Kashmir - Think the Unthinkable

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

India proposes Oct 1 for start of LoC trade​

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday suggested Pakistan open the Srinagar-Muzafarabad route for trade from October 1.

India also expressed its willingness to open new routes to boost trade across the Line of Control (LoC). "Our proposal for opening the LoC trade from October 1 has been forwarded to Pakistan and we are awaiting their response. Necessary steps will be taken as soon as we receive Pakistan's response," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in an interview with the All India Radio.

When asked whether the recent political upheaval in Kashmir had forced the government to consider opening the Srinagar-Muzafarabad route, Mukherjee said, "It has nothing to do with the contemporary events." Talks on this proposal had been going on for quite some time, he added.

Without giving any details, the minister said “we are also thinking of new routes" as a confidence building measure. He claimed that the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan had resumed. The two countries have had four rounds of talks so far. "I do hope the fifth round of the composite dialogue will also be concluded successfully."

Referring to the political unrest in Pakistan, he said India wants peace, stability and development in "all our neighbouring countries, including Pakistan".

Mukherjee favoured resumption of talks with the Kashmiri separatists and Hurriyat leaders, but added it was for the Indian-held Kashmir governor and the Home Ministry to decide whom to invite.

On holding of elections in Kashmir, the minister said, "I would not make any value judgment because it is essentially the domain of the Election Commission.”

The Indian government also proposed to Pakistan entry permits for members of the divided families of Kashmir and joint projects in tourism, environment and forestry in the two Kashmirs to boost the peace process. "Automatic permit for senior citizens and the strengthening of cultural interaction across the LoC are other confidence building measures proposed to the Pakistan government," highly placed government sources said.

"We have been pursuing these issues for quite some time. However, there has been positive response from Pakistan, " the sources said. The matter was still being pursued, he added. Referring to the resumption of the cargo service across the LoC, the sources said that the two sides had exchanged the lists of commodities for trade.

India wanted the service to start as soon as possible. However, Pakistan had raised some objections that could be settled mutually, the sources said. They said India had submitted to Pakistan a list of 14 items for import, including precious stones, Namdas and embroidery works. Similarly 23 items, including carpets, rugs and shawls, had been short-listed for export across the LoC. Sources said India had also suggested Pakistan open the Jammu-Sialkot Road. The proposal was not accepted by Islamabad, sources said, "This shows India’s eagerness to remove problems caused by the divide and usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the area.” nni

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Good news here.

 

[Spring Onion]

15 injured in fresh clashes in Kashmir

Press Trust Of India
Srinagar, September 07, 2008
First Published: 19:49 IST(7/9/2008)
Last Updated: 19:52 IST(7/9/2008)

Print



At least 15 people, including 10 policemen, were injured as fresh clashes erupted on Sunday between security forces and protesters after the killing of a youth in police firing in the Kashmir Valley.

"Police fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse stone-pelting mobs in various parts of Srinagar where authorities deployed police and CRPF personnel in strength to maintain law and order," officials said.

"Ten policemen and CRPF personnel suffered injuries in stone pelting incidents by groups of teenagers and youth at Nowhatta, Zamp Kadal, Gujralbal, Chattabal and Safakadal," a police spokesman said on Sunday evening.

He said police and CRPF personnel exercised utmost restrain to avoid civilian casualty.

However, official sources said five youth were also injured in the clashes which continued throughout the day despite incessant rains.

The clashes started at Maisuma in the heart of the city and its adjoining areas including Red Cross, Kokerbazar, Madina chowk and Nai Sadak in the morning and later spread to various downtown and uptown localities, disrupting normal life, the sources said.

Javid Iqbal was killed when he was hit by a rubber bullet during a clash between police and protesters at Nowhatta following a general strike called by separatists in support of their demand for right to self-determination on Saturday.

The Coordination Committee of separatists had, however, asked people to resume normal activities from Sunday. But shops and business establishments were forced to down their shutters by youths who visited various markets to enforce a strike to protest against the killing.

15 injured in fresh clashes in Kashmir- Hindustan Times

 

[Spring Onion]

Azadi no solution for J&K, says Omar
8 Sep 2008, 0324 hrs IST,TNN

NEW DELHI: National Conference president Omar Abdullah has ruled out Azadi as a solution to the Kashmir problem and said the recent street protests in Valley were spontaneous.

"ISI and Pakistan had no role in it," he said in an interview with a private TV channel.

"What happened was a spontaneous eruption arising out of the fear that the economic blockade brought into people's minds. Let's not forget, even in the worst of times never was there an effort to cut off Kashmir economically from the rest of the country," he said and added that it sparked off the reaction. "The protests are an upheaval of people's pent up simmering anger," he said.

Omar said Azadi wasn't in the Kashmiris' interest. "It's not a viable alternative to suggest Azadi or even accession to Pakistan," he said. "I believe you can give Kashmir independence but you cannot give it freedom under the circumstances that prevail within the subcontinent. Even if India and Pakistan were somehow to decide to give the state independence, it will never be really free."

He said Kashmiris continue to remain alienated. "Children from good English missionary schools are out on top of the buses screaming: Hum kya chahte hain, azadi , Kashmir banega Pakistan. What more do you want to see; I think that is an indication of the alienation," he said.

Speaking about the wider Kashmir problem, Omar said Kashmir needed political handling and not economic reconstruction packages and confidence building measures.
Azadi no solution for J&K, says Omar-India-The Times of India

 

[Asian.Century]

REFERENDUM, REFERENDUM, REFERENDUM !!

 

[Spade]

What's up with this asian union guy? been reviving all old posts??

 

[kinsr]

What's up with this asian union guy? been reviving all old posts??

he is the Bilawal of PDF..

 

[Asian.Century]

he is the Bilawal of PDF..

Haha. Y Indians feel so much heat from me.

 

[ito]

REFERENDUM, REFERENDUM, REFERENDUM !!

let us first have a referendum for creation of pakistan, then we can think of kashhhhhhmir

 

[Soulspeek]

Desperate pathetic troll getting orgasms by reviving 5-6 year old threads.

 

[kinsr]

Haha. Y Indians feel so much heat from me.

na bhai hum to marey jaa rahe hain has has ke Bilawal ke Chu&.%*pe par.. Bina sar pair ki batein karne mein soorma hain..

 

[Trev]

Naga Regiment should be sent to Kashmir for some beheadings!

 

[Green Arrow]

Old thread

Naga Regiment should be sent to Kashmir for some beheadings!
View attachment 128239

Why Naga regiment, one modi with AK47 is fine, i guess