Perhaps Jammu and Kashmir's first ownership-building exercise.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Quayyum Raja's Press Briefing on Istanbul Tour
Prominent Kashmiri columnist, political activist and reformist Quayyum Raja has said in his press briefing on his return from Istanbul, that Turkey has made remarkable ecomonic and political achievements for which the main credit goes to the ruling AK or Justice and Development Party, led by the Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Quayyum Raja, who was on a research tour met with Erol Adayilmaz, the ruling party's Head of Foreign Affairs at his office in Istanbul. Quayyum Raja described Erol Adayilmaz as a sharp and articulate young Turkish leader, who said education, health and economic improvement are the top priorities of his party, which is the vision of the Prime Minister Erdogan.
Quayyum Raja said these were not just claims but facts backed up by the national budget, respectively allocated for each sector. The AKP government believes that the nation has to be educated and healthy in order to make progress. The discussion between the two men featured a discussion on the Ottoman Empire, its rise and fall, the Turkish War of Independence led by Kemal Ataturk, the ruling party's 2023 vision, Turkish Diplomacy, Kashmir, Palestine including regional and international issues such as Turkey's relationship with the EU, the Muslim World and Turkey's economic development. Quayyum Raja said he was most impressed by Turkey's rising confidence and self-reliant national spirit, which makes a nation respectable in the eyes of other nations.
The most important aspect of Turkish economic development according to Mr. Raja is, the fact that the Turkish economy is the result of the Turkish people's hard work and large production and export rather than exploitation of smaller nations like some other powers. He described the Turkish people as highly positive, productive, disciplined, organised, hospitable and dignified having strong Islamic and national spirit. He visited amongst others, Istanbul University and it's professors, Chairman TUMSIAD Dr. Hassan Sert and his staff, the daily 'Hurriyet' newspaper and it's Foreign Desk Editor Ms. Turan, some NGOs and students.
He said he always loved the Turkish people and his fresh discoveries and experiences led him to respect them as well. Quayyum Raja, who is also writing a diary on his tour was asked how he would sum up his diary and he said: "The Turks believe in making products themselves for their own use. Import less and export more. No compromise on quality of production and discipline." Of Turkey's future role he said, Turkey has the capacity and pedigree to lead the Muslim world, because the Turkish people are not arrogant but compassionate and co-operative. The diary is likely to come out soon.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Seeking the advice of the UN's Political Affairs Department in crossing the LOC
To: United
Nations Secretariat - Department of Political Affairs
Subject:
Freedom of Movement and
Non-Violent Struggle to Achieve
Political Objectives in AJK (Pakistani-administered Kashmir)
Date: Friday
27/04/12
Having lived most of my life in the ‘democratic world’ (viz.
UK) coupled with the opportunity of covering conflict zones (Iraq, Afghanistan)
as a journalist - equipped me somewhat to work on civil society development in
my native region – which I’ve been carrying out un-interrupted since April
2005.
In reference to the subject title, over the past few weeks
I’ve been privy to the preparation of a student organisation (namely JKNSF –
Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation) to peacefully resist the bilateral
manner in which the past, present and future status of our divided territory is
being decided by India and Pakistan. They find it equally disturbing that the
international community has appeared to treat our dispute as one of conflicting
sovereign territorial claims rather than as a question of the freedom of it’s
inhabitants.
Accepting that matters on the Indian-administered side are to be decided
between the citizens that live there and the Government of India; matters on
this side indicate a clear desire on the part of citizens here to be
independent and to re-unite the divided territory (as it was under the
Maharajah, albeit with a democratic framework). This is of course subject to
the will of the people living in each part of the divided territory (viz.
Gilgit Baltistan, Ladakh, the Kashmir Valley and Jammu)
In order for a genuine democratic process to emerge, it is
essential that un-hindered people to people contact is realised forthwith. To
date, JKNSF has engaged in peaceful resistance to the LOC and solidarity with the
Valley of Kashmir in 1990 and with Gilgit Baltistan in 2007. On each occasion two
of our citizens perished. On this occasion, emphasis is on interaction between
the divided province of Jammu (part of which makes up AJK), hence their slogan:
Chalo Chalo Jammu Chalo (Come, let’s go to Jammu). Given Pakistan’s insistence
on the 2 nation theory (creating a wedge between us and our Hindu/Sikh compatriots
living in Jammu), JKNSF’s attempt to cross the LOC tomorrow (28/04/12) also
reminds us of this day in 1949 when a couple of our politicians (without due
public process) formerly handed over all public affairs of AJK and Gilgit
Baltistan to the Government of Pakistan. This was despite UNCIP giving these
matters to the AJK Government which it recognised as a ‘Local Authority’.
Our citizens recognise Pakistan’s need for water and even
it’s defence concerns but that doesn’t give them carte blanche to control each
and every aspect of our territory - without a legal and constitutional basis –
in their favour and at the cost of our freedom, well-being and sanity. JKNSF
finds no explicit moral or legal obligation to remain divided from it’s
compatriots across the LOC and neither does it find any legal basis for the
Pakistani State’s prevention/interference of their cadre’s peaceful march from
various cities of AJK to Seri (Khuiratta).
They
seek the opinion of your good office.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
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