CPEC is a Holy Cow for China and Pakistan

By Tariq Rizwan

Though, I know very little about the CPEC project in terms of statistical data and share of provinces, regions and other drawbacks. Indeed, the negative article of Dr Shabir Choudhary published in Asian News International (ANI) on 15 Dec 2016 has moved me to write some goods of the project as well. No doubt, he has highlighted some good points which may help in overcoming the risks of the project in future; giving more share to AJK and FATA adjoining the insurgency hit KP province but overall, his articles are extremely negative. He has tried to project himself as resident of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and a sympathizer of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). But in actuality, he has tried to present CPEC as a disastrous project for Pakistan in general due to 7% high interest rates of the cost or loan worth $45.6 billion in general and GB in particular. His claim is based on similar theme being propagated in Baluchistan’s context that it will change the local demography and affect the pollution free environment. He failed to appreciate that the landlocked GB will benefit a lot from the project. The project is likely to kick off economic activities in the area.

Dr Shabir Choudhary is probably looking at CPEC project with the Indian prism. We don’t know whether this man is existing in UK or not but his writings are perceived in Indian perspective. The RAW paid lobby is quite active abroad and mostly writing anti CPEC themes since the project’s inception with the aim to undermine the project. His write-ups seem to be an effort to distance Jammu & Kashmir or GB from Pakistan. Indeed, his positive criticism is being welcomed in Pakistan.

CPEC is not a new road rather it is an extension of the existing road network linking Gwadar with Kashgar via GB to transform it into an economic corridor, combining the warm waters with Western and eventually Eastern China under the latter’s One Road, One Belt (OBOR) policy. It is the up-gradation of existing infrastructure all along the route including industrial estate, energy resources, port facilities and hospitals etcetera.

China has made enormous advancement in the fields of capital reserves, industry and information technology. Beijing has the money, expertise and cheap labour.  History has proved that China is the most sincere neighbor in Pakistan’s case and keen to see Pakistan progress as well. Hence, China is pushing its companies to collaborate with Pakistani government and companies to see the dream of CPEC materialize at the earliest. As a result, Chinese companies have now started gobbling up with private bankrupt mills and factories hoping to utilize the cheap assets themselves. So there is a win-win situation for both Beijing and Islamabad.

The only drawback seems to be economic influence that China will have in Pakistan which is tantamount to inviting Indian anger and people are a bit weary. But that is only a fear which can be checked. The anti-CPEC lobby is comparing the centuries old British East India Company and subsequent British colonialism in India. This is 21st century and people of Pakistan are quite aware of their rights. International economists and observers have already termed the project as a “game changer”. They do not see any economic influence of China as a bad thing. We would rather have the Chinese here than anyone else.

Pakistan is virgin territory and need badly the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). China Mobile’s first foreign investment has been operating in Pakistan since years. Chinese universities are offering scholarship to Pakistani students and they are running various educational programmes for Pakistanis. China is also building its largest embassy in the world in Islamabad due to the scale of what they have in mind for the region. Like Saudi Arabia and UAE, China is given preference in investments into the country which is why things would be much smoother for them than for anyone else.

The only problem that CPEC is facing is that Pakistan has so far not developed a broad based partnership with the neighboring countries. For the CPEC to seed future Chinese investment, Pakistan has to develop a more organic strategy to ensure internal security. No influx of capital is possible without peace and security. Pakistan has to shift some more capital for the early completion the linked projects. Pakistan and China have to develop some more understanding in the fields of culture, language, information technology etcetera to make their strategic partnership a meaningful one. Pakistan needs to overcome all possible bureaucratic hurdles and undertake economic and legal reforms to fully realize the benefits of CPEC without wasting any time. At the movement, China is not paying due importance to economic importance of CPEC as China has failed to remove the Indian hurdle for the time being. The China – Pakistan strategic partnership is damaging Pakistan relations with neighboring India and Afghanistan. It is feared that Pakistan will be economically overburdened burdened with CPEC. China may help improving Pakistan relations as well as help in installing coal plants in Pakistan. The latter may convince China not to charge interest on any money that is paid directly to Chinese contractors.

As projected by Dr Shabir Choudhry, CPEC is not a risky game changer. His classical “googly” can be transformed into a lovely hit to enable the impoverished region see the day of development and prosperity. No one will be allowed to look at CPEC with any Indian, regional, religious or any other dark prism which are emotionally more charged.

The problems of economic cost which Pakistan is supposed to pay back in future like higher interest, giving share to deprived areas like GB, AJK, FATA as pointed by the writer may be considered by the government of Pakistan to enable the populace of these areas bear the  fruits of the project.

Indian Conspiracy of Communal Violence in Baluchistan

By Tariq Rizwan

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is considered by the analysts as a game changer for the region in general and Pakistan in particular. Both China and Pakistan, the two friendly neighbors, are committed to complete the project according to the plan. The basic CPEC route is passing through Gilgit-Biltistan (GB), Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan. Gwadar and Kashghar, China will be connected through road infrastructure, railway line, air trafficking and is likely to usher a new era of development and prosperity in the area. CPEC has enhanced biased the geostrategic importance of Pakistan manifold. China is keen to have a direct and shortest access link to Middle East, Europe and Africa through its One Border One Road (OBOR) strategy. The strategically located Baluchistan due to its peripheral Gwadar Port has, therefore, become a gateway. It is a linking point for China, South Asia, Central Asian Republic (CARs), Russia to reach out to the Warm Water, Middle East and beyond. Out of the huge financial, economic and social benefits, the provinces of Baluchistan and KP will be the top beneficiaries. These two provinces will be flocked with local and foreign investors and will create huge opportunities for its people.

Despite its unprecedented benefits, the hostile powers are not ready to digest the project and deprive the region from its benefits. Arch rival India is bent upon undermining the project. By following a destructive agenda against CPEC, Modi regime is trying to deprive the poor masses of the region of the fruits of the project in the long run. After initial failures to exploit GB issue and Baluch militancy, the strategy and tactics have been changed to destabilize Baluchistan with the aim to hinder the timely completion of the project. This time, the focus is on minorities living peacefully in Baluchistan since ages. Zikri community is their prime target who are inhibiting parts of Baluchistan and Sindh provinces; Gwadar, Turbat, Lasbela and Karachi. The enemy is propagating the theme in religious circles that Zikris are not Muslims and should be treated like Ahmadis or Qadianis. Moreover, that ethnic Baluch have been deprived, enslaved and will never get any benefit from the project. Rather, they will be converted into a minority in their own homeland and their mineral resources will be exploited for the Punjabis.

The Zikiris inhibited areas in Makran Division of Baluchistan are strategic both in terms of geographic location and natural resources. Like Ismaili community, Zikris also consider Gwadar as their holly place where their religion had originated. The enemy’s nefarious aim is to create communal and religious rifts in these areas and ultimately slow down the progress on CPEC in these areas. Therefore, ridiculous and disturbing literature and video clips are being circulated on net to invite the wrath of religious communities. Disgruntled elements among Zikris are also being used to generate anger in the community for making their traditions and beliefs controversial.

But the fact is that CPEC is destined to be completed in time. Baluch are for the first time in the history, bound to reap maximum benefits. In case if the enemy succeeds, there will be a dangerous situation where a brother will be pitched up with another brother and one Baloch tribe will be pitched against another one. People of Baluchistan will suffer the most. Indeed, Baluch are aware of such designs and have already dispelled the nefarious design of self – exiled Baluch disgruntled elements on several occasions who are playing in the hands of foreign hostile forces.

Though in the initial stage, the $ 46 billion CPEC is a huge one, never experienced in the region. The project is attracting a huge investment from inside Pakistan and from abroad. Several extra regional countries from far abroad like Norway, Germany, France, Russia.etc are keen to become part of the upcoming economic boom. They are investing their money in CPEC because of its huge potentials.

RAW Funded Anti-Pakistan Squad Re-Surfaced

Sarah Khan

Remaining silent for a short span, the well known anti-Pakistan squad has resurfaced in Brookings, Newsweek, Indian Express and War on the Rocks churning out RAW sponsored propaganda against Pakistan. This time again Bruce Reidel, Hussain Haqqani and Christine Fair did not make any serious effort to change the content of their writings. In their respective articles they have published same old propaganda material with a new heading to get widespread attention in international media. Without any reasonable logic these writers have lost their reputation as seasoned writers due to their malicious baseless propaganda against Pakistan and its Armed Forces.

The content of writings by Hussain Haqqani and Christine Fair entirely contradicts ground realities. Due to their malicious writings, the National Defense University of Washington DC has removed their names from list of guest speakers. The only country where they can freely express their views is India. All three writers are occasionally found in various seminars/ conferences in New Delhi and Mumbai where they are found churning venomous propaganda against Pakistan.

These writers are busy in foiling fake stories and exaggerating events/ happenings in order to implement Modi’s dream of Pakistan’s international isolation. Christine Fair in her article titled, “Pakistan’s Unending War on Civil Society”, repeated that “Pakistani civil society has borne the brunt of the state’s predations for decades.  Since 2005, ethnic dissidents have renewed their insurgency in the western province of Balochistan”. She also repeated the content of her previous article published in Huffington Post, “Pakistan’s War on Scholars”. Similarly, paid by his RAW masters, Hussain Haqqani peddled the idea of accepting India’s regional hegemony. In his article, “Zero Sum Game is Up”, articulated that “If all of Pakistan’s friends are befriending India, perhaps it is time to give up the mantra of permanent enemy and come to terms with new regional and global realities”.

Similarly, Bruce Reidel in his article, “How Will Trump Handle a Pakistan’s Surprise”, has given a summary of his previous writings suggesting ban on US assistance to Pakistan for dismantling terrorism and militancy. He did not dilate upon likely Trump’s policies towards Pakistan. Though these writers continue to get their venomous propaganda published in leading international dailies, but the RAW funded squad has lost their credibility for their irrational continuous Pakistan bashing without any logic or ground realities.

The thermonuclear secrets of Challakere

By Waqar Ahmed

The US Foreign Policy magazine had recently reported that India had built two top-secret facilities in Karnataka to enrich uranium in pursuit of its hydrogen bomb plans. Ostensibly, at Challakere, Karnataka, South Asia’s largest military-run complex of nuclear centrifuges, atomic-research laboratories and weapons and aircraft-testing facilities, the stated aims of the project are to “expand the government's nuclear research, to produce fuel for India's nuclear reactors, and to help power the country's fleet of new submarines.”

However, international experts, especially Adrian Levy, believe, “this new facility will give India a nuclear capability -- the ability to make many large-yield nuclear arms -- that most experts say it presently lacks.”

Levy further says that another of the project's aim is “to give India an extra stockpile of enriched uranium fuel that could be used in new hydrogen bombs, also known as thermonuclear weapons, substantially increasing the explosive force of those in its existing nuclear arsenal.”

Another nuclear expert, Robert Kelley, after extensive research, has declared that India was pursuing a larger thermonuclear arsenal, which is the most lethal weapon in history. He warned that its development “will inevitably usher in a new nuclear arms race” in the region.

Robert Kelley has been a former project leader for nuclear intelligence at Los Alamos and also served as the director of the Iraq Action Team at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He was quoted by a report as saying that “having analyzed the available satellite imagery, as well as studying open source material on both sites, he believed that India was pursuing a larger thermonuclear arsenal. He warned that its development will inevitably usher in a new nuclear arms race in a volatile region.”

Similarly, a former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction, Gary Samore, has stated: “I believe that India intends to build thermonuclear weapons as part of its strategic deterrent against China.”

The Chinese had successfully tested a thermonuclear weapon in 1967 and have reportedly improved on its design. Earlier, India also claimed to have detonated a thermonuclear bomb on May 11, 1998 in the so-called Operation Shakti-1. However, most analysts, including Indian themselves, have questioned the yield of the test and many believe it was an utter failure. The director of the test site preparations admitted that the yield of the thermonuclear explosion was lower than expected and it had fizzled.

So far, few in the international media and strategic experts have noticed the threat and strategic implications posed to the region by new Indian facilities at Challakere. There has been silence on the Indian government’s front, with no explanations how the highly enriched uranium produced at the site will be used. Also, few people in the US and Europe truly understand about the storage of Indian weapons, how they are transported and secured.

It should be noted that the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit organization that is headquartered in Washington, had put India’s nuclear security practices at the 23rd spot among 25 countries in January 2014. That was only above Iran and DPRK. With this kind of track record, the rationale forwarded by supporters for India’s NSG membership is mind-boggling, the assertions premature and against the current regional security dynamics.

Indian Republic Day: Observance of Black Day in Kashmir

By Sajjad Shaukat

On the one side, every year, 26th of January, is being celebrated by India as the Republic Day while, on the other side, the day is being observed by the Kahmiris on both side of the Line of Control (LoC) and all over the world, including their Pakistani brethren commemorate as the Black Day in protest against Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir.

This time, the very day has come at time when the people of Kashmir have accelerated their legitimate struggle in the aftermath of the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfews. Since July 8, 2016, Indian forces have martyred more than 150 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani and for liberation of their land.

By manipulating the false flag terror attacks at a military base in Uri and Baramulla, the BJP-led Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also intensified war-hysteria against Pakistan. After deployment of heavy arms and weapons at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces have increased troops and continue shelling in Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir. And Pakistani troops are giving matching response to Indian unprovoked firing across the LoC and are well-prepared for Indian another surgical strikes, as threatened by Indian new army Chief Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhaag. New Delhi’s main aim is to deflect the attention of the international community from the new phase of Kashmiri Intifada, while pressure has been mounting on the Modi government both domestically and internationally to resolve the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan.

However, on January 26, 1930, the Indian National Congress proclaimed the declaration of Independence. Hence this very day was selected as the Republic Day. Although Indian constitution declares India to be a secular and democratic state, yet its subsequent regimes have broken all the records by continuing undemocratic injustices in relation to the Kashmiris.

During the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan according to the British-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was ruling over the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), in connivance with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India.

The design to forcibly wrest Kashmir began to unfold on August 16, 1947, with the announcement of the Radcliffe Boundary Award. It gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into Kashmir. There was a rebellion in the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja and were joined by Pathan tribesmen. Lord Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar.

When Pakistan responded militarily against the Indian aggression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise of holding plebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India-an integral part of the Indian union.

The very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations.

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule.

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries.

In this context, Egbert Jahn in his book, “Kashmir: Flashpoint for a Nuclear War or Even a Third World War?” has pointed out, “The Kashmir conflict is embedded in the wider conflict over the incomplete creation of nations and states on the Indian subcontinent, which during the east-west conflict even threatened at times to escalate into a nuclear world war between Pakistan and the USA on the one side and India and the USSR on the other. Until now, there have been three wars between India and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir: in 1947–49, 1965 and 1999… finally, the Indo-Chinese border war of 1962…after these wars…and could unexpectedly again lead to a regional and under certain circumstances…even a major nuclear war or a Third World War.”

Meanwhile, like the previous year, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the speech of Pakistan’s prime minister, highlighting the Indian atrocities, Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

Nonetheless, by exposing the myth of Indian claim of the largest democracy and double standard of the US-led western countries which still remain silent over the Indian injustices, Kashmiris, living both sides of the LoC observe “Black Day” on January 26 to protest against the Indian illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. On this very day, Pakistanis and Kashmiris across the globe express solidarity with the freedom fighters of Kashmir, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination from India which continues various forms of state terrorism in order to suppress their popular movement. The observance of the Black Day keeps the issue of Kashmir alive.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Indian Republic Day: Observance of Black Day in Kashmir

By Sajjad Shaukat

On the one side, every year, 26the of January, is being celebrated by India as the Republic Day while, on the other side, the day is being observed by the Kahmiris on both side of the Line of Control (LoC) and all over the world, including their Pakistani brethren commemorate as the Black Day in protest against Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir.

This time, the very day has come at time when the people of Kashmir have accelerated their legitimate struggle in the aftermath of the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfews. Since July 8, 2016, Indian forces have martyred more than 150 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani and for liberation of their land.

By manipulating the false flag terror attacks at a military base in Uri and Baramulla, the BJP-led Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also intensified war-hysteria against Pakistan. After deployment of heavy arms and weapons at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces have increased troops and continue shelling in Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir. And Pakistani troops are giving matching response to Indian unprovoked firing across the LoC and are well-prepared for Indian another surgical strikes, as threatened by Indian new army Chief Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhaag. New Delhi’s main aim is to deflect the attention of the international community from the new phase of Kashmiri Intifada, while pressure has been mounting on the Modi government both domestically and internationally to resolve the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan.

However, on January 26, 1930, the Indian National Congress proclaimed the declaration of Independence. Hence this very day was selected as the Republic Day. Although Indian constitution declares India to be a secular and democratic state, yet its subsequent regimes have broken all the records by continuing undemocratic injustices in relation to the Kashmiris.

During the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan according to the British-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was ruling over the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), in connivance with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India.

The design to forcibly wrest Kashmir began to unfold on August 16, 1947, with the announcement of the Radcliffe Boundary Award. It gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into Kashmir. There was a rebellion in the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja and were joined by Pathan tribesmen. Lord Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar.

When Pakistan responded militarily against the Indian aggression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise of holding plebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India-an integral part of the Indian union.

The very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations.

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule.

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries.

In this context, Egbert Jahn in his book, “Kashmir: Flashpoint for a Nuclear War or Even a Third World War?” has pointed out, “The Kashmir conflict is embedded in the wider conflict over the incomplete creation of nations and states on the Indian subcontinent, which during the east-west conflict even threatened at times to escalate into a nuclear world war between Pakistan and the USA on the one side and India and the USSR on the other. Until now, there have been three wars between India and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir: in 1947–49, 1965 and 1999… finally, the Indo-Chinese border war of 1962…after these wars…and could unexpectedly again lead to a regional and under certain circumstances…even a major nuclear war or a Third World War.”

Meanwhile, like the previous year, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the speech of Pakistan’s prime minister, highlighting the Indian atrocities, Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

Nonetheless, by exposing the myth of Indian claim of the largest democracy and double standard of the US-led western countries which still remain silent over the Indian injustices, Kashmiris, living both sides of the LoC observe “Black Day” on January 26 to protest against the Indian illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. On this very day, Pakistanis and Kashmiris across the globe express solidarity with the freedom fighters of Kashmir, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination from India which continues various forms of state terrorism in order to suppress their popular movement. The observance of the Black Day keeps the issue of Kashmir alive.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

RSS Agenda: India, Again, Threatens Surgical Strikes

  

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the aftermath of the terror attack at a military base in Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, India has been deliberately increasing war hysteria against Pakistan in accordance with the agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The situation developed after the Uri base assault has clearly proved that with the help of Indian intelligence agencies, particularly RAW, India has itself arranged the attack not only to defame Pakistan, but also to achieve a number of sinister aims.

After the Uri episode, without any investigation, India’s top civil and military officials, including their media started propaganda against Pakistan by accusing that the militants who target the Uri base came from Pakistan’s side of Azad Kashmir and the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba controlled by  Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were involved in it. Under the mask of the Uri base assault, India started mobilization of troops near the LoC to wage a limited war with Pakistan, while considering surgical strikes on the Azad Kashmir.

New Delhi claimed on September 29, 2016 that it carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC in Pakistani side of Kashmir.

On the other side, in a statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) rejected Indian claims by saying, “There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated by India. Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing across the LoC…the notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian to create false effects…to create media hype by rebranding cross border fire as surgical strike is a fabrication of truth.”

Meanwhile, the representatives of The Washington Post and The New York Times, who visited the villages adjoining LoC in the disputed Kashmir region have reported that the people they met there told them that there were no surgical strikes.

Reports suggest that myth of Indian surgical strikes was exposed. Hence differences existed between the civil and military leadership—as to how cover the falsehood. In this regard, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and country’s former Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhaag had decided to prepare a ‘fake video’ of surgical strikes so as to pacify the Indian public and media.

In this context, Indian Express wrote on October 5, 2016, “Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday attacked BJP even as he continued to face flak from several quarters for suggesting army’s surgical strikes could be “fake” Unfazed by the heat, even from within his party, Nirupam fired a fresh salvo accusing BJP of trying to extract political mileage out of the national security issue with eyes set on ensuing elections in the state to be held next year.”

It is mentionable that since July 8, 2016 against the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfews, Indian forces have martyred more than 150 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani.

In wake of new phase of uprising in the Indian Held Kashmir, pressure on the BJP-led Indian government of Modi has been mounting both domestically and internationally.

But, setting aside the internal and external pressure, days after being named the new Indian Army Chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat said on January 3, this year that so-called “surgical strikes” against Pakistan were meant to deliver a message. While threatening Islamabad, Gen. Bipin Rawat told NDTV in an exclusive interview that the possibility of similar action in the future could not be ruled out by adding, “If there are terrorist bases across and if they continue to disrupt the situation on our side of the Line of Control then we have a right to take action against the terrorists.”

In response, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on January 5, 2016 rejected claims by his Indian counterpart Gen. Bipin Rawat about “so-called surgical strikes” and their possible recurrence.

According to ISPR, Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa made it clear that “Pakistan Armed Forces were fully geared to respond to any aggression by India.”

However, like the BJP-led Modi government, Indian new army chief is also following the RSS agenda which is, the real controller of Indian internal and external policies, based upon anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan approach.

Taking cognizance of various developments such as unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism, persecution of minorities, forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus, ban on beef and cow slaughter, inclusion of Hindu religious books in curriculum and creation of war-like situation with Pakistan, analysts have still been opining that being the leader of the BJP, Indian Prime Minister Modi is implementing the fundamentalist agenda of his party with the support of other Hindu fanatic outfits. But, a Mumbai-based writer, author and lawyer, A. G. Noorani in his article, “Modi’s loyalties,” published in a Pakistan’s leading daily, on October 10, 2015 proved with authentic events and arguments that Hindu fundamentalist party, RSS is the real controller of India and BJP is only a show piece.

In the article, A. G. Noorani said, “It was an unprecedented journey; but caused little surprise. On September 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Nagpur, the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to present himself before the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Almost his entire council of ministers and the BJP’s parliamentary board were there to demonstrate their accountability to the RSS. On Oct 2, a dozen or so junior ministers of state got into a huddle with senior RSS functionaries in New Delhi in what was described as a regular review meeting. A press release issued thereafter revealed: The prime minister said he was proud to be a Swayamsevak and he had reached where he had because of the values he had imbibed as a member of the RSS.”

A. G. Noorani elaborated, “Modi is a lifelong RSS activist (pracharak), having left his family to dedicate himself to the organisation. It, in turn, ensured his rise to the post of the highest executive of the country. The entire exercise was a flagrant violation of the fundamentals of the parliamentary system.”

The writer pointed out, “The BJP general secretary Ram Madhav is an RSS man who was seconded to the BJP along with many others—recently the RSS model is unique. It has a parivar [family] of 40-plus organisations. The RSS is their ideological fountainhead. It is also the BJP’s muscle; it provides the cadres and foot soldiers who are indispensable at election time. Bhagwat disapproves of the personality cult which Modi and his men have built up ever since he became prime minister.”

He wrote, “The stark reality is that the BJP can never be a right-wing party in the traditional sense. Its ideology binds it to the RSS which also controls it organizationally.”

He explained, “The word ‘fascist’ was aptly chosen. As Donald E. Smith says in his classic India as a Secular State—The leader principle, the stress on militarism, the doctrine of racial-cultural superiority, ultra-nationalism infused religious idealism, the use of symbols of past greatness, the emphasis on national solidarity, the exclusion of the religious or ethnic minorities from the nation-concept—all of these features of the RSS are highly reminiscent of fascist movements in Europe. A responsible correspondent reported in August that the RSS membership is growing at 10,000 to 15,000 recruits every month and says it has reached every district except parts of Kashmir and Assam. The RSS influence on governance was obvious when Atal Behari Vajpayee was prime minister. It successfully vetoed Jaswant Singh’s appointment as finance minister. The RSS shadow lurks ominously on issues dear to it. Ram Madhav specifically mentioned Kashmir as one of them; which implies also relations with Pakistan.”

Nevertheless, these new revelations prove that all the extremist parties like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and other extremist outfits including his own ruling party are subsidiaries of the RSS, while under the influence of RSS; Prime Minister Modi has been rapidly radicalizing India.

While, the constitution declares India to be a secular state, granting equal rights to the religious minorities, but in practice, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails. Hindu politics and culture dominated by the fundamentalist parties—under the control of RSS have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative utterances of their extremist leaders have resulted into unending violence against the Muslims and Christians including other minority groups.

In fact, Modi who was also a volunteer worker of the extremist Hindu terrorist outfit RSS since 8 years of age is a natural born Hindu extremist, while RSS involved in Muslim genocide, rape of women, demolition of mosques and alive burnings of the innocent persons.

It is noteworthy that especially, on the basis of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan slogans, BJP got a land sliding triumph in the Indian elections 2014, and enabled BJP hardliner, Narendra Modi to become Indian prime minister who was so far seemed to be implementing his party’s extremist agenda by giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism—not only against other minorities, but also against Pakistan, as under his direction, New Delhi has intensified unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir and Working Boundary across Pak-Indian border. Now, these latest revelations clearly indicate that the Indian Prime Minister Modi follows the instructions of the RSS which is the main decision-making party and real controller of India.

In this respect, some reliable online sources have disclosed that a secret meeting of RSS took place under Mohan Bhagwat, Chief of RSS which was also attended by Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, serving 3^rd term as General Secretary of RSS, Sureshi Sony (Secretary), Krishna Gopat, Majoj Biyani and Dr Subhash Bhambre (Minister of State for Defence). Important details reported about the meeting are—RSS wants BJP to be more aggressive towards Pakistan. Across Line of Control/Working Boundaries/International Boarder operation has been planned against Pakistan in the near future, most likely before UP election to favorably impact the outcome of elections.

These reports also revealed that RSS wants BJP to build Ayodhya Temple after forming government in UP. Prime Minister Modi has made important appointments recently including COAS, RAW and IB Chiefs. BJP/RSS now have their “own men” to lead these organizations.

Modi with ambitious newly appointed Chief’s and DGMO may resort to some limited action against Pakistan which can be used for political gains through inflated projection. Possibility of a “False Flag” act of violence followed by a limited cross LOC/WB/IB action by Special Forces or infantry will be high until the elections are over.

Indian new army chief has been portrayed as an expert of “Surgical Strikes” to domestic audience, as Corps had conducted “cross border strikes” against Naga rebels in Myanmar.

Para-drop practices have been conducted recently in Kishtwar in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)—Samba, Jammu and Bhatinda. Practice of “Surgical Strikes” was conducted by D Force RRF in Batote (IOK). Possible objective of these exercises could be—make videos/ photographs which can be used to add credibility to a future fake activity.

New Delhi can use any pretext to obtain its sinister designs against Islamabad. In this connection, Kashmiri freedom fighters attacked on General Res Engineers Force (GREF) Camp in Batal (Akhnoor) on January 9, 2017. In this connection, Indian media reported that 3 x GREF employees were killed in an attack by terrorists on January 9, 2017 at GREF camp, located 2 km from LOC in Batal village. Indian media also stated that the attackers came from across the LOC. The exact number of attackers is still not confirmed contrary to that, actual facts are GREF is a subordinate organization of border Roads Organization (BRO).

The Indian authorities have been quick to link them to Pakistan. Indian media is not giving it due coverage, as has been done in previous incidents. Because, Indian Army might be making the groups for launching another surgical strikes—Indian designs to use such fake incidents to malign Pakistan and to use them as a justification for any surgical strikes may be exposed.

Nonetheless, the Modi government and its new army chief who are acting upon RSS agenda by considering surgical strikes in Azad Kashmir or limited war in Kashmir in wake of intermittent firing across the LoC by targeting the villages of Azad Kashmir are badly mistaken, if they overestimate India’s power and underestimates Pakistan’s power. Pakistan’s Armed Forces are fully prepared to give a matching response to any such an attack by Indian forces. So, our forces are ready to conduct a real strike on an opportune moment.