
basis, the services have been restored to
some extent. The OFC breakdown was
reportedly caused by avalanche at Gumri
about 40 kilometers from Drass towards
Zujila.
After giving some relief to its subscribers
with the installation of two emergency
satellite media, the BSNL Leh held an
interactive session with its costumers
wherein the telecom district manager, Mr.
Sharad Trivedi expressed the difficulties
BSNL faces in the restoration of the OFC
line. Mr Sharad said all actions and
possibilities had been explored with the
Army and the Border Road Organization for
an early restoration of the OFC but it was
found to be impossible to restore it before
reopening of Srinagar-Leh highway.
Participating costumers complained against
excessive billing, difficulties in making
payments, numerous unwanted sms, not
giving rebates on bills during periods when
services are completely down. They further
suggested having booth system facilities for
making bill payment etc at different public
places. After listening to the complaints, Mr.
Trivedi said that BSNL would give rebate on
services which had been affected on
account of OFC breakdown.
Subscribers also enquired if it was possible
to convert a postpaid mobile into prepaid
but the BSNL officials categorically said that
it was not at all possible. However, in
contradiction to their answer , the
Government of India through an advisement
on national TV channels informs us that
converting a postpaid mobile into prepaid or
vise versa is not only possible but the
process to do it doesn't any thing to a
costumer.
Subscribers are often subjected to
unwanted sms. BSNL seems to generate
huge revenue by sending thousands of SMS
to its subscribers. Subscribers are often
made to subscribe to BSNL tunes
unknowingly at Rs 25 per month with
additional Rs 12 per tune. Few lucky
subscribers may get an SMS that reads: 'to
discontinue the BSNL tune sms UNSUB to
56700'. So do it and find out if you are also
among the ignorant subscribers to BSNL tunes
who pay a monthly Rs 37 unknowingly and for
nothing in return.
Broadband and WLL services in Ladakh
continue to be dead due to the OFC
breakdown. This seems to cause
unrecoverable damages to many
businessmen and travel agencies who rely
upon the internet for many things. However
in the coming few months,
telecommunication system in Ladakh is
likely to get stabilized and strengthened
after the installation of a Main Switching
Center (MSC) for Ladakh at Leh. BSNL
official sources say that the MSC would be
installed in summer months after the
reopening the Leh-Srinagar highway and
this would immensely reduce the problems
in the telecommunication services in
Ladakh. In addition to the MSC, installation
of more mobile towers and connecting far-
flung rural villages and hamlets with DSPT
satellite phones are some important steps
which might change the entire
telecommunication scenario of Ladakh
region in 2009.
Epilogue Ø
12 ×
April 2009
NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories
LADAKH
Jora's
Portfolio
raise hopes
and
expectations
G iven the tourism potential
of Ladakh and the land
becoming a popular tourist
destination on the world
tourist map Shri Nawang
Rigzin Jora assuming as the
Minister of Tourism & Culture
at the State Government has
raised hopes and expectations
among travel trades for
promotion of Ladakh as a
destination in a very planned
manner. Speaking on the
occasion of the national ice
hockey championship at Leh
this winter, Mr Chering Dorje,
chief executive councilor
LAHDC Leh expressing his
hopes said that Rigzin Jora as
the Minister for Tourism &
Culture would tremendously
help Ladakh's prosperity.
Although a large number
foreign and domestic of
tourists visit Ladakh every
year, there are still a lot of
unnecessary obstacles for the
promotion of tourism in the
region. In the last more than
three decades Tourism
industry in Ladakh has
remained confined in and
around Leh only since the
place was first opened for the
world tourism in 1974. Many
areas in Leh and Kargil are
still restricted for tourism.

More than 74,000 numbers of tourists have
visited Leh district last year in which over
20,000 is an increase against the figure
US in diplomatic effort to
recorded in the year 2007. It is often
argued that such restrictions have become
reduce tensions over Kashmir
irrelevant in today's information and
technologically developed digital era.
Organizations associated with the tourism
industry hope that Rigzin Jora as the
minister for tourism will be able to do
away with many unnecessary restrictions
imposed on the development of tourism.
In a letter to
the tourism
minister some
Kargil based
NGOs through
Kargil Ice and
Snow Sports
Club requested
the minister to
de-restrict the
areas of Shakar- Chiktan block for
domestic and foreign tourists. Similarly
villagers and public representatives of
Nubra and Changthang in Leh district have
also represented before the minister with
the request to lift the restriction for
tourism in their areas and open new
trekking routes. A delegation of the Ladakh
Taxi Operator Co-operative Ltd Leh led by
its president Mr Nawang Tsering even
called on the minister in Jammu to discuss
the problems they face in the short tourist
season of Ladakh. The delegation in
through a memorandum urged the minister
to take up the opening of areas up to
Yarma Gonbo in Nubra on one belt and up
to Turtuk in Nubra on the other belt for
Tourism. Similarly opening of Lukung to
Tsaga via Chushul in Nyuma, and Mahey to
Demchok, and Anley kuyul via Nyuma was
also requested. Opening of the restricted
areas is expected to further boost the
growing tourism industry of Ladakh besides
benefiting hundreds of taxi operators and
unemployed youth.
Epilogue Ø
NO T E BOOK
11 Essential Stories
KASHMIR & DIPLOMACY
T he United States has launched a diplomatic effort to ease tensions
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, in order to allow Islamabad to
focus more effectively on fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban on its western border
with Afghanistan. Democrat Senator Mark Udall from Colorado raised the
issue at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing recently, asking a panel
of senior US defence officials if Washington is in discussion on “urging India
and Pakistan to continue finding a way forward on Kashmir”. "Together with
my great diplomatic wing man (special representative for the region)
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, this effort actually has started," US Central
Command chief Gen David Petraeus said. He did not name Kashmir in his
response but argued that calming tensions between the two South Asian
nuclear neighbours would be of “enormous importance” to the fight against
violent extremists. Petraeus said more recently the Pakistan-India standoff
in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks diverted Islamabad's attention at a
time when its forces were engaged in focused anti-terrorism operations in
Bajaur and other tribal regions. Michele Flournoy, the under-secretary of
defence and one of the architects of the Obama administration's policy
toward the region, called the issue of scaling down Pakistan-India tensions as
“a really critical matter”. "This is the issue – one of the issues that really
drives a more regional approach in our strategy – that part of helping Pakistan
to shift its attention and its resources and its efforts is reducing the tensions
it has with India.”
MOTLEY CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Charted Engineers, Govt. Auctioneers, Arbitrators,
Risk Inspectors, Industrial Designers,
Capacity Assessments, ISO 900/1400/1800 Consultants,
Preparations, Certification, Bank Valuers/Agency
(SURFAESI Act 2002)
Contact for :
Details Project Report For Industrial & Other Ventures,
ISO-9001:2008/ISO:14001/ISO:18001/22000
Consultations, Audits, Certification,
Environment & Safety Standards & Training.
Project, Management Consultancy Jobs and
Certification as Charted Engineers, Bank Valuation &
Auctioning of Property/Assets. Industrial Designers.
Opp. Gen Bus Stand (Out Gate), B.C. Road, Jammu - 180001
Tele fax : 01912542157 Mob. : 94191-26230, 94191-13902
Website : www.onindiamart.com,
Email : mkgmotley@gmail.com, mkgmotley@rediffmail.com
13 ×
April 2009
 LOK
JAMMU AND KASHMIR :
Trends in Parliamentary Elections
T
he voting trends for the
Parliamentary elections in
J&K are similar like the
trends in the Assembly
elections. The data of the
voter turnout from 1967 to 1984 reflects
a reasonable level of voting generally at
par with the voter turnout at the
national level. However in 1967 and
1980 elections, there is a gap between
the national and the state level voting.
In 1967, the percentage of the national
level voter turnout was 61.04 while in
the state it was only 53.42. Similarly, in
1980, the percentage of the voter
turnout at the national level was 56.92
but at the state level it was only 48.05.
During 1971 and 1984 elections,
however, the average voter turnout at
state level was higher as compared to
the voter turnout at the national level.
In 1971, the percentage of the voter
turnout at the national level was 55.27.
The percentage of the voter turnout at
the state level in that election was
Table No. 1
WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
1980 Parliamentary Elections
Constituency Winning Candidates
Baramulla Khawaja Mubarak Shah
Srinagar Farooq Abdullah
Anantnag Gh. Rasool Kochak
Ladakh Phuntsog Namgyal
REKHA CHOWDHARY
Udhampur Karan Singh
AVINEET PRASHAR
PAAWAN VIVEK Jammu Girdhari Lal Dogra
Epilogue Ø
14 ×
April 2009
SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends
58.12. Similarly, in 1984, the
percentage of the voter turnout at the
national level was 63.56 but at the state
level, it was 66.41.
The state is represented in the Lok
Sabha by six members. Of these, three
are represented from Kashmir region,
two from Jammu region and our from
Ladakh. Like the Assembly elections,
the Parliamentary election also reflects
intensity regional variations. Following
is a brief analysis of each Parliamentary
action since 1980.
1980 Parliamentary Elections
During 1980 Parliamentary elections,
the three constituencies of Kashmir
region-Srinagar, Baramulla and
Anantnag were represented by National
Conference. The two constituencies of
Jammu region, however, were
represented by the Congress. Ladakh
was represented by an independent
Winning Party %age of votes polled
JKN 67.57
JKN UC
JKN 60.47
IND 44.47
INC (U) 53.38
INC (I) 62.46
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends

candidate. The contest took place in During the 1984 Parliamentary who won the seat from Anantnag,
five constituencies. The sixth elections, the seats were shared equally Girdharilal Dogra who won form
constituency of Srinagar, was returned by the Congress and the National Udhampur and Saif-ud-Din Soz who won
by JKN without a contest. Among the Conference. Polling 46.17% votes, the from Baramulla. 35 Independent
prominent candidates were Dr Farooq National Conference won three seats of candidates also contested the election.
Abdullah of JKN (uncontested return), Valley. The Congress polled 30.23%
Karan Singh (Congress) and Girdhari Lal votes and registered its victory in two The regional polarization between JKN
Dogra seats of Jammu and one seat of Ladakh. and Congress as reflected in 1984
Among the prominent winning elections marked a continuity with the
1984 Parliamentary Elections candidates included Akbar Jahan Begum nature of party competition since 1977.
The Parliamentary seats since 1977 tend
Table No. 2 to be divided between JKN and Congress
SEATS CONTESTED AND WON BY POLITICAL PARTIES on regional basis. The JKN, for instance,
1984 Parliamentary Elections
captured two of the three seats in
Party’s Name Seats Contested Seats Won %age of votes polled
Kashmir in 1977, and all the three seats
JKP 1 0 0.03 in 1980 and 1984 Parliamentary
INC 4 3 30.23 elections. The Congress meanwhile
JKN 5 3 46.17 registered its victory in one of the two
seats of Jammu in 1977 and both the
IND 35 0 17.41
seats in 1980 and 1984 Parliamentary
BJP 1 0 1.71 elections.
LKD 1 0 0.11
JPP 1 0 4.35 1989 Parliamentary Elections

Table No. 3
The 1989 Parliamentary election took
WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY place at a time when militancy had
1984 Parliamentary Elections taken a full-blown form and the popular
Constituency Winning Candidates Winning Party %age of votes polled resentment, specifically in the valley,
Baramulla Saif-ud-Din Soz JKN 69.69 was at its peak. The impact of such a
situation could be seen during this
Srinagar Abdul Rashi Kabuli JKN 81.08
election. As the normal electoral
Anantnag Akbar Jahan Begum JKN 58.51 activity was almost as impossibility, this
Ladakh Phuntsog Namgyal INC 55.59 election, at least in Kashmir region,
Udhampur Girdari Lal Dogra INC 56.98 proved to be of farcical nature. The
major opposition party of the region,
Jammu Janak Raj Gupta INC 46.51
the Muslim United Front boycotted the
election and various militant
Table No. 4 organizations directed the people not
COMPARATIVE PARTY PERFORMANCE
1967-1984 Parliamentary Elections
to participate in the electoral process.
Most of other opposition parties also
Constituency 1967 1971 1977 1980 1984
refrained from fielding their candidates
Baramulla INC INC JKN JKN JKN
in the elections. The National
Srinagar JKN IND JKN JKN JKN Conference therefore finding no
Anantnag INC INC INC JKN JKN competitors could win all the three
Ladakh INC INC INC IND INC
seats in the valley. While Srinagar
Parliamentary constituency was
Udhampur INC INC INC INC(U) INC
returned uncontested, in the rest of the
Jammu INC INC IND INC(I) NC two constituencies of Baramulla and

Epilogue Ø
15 ×
April 2009
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends

Anantnag, challenge came only from Table No. 6

the independent candidates. In these SEATS CONTESTED AND WON BY POLITICAL PARTIES
constituencies also very few people 1989 Parliamentary Elections
came out to cast their votes. As Party’s Name Seats Contested Won Seats Won %age of votes polled
consequence only 5.07% voter turnout JD 2 0 30.05
was constituencies, people exercised INC 3 2 38.95
their votes in few pockets only. Of the
JKN 3 3 6.81
total votes polled in Baramulla
constituency, around 60% votes were IND 49 1 9.60
polled in two non-Kashmir speaking BJP 2 0 7.15
Pahari Assembly segments, namely Uri BSP 1 0 4.06
and Handwara. There were many
JPP 1 0 2.16
Assembly segments in both the
constituencies of Baramulla and
Table No. 7
Anantnag where there was a negligible WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
level of voting. For instance, only one 1989 Parliamentary Elections
vote was cast in Patan Assembly segment, Constituency Winning Candidates Winning Party %age of votes polled
15 in Gulmarg and 180 in Sopore. Baramulla Saif-ud-Din Soz JKN 93.79
Srinagar Mohammad Shafi Bhat JKN UC
It was the impact of the militancy in
Anantnag P.L. Handoo JKN 97.69
Kashmir valley that the overall voter
turnout of the state was affected. Ladakh Mohammad Hassan IND 52.65
Udhampur Dharam Paul INC 40.66
Table No. 5
DETAILS OF 1989 ELECTIONS Jammu Janak Raj Gupta INC 41.82
Constituency Percentage of votes
Though the Congress party could exceed 5%, the recorded voter turnout
Baramulla 5.48
register its victory in both the was substantially high this time. While
Srinagar UC constituencies of the region, it had to the overall voter turnout for the state
Anantnag 5.07 face a very tough competition from the was 48.96% for Kashmir Valley, it was
Ladakh 86.36 Janata Dal. While the total percentage 46.65%. In terms of each constituency of
of the votes polled by the Congress was the valley, it was 50.20% voter turnout
Udhampur 39.45
38.95, the percentage of the votes in Anantnag constituency, 46.65% in
Jammu 56.89 polled by the Janta Dal was 30.05. The Baramulla constituency and 41% in
National Conference, though won half Srinagar constituency. There were
As against the Valley, Jammu and
the seats, yet its share of votes was less however some pockets within each
Ladakh witnessed normal electoral
than 7 percent. constituency, especially in Srinagar,
activity during this election. The two
where the voter turnout was quite low –
constituencies of Jammu region
1996 Parliamentary Election
actually witnessed a tough competition Table No. 8
with 6 parties and 24 candidates in fray DETAILS OF 1996 ELECTIONS Voter Turnout
in Udhampur constituency and 5 parties Due to the situation of militancy, 1991
Constituency %age of votes turnout
and 2 candidates in Jammu Parliamentary election could not be
Baramulla 46.65
constituency. With the exception of two held in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The next Parliamentary election took Srinagar 40.94
Assembly segments adjacent to valley,
namely of Doda and Banihal in place in 1996. Anantnag 50.20
Udhampur constituency, a reasonably Ladakh 80.93
high voter turnout was recorded – The 1996 Parliamentary election was
Udhampur 53.29
around 57% in Jammu and around 40% in controversial. Unlike 1989 when the
voting percentage in the valley did not Jammu 48.18
Udhampur.

Epilogue Ø
16 ×
April 2009
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends

around 14% in Habakadal Assembly
segments, 17% in Idgah, 18% in Zadibal,
19% in Khanyar and 20% in Amirakadal.
Such a high voter turnout led many to
allege that the security forces had used
coercion to force people to cast their
votes. A relatively higher number of
invalid, in fact pointed to some truth in
these allegations. Around 7.47% votes
were declared invalid in Srinagar
constituency, 7% in Baramulla
constituency. In some of the Assembly
segments, the percentage of invalid
votes was still higher – 17.47% in Sopore,
11.80% in Sangrama, 11.29% in
Baramulla constituency, 11.75% in
Rajpora, 10.44% in Hashmbug, 9.25% in
Pulwama, 8% each in Pampore and Doru
in Anantnag constituency, 12.48% in
Idgha, 12.20% in Hazratbal, 10%embly
segments in Batmalloo, 9% in Chadura,
8.45% in Khansahib, and 8.21% in
Srinagar Assembly segment.
An interesting aspect of the 1996
Parliamentary election was that the
National Conference, the major
regional party did not participate.
Seeking legitimacy in the political space
now dominated by separatist forces, it
wanted to compete the slogan of 'Azadi'
by its call for 'Autonomy'. However,
failing to get an assurance on
'Autonomy' from the centre it chose not
to participate in the 1996 Parliamentary However, 1996 Parliamentary election
election was a normal activity in Jammu and
Ladakh – with 80.93% polling recorded in
With the National Conference opting Ladakh region and 53.43% in Udhampur
out of elections, the contest in the constituency. The effect of militancy,
valley was limited mainly between the could be seen in the district Doda,
Congress and Janata Dal, though the which though registering a substantially
BJP, Panthers Party, Awami League and high voter turnout of 53.43% also
the Congress (T) also fielded recorded a high number of invalid votes
candidates. The Congress polling – 13% in Doda Assembly segment, 8% in
27.46% votes secured two seats and the Kishtwar, 5.4% in Inderwal and 4.23% in
Janata Dal polling 17.63% secured one Bhaderwah. This percentage is certainly
seat. While in Baramulla constituency, higher when compared to the average
the Congress polling 36.09% votes of 2.99% invalid votes in Jammu region.
registered its victory with comfortable
majority, in Srinagar constituency, it The Congress polling 52.10% votes
had to face a tough competition from emerged victorious in Ladakh. In
the Janata Dal. Its share of votes was Jammu region, the two seats were
18.63% as compared to 18.10% of Janata shared between the Congress and the
Dal. The Anantnag constituency was BJP. A large number of votes were also
won by Janata Dal candidate polling polled by Janata Dal and the BSP.
32.76% votes.
Table No. 10
SEATS CONTESTED AND WON BY POLITICAL PARTIES
1996 Parliamentary Elections
Party’s Name Seats Contested Seats Won %age of votes polled
JD 5 1 17.63
INC 6 4 27.46
JKN 3 0 0.83
IND 84 1 24.28
BJP 5 0 19.04
BSP 2 0 5.95
JPP 5 0 4.80

Table No. 9
PERCENTAGE OF INVALID VOTES Table No. 11
1996 Parliamentary ELECTIONS WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
1996 Parliamentary Elections
Name of %age of %age of
Constituency votes polled Invalid votes Constituency Winning Candidates Winning Party %age of votes polled
Baramulla 46.36 6.98 Baramulla Ghulam Rasool Kar INC 36.09
Srinagar 41.00 7.47 Srinagar Ghulam Mohammad Mir INC 18.63
Anantnag 50.13 6.78 Anantnag Mohammad Maqbool JD 32.76
Ladakh 80.93 1.48 Ladakh Phuntsog Namgyal INC 52.10
Udhampur 53.43 3.73 Udhampur Chaman Lal Gupta BJP 37.58
Jammu 48.28 2.41 Jammu Mangat Ram Sharma INC 34.24

Epilogue Ø
17 ×
April 2009
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends

1998 and 1999 Parliamentary valley in 1999 was with as low a support people against participation in
Elections as 4.81% of the total electorate in elections and as electioneering
proceeded and got intensified, the level
Table No. 12
of violence was also intensified.
WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
1998 Parliamentary Elections Militants attacked almost every
Constituency Winning Candidates Winning Party political leader of prominence,
disrupted elections rallies of almost
Baramulla Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz JKN
every party, and even attacked party
Srinagar Omar Abdullah JKN offices.
Anantnag Mufti Mohammad Sayeed INC
Table No. 15
Ladakh Syed Hussain JKN VOTER TURNOUT
Udhampur Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta BJP 2004 Parliamentary Elections
Constituency %age of voter turnout
Jammu Vaid Vishno Dutt BJP
Baramulla 35.65
Srinagar 18.57
Table No. 13 Anantnag 15.04
WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
1996 Parliamentary Elections Ladakh 73.52
Constituency Winning Candidates Winning Party %age of votes polled Udhampur 45.09
Baramulla Abdul Rashid Shaheen JKN 43.94 Jammu 44.49
Srinagar Omar Abdullah JKN 57.27
Voter turnout, as one could expect in
Anantnag Ali Mohammad Naik JKN 37.66
theses circumstances, was quite low in
Ladakh Hassan Khan JKN 45.04 the Valley. As against the turnout of
Udhampur Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta BJP 49.01 44.67 percent in Jammu region and
Jammu Vaid Vishno Dutt BJP 43.46 73.27 percent in Ladakh, it was
recorded at 22.73 percent for Kashmir.
Electoral process continued to be Srinagar, 6.89% in Anantnag and 11.05% However, the impact that the politics of
affected by the militancy throughout in Baramulla constituency. boycott or violence could have on the
the decade of nineties. After 1996, electoral politics, cannot be seen as
Parliamentary election also took place 2004 Parliamentary Elections evenly spread throughout the Valley. Of
in 1998 and 1999. During both the times, the three Parliamentary constituencies,
percentage of the voter turnout in the Like the 1998 and 1999 Parliamentary it was in two constituencies of Srinagar
Valley of Kashmir was affected by the elections, the 2004 Parliamentary and Anantnag that the boycott politics
call of poll boycott given by the election was also affected by the call seems to have taken its toll. Of the 31
separatist organization All Party for poll boycott. Many a militant Assembly segments in both these
Hurriyat Conference. During 1998, the organization had issued upon warning to
Table No. 16
voter turnout in Anantnag was 28.15%, OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
in Srinagar it was 30.16% and in Table No. 14 2004 Parliamentary ELECTIONS
VOTERS TURNOUT
Baramulla it was 41.94%. The impact of 2004 Parliamentary Elections Political Seats Won %age of
the politics of poll boycott was however, Region-Wise Party votes obtained
more seriously felt in 1999 when 11.93% Region %age of voter turnout INC 02 27.83
voters in Srinagar Parliamentary
Jammu 44.67 JKN 02 22.02
constituency, 14.32% in Anantnag
Kashmir 22.73 PDP 01 8.58
Parliamentary constituency and 27.79%
in Baramulla constituency. Entry of Ladakh 73.27 BJP - 23.04
three members of Parliament from the State Total 35.15 PP - 3.02

Epilogue Ø
18 ×
April 2009
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Voting Trends

constituencies, as may as fourteen
segments recorded less than 10 percent
voter turnout, of which nine segments
actually registered less than 5 percent
turnout. As against these two
constituencies, Baramulla constituency
recorded a higher voter turnout of 35.18
percent.
While the impact of boycott politics
seems to be complete in the urban
areas, in the rural areas, especially
those that have been traditionally
prone to militancy, a higher voter
turnout was recorded. Srinagar
Parliamentary constituency, for
instance, which saw as low a voter
turnout as less than one percent in
Habbakadal, and between 3 to 5
percent in Amirakadal, Khanyar,
Zadibal, Idgah and Batmalloo – all urban
Assembly segments, also recorded a
voter turnout of 61.01 percent in
Table No. 17
WINNING CANDIDATES WITH PARTY
2004 Parliamentary Elections
Constituency Winning Candidates
Baramulla Abdul Rashid Shaheen
Srinagar Omar Abdullah
Anantnag Mehbooba Mufti
Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang
Udhampur Choudhary Lal Singh
Jammu Madan Lal Sharma
Charar-i-Sharief, 45.38 percent in
Kangan, 43.96 percent in Ganderbal and
39.63 percent in Chadura all located in
the outskirts and rural areas, Higher
voter turnout was also recorded in the
border areas and Pahara belt including
those areas which have been facing the
brunt of violence. Voter turnout was as
high as 82.72 percent in Gurez Assembly
segment, 54.34 percent in Karnah, and
44.15 percent in Lolab. In the border
township of Uri which felt the impact of
violence during the election with
People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief
Mehbooba Mufti's rally being attacked
and killing eight people in the process,
the voter turnout was 57.62 percent.
Despite the effect of politics of boycott,
the 2004 Parliamentary election was
quite competitive. The competitiveness
of the electoral politics was established
with each region reflecting a
Winning Party %age of votes polled
JKN 38.13
JKN 50.29
PDP 49.55
IND 51.84
INC 39.61
INC 38.94
multiplicity of actors and a very real
competition, between the PDP and NC
in Kashmir region and between
Congress, BJP and NC in Jammu region.
It was this nature of competition that
ultimately reflected in dispersal of
seats among the political parties. Of the
six parliamentary seats, two were
captures by National Conference (NC) in
Kashmir region, two by Congress in
Jammu region and one by PDP in
Kashmir region. An independent
candidate won the sixth seat of Ladakh.
Such dispersal of seats was matched by
the dispersal of voters in such a manner
that there was almost an even division
among three parties. Congress
(27.83%), BJP (2304%) and National
Conference (22.02%) (Table) to
understand the nature of such
competition, it is important to refer to
regional peculiarities of electoral
politics, as these came to operate
during this election.
The history of Lok Sabha elections
1952 October 25, 1951 to February 21.
1957 February 24 to June 9.
1962 February 16 to June 6.
1967 February 15 to February 28.
1971 March 1 to March 13.
1977 March 16 to March 20.
1980 January 3 to January 6.
1984 Dec 24, Dec 27, Dec 28 (Polling in
Punjab was held on Sept 25, 1985 and
Assam on Dec 5, 1985).
1989 Nov 22 and Nov 26.
1991 First round was held on May 20, 1991.

Following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

Table No. 18
on May 21, the second and third rounds of
COMPARATIVE PARTY PERFORMANCE
polling were postponed to June 12 and June
1989-2004 Parliamentary Elections
15. Voting was the lowest ever in general
Constituency 1989 1996 1998 1999 2004 elections' history in India, with only 53 per
Baramulla JKN INC JKN JKN JKN cent of voters exercising their franchise.
-- In Punjab elections were held in 1992.
Srinagar JKN INC JKN JKN JKN However, Lok Sabha poll were not held in
Anantnag JKN JD INC JKN PDP Jammu and Kashmir
1996 April 27, May 2, May 7 and May 21.
Ladakh IND INC JKN JKN IND 1998 Feb 16, Feb 22, Feb 28 March 7.
Udhampur INC BJP BJP BJP INC 1999 September 4, Sep 11, Sep 17, Sep 24
and Oct 1.
Jammu INC INC BJP BJP INC 2004 April 20, 26, May 5, May 10.

Epilogue Ø
19 ×
April 2009
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Minorities Scene

Muslims Factor in Indian Elections

V
ote bank politics is the arch villain in Indian poll history whereby
Muslims have astutely been used as vote bank by political parties
like Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the left parties – all of them proclaim to be
sympathetic to Muslims and their plight. Albeit BJP aggressively criticize
this policy and calls for equal opportunity for all citizens, it has left no
stone unturned in branding Muslims as vote bank. For Muslims, the vote
bank stigma hung as double-edged sword: on the one hand, the Congress
and other secular parties have exploited the fear psychosis of Muslims for
which the BJP managed to polarize the issue with extra vehemence and
cornered the community into political alienation and communal
prosecution, while the Muslims got only empty and meaningless promises
and sops that came aplenty, signifying nothing even though elections
after elections have come and gone, on the other.

M SHAMSUR RABB KHAN

Epilogue Ø
20 ×
April 2009

Muslims as Vote bank
A close look at the voting patterns and
behaviours of Muslims since 1952
elections reveal two crucial factors:
first, for almost four decades, or till the
end of Rajiv Gandhi government in
1989, as political observers are of the
view, the Congress, via projecting itself
as pro-minority party, had enjoyed a
monopoly over Muslim votes, except
withdrawal of Muslim support in 1967
elections due to three broad issues:
Muslims' discontent over the UP Chief
Minister, G B Pant's policy on Urdu,
minority status of Aligarh Muislim
University and spate of communal
violence, but the community returned
back to it in 1971 elections, and then a
tilt towards Janata Dal in 1977.
However, “the RSS elements in the
Janata Party coalition” forced Muslims
to leave it and voted for the Congress in
1980 election. Post-Babri mosque
destruction, a palpably huge swing of
Muslim votes to parties like SP, RJD and
BSP is the second going from the
Congress.
Alienation from Congress
In Congress party, Muslims, who have
been haunted by the trauma of
communal partition and its after-
effects, had found a safe haven for their
survival due to its commitment to the
secular ideals. The alienation of
Muslims from the Congress party first
began when on 18 April 1976, in famous
Turkman Gate incident, part of late
Sanjay Gandhi's cleaning drive,
occurred in which Muslims protestors
were mercilessly fired. So, from the
demolition of homes at Turkman Gate to
that of the Babri mosque, Muslims'
antagonism with Congress grew with a
belief that the party has been more
LOK
interested in securing votes than paying
heed to their welfare. It is not that
schemes have not been initiated for
Muslims, but overall economic, political
and social development of Muslims
remained glaringly pathetic, as the
Sachar Committee has recorded. More
heartening was Congress penchant to
woo Hindu votes in response the favour
done to Muslims in Shah Bano case.
The alienation of Muslims
from the Congress party first
began when on 18 April 1976,
in famous Turkman Gate
incident, part of late Sanjay
Gandhi's cleaning drive,
occurred in which Muslims
protestors were mercilessly
fired. So, from the demolition
of homes at Turkman Gate to
that of the Babri mosque,
Muslims' antagonism with
Congress grew with a belief
that the party has been more
interested in securing votes
than paying heed to their
welfare.
Then came the Babri mosque/
Ramjanabhoomi issue. It was a turning
point in Indian history. In the post-
shilanayas of November 1989, while the
rath yatra provided the Hindu
communalists a champion of Hindutva
in L.K. Advani, Muslim saw the revival of
post-partition scare of communal
polarization. Rajiv Gandhi, who ordered
the unlocking of the Babri mosque in
1986, favoured Hindu religious
emotion, which led to its demolition in
1992 was the biggest shock that Muslims
received from the policy of a party it
extended support like blind
Epilogue Ø
21 ×
April 2009
SABHA PO L L S
Minorities Scene
apparatchiks. It was a great anomaly as
well as betrayal for Muslims, who felt
disillusioned, alienated and angry with
the Congress. And with this asperity
Muslims sought refuge in non-Congress,
non-BJP parties, who could at least
provide them freedom from communal
riots.
Shift towards RJD/SP/BSP
In search of a peaceful living and
security, Muslims switched over from
Congress to other secular parties. And
to an extent, Muslims in Bihar and UP
have been saved from the wrath of
communal riots. Security for Muslims
has been top priority since
independence, which means, security,
not from external enemy but those
within the country during riots. Political
parties know this Achilles Heels of
Muslims, and in order to exploit this
psyche, they continued to play vote
bank politics. Two Yadavas – Lalu Prasad
Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav – tried
Muslims-Yadav (MY) combination
successfully. The Muslims found in them
the saviour of their religious identity
and accordingly went for collective but
tactical voting with a sole objective to
defeat the BJP. Lalu's order to arrest
Advani during rath yatra made him hero
of Muslims. Alas! In 15 years of RHD rule
in Bihar, Muslims remained on the edge.
Appeasement vis-à-vis under
representation
Isn't it so ironical a fact that a
community that has been branded as
vote bank is not adequately
represented in the Parliament? A 300-
page study by Professor Iqbal Ahmed
Ansari of Hamdard University, New
Delhi, 'Electoral System And Inclusive
Democracy: Muslim Under-
 LOK SABHA PO L L S
Minorities Scene

from 1952 to 1994, while the 70 parliamentary constituencies where

Appeasement for Muslims is no community's share in the state's Muslim population ranges between 20
less than a filthy abuse, which population demanded at least 21 percent and 66 percent, but they have
has been used and abused by representatives. This scenario has over not been in a position to win these seats
and over resulted in a very large number on their own though they are capable to
the BJP to corner the of Muslim dominated constituencies tilt the electoral balance in these
community and parties it sided represented in the Parliament by non- constituencies. Only one Muslim has
in hustings. For example, Muslims, who paid no heed to their been elected from Delhi to the Lok
plight. Sabha in 50 years, whereas their
based on population ratio,
numbers in the national capital would
there should have been 47.45 In the last 25 years, the number of have suggested seven members.
per cent more elected Muslim Muslims elected to the Lok Sabha with
representatives in Parliament the solitary exception of 1984, has In UP, for example, as against 17 per
remained at 30 or less, or 5.5 percent, cent Muslim population, their
from 1952 to 1999, and
whereas Muslims comprise 15 percent of representation in the Assembly from
Rajasthan had only two the population. This deprivation exists 1952 to 2002 remained only 8.5 per
Muslim MLAs from 1952 to despite the fact that there are at least cent. Interestingly, in the first
1994, while the community's
share in the state's population
demanded at least 21
representatives
representation', shows that Muslims
have not, in comparison to their
demographic strength, been
adequately represented in Parliament
or most of the state assemblies. This,
the study concludes, has led to a feeling
of 'discrimination and alienation' among
Muslims, who form about 15 per cent of
India's one billion population.

In spite of all the claims and counter

claims, various governments – either
UPA or NDA – took little or no heed to
Muslim problems, but indulged in vote-
grabbing gimmicks in order to give the
impression of being serious about
Muslim backwardness. Appeasement for
Muslims is no less than a filthy abuse,
which has been used and abused by the
BJP to corner the community and
parties it sided in hustings. For
example, based on population ratio,
there should have been 47.45 per cent
more elected Muslim representatives in
Parliament from 1952 to 1999, and
Rajasthan had only two Muslim MLAs

Epilogue Ø
22 ×
April 2009

Assembly polls in 1952, Congress
nominated 41 Muslims, of whom 40
were elected, which came down to 4
in 2002. While Congress has given
tickets to just 6.67 per cent Muslim
candidates since 1952 when the
number should have been about 13
per cent, the BJP has negligible share.
The record of left parties, RJD, SP and
BSP has generally been fair.
The appeasement policy, as propagated
by the BJP, reached to the highest peak
in mid-1980s, when the Congress
surrendered to the dictate of Muslim
clergies in Shah Bano case by negating
the Supreme Court verdict. The party
accused RJD in Bihar and SP in UP, which
could emerge as a political force on the
basis of caste politics, taking advantage
of the situation and aggressively
propagated against the danger of Hindu
communalism, as has been the wont.
This resulted in further polarization of
political atmosphere in the country and
Muslims have been blamed for BJP
phobia, even though the community
wholeheartedly liked and supported A B
Vajpayee.
Terrorism, security and double
speak
Security from terror attacks is one big
issue behind every voter's mind while
pressing the EVM. Since 9/11 attack
terrorism world over has dawned as the
biggest curse for Indian Muslims, who
have been the subject of suspicion,
torture, undue harassments and
prosecutions, in addition to the stigma
of being anti-national tethered to their
persons. However, it is the stands of
different political parties that matter in
elections, and Muslims have realized
this fully. On all the terror attacks prior
to Malagaon bomb blasts of September
LOK
2006 in which Hindus are allegedly
found to be involved, the BJP has had
strong, nationalist stand. But the
double stand of the BJP, calling Hemant
Karkare as “deshdrohi”, and Advani's
There are at least 70
parliamentary constituencies
where Muslim population
ranges between 20 percent and
66 percent
In 1953, a group of
intellectuals mooted the idea of
forming a political party for
the Muslims and spoke about
the low representation of
Muslims in government. More
than 55 years later very little
has changed, so far political
space for Muslims is concerned
Maunala Abul Kalam Azad is
an example every Muslim
leader of today must consider
while floating a new political
party. Else, either Muslim
parties would be confined to
ghetto conclaves, or branded
communal, giving greater
reason for the communal
parties to encash Hindu vote
bank
vehement criticism of the government
over sadhvi Pragya Singh's treatment by
the ATS, aided and abetted with fake
encounters, particularly at Batla House
in South Delhi, which is still shrouded in
mystery, has convinced Muslims that
both Congress and BJP, in the guise of
Epilogue Ø
23 ×
April 2009
SABHA PO L L S
Minorities Scene
terrorism, has one agenda: to garner
votes as well as to prosecute Muslims
respectively.
Towards creation of separate
political parties
In 1953, a group of intellectuals mooted
the idea of forming a political party for
the Muslims and spoke about the low
representation of Muslims in
government. More than 55 years later
very little has changed, so far political
space for Muslims is concerned.
However, feeling trapped between two
monsters – Scylla (the appeasers) and
Charybdis (critics of the appeasement
policy) – Muslims in recent times find
subterfuge, not to be appendage to any
political party any more, but to create
exclusive political identity, which is
based more on reactionary response
than genuine concern for community's
development. The ultimate result is the
emergence of a host of Muslim political
outfits in different parts of the country.
Whether Muslim League Kerala State
Committee (MLKSC) and All India Majlis-
e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), with
their influence confined to Malabar
region of Kerala and Hyderabad, PDP,
National Conference – all one seat each
in 14th Lok Sabha. However, one party
that has made mark is Assam United
Democratic Front (AUDF) of Badruddin
Ajmal that bagged 10 seats in the last
Assembly election.
Uttar Pradesh United Democratic Front
(UPUDF), a conglomeration of over 20
minuscule Muslim political outfits,
under the patronage of Shahi Imam of
Delhi's Jama Masjid, former Union
Minister C.M. Ibrahim and others with
the avowed intent to replicate the
Assam experiment in UP, the UP Milli
Mahaz, Ulema Council, a newly created

party that held rallies in Delhi and
Lucknow, Secular Ekta Party, MMK
launched in Chennai, Peace Party of
India floated by a surgeon, Dr
Mohammad Ayub to unite Dalits,
Muslims and the backward classes, or
People's Democratic Front (PDF) or
Insaan Dosti Party led by former
director-general of police S.M. Naseem
– all have little political presence with
leaders, who keep on wafting on
minority issues.
The logic that other minorities like
Sikhs, Dalit and backward caste Hindus
have their own political parties cannot
be an alibi for creating a separate
political party for Muslims. There is
more than one reason for it: one of the
long-nursed view that Muslims were
responsible for partition makes every
Indian wary of any Muslim party, even
though it is genuinely nationalistic in
contour and content; second, Muslims
have no clout, or credit among Hindus to
win a single seat across the country;
third, Muslim leaders, like Syed
Shahabuddin, always harp on issues
exclusively for Muslims, not for
different communities as whole; and
fourth, communal appeals, not the
community appeals, make Muslim
leaders suspicious of their intent. If
Sharukh Khan, Sania Mirza, and Pathan
brothers can be celebrities in India, why
can't Muslims be equally successful on
political front?
Rather than creating exclusive Muslim
political parties, what Muslim leaders,
unlike the sycophants and tattlers in
different parties at present, need to
hammer out is a plan as to how to work
with mainstream political parties and
bargain hard with them to isolate and
defeat communal forces and extract
promises of implementation of
economic and educational benefits
LOK SABHA PO L L S
Minorities Scene
along with proper share in political more speedy effort and leadership
power for the community. While Muslim skills. Maunala Abul Kalam Azad is an
leaders demand secular ideals from all example every Muslim leader of today
others, they just fail to show courage to must consider while floating a new
exhibit it in words and spirit when political party. Else, either Muslim
election time comes, or when issues are parties would be confined to ghetto
related to Hindus. Instead of going the conclaves, or branded communal,
Jinnah way, Muslim leaders must follow giving greater reason for the communal
the Gandhi way. Non-involvement of parties to encash Hindu vote bank. The
Muslim leaders of various national sum and substance of a formidable
political parties on issues that concern Muslim presence on equal footing in the
Muslims is as big a culprit as silence on elections is the pragmatic approach as
issues related to Hindus. to how Muslims could contribute to the
development of both the country and
For all the new leaders and ulemas, the community via astute political
mainstreaming Muslims into political affiliations and alliances, rather than
space within the existing system, or open confrontation and tacit
alliances with secular parties could be separation. Time has come for Muslims
the ideal option, though with little to act.
FACTOIDS
The category of as many as 11 Lok Sabha constituencies have undergone change
l
from General to Reserve in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
The number of Parliamentary constituencies reserved for SC has been increased
l
from 79 to 84, while for ST it has risen from 41 to 47, a net addition of 11 seats.
The general elections will be held in 543 Parliamentary constituencies out of which
l
499 will be newly delimited constituencies.
The entire country, except the three states of Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and
l
Kashmir, would be using the photo electoral rolls for the first time.
Out of 543 parliamentary seats, photo electoral rolls will be used in 522
l
constituencies as well as in all the legislative constituencies I Andhra Pradesh,
Sikkim and Orissa.
Photographs of 82% electors are printed in the electoral rolls, except Assam where
l
the scheme could not be implemented.
The latest delimitation exercise has added 43 million new voters in the country. In
l
2004 polls, there were 671 million voters and in 2009 the number has increased to
714 million.
Presently, there are 8,28,804 polling stations in the country, as compared to
l
6,87,402 polling stations in 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
Of these, as many as 12,901 new polling stations have been set up for villages having
l
less than 300 electors.
Unnao emerges as largest LS constituency, Lakshadweep smallest after the latest
l
delimitation exercise.
The number of electorate in Unnao will be 18,97,474 while those in Lakshadweep
l
will be nearly 44,424
UP has the highest number of polling stations i.e. 1,28,112 while the lowest number
l
are in Sikkim with 581.
In 2004, there were 6,87,402 polling stations and this year it has increased to
l
8,28,804.
Epilogue Ø
24 ×
April 2009

PAKISTAN :
Treading Failure
T
wo terrorist attacks in
Lahore in the same month.
The first one was a brazen
attack on the Sri Lankan
cricket team, in which a
group of militants attacked the Sri
Lankan cricket team, which was on its
way to the Stadium. The militants killed
more than eight security personnel in
one of the busiest areas of Lahore, and
worse, they kept firing and walked
across to escape in the vehicles that
were parked.
The second attack in Lahore took place
D SUBA CHANDRAN on 30 March. A group of less than ten
Epilogue Ø
25 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
militants, dressed in police uniform
entered the Police Training School at
Manawan in Lahore, took 800 plus
trainee policemen as hostage. An
operation was launched to release the
hostage, which lasted for more than
eight hours, ending in the killing of four
militants and few policemen.
Terrorist Attacks in Lahore: Fall of the
Last Bastion?
Few important issues need to be
underlined in the recent terrorist
attacks in Lahore on the Sri Lankan
team and later at the Police Training

School at Manawan. First, the attack
took place in Lahore, the capital of
Punjab, which is considered as the most
stable and secular province of Pakistan.
Second, the attack was against cricket
players, a game that has remained
secular and attracts the attention of
everyone inside Pakistan. Third, the last
attack was, actually a bolder operation
on the models of the terrorist attack in
Mumbai in November 2008.
Lahore has been increasingly under
terrorist attacks in the recent years,
especially since the Lal Masjid fiasco.
For long, the religious parties have been
trying to spread their influence in
Punjab, especially Lahore. Qazi Hussain
Ahmed, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami
tried to find a foothold in Punjab. It led
a crusade to ban the Basant, especially
kite festival and prevent marathon race
from being organized in Lahore, for
both were considered un-Islamic.
Thanks to the moderate and secular
civil society in Lahore, Qazi's efforts
never succeeded. It was the secular
court that could ban the kite flying, due
to heavy injuries.
The critical question, that needs to be
addressed here is: Is the relative ease in
which the terrorists attacked the Sri
Lankan cricket team in the middle of
Lahore city and escaped with such an
ease, signals a new beginning?
Obviously, it is the success of this
attack, that would have emboldened
the terrorists to undertake the second
attack on the Police Training School.
Though the Jhang district in Punjab is
known for its sectarian violence and
there have been many recruits from this
province into the Taliban, Punjab has
remained immune to terrorist attacks.
The State, especially its ISI knew, that
select areas of Punjab have become a
LAHORE UNDER ATTACK
Lahore, the cultural capital of
Pakistan, less than twenty
kilometres away for the Wagah
border, has been under attack in
the last two years. Some of the
major attacks include:
30 March 2009:
3 March 2009 :
Militants armed with AK-47 and
hand grenades attacked the Sri
Lankan cricket team, which was
on its way to play the second test
match. The attack killed seven
people. The militants escaped
without any injury.
11 March 2008 :
The second suicide attack in
March 2008 and the third in the
history of Lahore. There were two
simultaneous suicide attacks on
Federal Investigation Agency
(FIA) headquarters and another in
Model Town. The attack killed 30
and wounded more than 200.
4 March 2008 :
The city witnessed a suicide
attack, the second in less than
three months, when two suicide
bombers exploded themselves at
the Pakistan Navy War College.
The attack killed 6 and injured
more than 20.
10 January 2008 :
The city witnessed the first suicide
attack, when a suicide bomber
exploded outside the Lahore High
Court. 24 people were killed and
injuring 80 injured. The dead
included 19 police officials
Epilogue Ø
26 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
fertile ground for sectarian violence
between the Shias and Sunnis, and also
a major catchment area for 'jihad' in
J&K and Afghanistan.
Sectarian organizations such as the
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and
jihadi organizations like the Jaish-e-
Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba
flourished in Punjab, thanks to the
unofficial patronage of these
organizations for narrow political and
strategic reasons. From the days of Zia,
SSP was allowed to grow to target the
Shite population, while JeM and LeT
were directly encouraged by the State,
to carry out operations in J&K and
mainland India. Later, especially the
SSP and JeM started focussing on
Pakistan's western front, and started
working with the Taliban and al Qaeda.
The state, especially its intelligence
agencies believed that since there
organizations are fighting the
Americans and Indians elsewhere,
Pakistan, especially Punjab has nothing
to lose. A myopic view, bound to
backfire. It did and the chickens have
now started coming back to roost.
Cricket: Clean Bowled in Pakistan?
Terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team
in March 2009, has larger implications
for the future of cricket in Pakistan. In
the last few years, many leading cricket
teams have refused to play, citing
security reasons. Some of the major
countries that have cancelled to tour to
Pakistan include Australia, New Zealand
and the West Indies. England played
recently, but did not agree to play in all
venues; the team during its last visit,
refused to play in Karachi. South Africa
has to reschedule the programme.
India, after confirming the tour early
this year, cancelled the itinerary after
the terrorist attack in Mumbai. Sri
Lankan team, agreed to fill this gap,

only to see its players miraculously
escape a dastardly attack. Had it not
been for the brave act of the driver of
the Sri Lankan team bus, the attackers
would have succeeded in making a
colossal damage.
Cricket as a game, so far has remained
outside the purview of terrorism or
jihad. The game has remained secular.
Danish Kaneria, the main spinner in the
current team is a Hindu; Yousuf
Youhana, though later embraced Islam
for personal reasons, was a Christian
when he joined the team. Despite some
murmurs of increasing religious
influence, cricket as a game in Pakistan
has remained outside the purview of
fundamentalism. Neither there have
been attacks, nor any one dared to issue
a fatwa that cricket is un-Islamic.
Remember the burning of CD shops in
Islamabad and elsewhere in Pakistan,
for music and movies are considered as
un-Islamic? Despite all tensions and
problems, India played one day and test
matches, like the rest of the world, in
all venues.
The way in which the attacks have been
carried out, completely pooh-poohs all
notions of security. The tally at the end
of 3 March 2009 in Lahore is, eight
security personnel killed, six Sri Lankan
players injured, but no casualty –
absolutely whatsoever on the terrorists
side. Some of the recent video footages
clearly demonstrate the terrorists
casually walking after the attack and
riding in motor bikes and auto
rickshaws. This is the level of security
that the State could think of – to a team
that has replaced other teams in the
last minute, as they have been
withdrawn due to security reasons.
Callous and criminal abdication of
security responsibility of the State.
Instead, a section within Pakistan has
started talking about “hidden hand”
and “foreign conspiracy” hinting that
India is responsible for an attack, which
has taken place in a city within an hour's
drive from Lashkar's headquarters. Do
India and the US (the other foreign
hand) has the reach, investment,
support base and more importantly, the
political will, to carry out such an attack
in Lahore? Clearly, this is an attack that
could have been carried out either by
the Lashkar or the al Qaeda. One is
likely to see a political investigation,
ending up in blaming the al Qaeda, than
the Lashkar. If al Qaeda is blamed,
Pakistan can get
some sympathy
and support
from the US,
that they are
being targeted
for helping the
international
community to
fight the War on
Terrorism. On
the other hand,
if the Lashkar is
to be blamed,
Pakistan will be
at the receiving
Epilogue Ø
27 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
end, for it will vindicate what India has
been telling.
The more immediate question for New
Delhi is: What does the latest attack
mean for India? Lahore is close to the
Wagah border and India has direct bus
services to this city from New Delhi and
Amritsar. Increasing terrorist attacks in
Lahore pose a direct threat to India, as
it means, that Pakistan is unable to
prevent the eastward march of
fundamentalist organizations from
Afghanistan. Clearly, the Indus has been
breached. What are India's options now?
Swat under Shariah
Maulana Fazlullah, leader of the Taliban
openly advocates against women
education and has been targeting girl
schools in Swat. He has asked men not to
shave and wear their tunics with a
specific length. Music and dance are
banned. Any one who has refused to
adhere to his diktats are publicly being
executed in the main chowk in Mingora,
which is now called as Khooni-Chowk.
In the Swat Valley alone, the Taliban has
succeeded in destroying more than 120
girl schools, besides 80 other schools.
Women in particular are bearing the
brunt of this Taliban onslaught. Women
have been asked not to leave houses
without assisted by a male member,
who is a relative. Women activists
currently are taking to streets, as the
video footage of a girl being whipped in
public has found its way to the
electronic media. Her mistake: she
went to the local market, with a male,
who is not her relative.
Women have been asked not attend
hospitals with male doctors. Even if
there is a medical emergency, they
cannot go for treatment alone. They

have to wait for a male, who is their
relative to take them to the hospitals.
Says a nurse in a local hospital in Swat,
“Women, however sick, can only be
admitted if accompanied by a male
relative. Every woman fears she will be
killed if she comes out, so even sick and
pregnant women have to visit hospital
with their husbands.”
Beauty parlours have been closed.
Women cannot even go to local
markets. Those who have been working
in governmental and non-governmental
offices have been asked to resign or
threatened to face the consequences.
Says, a teacher, mother of two, who was
teaching in Mingora, until recently,
“Life bores us to tears. There is no
entertainment. We can't even think
about cable TV, cinema, film and music.
Imagine I can't even go shopping or to
the bazaar as women are banned by
Taliban.”
The government, unfortunately has
signed a deal with the Taliban and has
agree to impose the Shariah. While the
local population is reeling under the
Taliban rule, Fazlullah is euphoric. He is
considering to expand his areas of
operation outside Swat and include the
neighbouring Dir now. After all, if it has
worked for him and the Taliban in Swat,
it is likely to work elsewhere.
Punjab: After the Restoration of
PML-N
Zardari almost took Pakistan to a total
disaster in March 2009, when he
decided to take a confrontationist
approach vis-à-vis the PML-N of the
Shariffs on the lawyers issue. Earlier, he
had dismissed the PML-N government in
Punjab, as he realized that Sharif was
unlikely to prevent the lawyers'
movement from entering Islamabad.
Why was Sharif so insistent on the
restoration of judges? Was that based on
a principled stand or there are other
political reasons? An analysis of Sharif's
real intentions would reveal his
objectives on the issue of restoration of
judges and his decision to increase the
pressure, which was clearly based on
politics than on any principles or
convictions.
The reasons were threefold. First and
foremost, 2008 election results. PML-
N's success has been limited only to
Punjab; both for the National and
Provincial assemblies, except for few
seats in NWFP, the PML-N has won the
rest from Punjab. Even in Punjab
provincial assembly, though the PML-N
has got more seats than the PPP and
PML-Q, theoretically, Zardari could
form an alliance with the PML-Q. Given
Zardari's tendencies to ignore
commitments he has made, Sharif fear
that the PPP could destabilize his
government in Punjab. With the
popular support in Punjab at an all
time high in favour of Sharif, he will
not mind destabilizing the government
and forcing an early election.
With popular disaffection on the PPP
growing, Sharif believes if there is a mid
term election now, he will be able to
win more seats, especially in Punjab, in
such a way that there will be no
opposition here. Sharif's calculations
are true; if there is a mid term election
in the near future, most of PML-Q will
get wiped off; and even PPP is unlikely
to repeat its performance. PML-N will
be the biggest beneficiary in Punjab and
that is what Sharif wants.
Even today, after the reinstatement of
the Chief Justice and his own
government in Punjab, Sharif will be
looking for yet another reason to come
back to power with complete victory
Epilogue Ø
28 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
both in the province and at national
level.
The second reason, why Sharif was
emphasizing on the restoration of entire
judiciary, mainly the reinstatement of
Iftikhar Choudhary is the fact that the
latter may act as a bulwark against any
Presidential intrusions in Punjab, in
terms of dismissing the government or
engaging in any other foul plays against
the PML-N. Besides, Sharif also believes
that Iftikhar Chaudhary, if reinstated, is
likely to question the National
Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which
Gen Musharraf signed with the PPP. The
NRO, amongst many other issues,
sidelined the cases against Benazir and
Zardari, enabling them to take part in
elections. The NRO, clearly is based not
on moral grounds, but on political
pragmatism. If Chaudhary is to declare
the NRO as null and void, the entire
political process that followed it,
including the February 2008 elections
stand cancelled. This means fresh
elections, which is precisely what Sharif
wants.
Finally, both the Sharif brothers are
waging a war in the courts against their
disqualification. Sharif believes, his
support for the lawyers' movement and
his 'principled' stand on the
reinstatement of sacked judges and call
for an independent judiciary will earn
him support amongst the legal
fraternity. The issue today clearly is
neither moral nor legal – it is political.
Given the politicisation of the lawyers'
movement and even some of the recent
statements made Iftikhar Chaudhary,
Sharif's expectations are not totally
unfounded.
Clearly, Sharif is playing according to a
plan, keeping in mind his personal
interests and that of his party. He is
 IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan

well aware, in this process he is likely
to destabilize the entire nation and
also the slow but steady political
process being set in the other three
provinces – Sindh, Balochistan and
NWFP. Punjab, today after the
restoration of the PML-N appears
relatively stable. But this stability will
remain, only till Sharif find another
reason to start a confrontation.
Return of the Justice:
What Next in Pakistan?
Almost after two years, Iftikhar
Chaudhary has been reinstated as the
Chief Justice of Pakistan's Supreme
Court. While a movement threatening
internal stability – the lawyers'
movement with support from the PML-N
and some minor parties has come to
end, there are serious challenges facing
Iftikhar Chaudhary, Asif Ali Zardari and
Nawaz Sharif – representing three
pillars – Judiciary, Executive and
political opposition.
without any further delay. Besides the
Adle-Nizam courts in Swat, there are
numerous illegal feudal and tribal
courts all over Pakistan, imposing the
will of tribal and feudal lords.
Besides the role of non-State actors, the
State actors, the military and
intelligence agencies have wrecked
havoc in Balochistan, FATA and NWFP
since 2001-02. There have been
numerous killings and disappearances
of leaders, activists, journalists, social
workers and students belonging to
pashtun and Balochi tribes.
As a result, the popular expectation of
the oppressed is high. Will Iftikhar
Chaudhary be able to deliver justice?
Much will depend on how swiftly and
speedily he acts. Thanks to the lawyers'
agitation for the last two years, the
pending cases today are massive.
Though Aitzaz Ahsan, who led the
lawyers' movement is confident of
disposing the pending cases, history of
the legal process in South Asia inform
the reality. Also one is not sure, what
has been the understanding between
Chaudhary, President and the Army,
which led to the PPP government
agreeing for the restoration. Is
Chaudhary likely to pursue the cases of
disappearances as he did before
sacking?
More than the judicial challenges,
political ones are significant. More than
the lawyers movement and Iftikhar
Chaudhary, the real beneficiary of the
entire episode is Nawaz Sharif and his
PML-N. Ever since Zardari refused to
honour the agreement that he had with
Sharif on the restoration of deposed
judges, he manipulated the events very
tactfully. He was well aware, that his

First major challenge is the popular

expectation and the present reality.
Restoration of the deposed judges is
seen as a huge victory towards
establishing an independent judiciary.
Many in Pakistan, especially the
oppressed – from the feudal lands of
Sindh and Punjab to brutally suppressed
Balochistan, there is a huge expectation
on Iftikhar Chaudhary, that he will be
able to deliver justice and provide the
much needed relief.

Ironically, as the lawyers' movement

succeeded in restoring the depose
judges, during the same week, the
TNSM leadership in Swat has given an
ultimatum to the mainstream legal
process to completely stop working, so
that the agreement which Sufi
Mohammad has signed with the
government will be implemented

Epilogue Ø
29 ×
April 2009

party has support only in Punjab and has
no support in the other three provinces.
He was also well aware, none of the
other regional parties – ANP, MQM and
BNP are likely to support him or his
party, in case if Zardari decides to
remove the PML-N government from
Punjab, as his party does not have
adequate numbers to form the
government on its own. In fact, Zardari's
decision to impose Governor's rule only
proves how correctly Sharif judged the
situation.
Sharif's objectives in supporting the
lawyers' movement at the cost of even a
temporary dismissal of his government
in Punjab are three fold. First, he
wanted to be seen as a champion of a
civil right movement. Clearly, despite
the politicisation, lawyers' movement
had the popular support and there was
widespread expectation that Zardari
would reinstate the deposed judges.
Today, Sharif is seen as someone who
has fought for an independent judiciary.
Second, if the lawyers' movement and
Zardari's callous reluctance towards
reinstatement result in large scale
instability, leading to the dismissal of
government at national and provincial
levels, it will only strengthen Sharif's
position. With Benazir assassination
sympathy wave have declined and PML
seen as a champion of a cause, Sharif is
likely to reap huge political dividend, if
there are new elections. Third, Sharif
brothers facing disqualification
charges, need a sympathetic legal
community to come back to power as
Chief and Prime Ministers.
Clearly, Sharif's reasons to support the
lawyers' movement were political. It is
unlikely that his exile and the
subsequent return to Pakistan has made
him wiser. He has actually become
shrewder. He will be the first person to
clip the wings of the judiciary, if he
becomes the Prime Minister again. Don't
forget what his goons did in the
Supreme Court and how Sajjad Ali Shah,
the then Chief Justice was manhandled
by the same PML-N party workers! Sharif
can have a memory lapse, but the
judiciary should not. Certain stripes
cannot be changed, irrespective of the
change in time.
With a Sharia movement in
Swat threatening to expand
further and the tribal agencies
in the North Western Province
firmly under the control of
Baitullah Mehsud, terrorism
within Pakistan is expanding
to include major cities
including Islamabad, Lahore
and Karachi. Clearly,
Pakistan is walking on a razor
line facing a complete anarchy.
The larger challenge, however is how
Iftikhar Chaudhary, as a Chief Justice
will function and dispose cases,
especially relating to those acts done
and undone by Musharraf. From
National Reconciliation Ordinance
(NRO) to civilian disappearances to the
controversial November 2007 action
against the judiciary, there will be
numerous instances in which Iftikhar
Chaudhary is bound to revisit, while
deposing other cases. Also, there are
likely to be numerous other cases
involving the present President –
Zardari. While Zardari would like to
continue to exercise his existing
powers, the opposition is bound to file
cases in judiciary and pursue actions in
t h e Pa r l i a m e n t a n d Pr o v i n c i a l
Assemblies, to curtail President's wings.
How will Chaudhary respond?
Epilogue Ø
30 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
On the other hand, Zardari today is a
wounded tiger. He know, he was
cornered and forced to take that
decision. Will he engage in downsizing
the powers of the judiciary through
Parliamentary resolutions? Will the two
Institutions – Chief Jusitice and
President work together?
Finally, the entire episode revealed how
isolated Zardari today is, even within
his own party. It was evident that the
Pr i m e M i n i s t e r G i l a n i w o r k e d
effortlessly towards reaching an
understanding. He was in constant
touch with the Army leadership, and
now it is an open secret that the both
Kayani and Gilani forced Zardari to
accept the decision to reinstate.
Internal opposition from within the PPP
was so evident, when Sherry Rehman,
the Minister for Information resigned
after certain TV channels were blocked
from telecasting the long march of the
lawyers' movement. Will the PPP be
able to face another crisis of this
magnitude, without losing its unity? Will
Zardari be able to hold the PPP
together?
Reinstatement of Iftikhar Chaudary as
the Chief Justice along with other
judges is a welcome development.
However, this does not mean, that the
judiciary has now become independent
or all crises have come to an end. Rather
it only shows how opportunistic and
adamant its political leaders are.
With a Sharia movement in Swat
threatening to expand further and the
tribal agencies in the North Western
Province firmly under the control of
Baitullah Mehsud, terrorism within
Pakistan is expanding to include major
cities including Islamabad, Lahore and
Karachi. Clearly, Pakistan is walking on
a razor line facing a complete anarchy.

FROM LAHORE TO LAHORE :
The Road to Anarchy
SRIPATHI NARYANAN,
Department of Defence and Strategic
Studies, University of Madras
March 3rd 2009, Lahore: terrorists attack Sri Lankan Cricket team
March 30th 2009, Lahore: terror strikes Police Training Academy
M edia reports on the March 30th
terrorist attack on the Pakistani
Police Training Academy in
Lahore was the 18th of the kind in the
past three months in that country. The
fact that the authorities could bring the
March 30 situation under control within
hours did not digress from the
seriousness. Such a revelation sent
shockwaves, and has exposed the
fragile condition prevailing in Pakistan.
But these attacks are not aimed only at
undermining Pakistan's administration
but at overthrowing the same.
The systematic, choreographed attacks
in the region look less and less like a
terrorist operation, and more and more
like precision-driven commando
operations with larger political
objectives. It began with the
assassination of Benazir Bhutto in
December 2007, which was a ploy to
weaken the political maneuverability of
Pakistan. The assassination rendered
the political situation in Pakistan more
fragile than already. This was witnessed
in the uneasy relations among the
various political parties on the one
hand, and the Opposition-inspired,
anti-Government protests, on the other.
In turn, this exposed the inability of the
civilian administration to ease the
tensions, to be able to focus on real
Epilogue Ø
31 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
issues of governance. Terrorism is not
just making life difficult for the
Government but has also weakened the
sprit to govern.
In this grand drama that is unfolding,
the 'Mumbai attacks' was 'Act I'. With
Mumbai, the first civilian Government
in Pakistan in nearly a decade had to
answer a series of uncomfortable
questions. It came under immense
pressure from the international
community vis a vis India even as it was
fending off similar pressures on the
Afghan front. The First Act went off
well for the terrorists as it ensured that
Pakistan was suitably embarrassed on
the global stage. It also left ample room
for speculation about an 'all-out war'
with India. After the 'limited over' Kargil
War and the Parliament attack this was
the third of the kind.
It was in this background that the Swat
Valley peace deal was singed. The deal
only added insult to the injury, whereby
the State of Pakistan declared that it
had lost a part of its sovereignty to a
rag-tag militia. The Second Act was to
ensure that Pakistan was not a place
where outsiders were welcome. The
March 3rd attack on the visiting Sri
Lankan cricket team implied that no
one would want to visit Pakistan,

sportsmen or businessmen. The purpose
of this incident was not another case of
muscle-flexing, but a polite reminder to
all visitors, starting with tourists but not
excluding foreign diplomats and
political leaders. Post-Marriot Hotel
attack, the targeting of the Sri Lankan
cricketers was to cripple the already
failing economy and cut off all foreign
direct/indirect investments.
Act III in this play was to undermine the
writ of the State even more. In the first
two cases, the Pakistan State could fend
off the situation, whether on the
political or military front, with limited
or no external support. But the attack
on the police academy exposed the
inadequacy of the State apparatus to
the challenges posed by terrorism in
mainland Pakistan. Near-similar attacks
had taken place on the army outposts,
convoys and patrols in the past, but they
were mostly along the terrorism-
infested Afghan border, with no law or
law-enforcing agency for decades, if
not centuries. The attack on the
academy could well discourage fresh
recruits for the police force. Thus,
Pakistan would be fighting for its
survival, as Interior Minister Rehaman
Malik said after the attack on the police
academy.
All these attacks have not only shown
the weakness of the Pakistani forces but
also exposed the vulnerability of the
State and the nation as a whole. The
frequency of such attacks has exposed
the loopholes in the Government
system, and keeps reminding the
Government of the same. Not to
mention that the free run that the
terrorist enjoys in carrying out such
operations has only made Pakistan the
global battle ground for fighting
terrorism. The post-9/11 US-led 'Global
War on Terror' began with Afghanistan as
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
the battleground and Pakistan as the way. In the case of nations like
'frontline State'. But the last two years Afghanistan and Pakistan, terrorism has
have made the 'frontline ally' the sought to destroy the symbols and
battleground. symbolism of the State first, and the
State not very long after. There could
The near-nonstop feud among various also the case for religions being as an
political parties within Pakistan has not additional tool alongside terrorism for
helped, either. The constant political perpetuating a 'hate-campaign' against
one-upmanship has not only added to other nations, States and religions.
the woes but could also act as stimulant W h a t e v e r t h a t b e , d e f i n i t e l y,
to other problems. If this situation is propagating religion and/or a religious
allowed to fester, a deadly combination State is not certainly a goal or an end of
of weak political leadership, and the r e l i g i o n - c e n t r i c m i l i t a n c y, n a y
simultaneous spread and strengthening terrorism. Afghanistan is a standing
of terrorism could ensure that the proof, and Pakistan is an emerging one,
future of Pakistan is bleak, at best. For, too.
all the ingredients for a 'failed State' are
already in place.
The road to anarchy may not be far way
as it is under construction. This road,
when completed, will be the highway
for future terrorism. This highway will
connect the turbulent regions of the
world by land, sea and through air. That
is Afghanistan and Iraq on land, nations
like Somalia and Sudan through sea, and
the rest of the world by air. By the time
this highway gets 'inaugurated' (God
forbid!), terrorism would become the
'rule of law' for some in many parts of
the world than at present. Unlike most
scripts, the Final Act in this sordid
drama would not see any happy-ending.
It could well be the last play on the
stage called the Pakistani State.
Over the years, it has suited the agenda
of the terrorists in the region to borrow
symbols and symbolism from religion.
The rest of the world has bitten the bait
without thought. For propagating
religion, religion-centric laws and a
religious way of life, they do not need
terrorism as the tool. Most other nations
in the region have practiced all three
for centuries now, and terrorism has not
changed the rules in their case, either
Epilogue Ø
32 ×
April 2009

FROM MUMBAI TO LAHORE :
Does Pakistan Understand ?
M
umbai attacks, among the
worst and audacious terror
strikes of the modern
times, have been an important
factor in escalating tensions in
Indo-Pak relations for the past
three months. Pakistani reaction
spanned from sympathy, denial,
anger, bargaining and to the
acceptance of the possibility that
“some part of the conspiracy has
taken place in Pakistan.”
The initial Pak reactions, during
the first days of the siege were
extremely sympathetic. Salman
Masood, who has covered many of
these bombings for the New York
Times, said, "Perhaps now Indians
will understand how the ordinary
Pakistani feels—helpless, besieged
and pessimistic about the future".
However, this initial wave of
sympathy was obscured, once the
Indian government pointed fingers
at elements from Pakistan
especially the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Pakistan accused the Indian
government, and especially the
media, of falling into the trap of
'finger-pointing', 'hasty
TANYA SAIRA GEORGE conclusions' and 'jingoistic
Epilogue Ø
33 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
fervour'. The knee-jerk reaction of
blaming Pakistan for the tragedy
did not find favour with the
Pakistanis. The Pakistan media, in
particular, blamed the Indian
government of taking the easiest
way out by “raising the convenient
Pakistan bogey, hoping to deflect
the barbs and arrows directed its
own way, from citizens and from
its media.”
The Zardari government's
immediate and unconditional
offer of cooperation—to send the
ISI chief to India—was taken as
appositive step and powerful
evidence that it had had no hand in
the attack. However, following the
stiff resistance from the Pakistani
opposition parties and the Army,
the government of Pakistan
backtracked from its decision. The
Pakistani media was of the opinion
that the government was exposing
its intelligence agency to a session
of "levelling of charges" by the
Indians.
The fear that the Mumbai attack
was a plot staged to capitalise on
the internal disturbances and
divert Pakistan's attention from

War on Terror was
evident in the media
reports. Added to this
conspiracy theory, was
the apprehension that
the attacks were a part
of larger goal to
weaken Pakistan from
within and to force the
Pakistan army out of
the western borders,
thus providing relief to
the Taliban militants.
While asserting the
innocence of the State
of Pakistan, President
Zardari went on to
charge “state-less” or
non-state actors who
wanted to hold “the
entire world hostage”,
for the Mumbai
attacks. He observed
that both Pakistan and
India are victims of
terrorism and only
cooperative efforts
can help curb the
menace in the region.
Challenging Zardari's
assertion that there
was no proof that the
arrested Mumbai
attacker hailed from
Pa k i s t a n ' s P u n j a b
province, former
premier Nawaz Sharif,
in an interview to Geo
channel, said “Ajmal
Kasab belongs to
Pa k i s t a n . I h a v e
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
PAKISTAN'S FLIP-FLOP ON 26/11: A CHRONOLOGY
27 November 2008 “Pakistan played no role in the Mumbai attacks”
– Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar
“Let us not jump to conclusions, let us not go in for knee-jerk reactions.”
– Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi
28 November 2008 Pakistan agrees to send ISI chief to India, back tracks later.
30 November 2008 “Pakistan to act against any group if India gives proof…We have nothing to hide
and nothing to be ashamed of.” – Foreign Minister Qureshi
1 December 2008 “We have yet to see evidence.” – PM Gilani
3 December 2008 "These (terrorists) are stateless actors who have been operating throughout the
region. We have not been given any tangible proof to say that he (Kasab) is
definitely a Pakistani,"
– President Zardari
13 December 2008 “India has provided no proof that Kasab is Pakistani.” – Qureshi
19 December 2008 “Ajmal Kasab belongs to Pakistan.” - Nawaz Sharif
He backtracks from the comments on December 24 and demands concrete
evidence.
6 January 2009 Mumbai evidence “not credible”. – Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir
7 January 2009 “Ajmal is A Pakistani National” – National Security Advisor Maj. Gen. (retd)
Mahmud Ali Durrani.
He is sacked soon after for “irresponsible behaviour” by Gilani.
10 January 2009 No need for “so much noise” on Mumbai. “Though it's their internal matter, it was a
big intelligence failure and now we'll have to defend two countries.”
– PM Gilani
13 January 2009 “India has not given any evidence on Mumbai attacks but just information.”
– PM Gilani
17 January 2009 Dossier contains “leads and good clues”. – Interior Minister Rehman Malik
30 January 2009 “Pakistani territory was not used so far as the investigators have made their
conclusions. Pakistani territory not used. It could have been some other place.”
– High Commissioner to Britain, Wajid Shamshul Hasan.
30 January 2009 “I assure you that my soil will not be used for terrorism and if anyone is found
guilty, the law will take its own course.” – PM Gilani
12 February 2009 “Some part of the conspiracy has taken place in Pakistan.”
– Interior Minister Rehman Malik
15 February 2009 The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings and the Mumbai attacks are linked.
– Foreign Minister Qureshi
22 February 2009 "We are waiting for their response and we will take our next step in light of the
information provided by India." – Foreign Minister Qureshi
Epilogue Ø
34 ×
April 2009

checked myself. His house and
village has been cordoned off by the
security agencies. His parents are
not allowed to meet anybody. I don't
understand why it has been done.”
But he backtracked from the
comments on December 24.
The 70-page Indian dossier was
provided to Pakistan in the first
week of January as evidence of the
Lashkar-e-Taiba's role in the
Mumbai terror attacks. It urged
Islamabad “to hand over the
conspirators to face justice in India,
dismantle the infrastructure of
terrorism in Pakistan, prevent
further terrorist attacks from the
Pakistani soil and to adhere to all
bilateral, multilateral and
international obligations to take the
Mumbai attackers to task.”
A Foreign Office spokesman
commented that the Indian dossier
painted a one-sided picture of the
Mumbai attacks and the Pakistani
authorities were examining it
minutely to separate the facts from
fiction. Foreign Secretary Salman
Bashir brushed aside Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's charge that ISI
and other official agencies were
involved in the Mumbai terror
attack saying that such an approach
was "fraught with grave risks" even
as he dismissed some details of the
evidence provided by India as "not
credible".
Under immense international
diplomatic pressure, Pakistan put
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, foremost
among India's wanted list and the
leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa,
affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba,
under house arrest and detained at
least 124 people in a nationwide
crackdown.
After being in constant denial
mode, Pakistani National Security
Advisor Maj. Gen. (retd) Mahmud Ali
Durrani on January 7 admitted that
the lone captured Mumbai terrorist
Ajmal Kasab is a national,
vindicating the Indian stand. He was
sacked by Gilani for his
“irresponsible behaviour”.
Prime Minister Gilani on January 10,
accused the world of “double
standards” in dealing with the
Mumbai attacks and terrorist
incidents in Pakistan, saying there
was no need for the international
community to make "so much noise"
about the strike in India's financial
hub. While on January 13, he
claimed that the material provided
by India on the Mumbai attacks
constituted "information" and not
evidence and said that "pragmatic
cooperation" was the way forward
for dealing with the 26/11 terror
attacks.
Early in February, The Dawn, citing
Pakistani investigators, stated the
attacks were planned in a European
country and Dubai over the
Internet, and that the planners used
Bangladesh for logistical
support—the final plan was refined
in India with significant support
Epilogue Ø
35 ×
April 2009
IN FOCUS
Troubles in Pakistan
being provided by Indian based
militant groups and criminal
organisations. However, Indian
investigators refuted this claim,
with the Home Minister P.
Chidambaram dismissing the claim
as "rubbish".
Then the Pakistani government
issued a statement saying
investigators needed more
evidence from India to proceed with
the investigation. The request for
more information provoked an
angry reaction from India, which
said it had already shared
exhaustive evidence of Pakistani
complicity.
On February 12, Pakistan admitted
that the Mumbai terror attacks was
“partly” planned on its
territory—bringing an end to 79 days
of Islamabad's flip-flop on the
involvement of elements from the
state in the carnage and breaking the
tension between the two countries.
As Siddharth Varadarajan wrote in
The Hindu, the “time has come for
India to think of carrots too, not just
sticks” since it is the first time that
the Pakistani state has ever publicly
acknowledged that specific
individuals and organisations based
on its territory were actively
involved in staging a terrorist attack
on India. India should shed its
distrust, ensure that the
investigation is brought to fruition,
and the offenders brought to
justice.
 DO C UM E N T
US on Pak, Afghan

President Obama’s Remarks on New

Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Washington, DC

G
ood morning. Today, I am
March 27, 2009 announcing a comprehensive,
new strategy for Afghanistan
and Pakistan.

This marks the conclusion of a careful

US President BARACK OBAMA
on March 27, announced the long-awaited
new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
at the White House, saying the situation
in Afghanistan has become "increasingly
perilous." Obama said that Afghanistan
could not be allowed to come under the
control of the Taliban or the al Qaeda,
which he said, was plotting new attacks
on the United States from safe havens
from Pakistan. Here is the full text of
President Obama's policy speech:
policy review that I ordered as soon as I
took office. My Administration has
heard from our military commanders
and diplomats. We have consulted with
the Afghan and Pakistani governments;
with our partners and NATO allies; and
with other donors and international
organizations. And we have also worked
closely with members of Congress here
at home. Now, I'd like to speak clearly
and candidly to the American people.
The situation is increasingly perilous. It
has been more than seven years since
the Taliban was removed from power,
yet war rages on, and insurgents control
parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Attacks against our troops, our NATO
allies, and the Afghan government have
risen steadily. Most painfully, 2008 was
the deadliest year of the war for
American forces.
Many people in the United States – and
many in partner countries that have
sacrificed so much – have a simple
question: What is our purpose in
Afghanistan? After so many years, they
ask, why do our men and women still
fight and die there? They deserve a
straightforward answer.
So let me be clear: al Qaeda and its
allies – the terrorists who planned and
supported the 9/11 attacks – are in
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple
intelligence estimates have warned
that al Qaeda is actively planning
attacks on the U.S. homeland from its
safe-haven in Pakistan. And if the
Afghan government falls to the Taliban –
or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged –
that country will again be a base for
terrorists who want to kill as many of
our people as they possibly can.
The future of Afghanistan is inextricably
linked to the future of its neighbor,
Pakistan. In the nearly eight years since
9/11, al Qaeda and its extremist allies
have moved across the border to the
remote areas of the Pakistani frontier.
This almost certainly includes al
Qaeda's leadership: Osama bin Laden
and Ayman al-Zawahiri. They have used
this mountainous terrain as a safe-

Epilogue Ø
36 ×
April 2009

haven to hide, train terrorists,
communicate with followers, plot
attacks, and send fighters to support
the insurgency in Afghanistan. For the
American people, this border region has
become the most dangerous place in the
world.
But this is not simply an American
problem – far from it. It is, instead, an
international security challenge of the
highest order. Terrorist attacks in
London and Bali were tied to al Qaeda
and its allies in Pakistan, as were
attacks in North Africa and the Middle
East, in Islamabad and Kabul. If there is
a major attack on an Asian, European,
or African city, it – too – is likely to have
ties to al Qaeda's leadership in Pakistan.
The safety of people around the world is
at stake.
For the Afghan people, a return to
Taliban rule would condemn their
country to brutal governance,
international isolation, a paralyzed
economy, and the denial of basic human
rights to the Afghan people – especially
women and girls. The return in force of
al Qaeda terrorists who would
accompany the core Taliban leadership
would cast Afghanistan under the
shadow of perpetual violence.
As President, my greatest responsibility
is to protect the American people. We
are not in Afghanistan to control that
country or to dictate its future. We are
in Afghanistan to confront a common
enemy that threatens the United
States, our friends and allies, and the
people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who
have suffered the most at the hands of
violent extremists.
So I want the American people to
understand that we have a clear and
focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and
defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and
Afghanistan, and to prevent their return
to either country in the future. That is
the goal that must be achieved. That is a
cause that could not be more just. And
to the terrorists who oppose us, my
message is the same: we will defeat
you.
To achieve our goals, we need a
stronger, smarter and comprehensive
strategy. To focus on the greatest threat
to our people, America must no longer
deny resources to Afghanistan because
of the war in Iraq. To enhance the
military, governance, and economic
capacity of Afghanistan and Pakistan,
we have to marshal international
support. And to defeat an enemy that
heeds no borders or laws of war, we
must recognize the fundamental
connection between the future of
Afghanistan and Pakistan – which is why
I've appointed Ambassador Richard
Holbrooke to serve as Special
Representative for both countries, and
to work closely with General David
Petraeus to integrate our civilian and
military efforts.
Let me start by addressing the way
forward in Pakistan.
The United States has great respect for
the Pakistani people. They have a rich
history, and have struggled against long
odds to sustain their democracy. The
people of Pakistan want the same things
that we want: an end to terror, access to
basic services, the opportunity to live
their dreams, and the security that can
only come with the rule of law. The
single greatest threat to that future
comes from al Qaeda and their
extremist allies, and that is why we
must stand together.
The terrorists within Pakistan's borders
are not simply enemies of America or
Afghanistan – they are a grave and
Epilogue Ø
37 ×
April 2009
DO C UM E N T
US on Pak, Afghan
urgent danger to the people of Pakistan.
Al Qaeda and other violent extremists
have killed several thousand Pakistanis
since 9/11. They have killed many
Pakistani soldiers and police. They
assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They have
blown up buildings, derailed foreign
investment, and threatened the
stability of the state. Make no mistake:
al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a
cancer that risks killing Pakistan from
within.
It is important for the American people
to understand that Pakistan needs our
help in going after al Qaeda. This is no
simple task. The tribal regions are vast,
rugged, and often ungoverned. That is
why we must focus our military
assistance on the tools, training and
support that Pakistan needs to root out
the terrorists. And after years of mixed
results, we will not provide a blank
check. Pakistan must demonstrate its
commitment to rooting out al Qaeda
and the violent extremists within its
borders. And we will insist that action
be taken – one way or another – when we
have intelligence about high-level
terrorist targets.
The government's ability to destroy
these safe-havens is tied to its own
strength and security. To help Pakistan
weather the economic crisis, we must
continue to work with the IMF, the World
Bank and other international partners.
To lessen tensions between two
nuclear-armed nations that too often
teeter on the edge of escalation and
confrontation, we must pursue
constructive diplomacy with both India
and Pakistan. To avoid the mistakes of
the past, we must make clear that our
relationship with Pakistan is grounded
in support for Pakistan's democratic
institutions and the Pakistani people.
And to demonstrate through deeds as
well as words a commitment that is

enduring, we must stand for lasting
opportunity.
A campaign against extremism will not
succeed with bullets or bombs alone. Al
Qaeda offers the people of Pakistan
nothing but destruction. We stand for
something different. So today, I am
calling upon Congress to pass a
bipartisan bill co-sponsored by John
Kerry and Richard Lugar that authorizes
$1.5 billion in direct support to the
Pakistani people every year over the
next five years – resources that will
build schools, roads, and hospitals, and
strengthen Pakistan's democracy. I'm
also calling on Congress to pass a
bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Maria
Cantwell, Chris Van Hollen and Peter
Hoekstra that creates opportunity
zones in the border region to develop
the economy and bring hope to places
plagued by violence. And we will ask our
friends and allies to do their part –
including at the donors conference in
Tokyo next month.
I do not ask for this support lightly.
These are challenging times, and
resources are stretched. But the
American people must understand that
this is a down payment on our own
future – because the security of our two
countries is shared. Pakistan's
government must be a stronger partner
in destroying these safe-havens, and we
must isolate al Qaeda from the Pakistani
people.
These steps in Pakistan are also
indispensable to our effort in
Afghanistan, which will see no end to
violence if insurgents move freely back
and forth across the border.
Security demands a new sense of shared
responsibility. That is why we will
launch a standing, trilateral dialogue
among the United States, Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Our nations will meet
regularly, with Secretary Clinton and
Secretary Gates leading our effort.
Together, we must enhance intelligence
sharing and military cooperation along
the border, while addressing issues of
common concern like trade, energy, and
economic development.
This is just one part of a comprehensive
strategy to prevent Afghanistan from
becoming the al Qaeda safe-haven that
it was before 9/11. To succeed, we and
our friends and allies must reverse the
Taliban's gains, and promote a more
capable and accountable Afghan
government.
Our troops have fought bravely against a
ruthless enemy. Our civilians have made
great sacrifices. Our allies have borne a
heavy burden. Afghans have suffered
and sacrificed for their future. But for
six years, Afghanistan has been denied
the resources that it demands because
of the war in Iraq. Now, we must make a
commitment that can accomplish our
goals.
I have already ordered the deployment
of 17,000 troops that had been
requested by General McKiernan for
many months. These soldiers and
Marines will take the fight to the Taliban
in the south and east, and give us a
greater capacity to partner with Afghan
Security Forces and to go after
insurgents along the border. This push
will also help provide security in
advance of the important presidential
election in August.
At the same time, we will shift the
emphasis of our mission to training and
increasing the size of Afghan Security
Forces, so that they can eventually take
the lead in securing their country. That
is how we will prepare Afghans to take
responsibility for their security, and
Epilogue Ø
38 ×
April 2009
DO C UM E N T
US on Pak, Afghan
how we will ultimately be able to bring
our troops home.
For three years, our commanders have
been clear about the resources they
need for training. Those resources have
been denied because of the war in Iraq.
Now, that will change. The additional
troops that we deployed have already
increased our training capacity. Later
this spring we will deploy approximately
4,000 U.S. troops to train Afghan
Security Forces. For the first time, this
will fully resource our effort to train and
support the Afghan Army and Police.
Every American unit in Afghanistan will
be partnered with an Afghan unit, and
we will seek additional trainers from
our NATO allies to ensure that every
Afghan unit has a coalition partner. We
will accelerate our efforts to build an
Afghan Army of 134,000 and a police
force of 82,000 so that we can meet
these goals by 2011 – and increases in
Afghan forces may very well be needed
as our plans to turn over security
responsibility to the Afghans go
forward.
This push must be joined by a dramatic
increase in our civilian effort.
Afghanistan has an elected
government, but it is undermined by
corruption and has difficulty delivering
basic services to its people. The
economy is undercut by a booming
narcotics trade that encourages
criminality and funds the insurgency.
The people of Afghanistan seek the
promise of a better future. Yet once
again, have seen the hope of a new day
darkened by violence and uncertainty.
To advance security, opportunity, and
justice – not just in Kabul, but from the
bottom up in the provinces – we need
agricultural specialists and educators;
engineers and lawyers. That is how we
can help the Afghan government serve

its people, and develop an economy
that isn't dominated by illicit drugs.
That is why I am ordering a substantial
increase in our civilians on the ground.
And that is why we must seek civilian
support from our partners and allies,
from the United Nations and
international aid organizations – an
effort that Secretary Clinton will carry
forward next week in the Hague.
At a time of economic crisis, it is
tempting to believe that we can short-
change this civilian effort. But make no
mistake: our efforts will fail in
Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don't
invest in their future. That is why my
budget includes indispensable
investments in our State Department
and foreign assistance programs. These
investments relieve the burden on our
troops. They contribute directly to
security. They make the American
people safer. And they save us an
enormous amount of money in the long
run – because it is far cheaper to train a
policeman to secure their village or to
help a farmer seed a crop, than it is to
send our troops to fight tour after tour
of duty with no transition to Afghan
responsibility.
As we provide these resources, the days
of unaccountable spending, no-bid
contracts, and wasteful reconstruction
must end. So my budget will increase
funding for a strong Inspector General
at both the State Department and
USAID, and include robust funding for
the Special Inspector General for
Afghan Reconstruction.
And I want to be clear: we cannot turn a
blind eye to the corruption that causes
Afghans to lose faith in their own
leaders. Instead, we will seek a new
compact with the Afghan government
that cracks down on corrupt behavior,
and sets clear benchmarks for
international assistance so that it is
used to provide for the needs of the
Afghan people.
In a country with extreme poverty that
has been at war for decades, there will
also be no peace without reconciliation
among former enemies. I have no
illusions that this will be easy. In Iraq,
we had success in reaching out to
former adversaries to isolate and target
al Qaeda. We must pursue a similar
process in Afghanistan, while
understanding that it is a very different
country.
There is an uncompromising core of the
Taliban. They must be met with force,
and they must be defeated. But there
are also those who have taken up arms
because of coercion, or simply for a
price. These Afghans must have the
option to choose a different course.
That is why we will work with local
leaders, the Afghan government, and
international partners to have a
reconciliation process in every
province. As their ranks dwindle, an
enemy that has nothing to offer the
Afghan people but terror and repression
must be further isolated. And we will
continue to support the basic human
rights of all Afghans – including women
and girls.
Going forward, we will not blindly stay
the course. Instead, we will set clear
metrics to measure progress and
hold ourselves accountable. We'll
consistently assess our efforts to
train Afghan Security Forces, and
our progress in combating
insurgents. We will measure the
growth of Afghanistan's economy,
and its illicit narcotics production.
And we will review whether we are
using the right tools and tactics to
make progress towards
accomplishing our goals.
Epilogue Ø
39 ×
April 2009
DO C UM E N T
US on Pak, Afghan
None of the steps that I have outlined
will be easy, and none should be taken
by America alone. The world cannot
afford the price that will come due if
Afghanistan slides back into chaos or al
Qaeda operates unchecked. We have a
shared responsibility to act – not
because we seek to project power for its
own sake, but because our own peace
and security depends upon it. And
what's at stake now is not just our own
security – it is the very idea that free
nations can come together on behalf of
our common security. That was the
founding cause of NATO six decades ago.
That must be our common purpose
today.
My Administration is committed to
strengthening international
organizations and collective action, and
that will be my message next week in
Europe. As America does more, we will
ask others to join us in doing their part.
From our partners and NATO allies, we
seek not simply troops, but rather
clearly defined capabilities: supporting
the Afghan elections, training Afghan
Security Forces, and a greater civilian
commitment to the Afghan people. For
the United Nations, we seek greater
progress for its mandate to coordinate
international action and assistance, and
to strengthen Afghan institutions.
And finally, together with the United
Nations, we will forge a new Contact
Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan
that brings together all who should
have a stake in the security of the
region – our NATO allies and other
partners, but also the Central Asian
states, the Gulf nations and Iran;
Russia, India and China. None of these
nations benefit from a base for al
Qaeda terrorists, and a region that
descends into chaos. All have a stake in
the promise of lasting peace and
security and development.

That is true, above all, for the coalition
that has fought together in Afghanistan,
side by side with Afghans. The sacrifices
have been enormous. Nearly 700
Americans have lost their lives. Troops
from over twenty other countries have
also paid the ultimate price. All
Americans honor the service and cherish
the friendship of those who have
fought, and worked, and bled by our
side. And all Americans are awed by the
service of our own men and women in
uniform, who have borne a burden as
great as any other generation's. They
and their families embody the example
of selfless sacrifice.
MAKE YOUR CONNECTION TODAY
www.epilogue.in
The United States of America did not
choose to fight a war in Afghanistan.
Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed
on September 11, 2001, for doing
nothing more than going about their
daily lives. Al Qaeda and its allies have
since killed thousands of people in many
countries. Most of the blood on their
hands is the blood of Muslims, who al
Qaeda has killed and maimed in far
greater numbers than any other people.
That is the future that al Qaeda is
offering to the people of Pakistan and
Afghanistan – a future without
opportunity or hope; a future without
justice or peace.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
POLITICS
BUSINESS
VIEWS & NEWS
CULTURE
STRATEGIC AFFAIRS
Epilogue Ø
40 ×
April 2009
DO C UM E N T
US on Pak, Afghan
The road ahead will be long. There will
be difficult days. But we will seek
lasting partnerships with Afghanistan
and Pakistan that serve the promise of a
new day for their people. And we will
use all elements of our national power
to defeat al Qaeda, and to defend
America, our allies, and all who seek a
better future. Because the United
States of America stands for peace and
security, justice and opportunity. That
is who we are, and that is what history
calls on us to do once more.
Thank you, God Bless You, and God Bless
the United States of America

Ecology in the Face of Economics
Dr. S.M. ZUBER is associated
with the Himalayan Ecological and
Conservation Research Foundation,
J&K
P
lanet earth, the lone life
sustaining system of the
universe, simulates an ecological
theatre. With biosphere as its stage,
this ecological theatre performs an
evolutionary play, the characters or
players of which constantly change
through natural selection process and
probably by other mechanisms or even
perish away if their capacities to sustain
fail to cope up with the genetic
pressure. The players, on this stage live
turbulently while their truest obligation
is all about remaining persistent on the
stage. Most players walk-on or walk-off
the stage owing to other organisms
seeking space and removing rivals from
the stage by the process of competition,
predation or parasitism. Since various
resources like energy, water and
materials needed for growth are
variously scarce in all parts of the
stage, hence such competitive
ecological battles are quite common
and as a consequence, the organisms
have developed interacting systems of
eating and being eaten, which
collectively have shaken down to use
these resources efficiently and
therefore have given a superficial
appearance of an “ordered
ecosystem” or “homeostatic
ecosystem”. This order remains
unshaken as long as the system
remains undisturbed. However, this
system is always extremely vulnerable
Epilogue Ø
41 ×
April 2009
E CO L OGY
Thinking Conservation
to externally imposed changes, which
may eventually destroy it and allow its
replacement by something different.
Such a system or rather a group of
systems has also developed in fresh
waters, which though occupy only a
small part of the global stage in terms of
area and volume yet holds an immensely
momentous and key position. This is
because the fresh waters not only
define biosphere but also greatly
support it. The freshwater bodies
though usually small and relatively
temporary, are susceptible to being
dried up easily, or freeze in concuss with
the changes in the climate. Similarly
other global catastrophies resulting
from the insults inflicted by the master
of the stage, Homo sapiens, embark
their influence upon them. It is through
these impacts on fresh water that the
global impact on human kind has
manifested most seriously. So the future
of freshwaters thus holds the future of
mankind as well. If the freshwater
players are made to walk-off the stage,
so shall be our fate too.
The fresh water bodies such as rivers,
ponds and lakes, which being opulent
reservoirs of history are the discernible
structures, the physical properties of
which facilitate a physically distinct
structure which varies by day and
season. As a matter of fact, the

distribution of chemicals further
confers an additional form to the
system. Superimposed upon these
structural components is still another
type of organization provided by the
distribution of the biota.
Though lakes enjoy a complete life
cycle yet the process of senescence is
accelerated by human intervention.
The natural process of lake succession
from its creation to destruction is a
gradual process for all but a few small
lakes. Some lakes get quickly filled up
with the sediments, while some others
are eventually destroyed by the same
catastrophic processes which were once
the root of their genesis. Once a lake is
created, a biotic community starts
establishing in it. The lake then
progresses to some trophic equilibrium
which once ensconced, changes slowly
but may oscillate back and forth
depending upon the size and nature of
the drainage area, average depth of the
original basin and upon fluctuations in
local climate especially temperature
and erosive rainfall. A lake if left to
itself may gradually change from an
oligotrophic to eutrophic state and vice
versa. The ever increasing human
intervention into the natural processes
has resulted in yet another type of
eutrophication- the cultural
eutrophication, which unfortunately
has turned out to be the most potent
factor in accelerating the natural
ageing process of a lake. In fact people
are the causative agents of cultural
eutrophication which ensure severe
enrichment of natural waters by
municipal sewage along with
agricultural drainage - the premier
causes of cultural eutrophication.
Ironically, sewage treatment plants
settle out and break down particulate
matter but discharge the major nutrient
load to the receiving water. This
discharge of sewage and excesses of
fertilizers has imposed an accelerated
rate of succession upon many inland
waters of the world thereby resulting in
their infelicitous senescence.
In economic sense, such natural
resources are considered to be as
common property resources,
collectively owned by the society at
large or owned by no man, with open
access to everyone. While coming to
terms with protecting such a resource,
conservation biologists throughout the
globe have recently adopted a
methodology and vocabulary of
economics in their arguments for the
protection of diversity. Although
ethical, aesthetic, scientific and
educational methods of valuation of a
resource are available as well but the
pure incentive behind adopting such a
methodology of conservation lies in the
fact that government and corporate
officials currently base their major
policy decisions on economic valuation
and when the loss of biological diversity
is perceived to cost money, perhaps
governments and various corporations
will take appropriate measures to
prevent it.
Ecological economics is an emerging
discipline, similar to environmental
economics and resource economics that
integrates economic valuation of
biological diversity with ecology,
environmental science, sociology and
public policy. The economic valuation
thus helps in identifying or
approximating the optimum. Although
economic valuation exercise may not
reflect all the values like intrinsic
values of the system (Verma et al.,
Epilogue Ø
42 ×
April 2009
E CO L OGY
Thinking Conservation
2001) yet the same gains significance as
it enables one to paint a picture of
almost all the goods and services
offered by an environmental resource.
Economic valuation involves placing a
price tag on the goods and services that
are provided by environmental
resources, whether or not the market
prices are available for them. The
economic value of any good or service is
generally measured in terms of what we
are willing to pay for the commodity
less what it costs to supply it.
Pa r a d o x i c a l l y e n o u g h , p e o p l e ,
industries and governments use and
damage these resources without paying
more than a minimal cost or sometimes
paying nothing at all. In such a situation
a “market failure” occurs described as
the Tragedy of the Commons - in which
the value of the common property
resources is lost to all of society. Market
failure occurs when resources are
misallocated, which therefore, allows a
few individuals or businesses to benefit
at the expense of the larger society.
Consequently, the society on the whole
becomes less prosperous from certain
economic activities and not more
prosperous.
When people and organizations are
made to pay for the consequences of
their actions, they will be much more
likely to stop damaging -or at least
minimize their damage to the
environment. In spite of being aware of
the importance of resources, we are
somehow unable to decide upon a wise
plan for the same. Many a times, the
environmental resources are complex
and multifunctional and we may not yet
be aware of all the goods and services
provided by them. At such a time, the
extent to which one can justifiably

utilize a natural resource rests on
acquiring a thorough knowledge about
all the values that are gained and lost
under each of the resource use options
possible and then careful consideration
of resources can successfully be carried
out through preservation and
sustainable use or total development.
Economic valuation is concerned with
the proper allocation of the
environmental resources in order to
improve the human welfare thereby,
serving to improve the management of
environmental resources in such a way
that it can be utilized not only by the
current generation but is made
available for the posterity.
The principle of ecological economics
could thus prove to be a viable tool in
conserving and protecting the natural
resources for the generations to come.
In the context of Jammu and Kashmir
which has a vast array of natural aquatic
resources but everywhere abused and
misused by people, ecological
economics would go a long way in saving
our prestigious resources from
extinction.
Economic valuation of natural resources
encompasses all the values that are
currently being extracted from them. In
such a case, instead of option and
existence values various actual/current
values through direct and indirect
valuation techniques needs to be
captured. Since stakeholders extract
multiple values from the aquatic
resources, hence actual values alone
cannot been totaled to arrive at total
economic value (TEV).
The conservation of natural resources
of Jammu and Kashmir State is a much
thought and deliberated topic and many
ecological studies have been conducted
by National Institute of Hydrology,
Regional Centre Jammu, University of
Jammu, Jammu, University of Kashmir,
Srinagar, Central Ground Water Board,
S K U A S T, L a k e s a n d Wa t e r w a y s
Development Authority etc on various
waterways festooning the face of J&K.
Since their studies focused mainly on
the assessment of physico-chemical and
biotic status of the water bodies, hence
to paint a complete picture of their
current status, ecological health of the
ecological systems and their economic
implications need to be assessed.
Although the author has conducted
economic valuation study of Lake
Mansar but many lentic and lotic
systems and other wetlands like
Gharana in Jammu, Hokarsar & Hygam
in Kashmir are still waiting for their turn
to undertake valuation studies so that.
Consolidated efforts are needed to be
extended in this direction so that a
market for valuing these resources
could be evolved and strategy framed
for developing a comprehensive plan for
mitigating the sufferings and secure
future for these resources. In this Sub-
Himalayan state efforts involving the
conservation of natural resources need
thus to be clubbed with evaluation of
monetary benefits derived from these
resources by adopting the principles of
economics.
The study on the
ecological dynamics
vis-à-vis economic
valuation of natural
ecosystems is thus
need of the hour.
wherein the efforts
involving the
conservation of a
natural resource is
Epilogue Ø
43 ×
April 2009
E CO L OGY
Thinking Conservation
being carried out by adopting the
principles of economics.
With the view that the underlying cause
of environmental damage is so often
economic in nature, it becomes
imperative that the solution must
incorporate the economic principles.
The basic theme of the present day
investigations thus revolves around the
assessment of the ecological status of
the aquatics followed by the economic
importance of this valuable wetland.
Thus, in view of these considerations,
efforts need to be made to raise
information on the thrust areas of
concern like: i) reckoning the ecology of
the riparian, lacustrine and wetland
ecosystems with respect to its total
biodiversity; ii) enumerate the existing
threats to these natural systems such
as: anthropogenic influences, incidence
of water borne diseases and increased
water quality degradation and iii) enlist
and value the economic benefits
extracted from the lentic and lotic
systems.
The information raised thereof would
go a long way in formulating cost
efficient and more productive strategy
for the conservation and preservation of
these wonderful blessings of nature.

KASHMIR PROBLEM :
Gandhian Perspectives and Practices
I
t is a century back that Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi in 1909 wrote
one of his seminal works Hind Swaraj
that contained some of the basic
principles of his philosophical position
that shaped his political life. In the
context of Kashmir I thought it of
interest to visualize that how his ideas
and actions would relate to different
aspects of the Kashmir Issue. There are
many principles and practices that
Gandhi enunciated in his life that would
have a number of lessons and
implications in relation to what is
known as Kashmir problem in its
different dimensions.
In the Hind Swaraj, Gandhi makes an
important statement that no power on
earth can continue to rule over a people
against their will. This also reflected his
commitment to Self Determination.
This commitment seen in tandem with
his teachings on and practice of
Satyagraha (Civil Resistance), truth,
non-violence, self rule and
decentralization of power has a number
of lessons in relation to what is known as
Kashmir problem in its different
dimensions. So, it would be of great
conceptual and even practical
significance to visualize Gandhi's
position in relation to Kashmir problem
both in its internal and external
PROF NOOR AHMAD BABA dimensions in the light of his
Epilogue Ø
44 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
Politics
intellectual, moral and political
commitments and ideals.
Gandhi was a great influence in
Kashmir. He had a role in getting
Kashmir's secular nationalist movement
led by Sheikh Abdullah closer to Indian
National Congress. This proximity
gained significance at the crucial time
of the partition of the Indian
subcontinent. He also had a significant
role in moving Maharaja of Kashmir
from his pro independence stance to
decide in favor of accession to India.
During the crucial days ahead of British
withdrawal from the subcontinent
Gandhi made a visit to Jammu and
Kashmir between July 31 and August 2,
1947. In the course of his visit he met
the Maharaja, the Maharani and the
leadership of National conference in
Kashmir. It is believed that he had some
role in getting pro-independence Ram
Chandra Kak removed from the position
of premiership of Kashmir at this crucial
juncture to be subsequently substituted
by Maher Chand Mahajan as the Prime
Minister of the state. Mahajan with his
proximity with the congress and its
leadership played crucial role in
negotiating and in fact effecting
accession of the state with the India's
dominion government.
Gandhi during his visit tried to impress

Maharaja that he needs to be prompt in
deciding about the accession of the
state with either of the two emerging
dominions inline with popular
sentiment within the state. In this he
would have assumed that National
Conference as a prominent party of the
large segment of the Kashmiri
population predominantly Muslims
would be unwilling to accede what was
to be the dominion of Pakistan. It is also
a fact that Gandhi in-spite of his non-
violent commitment supported
government of India's decision of
sending its force to Kashmir on the
request of its Maharaja to meet the
emergency situation created by the
tribal entry into the state of Jammu and
Kashmir from what had become
Pakistan. However, once the conflict in
Kashmir prolonged into a stalemate
between India and Pakistan and was
taken to the United Nations for
soliciting its arbitration in the matter he
is reported to have expressed his
disapproval? He wanted the two
governments, India and Pakistan to sit
together and exhibit their will to
amicably resolve the issue without
involving the external parties. This is
what the two governments have failed
to accomplish so far.
But, this is the fact that Gandhi could
not live long to witness the Kashmir
problem getting complicated both in its
internal and external dimensions. His
broad position that no people can be
taken over by force only, has in part
proved to be correct as Indian control
on the valley of Kashmir and parts of
Jammu was facilitated by endorsement
it got from one of the popular parties,
the National Conference, for accession
with India. His another statement that
no power on earth can continue to rule
over a people against their will is also
vindicated by the fact that after losing
the trust of people government of India
has been finding it difficult to rule the
state through the normal legal-political
machinery hence the recourse to
coercive machinery to keep control on
the state and its people. He maintains
that controlling by inflicting fear
through coercion can never be
sustained for long. So what
subsequently followed in Kashmir need
to be judged in the light of the
principles that Gandhi stood for through
in his life. He, with his above referred
commitments, in my understanding,
may have had to face a number of
predicaments in relation to government
of India's failure to meet the pledges
that it made to Kashmir and its people
at the crucial juncture. How would he
have responded to Government of
India's backtracking from its
Epilogue Ø
45 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
Politics
commitment that in spite of accession
by Maharaja State's future dispensation
will be determined by its people?
Similarly we understand that Gandhi's
vision for India was a sort of republic of
republics with high degree of
decentralization of powers. He did not
visualize India to be a centralized state
that Nehru and others associated with
the framing of the constitution made
India to be. Gandhi was much more
likely to be supportive of autonomy
urges of the popular government of the
state led by Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah. For Sheikh Abdullah and his
government it was very difficult to
convince the Government of India and
those who were involved in framing of
the constitution about the desirability
of granting greater autonomy to Jammu
and Kashmir within the Indian Union.
The government of India conceded this
position to state more or less as an

expediency to meet the extra ordinary
situation in which Kashmir had become
part of the international agenda and not
as part of its conviction to empower the
state say on the Gandhian terms. Many
people in Delhi wanted to undo this in
the earliest opportunity. This mindset
in Delhi is what created fissures
between government at Delhi and
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah heading the
Kashmir government. This resulted in
the un-constitutional and in Gandhian
idiom, immoral dismissal of Sheikh
Abdullah from the government in the
state, his prolonged improsenment
without any charges being
substantiated, and subsequently
running the state through a series of
unpopular regimes. In my opinion, this
was violation of many of the Gandhian
principles. Gandhi's commitment to
decentralization and his principles of
truthfulness would have seen him in
solidarity with protesting people in
Kashmir and their imprisoned
leadership.
What followed was still worse. The
gradual erosion of the state autonomy
through regimes that had no popular
base within the state made democracy
its first victim. Elections were not fairly
held, state machinery became
dependent more or less on repressive
agencies. Internally it undermined the
legitimacy of Indian hold on Kashmir
and made it increasingly dependent on
the coercive structures. Internationally
it undermined India's moral authority on
two counts;
One, that after losing popular support
within the state in post1953 era, it
internationally withdrew its commitment
to ascertain the opinion of the people on
the future dispensation of the state.
C O L UMN
Politics
Secondly, for the same factors of losing
popular support, government of India
gradually became dependent on non-
democratic, repressive and immoral
Epilogue
measures. because there is more to know
Gradually Kashmir has become a zone
of conflict with a very high degree Monthly Magazine
militarization putting a lot of strain on
its people and its divinely gifted
environmental assets. Gandhi in terms
Extensively Researched
of his principles would not have
approved of this. His opposition to
Written with Clarity
western modernity was partly because
it tampered with nature and its gifted and Insight
assets. Eventually the only place
where Gandhi had seen the light even Covers Four Key Issues
during turbulent times of 1947 became
an abode of disaffection, violence,
blood letting, death and destruction.
Politics
State and people of Jammu and
Kashmir remained divided between Economy
India and Pakistan making the two
bitter enemies of each other. This, in Culture
my opinion, would not have been
approved by Gandhi as these Strategic Affairs
contravened some of the basic
principles that he was committed to
all through his life
Unlike the General run of the News
KNOWLEDGE
Ø
The J&K legislature is bicameral in
Magazines
nature comprising of State Legislative
Assembly and State Legislative
Council. The Legislative Assembly has
strength of 87 seats while the
Legislative Council consists of 36
Epilogue
seats.
Has a self life That Extends
ØJ&K is the only state which has its own
state flag as well as its own For Beyond the
constitution.
ØLotus is the famous state flower and News Period Covered
Chinar is found in abundance in J&K
State. For subscription enquiries
Epilogue Ø
46 ×
April 2009

Emperor Jahangir on
History, Culture of Kashmir - II
T
he Mughal emperor Nuruddin
Muhammed Jahangir (1605-27)
not only maintained political
stability in Kashmir during his reign,
but, more significantly, appreciated
and articulated cultural features of
Kashmir which made it a land of
attraction and established it distinct
from the rest of the world. In his
Memoirs, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, he gives
huge space to the life and works of the
people of Kashmir. His narration of the
various features of the socio-economic
activities of Kashmir provides huge
publicity to people of Kashmir in terms
of their contribution to the cultural
developments in the region. For him,
Kashmir was one of the ancient
historical region of the world. He
presents the historical events of
Kashmir in accordance with both the
Kashmiri and his own perceptions. In his
Memoirs he mentions Rajtarangini as
the source of the history of Kashmir.
This establishes that Jahangir was
interested to know the people's history
of Kashmir through its own sources.
Moreover, he records the oral traditions
of Kashmir and use them as sources of
his narrations.
Jahangir traces the history of Kashmir
from ancient period onwards. Giving
the glimpses of the political life of
Kashmir, he writes, “In old times the
country (Kashmir) was in the possession
PROF JIGAR MOHAMMED of Rajas. Their dynasty lasted for 4000
Epilogue Ø
47 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
History
years. An account of them, and a list of
their names, are given in the Raj-
tarang, which, by my father's order, was
translated from the Sanskrit (Hindi in
text) into Persian.In the Hijri year 712
(1312-13) Kashmir was illumined by the
religion of Islam. Thirty two
Muhammadan princes reigned over it
for 282 years, until, in 994 (1586), my
father conquered it. From that date till
now, being a period of thirty five years,
the country has been in the possession
of the Crown (Mughal).” His mention
shows that the Mughal emperor found
the Kashmiris a politically conscious
people and the ruling class of Kashmir
gave a it a definite political identity. It is
also evident from Jahangir's mention
that before the establishment of Mughal
rule in Kashmir, its rulers carried various
types of the constructive
programme.He was highly impressed
with the people perception and build
heritage of the Sultan Zainul Abidin
(1420-70). For Jahangir, Zainul Abidin's
building works, magnanimity and
endurance brought huge social fame
and support to him and he became an
important theme of the oral traditions
of Kashmir. According to Jahangir,
“Sultan Zainul Abidin …ruled Kashmir
with absolute sway. They (Kashmiris)
speak of him as the great Badshah. They
tell many strange customs of his. There
are many remains and traces of building
of his in Kashmir. One of these is in the
midst of a lake called Wulur, and of

which the length and breadth are more
than three or four kos. It is called Zain-
lanka, and in making it they have
exerted greatly. The spring of this lake
is very deep. The first time they brought
a large quantity of stone in boats and
poured it on the place where now the
building stands it had no result. At last
they sank some thousands of boats with
100 gaz out of the water, and made a
terrace, and on one side thereof the
sultan erected a temple for the worship
of his supreme God. Than this there is no
finer place. He (the Sultan) often came
to the spot by boat and engaged in
worship of the King of Wisdom. They say
he spent many “forty days” in that
place.”
Jahangir also mentions some oral
traditions of Kashmir regarding the
folk's perception Zainul Abidin's
methods of making a person dutiful and
God-fearing through peaceful means.
He quotes an incident narrated by some
people of Kashmir. According to him,
“One day a wicked son of his (Zainul
Abidin) came to that place to kill him,
and finding him alone, drew a sword and
went in. When his eyes fell on the
Sultan, however, on account of his
venerable dignity and the might of his
vertues, he became confused and
bewildered and turned away. The Sultan
shortly after came out and seated
himself in the boat with this same son,
and started for the city. On the way he
said to his son, “ I have forgotten my
rosary; get into a canoe and fetch it for
me.” The son having gone into the
temple sees his father in the same
place, and the graceless man woth
complete shame of face falls at his
father's feet and asks pardon for his
fault. They have told many tales of such
miracles as this of him, and they say also
he had well practised the the science of
khala (ilm-i-khala-i-badan i.e.
withdrawl of soul from the body).
When, from the ways and methods of his
sons, he perceived in them signs of
haste in seeking for rule and
government, he would say to them, “To
me it is very easy to abandon rule, and
even to pass away from life, but when I
am gone you will do nothing and the
time of your prosperity will not endure
long, but in a short time you will obtain
the recompense of your evil deeds and
your own dispositions.” Having spoken
thus, he gave up eating and drinking ,
and passed forty days in this manner…
On fortieth day he gave up the deposit
of his existence, and entered into the
mercy of God.” Jahangir mentions that
Zainul Abidin's sons brought the end of
their family through mutual rivaleries
and conflicts and the persons of Chak
tribe replaced the family of Zainul
Abidin in terms of political power. For
him, the Chaks were the people of
common soldiers of Kashmir before
their acquisition of the sovereignty of
Kashmir. He also mentions Yaqub Chak's
resistance against the Mughals army in
Kashmir, led by Raja Bhagwan Das. His
Epilogue Ø
48 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
History
narration shows that establishment of
the Mughal rule in Kashmir was resisted
by the Chaks for long time. For him, the
sultans of Kashmir were the great
builders in terms of construction of the
bridges, mosques, palace and
monastries. He mentions existence of a
beautiful and lofty mosque in Srinagar,
built by Sultan Sikandar in 1393 and
rebuilt by Sultan Husain in the early
sixteenth century.
Jahangir makes sufis, Rishis, aritficers,
merchants, Brahmans, Sunnis and Shias
etc. as important themes of his
Memoirs. He mentions that Mir Sayyid
Ali (a famous sufi of Kubraviya order) of
Hamdan visited Kashmir. His monastry
was also established in Srinagar. For
Jahangir, majority of the merchants and
artificers of Kashmir belonged to Sunni
sect and majority of the soldiers
belonged to Imamiyya Shia sect. He also
mentions the presence of the
Nurbakhshi sect in Kashmir. Jahangir
found the Rishis as the most contented
persons and actively engaged in the
public welfare activities in Kashmir.
Describing the characteristics of the
Rishi of Kashmir he writes:
“There is also a body of Faqirs whom
they call Rishis. Though they have not
religious knowledge or learning of any
sort, yet they possess simplicity, and are
without pretence. They abuse no one,
they restrain the tongue of desire, and
the foot of seeking; they eat no flesh,
they have no wives, always plant fruit-
bearing tree in the fields, so that men
may benefit by them, themselves
deriving no advantage. There are about
2000 of these people.” It is important to
mention that the Rishis believed in the
mysticism and spread the concept of
the Unity of Being. Nuruddin or Nand
Rishi was popular among both the

Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir being
propagator of the welfare of all.
Jahangir's mention shows that the Rishis
works received huge social support in
Kashmir.
Jahangir was very much impressed from
the Brahmans of Kashmir in terms their
knowledge and sincerity to their
religious practice. He also found some
very attractive temples in Kashmir. He
records the cultural identity of the
Kashmiri Brahmans and their temples in
these words: “There is also a body of
Brahmans living from of old in this
country, who still remain there and talk
in the Kashmiri tongue. Outwardly on
cannot distinguish them from
Musalmans. They have, however, books
in the Sanskrit language, and read
them. They carry into practice
whatever relates to the worship of
idols. Sanskrit is a language in which the
learned of India have composed books,
and esteem them greatly. The lofty
temples which were built before the
manisfestation of Islam are still in
existence, and are all built of stones,
which from foundation to roof are large,
and weigh 30 or 40 maunds, placed one
on the other. Near the city there is a
small hill which they call Kuh-i-Maran as
well as Hari Parbat. On the east side of
the hill there is the Dal lake, which
measures round a little more than 6.50
koss. My father (may the lights of Allah
be his testimony!) gave an order that
they should build in this place a very
strong fort of stone and lime; this has
been nearly completed during the reign
of this supplicant, so that the little hill
has been brought into the midst of the
fortifications, and the wall of the fort
built round it. The lake is close to the
fort, and the palace overlooks the
water…At this period it appeared to me
to be very much out of order and
ruinous. As it was the palce whre that
veritable qibla (place turned towards in
prayer) and visible Deity used to sit, and
it is really a place of prostration for this
suppliant, therefore its neglected state
did not appear right to me. I (Jahangir)
ordered Mutamid K. who is a servant
who knows my termperament to make
every effort to put litte garden in order
and repair the buildings.”
Jahangir records the music as a
dominant means of recreation
in Kashmir. He mentions
several musical instruments
such as lutes, dulcimers, harps,
drums flutes and Kashmir
were very experts in play with
them. For Jahangir, the
Kashmiris used to sing in
Kashmiri language
compositions and musicians
and singers were able to
combine two or three modes
together, even many of them
were skill in chorus.
Jahangir observed the food habits,
dress and crops of Kashmir very
minutely. He not only records them in
his Memoirs in accordance with local
perception but also makes his own
comments on them. For him, the
Kashmiris produced multiple crops. But
he found rice as the major staple crop of
Kashmir. His narration of the rice shows
that Jahangir collected huge
information regarding its use in
Kashmir. According to him, “Rice is the
principal crop. Probably there are three
parts (of Kashmir) under rice and one
under all other grains. The chief food of
Epilogue Ø
49 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
History
the people of Kashmir is rice, but it is
inferior. They boil it fresh and allow it to
get cold, and then eat it, and call it
batha. It is not usual to take their food
warm, but people of small means keep a
portion of the batha for a night, and eat
it next day.” Jahangir also witnessed
the use of both vegetables and meat in
Kashmir. But both the vegetable and
meat were prepared in a way which did
not suit to his own taste. Commenting
on the use of rice with vegetable in
Kashmir Jahangir writes, “It is not
custom (in Kashmir) to put salt into the
batha. They boil vegetable in water, and
throw in a little salt in order to alter the
flavour, and then eat them along with
the batha. Those who want something
tasty put a little walnut-oil into the
vegetables. Walnut oil soon becomes
bitter and evil-flavoured. They also use
cow-oil (raughan-i.e. ghi), but this
taken fresh, and fresh from newly-made
butter (maska). They threw it into the
food, and call it “sada-pak” in the
Kashmiri language. As the atmosphere is
cold and damp, it becomes altered by
being kept for three or four days.”
Jahangir also found various types of
pickles made in Kashmir. For him, garlic
pikcle was the best. But the peas and
wheat of Kashmir were of inferior
quality. Regarding the quality of wheat
and its use Jahangir writes, “The wheat
is small and of little substance (kam
maghz). It is not the custom to eat
bread (nan).” He mentions the use of
the flesh of sheep (handu) and some
birds such as fowls, geese and ducks.
Jahangir mentions the availability of
various kinds of fishes with both the
scales and without scales. Jahangir
witnessed a method of fishing which
was peculiar to Kashmir. He gives a long
description of the fishing in Kashmir. He

records the fishing of Kashmir in a very
interesting manner. According to him,
“…I saw an unusual kind of fishing on the
part of the fishermen of Kashmir. In a
place where the water was up to a man's
chest, they propelled two boats that
were side by side, and so that at one end
they were in contact, and at the other
end they were 14 or 15 yards apart. Two
boatmen held long poles in their hands,
and sat on the outside edge of each boat
so as to regulate the space between
each boat, and they should proceed
equally. Then ten or twelve boatmen
got down into the water, and laying hold
of the ends of the two boats that were
joined together with their hands,
trampled the bottom with their feet,
and moved on.
The fish which were between the boats
wanted to get out of the narrow space,
and came against the feet of the
boatmen. Immediately one of the
boatmen dived , and another one
pressed upon his back and with his two
hands kept him coming to the surface.
The latter caught a fish and produced it.
Some who are expert in the art catch
two fish with their hands, and bring
them to the surface. Among them was
an old boatman, who generally at each
dive brought up two fish. This kind of
fishing occurs at Panj Brara, and is
peculiar to Jhelam. It is not used in
ponds or other streams. It also obly
takes place in the spring when the water
is not cold or impetuons (gazanda).”
Jahangir mentions woolen tunic (Kurta)
as the most popular dress of the
Kashmirs and shawls most precious
dress item. He also mentions the
climatic factors behind the use of these
woolen dresses. According to him, “ Men
and women wear a woolen tunic
(kurta), and call it pattu. If they do not
put on a time, they (Kashmiris) believe
that the air affects them, and even it is
impossible to digest their food without
it.” Kashmir's pashmina shawls are very
much appriciated by Jahangir.
Though he does not mention the term
pashmina, his description of shawls
from two types wools, one from Tibet
and another from local Kashmiri wool
(pattu), shows that Pashmina shawls
were most precious. Describing the
different kinds of shawls, woven in
Kashmir, Jahangir writes, “The shawls
of Kashmir to which my father (Akbar)
gave the name of parm-narm, are vry
famous; there is no need to praise them.
Another kind is tahrma (naharma); it is
thicker than a shawl and soft. Another is
called darma. It is like a jul-i-khirsak,
and is put over carpets. With the
exception of shawls they make woolen
materials better in Tibet. Though they
bring the wool for the shawls from
Tibet, they do not make them there.
The wool for shawls comes from a goat
which is peculiar to Tibet. In Kashmir
they weave the pattu shawl from wool,
and sewing two shaws together they
smooth them into kind of saqarlat
(broad-cloth), which is not bad for a
rain-coat.” Jahangir also mentions that
generally the men of Kashmir shaved
their head and wore a round turban.
Jahangir records the music as a
dominant means of recreation in
Kashmir. He mentions several musical
instruments such as lutes, dulcimers,
harps, drums flutes and Kashmir were
very experts in play with them. For
Jahangir, the Kashmiris used to sing in
Kashmiri language compositions and
musicians and singers were able to
combine two or three modes together,
Epilogue Ø
50 ×
April 2009
C O L UMN
History
even many of them were skill in chorus.
Jahangir preserves some of the local
customs of Kashmir in his Memoirs. One
of these customs was the lighting of
lamps on the bank of Jhelam river. He
describes this custom in these words;
“…the Kashmiris had lined with lamps
both sides of the Bihat. It is an ancient
custom that every year on this day
everyone, whether rich or poor,
whoever has a house on the bank of the
river, should light as on the Shab-i-
barat. I (Jahangir) asked the Brahmans
the reason of this, and they said that on
this day the fountain-head of the
Jhelam was disclosed, and the custom
had come down from old days that on
this date must take place the feast of
Veth tarwah. Veth means the Jhelam
and they call thirteen tarwah; as this
day is the 13th of Shawwal, they light
lamps. In this way they call it Veth
tarwah. Undoubtedly the lamp-lighting
was good. I (Jahangir) sat in a boat and
went round to see it.”
Jahangir's narration of the historical
events of Kashmir pertaining to its
people shows the Mughal emperor's
policy of integration of the region with
the Mughal empire. He tried to establish
that he was concerned with the local
issues and sentiments of the people of
Kashmir. His Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri helps to
understand the nature of Kashmiri
society in the 17th century. The
description of the distinct social groups
and their beliefs also show that
Kashmiri culture was one of the well
established cultural identities of the
Mughal empire and their preservation
and propagation were instrumental in
associating the Kashmiris with the
different socio-political and economic
aspects of Mughal India.
 SPEC I AL R E POR T
Films in Ladakh

A Film Industry Ripening

in the Himalayas

U
ntil the end of the twentieth century Bollywood films
had dominated Ladakhi society like most cities of the
country and it was difficult then to image that films
could be made by locals also one day in their own mother
tongue. Things have changed since then as over two dozens
of films have been made by local producers in Ladakhi
language just in a span of little more than half a decade.
Prior to the year 2002 there was almost no tradition of
producing films by Ladakhis and in Ladakhi language.
SANTSAMS, meaning Border, produced by the Face Of Ladakh
(FOL) in 2002 was the first Ladakhi feature film. Success of
the first few films, coupled with the affordable digital
technology, has certainly encouraged more Ladakhis to have
produced and released series of films so far. As a result of
which a large number of registered film societies have
sprung up today in Leh. One of the main objectives of these
film societies continues to support some humanitarian
projects out of the revenue they generate from their films.
Mr. Tsering Wangdus (Lonpo) who has written and directed
several films produced by the Ladakh Vision Group says that
they have supported some heart and kidney patients,
provided infrastructure to few private and government
schools and also helped promote winter sports in Ladakh.
“300 rupees per show from the income earned from all films
now goes to the Red Cross funding which is handled by the
district administration,” says a film producer.

Having made several films for seven years many producers

are today cynical about the sustainability of the industry in
Ladakh given the lack of infrastructure and the small
number of audiences. “A good quality of film can be only
made with a high budget, but then it becomes difficult to
even recover the expenses incurred in the film making,”
Wangdus observes. Like Wangdus many other producers in
Leh also claim that they don't earn any profit but it
sometimes becomes difficult to recover what they spend in
Tsewang Rigzin making films since completing a film, from script writing to

Epilogue Ø
51 ×
April 2009
 SPEC I AL R E POR T
Films in Ladakh

editing, takes a year or two depending

upon the nature of the film. Almost all
films so far carried strong messages and
cautions about preservation and
promotion of Ladakhi traditional and
cultural values and on prevailing social
issues along with love stories in parallel.

Since Leh doesn't have some good

theatre halls, all films are shown in the
government owned Leh auditorium.
There was some objection against the
allotment of the auditorium to give film
shows, but when the issue was brought
before the LAHDC General Council for
taking its view, it was decided that local
films serving as platforms to many
upcoming Ladakhi talents to develop
their skills should face no obstacles in
getting the hall hired. A Censor Board
headed by the additional deputy
commissioner with representatives
executive councilor of the Hill Council. ever feature film to be shot, digitally
from various religious organizations is
This has been a tradition since the year edited and produced by Ladakhis in
also in place which reviews each film
2002. Ladakh. Today Tsondus is available in
before its release. The Censor Board
DVD with English subtitles. Similarly
sometimes asks the producer of a
Leh this year has already seen the many other films are also subtitled in
particular film to remove some scenes
release of three feature films, DHANGS English.
in the film which they presume as
by Chospa Creation, LASLDEL by Ladakh
offensive or objectionable. Allotment
Vision Group and SEMs-DUK by AK Ladakh Vision Group is trying the entry
of the auditorium is given to a producer
Production. All the three films managed of its latest film, LASDEL, to the film
only after a film is approved by the
to attract big crowds even in the cold festival at the State level to be
Censor Board. Rigzin Kalon, with
winter months. KHORWA, meaning the organized by the JK Academy of Arts,
experience in assisting film making
cycle of life and death, a film on AIDS, Culture and Languages in Jammu
productions in the Bollywood, made a
by the Himalayan Film Studio and LAS shortly. DELWA a love story produced by
Ladakhi film called E-MITSE – the
GYUDAS, the fruit of deed, by the the Ladakh Vision Group released in
present life. For the sustenance of the
Golden Mask Group are among the ones 2004 has been perhaps the most popular
Ladakhi film industry Kalon believes
to be screened in 2009. “Film makers, so far as people in Leh still refer to
that given the unique cultural backdrop
especially in Ladakh, put in a lot of hard DELWA as the good film.
of Ladakh it is important to maintain a
work in making films. But we face more
benchmark and originality in stories
of criticisms and less of One of the unique things about Ladakhi
rather than following a pattern of a
encouragement,” says Stanzin who films is almost all films are made by
particular film industry. His film E-MITSE
makes both documentary and feature people whose backgrounds are not from
had to be released for a second time
films at the Himalayan Film Studio. any prestigious film institute but they
after removing a scene which was
Tsondus (Effort) an educational film by rather come from different walks of life
opposed by some as objectionable.
the SECMOL Media studio was released and yet manage to attract a big crowds
Most of the films have so far been
in 2003. This film apparently is the first to the films they make.
released by the chairman/chief

Epilogue Ø
52 ×
April 2009

The Single Handed Film Maker:
Tsering Zangpo from Sakti (Serthi)
village and Stanzin Dorjai from Gya
village, both with rural backgrounds,
who had hardly seen a television in their
childhood, have set up the Himalayan
Film Studio. Their first film before
KHORWA was MIG-CHOOU – The Tears – in
2007.
Zangpo's story is an exceptional one
since he has passed through some tough
vicissitudes in life after he lost his left
hand in an electric short-circuit while
he was on a school picnic in 1994 when
he was in class 8th. Zangpo says some
SPEC I AL
circumstances led him to give up his
studies after he passed class 9th and then
he worked as a helper at an audio
cassette shop and a photo studio for
sometime. Recalling his depressing days
Zangpo says, “Having lost one of my
hands, I used to feel inferior and
handicapped to others and therefore I
often used to think of doing something
exceptional to prove myself second to
none”.
Zangpo gradually developed interest
and passion for songs and music. With
loans and supports from his friends, he
produced his first audio song cassette in
2002. After taking a three month music
Epilogue Ø
53 ×
April 2009
R E POR T
Films in Ladakh
course in Chandigarh, he brought out his
first video album ETCHES in 2004. It was
around the time when video album
culture was flourishing at a fast speed
in Leh. But today piracy with VCDs
seems to have affected video albums
badly. Today Zangpo is a scriptwriter,
producer and a lyrics and music
composer. Till today he has composed
over 80 songs lyrics with their music
besides making films and albums. The
Himalayan Film Studio today makes
documentary films as well. The recent
'Living with Change' a documentary film
by the WWF on Climate Change and
Global Warming was made at the
Himalayan Film Studio.
 CUL TURE
Valentine’s Day

Red Faces, Crimson Roses

and Pink Panties

W
hen you see the image of a
heart with an arrow stuck
through it on Valentine's Day,
don't be surprised if the arrow is not of
cupid. It probably is the arrow shot by
the Sangh Parivar or one of the many
groups who protest against Valentine's
Day.

So what is the whole fuss about? Why is

this day celebrated and after whom?
There are many famous legends about
St Valentine after whom the
Valentine's Day is celebrated, the most
popular one being about his
conducting marriages of young lovers
in secret in third century Rome. Every
year, 14th February draws different
responses from different sections of
our society. Youngsters in urban areas
flock to restaurants which have
candle-lit dinners accompanied with
romantic music, exchange roses and
Card shops are full of soft toys and
chocolates.
India post 1991 saw liberalization
bringing in many products from the
west, and also values and traditions of
the west. So in came Mcdonalds,
Benetton, English slang words and
Valentine's Day. In the last few years,
the commercialization of this day by
means of cards, chocolates and
stuffed toys and the hype created by
various offers, events and media made
RENU POKHARNA it a big occasion along the lines of
other major festivals celebrated in
India.
Around this time, the Muslim rightist
organizations as well as 'swadeshi'
organizations like the Bajrang Dal.
Shiv Sena and the latest Sri Ram Sene
started organizing protests against
this 'cultural import'. Other than the
Bajrang Dal, specific to Kashmir, the
Islamic group Dukhtaran-e-Millat or
Daughters of the Community,
Kashmir's only women's separatist
group is also known for its fiercely
conservative social views.
Protests are marked by activities
ranging from burning down Valentine's
Day cards and shouting slogans of
'Down with Valentine's Day', to beating
up of youngsters found to be
celebrating this day, among other
activities. These hardliners get more
creative every year.

Epilogue Ø
54 ×
April 2009

This year was no different, in an
extreme case, a brother and sister duo
in Ujjain were chased and harassed by 4
Bajrang Dal activists who were later
arrested by the police. In another brutal
case, a sub-inspector of Haryana police
was suspended after he allegedly beat
up a couple after dragging them out of
their house. Already, nearly 600
activists of the Shri Ram Sene, Bajrang
Dal, Shiv Sena and other fringe groups in
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi
were taken into preventive custody on
Friday, the 13th.
In an incident that made a mockery of a
group threatening to get couples married
on Valentine's Day, a couple purposely got
caught and were married by a Hindu
priest in the presence of the Bajrang Dal.
Little did the activists know that the irony
was on them since the couple wanted to
get married but their families were not
ready to accept it!
In other cities, faces were blackened,
heads shaved off of young men found
celebrating February 14 th, and in a
bizarre cases, donkeys with
Valentine's Day cards on their backs
were paraded and the cards later set
on fire by the extremist groups. A
group of girls in Patna even offered
flowers to the photo of Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar for developing the state
of Bihar.
Even Rajya Sabha members couldn't
resist bringing this day up during the
course of proceedings on 13th as many
members demanded a ban on right-wing
groups which were acting like the
'Indian Taliban'. Brinda Karat (CPM) said
that the Centre should take steps to
ensure safety of young people on the
Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day in Jammu and Kashmir
Valentine's Day in Jammu and Kashmir
this time was different, other than the
usual moral policing done by Dukhtaran-
e-Millat and some other groups and
some low-key celebrations, this year
saw a unique initiative by the
Socialistic Democratic Party. The SDP
activists celebrated Feb 14 th as "Indo-
Pak Love and Peace Day" and
gathered on the banks of the river
Chenab at the border town of
Akhnoor where they sent dozens of
boats filled with messages of peace
and decorated with balloons and
flowers across the border. The river
flows into Pakistan. "We return the
guns sent by you and send you flowers
of love and peace", a placard read.
The boats also contained letters
written by victims of violence and
terrorism from the entire state sent
as a symbolical gesture which will
later be handed over to the Pakistan
High Commissioner at New Delhi.
Meanwhile, in Jammu, many shops
remained opened till late as people
preferred to give flowers at the
stroke of midnight. The Jammu police
claimed that their officers in plain
clothes were deployed around the
city to prevent any mischief.
Incidents of burning of Valentine's
Day cards and flowers was reported
from many parts of the city, with Shiv
Sena (Hindustan) being held
responsible for this. Their leader
claimed that this was a Western
gimmick to increase sales and against
the rich 'Dogri culture.
In Srinagar, it was Asiya Andrabi on her
rounds as usual flanked by 3 other
activists of the DeM, who raided the city
Epilogue Ø
55 ×
April 2009
CUL TURE
Valentine’s Day
centre, Lal Chowk and also conducted a
series of surprise raids on restaurants,
internet cafes and card shops. DeM
claims that Valentine's Day is unIslamic
and for the last four years has been
organizing such protests across the city,
which actually resulted in an automatic
restraint on part of the youth of the
valley when it came to celebrating the
day.
But perhaps, Asiya and other activists
are missing the economic opportunity
that might be there for the people of J
and K during Valentine's Day. J and K
can actually give competition to the
state of Himachal Pradesh when it
comes to making money on Valentine's
Day by the sale of flowers. Apparently,
this year, floriculturists in HP made a
huge fortune by exporting carnations
and other flowers to Chandigarh, Delhi,
Ludhiana and Dehradun. Due to the
right kind of terrain and climate, the
farmers in HP reap huge profits on
cultivation of flowers. Figures estimate
yearly earnings of Rs 220 million.
The Civil Society Campaigns – A
novelty this year
All over India, more than love being
celebrated, it was freedom which the
youth wanted to celebrate, freedom to
follow what they believe in. And to
defend this freedom, more groups
around India this year decided to do
more than just buy roses for Valentine's
Day. The Valentine's Day this year saw
the power of civil society initiatives
supported by technology that bridged
across distances in the form of the 'Pink
Chaddi' Campaign. The campaign
started on 'facebook' as a 'Consortium of
Pub-Going, Loose and Forward Women'
and turned into a full-fledged medium

of protest when the group called for a
nationwide campaign of sending Mr
Pramod Muthalik 'pink underwear' on
Valentine's Day. Notably, Mr Muthalik's
Shri Ram Sene group gained notoriety
after manhandling and beating up
women in Mangalore pub as they
considered women drinking liquor
'against Indian culture'.
The group's campaign received an
enthusiastic response from all over the
country as parcels of pink underwear
landed in the group's office in Hubli. In
retaliation, one of the group's members
said at first they had thought of sending
the same panties to an orphanage, but
would now burn them as they carried
vulgar slogans. Notably, the Sene called
off protests in Bangalore stating that
they had information of some
miscreants creating disruptions on
Valentine's Day and then blaming their
group for it.
Other groups that organized such
protests in different ways were Youth
for Equality, All India Confederation of
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and
the Northeast Support Centre in New
Delhi which organized peaceful protests
and symbolically celebrated the day.
There were also groups like the Earth
Saviours Foundation and the Delhi unit
of the National Panthers Party who
played the knights in shining armours to
hapless couples by rescuing them from
harassment by the moral vigilantes. A
group of Eunuchs also joined in
equipped with pepper spray and chilly
powder to keep the protestors away
from couples.
Police was deployed at possible targets for
the fundamentalists like malls,
multiplexes, parks, and other public
places.
CUL TURE
Valentine’s Day
How right are the right-wing groups?
The arguments cited by these groups
Now
against the Valentine's Day fall flat in
the face of teeming globalization, it is
like a group of Luddites refusing to be
even tolerant of the change in culture.
Telling
The Shiv Sena calls for 'civilized love and
affection'; ironically the Shiv Sena is
named after Lord Shiva, whose 'shivling'
The J&K
(Phallus) is worshipped throughout the
state of Maharashtra. The Dukhtaran-e-
Millat leaders call these celebrations as
Stories
against Islamic teachings.
If these groups really want to 'save the
public places' and 'protect their
Epilogue
because there is more to know
culture', maybe they should spend more
time catching those who write their
names on monuments, or spit and litter
Contact
the parks, but that doesn't figure on any
of their manifestoes! Culturally, maybe
they should become more aware about
the openness of the culture that they ABDULLAH NEWS AGENCY
are trying to protect. The sculptures of Lal Chowk, Srinagar
Khajuraho and many other temples in 9419074859
India are a good example to begin with.
There is nothing 'uncultured' or 'western'
about these beautiful sculptures
RAINA NEWS AGENCY
depicting various sexual positions.
Residency Road, Jammu
This moral policing only serves one
purpose - that of getting some publicity.
But it serves as a reminder to all of us to ABC STATIONERS AND
the amount of intolerance in our DISTRIBUTORS
society. As India embraces the global Leh
economy, cultural imports are bound to
be there. Valentine's Day and Halloween
are not celebrated by many in India, but CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
those who do, should be allowed this
New Delhi
freedom of expression. No single group can
decide what is good and bad for the whole
of Indian culture. India is a vast country
with many linkages outside and also OXFORD BOOK STORE
diverse within, this is what makes the New Delhi, Mumbai,
Indian mosaic beautiful. A few elements Calcutta, Bangalore,
like this shouldn't be given the right to Chennai & Goa
dictate terms for the whole society.
Epilogue Ø
56 ×
April 2009
J&K J&K
AC ES AC ES
ADEM
Y OF ART CULTURE & LANG
UAG ADEM
Y OF ART CULTURE & LANG
UAG

Celebration of
Cultural Exuberance

J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.