A non descript village in the Poonch district of the Union Territory [UT] of J&K, Pir Topa has only about 30-35 houses with a population of approximately 250-300. Its residents belong to the traditional grazier Gujjar and Bakkarwal community and their main source of income is from livestock. This area is remote and lacks road connectivity with the Deera ki Gali [DKG] – Bafliaz Road [also known as the ‘Mughal Road’]. In addition, Pir Topa doesn’t have any hospital or dispensary, primary school, electricity or water storage facilities.

Like people in other remote areas, the older generations of Pir Topa may have adjusted themselves to a primitive way of life as well as lack of basic amenities and opportunities. However, the present generation is more aware and aspires for better educational facilities and access to other civic conveniences. With the center along with state and UT administrations working on a war footing to provide basic amenities and infrastructure, such expectations from the impoverished people of Pir Topa is but natural.

Appreciating the legitimate aspirations of its residents, Udhampur based Northern Command of the Indian Army has taken the considered decision of ‘adopting’ and making the frontier Pir Topa a model village as part of its Sadhbhavana project. Working in close coordination with the UT and district administrations, the army plans to undertake various projects to make Pir Topa a model village in the region.

Accordingly, this village will see a host of developmental initiatives in the next three years in the field of infrastructural development, health, education, human resource and skill development. While construction of a road to connect Pir Topa with the DKG-Bafliaz Mughal Road will greatly improve accessibility, provision of water storage facilities and execution of a solar energy project will provide running water and reliable source of electricity to the villagers.

The setting up of a vocational training centre will be an invaluable asset that will provide the youth with the basic competence to acquire requisite skills and thereby enhance their employment prospects. Regular conduct of medical and veterinary camps will facilitate timely medical attention to the villagers and their livestock respectively while a community centre with indoor recreational facilities will provide an opportunity for people of all ages to congregate and interact with each other.

‘Adoption’ of Pir Topa by the Indian Army for making it a model village isn’t the first such initiative. On the contrary, it’s part of an ongoing process of the Indian army’s untiring and multifaceted outreach to improve the habitat and quality of life of locals living in remote areas.

The deluge of success stories reported by highly reputed and independent sources recounting how thousands of people living in far-flung areas in both the UT of J&K and Ladakh have benefitted from the Sadhbhavana project speaks for itself and as such this public oriented welfare project deserves due appreciation.

Awami Action Committee in Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) is completing its one-month agitation on January 26, which it started over the abolition of wheat subsidy by the Pakistani regime. Now the committee has confirmed that its protest will continue and would actually intensify with the upcoming Plan B. In just a month the protest took the form of a movement which saw participations from not only the non-government organisations but also the common people including women and children. It is of immense significance to note that these protests endured the chilling winters with a temperature as low as -5⁰ C. Despite this bone chilling season, the protestors’ determination remained undeterred.

Unfortunately, this struggle for the rights and basic amenities by the people was completely ignored by the occupying government and Islamabad. In fact, it was on the orders of Islamabad that this wheat subsidy along with health cards was abolished. To the worse,  a new Finance Act 2023 was introduced to impose irrationally increased taxes over the people of POGB. In one month, the protestors used every platform to call for the solution of their problems, failing which, they warned, strong initiative would be taken.

But since Pakistan ignored the calls considering them to be hollow rhetoric, the populace of POGB had no option but to intensify the protests. In line with that, a convoy of tens of thousands of people  with vehicles from Nagar started a long march to Gilgit, the visuals of which are thought provoking. In its 76 years of captivity history, Gilgit Baltistan has never saw such a huge number of people coming out of their house in chilling winters to get their righteous heard.

Awami Action Committee preparing Plan B

While the long march from Nagar is reaching Gilgit headquarters, the Awami Action Committee has extended full support to the long march and explained its further course of action. Talking about the first increase in wheat price in 2023, the leaders of Awami Action Committee have referred to the decision as equivalent to dropping the bomb over the innocent people.

Nonetheless, as per the current program, the protest from the Gilgit division, Ashtore and Diamer would reach Gilgit while the four districts of Baltistan region namely, Shigar, Kharmang, Ghanche and Skardu will reach Skardu headquarters. Accordingly, the committee is in contact with its coordinators in every district and other stakeholders like transporters association. Moreover, the committee has reaffirmed its decision of holding a complete shutdown on January 26^th and 27^th and stated that after the shutdown, a comprehensive Plan B for further action would be declared with a proper charter.

Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan has been grappling with the existential challenges. While Pakistan always propagated that they are free, their condition be it political or financial, has only deteriorated. In the age of social media, when the information transcends the border with unadulterated accuracy, people of POGB have came to know that they have only been plundered on the pretext of freedom, while they still live in captivity where their righteous demands are not even addressed.  

In a high-level joint security meeting convened to assess preparedness in the Kashmir Zone ahead of Republic Day, Director General of Police R.R Swain revealed on Wednesday that Pakistan and its agencies persist in their efforts to reignite terrorism in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing concerns over serious attempts by external handlers to infiltrate terrorists into the region, Swain urged for heightened security measures and the reinforcement of security grids.

Highlighting the urgency posed by cross-border handlers to create disturbances in the region, the DGP emphasized the need for field formations to thoroughly examine intelligence inputs from various agencies. He urged for decisive actions to thwart subversive attempts, urging a reassessment of security measures at vulnerable locations and for individuals.

Swain directed the bolstering of the human intelligence system and the strategic use of modern tools to track down terrorists. He also stressed on the identification of technologies employed by terrorists, calling for the development of counter-strategies. Additionally, the DGP emphasized the identification and dismantling of new forms of terror modules, all within the confines of the law.

Strict vigilance before Republic Day

Officers were instructed to conduct detailed reviews of terrorism threat scenarios in their respective areas, with an emphasis on fixing responsibility within the hierarchy. Swain underscored the importance of comprehensive briefings by senior officers to on-field personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of Republic Day celebrations.

Strict monitoring and subsequent action against the terror support system were highlighted, with a directive to create special monitoring teams to identify any elements providing support to terrorists. Swain further directed officers to implement optimal security arrangements at all venues across Kashmir, leveraging all available resources.

The meeting, held at the Police Control Room Kashmir, saw the participation of officers from Police, Army, CRPF, BSF, SSB, CISF, and other sister agencies. Discussions during the meeting delved into the security of vulnerable areas, individuals, and places, with a focus on intelligence gathering, area domination, Naka checking, and the security of sensitive locations.

While Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) is witnessing one of the biggest and unprecedented protests in its history, people from all walks of life are contributing to the public cause. In the latest development, the Contractors Association initiated protests for its ten-point demands since yesterday [January 23rd]. However, the oppressive regime showed its brutal face by attacking the protestors of the Contractors Association.

After clashes between the protestors and occupying police in Gilgit, the office bearers of the Contractors Association held a press conference at the Gilgit Press Club, expressing grave concerns over the brutal actions. According to their statement, the Contractors Association presented its ten-point demands of utmost importance to the contractors in Gilgit Baltistan. Their plan of action was to hold a short march from the PWD headquarters to the Chief Secretary’s Office. Upon reaching there, they planned to conduct a short sit-in demonstration before concluding the protest. However, as the short march started from the PWD headquarters, the police barricaded the road to stop the protest. As stated in the press conference, the protestors were attempting to hold a peaceful protest but were instead attacked by the police using tear gas and baton charges.

Contractors Association questions Finance Secretary

Later, the protestors returned to headquarters and began a sit-in there. Criticizing the Islamabad-imposed Finance Secretary Aziz Ahmad Jamali, the protestors claimed that he aims to make Gilgit Baltistan the new Balochistan by oppressing the people. They also demanded the suspension of police officials.

The protest by the Contractors Association is sufficient to illustrate the precarious condition of every individual in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. While the common man is demanding the right to the most basic human necessity – wheat, the working class is demanding their rights to work in a development-oriented environment. Unfortunately, the occupying regime and its puppet government have only engaged in mocking the people’s interests and rights, rather than upholding them.