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Monday, December 17, 2012

Cross-LoC civil society dialogue concludes, 11 point resolution adopted

DAILY EXCELSIOR
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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.      
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Monday, December 3, 2012

Europe, Not Euro, May Break Apart - Lessons for Kashmir

Europe, Not Euro, May Break Apart
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Monday, November 12, 2012

Senate body now says Pakistan has six provinces

Senate body now says Pakistan has six provinces - thenews.com.pk
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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Listen to Farooq Sheikh talk Kashmir

Listen to Farooq Sheikh Lastupdate:- Wed, 7 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Confusing times!

Confusing times!
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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Why can't Kashmir be independent?

Why can't Kashmir be independent?
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Politicizing Amarnath

Politicizing Amarnath Lastupdate:- Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly passes resolution to make GB province

Gilgit-Baltistan assembly passes resolution to make GB province
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

A Date with the Political History of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

A Date with the Political History: Azad Jammu and Kashmir | Scoop News
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Friday, August 24, 2012

India clamps down on Kashmir’s online dissenters

India clamps down on Kashmir’s online dissenters -- New Internationalist
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Monday, August 20, 2012

Imagining Switzerland in Kashmir at the Hague (1999)

FDL - AP Archives: "Hague Appeal for Peace Kashmir Proposal"
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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Lost Boys of the Line of Control - NYTimes.com

Lost Boys of the Line of Control - NYTimes.com
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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

'Zurich-on-the-Jhelum'


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Kashmiris protest outside Olympics venue in London

Kashmiris protest outside Olympics venue - thenews.com.pk
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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Denied freedom to travel, Kashmiris knock UN door

Denied freedom to travel, Kashmiris knock UN door
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Young minds churn out roadmaps for K resolution

Young minds churn out roadmaps for K resolution Lastupdate:- Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
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Monday, June 11, 2012

Divided families urge India, Pakistan to leave Kashmir

Divided families urge India, Pakistan to leave Kashmir
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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Mirpur intra-J&K meet calls for peaceful resolution UNSG help sought for withdrawal of forces on both sides

Mirpur intra-J&K meet calls for peaceful resolution UNSG help sought for withdrawal of forces on both sides
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Saturday, May 12, 2012

Indian army says no to AFSPA revocation

Army says no to partial AFSPA revocation
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Open Letter Demanding the Release of Baba Jan Hunzai

Please sign the petition:

Open Letter Demanding the Release of Baba Jan Hunzai
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Friday, April 27, 2012

Resolve Kashmir issue peacefully: UN chief - India News - IBNLive

Resolve Kashmir issue peacefully: UN chief - India News - IBNLive
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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.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Prime Minister Nehru interview on Kashmir


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Monday, March 5, 2012

Representative Role of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government?

Representative Role of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government | Scoop News
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Sunday, February 5, 2012

Maqbool Bhatt: The life and struggle of an imprisoned Kashmiri martyr

Maqbool Bhatt: The life and struggle of an imprisoned Kashmiri martyr | Dadyal Azad Kashmir News
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Issues Facing British Muslims of Kashmiri Heritage Born & Bred in the UK

The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies
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Monday, January 30, 2012

Revisiting an effort to save Maqbool Bhatt

I was tried in court but sentenced by politicians Qayyum Raja Lastupdate:- Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
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Sunday, January 8, 2012

Ownership-building measures for Kashmir

Richard Bonney's South Asian Security Blog: Ownership-building measures for Kashmir
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