The Chinese have always been proud of their diplomatic
acumen. The country formulates and maintains a foreign policy that can be
sustained for a hundred years. Central to it is self interest, especially so,
on the economic context. Sadly, the country has gravitated towards Pakistan
despite having more to gain from India and has adopted an approach towards
Kashmir that supports the Pakistani position. This approach has emerged as a
diplomatic setback for it.
Diplomatic circles in India were quite surprised and
disappointed when China termed bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories
as “unlawful and void.” India was left with no choice but to counter this abrasive
statement. “We
expect other countries to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity. China continues to be in occupation of a large tract of area in the
Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” said a statement from
the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
It is time for China to realise that it is in a very
vulnerable position so far as internal dissension is concerned. The growing
violence and destruction in Hong Kong is fast leading to a situation of widespread
collapse of the administration. China has attempted to make amends by
rescinding the original “Extradition Bill” which is the biggest bone of
contention, but the protests refuse to subside.
The momentum, in fact, is witnessing an upswing with each passing day.
Deaths due to violence are being reported even as the protestors are picking up
bows and arrows and the more dangerous petrol bombs in retaliation.
China is facing an uphill task in containment of the protests mainly due to a deep distrust between the people of Hong Kong and the mainland. Mainland Chinese are losing patience with their Hong Kong cousins. They want their government to demonstrate its strength by dealing with the situation with a heavy hand. A popular social media site in China called the “Weibo” shows mainlanders following the line, “If you do not want to be Chinese, then don’t live on Chinese territory.” This, along with international pressure in favour of Hong Kong, is causing a contradiction and is blocking formulation of an optimal strategy to deal with the situation.
Hong Kong is not the only internal dissension that China
is facing. Xinjiang is now more in the international eye than ever before.
Recently the New York Times has published secret speeches by President Xi Jinping urging, “Muslims
infected with the virus of extremism to undergo a period of painful,
interventionary treatment.” The forcible confinement of the Muslims, mostly
from the Uighur minority and their internment in what is termed as
“Re-education Camps” is well-known as a means to brainwash then into submission.
China, it seems, is unwilling to relent from its objective to completely divest
the Muslims minorities of the country of their religious identity. The Chinese
authorities are quick to brush aside these reports a “fabrications.” However, the
sadistic and oppressive attitude towards the minority communities is not lost
to anybody.
It is also well known that the Chinese economy is
faltering. There has been a downslide in growth for more than a decade now and
there seems to be no signs of a turnover. A weak China cannot stand up to its
global power status. Under such circumstances most nations resort to internal
repression and external aggression and these attributes are visible in the
China of today.
China is not in a position to stand against India,
morally, politically or diplomatically, especially on issues like Kashmir where
India enjoys support from all the big powers that count in the international
sphere. It seems
that China has also read the writing on the wall and is quite ready to amend
its posture on Kashmir towards a more amenable position.
The Chinese posture toned down a bit before the informal
summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi
Jinping. It is notable that the summit triggered enough panic in Pakistan to
send the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his powerful Pakistani Army
Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, rushing to Beijing to ensure that their
position would not be compromised.
China did change its earlier hard stand and adopted a
position akin to what it had advocated before the bifurcation saying that “the Kashmir issue should be
resolved between New Delhi and Islamabad.” Significantly, any reference to the
dispute being sorted out according to UN Security Council resolutions was
assiduously omitted. This constitutes a serious change in policy for China.
Apparently, the Pakistani leadership could not convince China to hold on to its
strong posture; China once again demonstrated that it holds its national
interest above anything else.
It is in the interest of the neighbouring Asian giants–
India and China, to adopt a path of conciliation and assist each other in
dealing with the issues that are detrimental to their national interest. The
sooner the Chinese understand that Pakistan is in no position to be of any help,
the better it would be for them. To this extent, the aforementioned thaw in
relationship is a step in the right direction but it does fall short of what is
expected.
A complete acceptance of the internal and constitutional
changes brought about in Kashmir by New Delhi and a fast track movement to
resolve the border disputes would come as good progress in mending ties. India,
on its part, needs to show sensitivity to the vulnerabilities that China is facing
at present. A weak China is more of a problem for India, so, there has to be an
effort to ensure that such a situation does not come by.
Dr Abdullah Haiwad is the President of Afghanistan Governors’ Assembly — an association of 66 former and present Governors of Afghanistan. In a chat with Vivek Sinha, Dr Abdullah explains that Pashtuns are rebelling after enduring several years of Pakistani atrocities. He says that if Pashtuns receive some support they will be more successful in their movement. Excerpts:
Vivek Sinha: How would you describe the Taliban whose writ runs over large parts of Afghanistan?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: Taliban are a group created by the ISI to control Afghanistan under a strict Sharia law during the mid-1990s to facilitate the pipe line which was supposed to be laid by UNOCAL from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan. After invasion of the US and its allies, Pakistan was worried about Taliban’s faith, therefore, Pakistan once again helped Taliban stand on its feet and the results are that almost 60% of rural Afghanistan is governed by them.
VS: A large number
of people across the world believe that Taliban represents a purer form of
Islam and whatever they are doing in Afghanistan is as per Islamic sanctions.
Your comments.
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: There is no pure form or impure form of Islam. Taliban are a subsidiary of the ISI and Pakistan military terror groups similar to Jaish-e- Mohammed etc.…and for them creating chaos and terror among people is their prime objective.
VS: What
is the role of Pakistan military and ISI in destabilising Afghanistan?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: Ever since its creation, Pakistan’s intervention in Afghanistan is clear and visible. ISI and their military who are the governing body since Pakistan’s creation, have their main objective of keeping a weak Afghanistan on its northern side in order to be able to destabilise India on its southern side.
A better example of this is that before the Russian invasion, groups of criminal Afghans who ran away from prosecution went to Pakistan and Pakistanis were training them to return and fight president Daud Khan’s regime.
VS: The PTM (Pashtun
Tahafuz Movement) is gathering momentum in Pakistan. How will this impact
the local politics and stability of Afghanistan?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: Pashtun Tahafuz Movement is a newly formed self-motivated youth movement which is the result of Pakistani atrocities on Pashtuns for many decades. The killing, mutilating and dehumanising of Pashtuns has given birth to this movement. Although Afghan governments hasn’t done much to help or enhance their motivation to foresee a great Afghanistan dream, but people across Durand Line are determined to stand for their rights and the hatred of military run government towards Pashtuns is driving them one step closer to us.
VS: Do you see
Pashtuns turning against the Pakistan Army and its government? If yes,
then what impact will this have on the Durand Line?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: We are witnessing Pashtuns standing against Pakistani regime and they are actively seeking assistance but since no assistance is being provided by the Afghan government, their newly formed freedom seeking organisation is moving slowly. If help gets to them, they will fight like Baloch and because of many synergies among Pashtuns on both side, their success against Pakistan will prove to be more successful.
VS: It’s
almost two decades since the 9/11. What has changed in Afghanistan since
then?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: It is a difficult question, because there are hundred things both positive and negative that has changed. For example, we were one nation when Afghanistan was invaded but now we have been divided by Tajiks and Pashtuns etc, this drift is the direct result of 9/11 or the American invasion. Some basic or time bound infrastructure have been built. But I hope these are sustained and serviced to be used for long time. Morally we lost more than what we gained financially… war lords etc. gained out of this invasion whereas the majority of Afghans still suffer.
VS: How will the US pull
out from Afghanistan (if and when it happens) affect the political structure of
Afghanistan?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: United States of America did not come to Afghanistan to pull out this soon, they have built a base which may remain for 50 or more years. This invasion is a long term and this will not benefit Afghans, the only adverse affect of this invasion is their involvement in our political system (a visible sign is the recent intervention in our elections).
VS: Recently in a prisoner swap agreement two Taliban leaders and one with links to the Haqqani network were released. Your comments. How could have this situation (of prisoner swap) been handled differently?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: These three Taliban each of them is the equivalent of Hafiz Saeed. Our courts passed death sentence for all the three, somehow, our government was all of a sudden very generous to release these notorious killers. The impact (of their release) will be disastrous. There was no need for the exchange. Our government is a legitimate government or so they say, how come they bend before a terrorist organisation handled by ISI, who are killing Afghans for almost two and a half decade and then handing them back the most dangerous terrorists?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad, President of Afghanistan Governors Assembly.
VS: Different
regions of Pakistan are up in arms against the atrocities of Rawalpindi and
Islamabad. For instance, the Balochs are demanding freedom, Sindhis want to
break free, Pashtuns have started their movement and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
(along with Gilgit-Baltistan) wants freedom. Why do you think these different
freedom struggles are happening across Pakistan? What could be the future of
these movements?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: Pakistan is not a country. It was made on the basis of religion. When people living in one country do not share any values other than their religion, this is bound to happen. By the way, you forgot about the Muhajeer Qaumi Movement (MQM) in this list. But, as for the Balochs, they gained independence even before India and Pakistan. Pakistanis’ are occupying their land (Balochistan) unlawfully and they have every right to fight for their freedom.
Also, if you check the ID of Pashtuns’
it says–Nationality: Afghan, they never have been Pakistanis. Their struggle
goes back to Bacha Khan.
The struggle of Sindhis and
Baltistanis started way back and now there is armed struggle all over Pakistan.
By killing and imprisoning masses they (Pakistanis) can never suppress peoples’
urge for independence.
VS: What does an
Afghan feel about India? What role can Indians in general and New Delhi in
particular play to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan?
Dr Abdullah Haiwad: Afghans always take Indians as their friends and have cultural and social ties, sometimes economical as well.
In my view, it is now important for India to play a more deliberate role in Afghan peace process because Afghan peace is related to India’s peace. We have a common enemy. Afghanistan cannot be left in the mercy of devil.
VS: What can be done
to increase the cultural exchange between India and Afghanistan?
Dr
Abdullah Haiwad: There are various aspects where India
has an upper hand and they can approach and make things better for Afghans. The
cultural exchange is a mutual effort and both countries should try to make this
effort.
Also, it’s not only the Afghans on this side of the Durand Line who yearn for a closer relationship (with India), but our Afghan brothers across the Durand Line living in Pashtunistan who are also keen on building a better relationship with India, unfortunately no one seems to approach them.
We have friends who travel
across the Durand Line and Afghans living in Peshawar are eager to build cultural
relations with India, not for political purposes but because there are deep
routes (between the two nations) that needs to be nurtured.
We can bridge gaps between
Afghanistan and India and if someone from India approaches us, we will be
happy to guide them and assist them make the relationship even better between
the two nations.
As the tenth anniversary of the horrendous Mumbai
massacre that snuffed out 166 lives and left countless injured approaches, we
will (just like we have been doing for the last nine years), express solidarity
with the unfortunate victims by holding prayers and memorial services for their
souls and denounce terrorism in the strongest of words. We will also wax
eloquent on the indomitable ‘Mumbai spirit’ that helped the physically and
mentally scarred Mumbaikars to quickly overcome their trauma and quickly move
on as if nothing happened. But all this doesn’t hide the fact that we’ve failed
the 26/11 victims because even after a decade the masterminds of this carnage
haven’t been brought to book!
Though Islamabad has put the Mumbai
terror attack accused on trial, this case has been dragging and the way things
are going, it’d extremely unlikely that anyone will end up being convicted.
Reason? Pakistan claims India has failed to provide evidence that could
establish beyond all doubts the involvement of the accused in these attacks. But
even though New Delhi has consistently maintained that it had provided
irrefutable evidence, yet Islamabad doesn’t agree. Yousaf Raza Gilani, the then
Prime Minister of Pakistan didn’t agree. In fact he told the Parliament that what
India had provided was “some information” on Mumbai attacks, emphasising,
“I say ‘information’ because these are not evidence.”
Since Islamabad insists it
doesn’t have irrefutable evidence to proceed against the 26/11 accused, so let’s
go over certain available details which are available in public domain that are
not (to borrow Gilani’s words) “some information” but concrete evidence.
Even after it was conclusively
proved by Geo TV through its report from ‘ground zero’ that Ajmal Kasab was a
Pakistani national, Islamabad still refused to accept the same, prompting Nawaz
Sharif whose party was giving outside support to the Zardari government to
question as to why was Kasab’s house and village cordoned off by security
agencies. Sharif rightly opined that rather than undertake the impossible task
of hiding the truth, “…the people and media should be allowed to meet Iman’s (Kasab’s)
parents so that the truth could come out in the open,” adding, “We
need some kind of introspection.” But Islamabad didn’t budge and a month
and a half later, when National Security Adviser Mehmood Ali Durrani told an
Indian news channel that Kasab was a Pakistani national, he was summarily
sacked by Gilani!
If the Pakistani establishment and
deep state had nothing to do with the Mumbai carnage at all, then where was the
requirement for Islamabad to be so paranoid as to go out of its way to conceal
the fact that Kasab was a Pakistani national?
Even if we for a moment accept
that what New Delhi gave Islamabad was merely “some information,” what about
the irrefutable evidence that Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had
collected? Why hasn’t the same been used as evidence? So instead of complaining
about lack of evidence against the Mumbai attack masterminds and blaming India
for the same, Islamabad would do well to open the FIA file on the Mumbai
attacks prepared when Tariq Khosa was its Director General (DG).
First,
Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national, whose place of residence and initial
schooling as well as his joining a banned militant organisation was established
by the investigators.
Second,
the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were imparted training near Thatta, Sindh
and launched by sea from there. The training camp was identified and secured by
the investigators. The casings of the explosive devices used in Mumbai were
recovered from this training camp and duly matched.
Third,
the fishing trawler used by the terrorists for hijacking an Indian trawler in
which they sailed to Mumbai, was brought back to harbour, then painted and
concealed. It was recovered by the investigators and connected to the
accused.
Fourth,
the engine of the dinghy abandoned by the terrorists near Mumbai harbour
contained a patent number through which the investigators traced its import
from Japan to Lahore and then to a Karachi sports shop from where an LeT-linked
militant purchased it along with the dinghy. The money trail was followed
and linked to the accused who was arrested.
Fifth,
the operations room in Karachi, from where the operation was directed, was also
identified and secured by the investigators. The communications through
Voice over Internet Protocol were unearthed.
Sixth,
the alleged commander and his deputies were identified and arrested.
Seventh,
a couple of foreign-based financiers and facilitators were arrested and
brought to face trial.
Besides this incriminating
FIA’s report, there are many other sources that provide details that can nail
the accused.
Pakistan’s former ambassador to
the US, Husain Haqqani writes in his book (‘India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t We
Just Be Friends?’) that while talking about the Mumbai attacks, Lt Gen Ahmad
Shuja Pasha, who was the ISI chief then, had confided that “Log hamaray theh,
operation hamara nahin tha” (those involved in the operation (Mumbai
attacks) were our men, but the operation wasn’t ours). Islamabad may dismiss
this claim on the grounds that being an accused in ‘memo-gate’ scandal, Haqqani
has an anti-Pakistan bias, but then he isn’t the only one to have made this
claim!
In his book (‘Playing to the Edge’), former CIA Director Michael Hayden, also writes that “His (Lt Gen Pasha’s) investigation had revealed that some former ISI members were involved (in Mumbai attacks) with Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pasha admitted that these unspecified retirees may have engaged in some broad training of the attackers, but he was characteristically vague about any detailed direction the attackers had gotten during the attack via cell phone from Pakistan.”
Similarly, investigative journalist Bob Woodward, in his book ‘Obama’s Wars’ has also quoted Lt Gen Pasha telling the CIA chief that “There may have been people associated with my organization who were associated with this (Mumbai attacks). That’s different from authority, direction and control.” Woodward too has stated that “…the CIA later received reliable intelligence that the ISI was directly involved in the training for Mumbai (attacks).”
So, even if Haqqani’s account
is prejudiced, but surely neither Hayden nor Woodward have any reasons to risk
their well-established credibility by making false accusations!
In 2017, while speaking at the
19th Asian Security Conference being held at the Institute for Defence and
Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi, former Pakistan NSA Mahmood Ali
Durrani told the audience that “26/11 Mumbai attack carried out by a
terror group based in Pakistan is classic trans-border terrorist event.” A year
later, Nawaz Sharif also admitted that Pakistan was involved in the Mumbai
attacks when he told Dawn newspaper that “militant organisations are
active. Call them non-state actors, (but) should we allow them to cross the
border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?”
Therefore, if Islamabad is still
complaining that all it has is “some information,” it’s only because though
available in abundance, clinching evidence against those who were terrorist
commanders, who masterminded the 26/11 carnage and who provided training,
armament and logistic support to the attackers has conveniently been
“disappeared” by the ISI!
Postscript
It’s quite unlikely that Rawalpindi will ever allow the state to persecute its proxies who executed the ISI planned Mumbai attacks. But if Nawaz Sharif can express his anguish by asking Islamabad “Why can’t we complete the (Mumbai attacks) trial?” and terming this inordinate delay as something “absolutely unacceptable,” then rather than only holding prayers and memorial services, can’t we also focus more on demanding justice for 26/11 victims?
On August 5th, the
government of India bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir in two union territories and
scrapped the 72 year old Article 370, which gave special status to this
erstwhile princely state of undivided India. The BJP-led NDA (National
Democratic Alliance) government had consistently maintained that instead of
providing exclusive privileges to the people of J&K, Article 370 was
discriminatory and a major hurdle in the development of state and was one of
the reasons for militancy in the state that has claimed thousands of precious
lives in Jammu and Kashmir over the last three decades.
Over the last 72 years since partition, political discourse in the state of J&K witnessed many upheavals. It may come as a surprise to many but since its inception in 1949, Article 370 had been amended nearly 50 times and this led to dilution of its provisions due to which many felt that there was no need for New Delhi to revoke Article 370. In fact, while addressing a press conference recently, Congress spokesperson Pawan Kheda proudly announced that “Not once or twice, but the Congress party diluted Article 370 as many as 12 times, but without letting any controversy break out.”
Everyone knows that Congress had tinkered with Article 370 and while National Conference (NC) had allowed this to happen, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) allied with BJP even after knowing fully well that this party strongly advocated abrogation of Article 370. Thus, the NC, Congress and PDP should be last ones to complain about its revocation as having been in some way involved in the dilution process of Article 370. In fact, none of them have the moral right to speak against it.
We all know how political parties in Kashmir always used the Article 370 abrogation issue to attract voters and many leaders have misused its provisions to create financial empires. Thus, abrogation of Article 370 will not only deprive mainstream political parties of an emotional issue to exploit, but also usher in more transparency and increase accountability, thereby reducing financial mismanagement.
During the preceding years, many attempts were made to create a ‘Third Political Front’ and many believe that even New Delhi was keen that this effort should materialise. Some 12 years back Er. Rashid ventured into Kashmir politics and launched Awami Ithad Party (AIP) using the same slogan of autonomy at the behest of his mentors to replace the existing political establishment. And though he did get elected, but his party failed to make any dent in local politics and Rashid ended up facing humiliation on every front.
Separatist-turned-mainstream-politician Sajjad Lone who thanks his father’s legacy for being the founder of People’s Conference (PC) political outfit also tried luck in Kashmir politics with the patronage of BJP at centre. But despite having a strong follower base and immense popularity in the Handwara belt of Kashmir thanks to his father Late Abdul Gani Lone (who was killed by unknown gunmen in the year 2002), he still could not make his mark in the political arena. BJP’s attempt to ‘launch’ Lone in Kashmir politics proved to be a big failure.
However, in the year 2002, government of India tried yet another experiment in the state of Jammu and Kashmir by promoting Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed who had floated his own political party and named it as PDP (Peoples Democratic Party). An astute and matured politician who had earlier severed ties with New Delhi as a union minister, Mufti was highly valued by the central government and he proved them right by winning 16 seats in State Legislative Assembly in his first political debut in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is also pertinent to mention that National Conference (NC) won highest number of Legislative Assembly seats (27), but their party leader Omar Abdullah could not make it to Assembly as he lost his seat to PDP’s stalwart Late Qazi Afzal. As the father-son duo did not want to put some other NC leader on the throne, the NC forfeited its claim to form the government paving the way for Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed to form government in Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, even though PDP was a comparatively much newer entrant in Kashmir’s political arena, the party with help from government of India became a political force that could stand up against formidable NC and Congress in regional politics.
But after the demise of Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed, Mehbooba Mufti was unable keep the PDP flock together and the party started cracking. Seeing PDP implode, some of its leaders started parleys with the Indian government in an endeavour to form an alternate government in the state. However, due to stubbornness of Mehbooba Mufti, nothing came out of this.
He was joined by firebrand JNU
student leader Shehla Rashid and two times MLA Mir Javid Mustafa. It seemed
that Kashmir had finally found an alternative to dynasty politics.
Unfortunately, Feasal and his associates vanished from the scene just as
suddenly as they had appeared!
Now, with Jammu and Kashmir being bifurcated into two union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, it’s the political parties here that have lost the scope of openly looting state’s wealth and indulging in corrupt practices like nepotism and favouritism even though unemployment is high and the benefits aren’t reaching the ordinary Kashmiris. That is why the majority of political people in J&K are of the opinion that statehood must not be restored as it gives them a free hand to those at the helm of affairs to fill their own coffers and look after the interests of their own kith and kin and play favourites.
It is thus incumbent upon government of India to rise to the occasion and ensure that the common man in Kashmir gets his rightful due. While New Delhi has rolled out many initiatives to ensure social justice by providing skill training and generating employment opportunities, the acid test is ensuring that these schemes and policies for the well being of people do not go awry. Both the central and state administration needs to remember that acceptance of Article 370 abrogation at the grass roots level depends entirely on the success of its schemes to improve the lot of the common man in Kashmir. And should these fail to achieve their objectives, the people of Kashmir are bound to get a feeling that New Delhi is pursuing the same policies as were adopted by political parties in power in J&K before Article 370 was abrogated!
Fauzia Ilyas is the Founder and President of the Atheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan. This is an extremely dangerous country for freethinkers, especially women of the freethought community with the explicit title of atheist or agnostic, as known to most readers here. When we look at the contexts for women’s rights or for freedom of thought, Pakistan remains one of the worst. Fauzia deserves praise in the light of the difficult circumstances and the bravery to utilize a public platform while pronouncing public rights to freedom of belief and, in particular, to not believe, often, forced or coerced beliefs, whether by family, community, or state.
Here, we talk about her life, views, and work through the Atheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How did the Atheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan form?
Fauzia Ilyas: Actually it is directly interlinked with my thoughts, ideas and questions which I used to raise about religion. While trying to search for answers to those questions, and analyze their credibility and authenticity, I realized that there was no proper platform where people like me could go and have a discussion over religion, especially about Islam. It brought me to the conclusion that it’s very crucial to have a platform where we all can express our thoughts and share it with other like-minded people. Therefore, in 2012, Atheist and Agnostic Alliance Pakistan was established by me and my partner.
Jacobsen: What were the risks in founding it?
Ilyas: Just imagine for a while, a country with 97% Muslim population, a country which came into existence by so-called Islamic values. A country where you are being welcomed if you convert to Islam; however, if you leave that religion, or even if you raise any doubt or an ordinary question over Islam, you would be in hell(-ish) difficulties. So it was the same case with AAAP. When this organization was established, there was a lot of criticism, threats to life, and compromised security. We’re approached by law enforcement authorities. The blasphemy cases were initiated against me and my partner. It left us with the only option to leave Pakistan, so we left and now we’re in The Netherlands.
Jacobsen: What have been the major developments and successes of AAAP?
Ilyas: I think the major development is the establishment of AAAP itself, which was the very first organization of Pakistan, working for ex-Muslims and Atheists. People now know that ex-Muslims exist in Pakistan too. Secondly, it’s getting quite familiar within the social platforms that one can raise a question over the authenticity of the religion and its so-called values. But please count and consider the criticism and threats equally here :), but it is even more.
Lastly, people can talk to like-minded people and express their thoughts freely over religion. This organization can be considered as an effective tool to normalize the concept relates to questioning religion. And it’s definitely not wrong.
Jacobsen: Who is ‘Ayaz Nizami’?
Ilyas: Ayaz Nizami was Vice President of AAAP. He is a blogger who translated materials critical of Islam in English to Urdu for publishing. Nizami founded the website realisticapproach.org, a website in Urdu about irreligon.
Jacobsen: What happened to him? Why?
Ilyas: He was arrested in 2017 by the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan because of his views and thoughts over Islam. He used to talk about equality, freedom, and fundamental rights, which is not wrong; but in a state like Pakistan, it’s a crime.
Jacobsen: How does his case reflect others like those of the Ismail family and other secular and human rights activists in Pakistan?
Ilyas: This is definitely about the fundamental rights, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. To accuse its own citizens and suppressing their rights, what message Pakistan is conveying to the whole world? These are shameful acts and I definitely condemn it. It’s a negative obligation of the state to not interfere in rights and let people freely exercise their rights; and on the other hand, it is also a positive obligation of the state to do something in order to protect its citizen. But, unfortunately, the state of Pakistan, itself is lacking in fulfilling its obligations.
Jacobsen: How can people support ‘Ayaz’?
Ilyas: First of all, people should know that it’s not wrong to raise questions over religion. They should understand that human lives are more precious than any religion. They should raise their voices in favour of those who’re in prison and taken just because of their expressions towards Islam. There’s a long list of these people. Not only Ayaz Nizami but also Junaid Hafeez and many others. So people should realize if they won’t stand up for their own rights, no one would ever realize it that how important those rights are.
Jacobsen: What forms of pressure on governments work?
Ilyas: The realization of fundamental rights is very important and Pakistan should understand the importance of those rights. So I think we should never give up to raise our voices, we should keep it raising until it’s heard. I am also trying to raise this issue on every possible platform where I consider it could be heard. I think it’s not a problem of Pakistan only. There are many other Islamic states whose laws are enacted in a way that they are used as a tool to suppress human rights. So I think there should be international involvement too. United Nations and European countries should also realize the need to talk over this issue and definitely introduce a practical mechanism under which it can be assured that people wouldn’t be accused just because of their thoughts. And finally, blasphemy laws must be ended.
Jacobsen: How has the international community taken part in these efforts for Pakistani human rights activists?
Ilyas: Well, the recent development was made in the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was also accused in the blasphemy law. If we analyze the ground reality it was all about international pressure. But that’s not the only case. I mean it’s not enough. The international community should also realize that Asia Bibi is not the only case that needed attention. In fact, many people are suffering in prison, waiting for their trials. They also need protection, especially the protection of their fundamental rights.
Jacobsen: Any recommended activists’ cases who also need support and coverage?
Ilyas: As I mentioned earlier there’s a long list of those who had been killed by Islamists and violent mobs. Mishaal Khan is such a prominent name, the Christian couple was also set on fire. That’s also a prominent case. In these cases, justice should prevail. Furthermore, Junaid Hafeez, Ayaz Nizami, and many more should be released as soon as possible.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Fauzia.
Immediately after the Parliament legislated for bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and also toned down such provisions of Article 370 and Article 35A that were inhibiting the freedom of many segments of the citizenry, the government of India imposed certain restrictions on the movement and communication within the state. New Delhi has done so since certain anti-national forces operating in the state at the behest of foreign powers attempt to create a sense of insecurity among the people, build up passions and disrupt peace in the state. It was thus deemed necessary to preempt these evil designs of the enemy by imposing restrictions.
Though these restrictions have been removed in
a phased manner they have hit the economy of the state quite badly. While the
entire state has borne the brunt of this economic setback, it is the youth who
have been affected the most. Already reeling under chronic unemployment, they
have been idle and without hope during this time.
Now that the situation is becoming normal, there is a perceptible movement towards economic uplift of the state, especially for the youth. Admissions under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) were to be completed by August 15th. In view of the prevailing conditions, the administration approached the Supreme Court to extend the deadline by one month to September 15th. The Supreme Court passed the required order and as a result, 4,418 students took admission under the scheme this year as compared to 2,543 in 2018. “J&K scholarship scheme of Govt got major success this year with a 74% increase in J&K students taking admissions in reputed institutions outside J&K. Thanks to streamlining of processes by AICTE,” said R Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development in a tweet.
The
first Army recruitment rally, post the political changes, was held in September2019,
for youth belonging to the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region. A record 29,000
youth participated in the rally and all available vacancies were filled in no
time. Another recruitment drive conducted over four days in mid-October at the
Srinagar-based Jammu
and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) centre witnessed participation of thousands
of candidates from Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama of Kashmir. The vacancies were
for Infantry Battalions of the Territorial Army (Home and Hearth) which operate
within the state itself and have given invaluable service in containing the
foreign sponsored terrorism. Such massive turnout reflects the desire of
youth of J&K to join mainstream and serve the nation. The Jammu
& Kashmir Police Department, in October 2019, invited on-line applications
for the recruitment of both male and female candidates for 2,700 Constable Posts.
In mid-2018 a survey conducted by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy
(CMIE) in collaboration with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) found that Jammu
and Kashmir had the highest unemployment rate of 12.13%. As per another Economic
Survey Report of J&K, the unemployment rate in the state was pegged at 24.6%.
However, in the age-group of 18 to 29 years it was said to be 13.2%. The number
of the unemployed youth registered with various District Employment and
Counselling Centres of the J&K state was 85,944 youths (around 42,219 from
Kashmir and 45,821 from Jammu) as of March 2018.
Earlier
state governments, with support of the centre, set up various schemes for
boosting employment. The J&K Entrepreneurship Development
Institute (EDI), whose building in Kashmir has been attacked by terrorists on a
number of occasions, is funded by the state employment department to assist
youth in setting up business ventures. The institution runs a Seed Capital Fund
Scheme which facilitates setting up of entrepreneur projects by providing non-refundable
seed money to take them forward. Another initiative, the Youth Start-up of Loan
Scheme gives soft loans at six percent simple interest for setting enterprises.
Self Help Groups (SHG) are also being promoted to assist engineers with the
grant of contracts in the work / development departments. Career counseling officers have been
appointed for providing counseling/guidance to the educated unemployed
youth. Job awareness fairs are conducted regularly across the state.
Since
the last three decades, the Indian Army, under its flagship welfare programme–
Operation Sadbhavna, is making efforts to bring the state into the mainstream
of the country’s growth trajectory. Army Goodwill Schools were instrumental is
meeting the pressing educational requirements at a time when government
education infrastructure collapsed under the terrorist threat. In an effort to
involve the youth in gainful and constructive activity, the army has
established a number of Youth Employment Guidance Nodes (YEGN) that provide
information regarding employment opportunities. Vocational training centres
have also been set up to train to the local population in a trade of their
choice. In these centres, the teachers employed hail from amongst the local
population, making them more acceptable to the people in addition to creating
more employment. The ‘Kashmir Super 30’ project launched in 2014 by the Army
and modelled after the well-known ‘Super 30’ programme of Bihar has elicited
excellent results year after year.
All
measures to enhance employment that have been in place since the beginning of
this millennium have, sadly, proved to be insufficient in dealing with the
economic downslide in the state. There is an urgent need to bring in new
initiatives and put in more effort to bridge the employment gap. Tourism, IT, handicraft,
apple trade and other economic activities need to be given a boost. Employment
of youth outside the state in various corporate organisations and other institutions
will need special attention. If the youth of Kashmir find a means to live a
life of dignity the problems being faced there will be resolved to a great
extent. A lot has been done but much more is required.
The merciless killing of six innocent labourers by terrorists in
the Kulgam District of Kashmir on October 29th is yet another
example of the ruthless policy being followed by these criminal elements at the
behest of their evil handlers in Pakistan. The poor men were dragged out of their
residence and killed in the most inhumane manner. Such an abhorrent act is
totally unacceptable by any religious or civilisation tenets of humanity.
These killings are in tune with an old policy followed by the terrorist masters across the border such that they engineer violence and resort to selective killing in Kashmir Valley, whenever there’s some event of significance in the valley. In this instant, there were two important events scheduled back to back. The first was a visit to Kashmir by a group of 23 European lawmakers to assess the situation on ground and the second was the reorganised governing dispensation of two Union Territories being made effective on the midnight of October 31st. The situation was most apt for a terrible terrorist strike which is exactly what was attempted.
If the terrorists had more facility and power they would have
struck at a much larger scale, as they did in village Chittisingpura at Kashmir
in March 2000, killing 35 innocent Sikhs just because President of the United
States, Bill Clinton, was visiting India. The very unfortunate but truncated
nature of the present strike points towards the limited capability of the
terrorists, which is something to be satisfied about, from the security point
of view.
In Kashmir, five murderous attacks of this nature in the last two
weeks or so have led to the killing of twelve innocent outsiders. Apart from
the unfortunate six victims of the October 29th terrorist attack,
four truck drivers, a trader from Punjab, and a migrant labourer from Rajasthan
have been killed in similar attacks earlier during the month of October. Apart
from these successful attacks there would be innumerable unsuccessful ones
foiled by the very vigilant security forces.
These killings are being guided by a well conceived and deep
rooted policy to offset the legitimate actions taken by the government of India
to set right certain wrongs that have been perpetrated in Jammu and Kashmir
since the country’s independence. Since theses wrongs favoured the intention of
evil forces to wrest Jammu and Kashmir from Indian control, the setting it right
came as a rude shock to them and left them unbalanced, leading to this immoral
reaction.
These elements have launched a series of initiatives to wrest the
initiative from India. Pakistan attempted a huge diplomatic misinformation
campaign to denounce India but it fell flat since all countries (except a few)
termed the change in constitutional status of the state as an internal matter
of the Indian nation. The evil forces then attempted to ignite an internal
revolt with the use of its propaganda tools, but failed miserably yet again,
with no incident of violence in the entire state, including the most sensitive Kashmir
Valley.
This killing of innocents is the most desperate measure on the part of these forces to show that Kashmir Valley is on the boil. A second more sinister intention is to create an environment of fear so as to dissuade businessmen from investing in the region. Investment is unlikely to come by in a tenuous environment of security. A muted investment climate is likely to bring about anxiety and dissatisfaction among the people who are eagerly waiting for an improved economic situation as an offshoot of the changed political dispensation. For the enemy, killing of poor labourers is a good way to ensure that investment does not flow in due to security concerns.
The evil designs and machinations are, by no means, lowering the
resolve of the government to go ahead with the plan. On October 31st,
the announced changeover to two Union Territories has been implemented and the
Lieutenant Governors in both Union Territories have been sworn in. The group
from the European Union also reiterated that the change in constitutional
status was an internal matter of India while also expressing fear about a rise
in terrorist violence. On both counts Pakistan stands chastised.
Kashmiris realise that they are being exploited by wicked foreign
elements whose only intention is to colonise them and exploit the rich natural
resources of the land. They have, most valiantly, fought the scourge of
terrorism for many decades and have emerged victorious. They understand that the
mindless death of even one innocent citizen of the country, whether he is from
the state or any other part of the country is unacceptable. The terrorist challenge
today is a pale shadow of what it was about two and a half decades back and can
be easily eradicated if the will holds strong. The terrorists cannot survive
without local support which is being provided by a miniscule segment of the
society mostly for economic gains. The people can identify such anti-national
and anti-people segment and neutralise it through social pressure as well as
security action. Once support is not forthcoming terrorism will naturally peter
out.
It is important to look at the larger picture of the 21st
century where economic uplift takes priority over all else. If Kashmir does not
open out to India and onwards to the world, it will be left out of the
development loop and will regress by many centuries. The effort of the nation,
through its elected government, is to ensure that nothing of this sort happens.
All energy is channelled towards bringing the region at par with the rest of
the country. The idea, in fact, is to see that the region surges ahead on the
basis of abundant economic possibilities that are available there. The people
should leverage this commitment of the nation to their advantage by rejecting
the divisive voices, eradicating the violent terrorist forces and concentrating
on the course of development.
What must be the tangible economic policies and what necessary actions are needed to fulfill government’s ambitious target?
CSS Rao is a Senior Development Economist and an Eminent Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, London (MRICS). He has authored several monographs based on extensive involvement in various economies, macro-finance and international banking. Rao speaks to Mahua Venkatesh on the present state of Indian economy, prescriptions for growth and economic reforms that could position India as a global leader. Excerpts:
Mahua Venkatesh: What do you think are the reasons for this economic slowdown even after the slew of reform measures undertaken during the last three months?
CSS Rao: The growth rate ought to reflect commensurate benefits, improving levels of shared economic prosperity and greater financial inclusion. Now, if these are not being experienced, any rate of growth put forth is purely of academic value.
Some of the principal fundamental contributory
factors for decline in GDP growth rate in India during recent years despite
reforms include the following:
Demonetization in 2016 crippled the entire economy, which has not yet recovered. It could take at least another three years to regain normalcy, provided major further corrective measures are initiated now.
The banking sector is in deep distress, saddled with a $200 billion equivalent of accumulated bad loans, which has severely dented the balance sheets of most banks. As a result, banks are unable to lend. Consequently, the flow of credit to industry, agro sector, services etc. is far below desired levels. This has led to a major drop in manufacturing and services.
There has been a
steady withdrawal of FDI, reflecting reduced desire by foreign institutional
investors’ (FII) and transnational corporates to invest in India.
Reforms have been
inadequate, discordant and belated and the authoritarian style of
administration has served to dampen and dis-incentivise entrepreneurial drive
and private sector investment.
Unless all these are corrected, GDP growth cannot improve.
CSS Rao, Senior Development Economist
MV: Do you think a cut in personal income tax rate will spur consumption and thereby boost economic growth?
CSS Rao: Income tax rate cut is a tool of fiscal policy used by central governments worldwide to encourage economic growth. However, the impact and benefit of such rate cut is generally experienced after a dwell of nine to twelve months, because the entire process of growth in consumption — spurred by the increased spending capacity in the hands of citizens requires to be matched with corresponding increase in manufacturing and supply — takes that much time.
Further, significant growth in the
national economy can be achieved only with a whole basket of well-planned corrective
and supportive measures, not just by deploying one or two tools of monetary /
fiscal policy.
MV: How do you think rural demand can be pushed?
The future of India lies in its rural
sector due of its size and relatively untapped status up to the present
time. Rural demand can be stimulated by taking the following important
measures:
Increasing long term government investment to support growth of the agro-sector.
Encouraging larger participation by millennials in this sector via technology-driven yield enhancement programmes. Developing more and more value added agro-based industries closer to farms that can offer processed and ready to use packaged products across the nation along with a thrust on exports. This move has the additional merit of seriously discouraging people from migrating to urban areas in search of employment, thus preventing baneful migratory flux to cities.
The retained earnings of such rural populace will serve to enhance their spending (and saving) power, which will in turn spur demand in rural and semi-urban regions of India for real estate, various consumer goods and services etc. which in turn will lead towards an improvement in the standard of living of the rural masses.
State and central governments must concurrently focus on development of rural infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, renewable energy projects, waste recycling projects, low cost but good quality housing and related facilities, etc. Interestingly, all of these initiatives have the inherent potential to dynamically generate large volume of sustainable employment in skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories.
Increase education and training facilities by implementing modern skill development centres in every district — with adjunct facilities for practical training, manufacturing and marketing of end products and services as well as residence of faculty and trainees — covering trades which have local relevance and are technology driven, employment oriented courses. Supporting self-employment and start up ventures would form an integral part.
Significantly boost support to the livestock industry including both upstream and downstream industries, which have the ready potential to spur gainful employment, income generation and potential towards sizeable contribution to GDP.
Construction of a series of old age homes and day care centres in every district, which has tremendous potential to generate life-cycle sustainable employment in various trades. Importantly, this also helps to address another vital issue of great national importance viz., care of our elder citizens, especially in low and middle income strata, considering the vast ageing population of our country.
Providing attractive tax benefits to large corporates and MNC’s coming forward to “adopt” notified districts in each state, and proactively participating in its socio-economic development is something the government must consider.
Enhancing scale and a range of fiscal incentives in respect of investments made towards rural development following a geographically graded approach to promote backward and far flung areas is also important.
MV: Why isn’t private investment picking up?
CSS Rao: Reasons attributed to above problems answers this question. In addition, it may be stated that the present disincentives to private sector investment and pursuit of spirited entrepreneurship have been significantly caused by the authoritarian style of national administration, with constant fear of punishment or retribution daunting the private sector, whether it is large scale or MSME in manufacturing and services. Tax reforms with a modern outlook is most important. All laws must be stringent yet citizen friendly and compliance must be greatly simplified.
MV: Job creation has been dismal. What should be done to create jobs?
CSS Rao: This is certainly one of the biggest areas which requires priority attention by the government. Sadly, the present unemployment rate in India stands at 6.1%, which is a 45-year low. This simply cannot continue.
About 12.8 million new entrants come into
the employment market each year in our country. Most of them remain
un (der) employed.
For employment to rise, manufacturing
and agro sector needs to grow rapidly. Core sectors such as steel,
cement, energy, infrastructure needs to grow at a minimum of 8-10%
annually. This is simply not happening for reasons cited above.
Moreover, superior skills have to be
imparted to millions of youth aspiring for jobs. Textbook knowledge does
not provide working skills any more than reading a book on cookery can impart
culinary skills.
Enhance skill development. The outdated ITI’s (Industrial Training Institute) are an apology for training. Modern skill development centres must be created in every district of every state with utmost urgency, with due planning and care to encourage local talent and promote superior working skills combined. Of course, with the backing of proper theoretical knowledge to understand the why and the wherefore of every practical task in any trade.
Promote rural industries especially in agro-sector, as stated above.
Introduce modern
concepts in large scale collective farming including mechanised and automated
processing of large volume farm yields, by optimizing land holding and land
utilisation.
Extensively promote
the age old co-operative sector. This works well. Encourage multi-cropping and other techniques
to boost yield per hectare.
MV: Do you think merging banks at this point makes sense? Or will it create more complications?
CSS Rao: The merging of banks started when the subsidiaries of SBI were reverse merged with the mother bank SBI, followed by the unification of certain PSU (public sector undertaking) banks in recent years. For over a decade, I have been advocating PSU bank mergers in national interest and in their own.
In my earlier recommendations, I have
spoken of just six PSU banks pan India, and a reasonable number of large,
medium and small private sector banks and co-operative banks to meet the needs
of a growing economy. The value of such a move is to rationalise operations,
enhance efficiency, reduce costs significantly without reducing employment
(except VRS-voluntary retirement scheme), with each of the six banks
concentrating on the development of large geo-territory assigned to them, such
as north, west, east, south, central and north east India and/or grouped by
respective states and union territories.
This is the
future of banking.
Such a progressive move will not create complications. The resistance that may come from employees arises from a fear of job loss. This should be safeguarded by the government through re-skilling wherever feasible so that those desirous of pursuing new career options can do so. If not, the popular route of VRS is always open to them.
Reserve Bank of India. (Representational picture)
MV: Do you think the banking sector needs more aggressive reform measures?
CSS Rao: Rs 958 billion bank frauds reported in just six months past is proof enough that the present system is dangerously deficient. The need of the hour is recapitalisation of banks, introduction of appropriate new regulations to seriously deter NPAs (non-performing assets) and bank frauds which are so rampant till date, improvement in absorption of modern banking practices and digital technologies — all leading to improved health of the balance sheets of banks must become a reality very soon.
NBFCs and banks in the co-operative
sector have been a source of great embarrassment in recent years, their dismal
performance caused largely by wilful mismanagement and fraud are matters of
grave concern. This requires urgent redressal concurrently with RBI assuming a
more stringent governance role to oversee the conduct of all banks and
financial institutions in India.
CSS Rao: Frankly No, because with the consolidation of PSU Banks as recommended above, ownership and control of PSU banks must always remain with the government of India, for reasons of monetary control as well as administrative expediency. This is non-negotiable. However, the quality of professional management at senior and middle levels of these banks must be significantly improved, in order to ensure a great future for this primordial sector of our economy.
MV: Was it a good idea to seek reserves from RBI? Despite the RBI transferring Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the government, there has been no sign of economic revival. Why?
CSS Rao: It is well known that central banks are always operationally independent of the central government. It is not prudent for the central government to have sought the stated amount from RBI. Apart from financial impropriety, it overtly signals the underlying weakness of the national economy.
This money rightfully belongs to RBI and
must remain so.
If the government of India launches
some really large projects of national importance which also represent good
business models with attractive yields to investors, then, the government can
place a persuasive communication before RBI (and to other prominent
institutions) to consider investing in bonds issued by the entities promoting
such new projects. In such case, it becomes an attractive investment
opportunity to RBI, which it is expected to consider. This is a more laudable
approach to national development than the central government ‘compulsively
appropriating’ large monetary resources belonging to RBI ostensibly to
meet fiscal deficits arising inter alia from funding
welfare programmes which usually seek to
deliver self-serving political mileage, which, in my considered view, is
against national interest and therefore incorrect.
MV: Finally, do you believe the much publicised target of India reaching a GDP of $5 trillion by 2024-25 is practically attainable? What are your recommendations if India needs to achieve this target?
CSS Rao: The size of India’s GDP stands at $2.7 trillion for fiscal 2018-19. The confirmed annual rate of GDP growth is currently about 5%. At this rate, India’s GDP would be in the range of– $2.83 trillion for fiscal 2019-20; $2.97 trillion for fiscal 2020-21; $3.12 trillion for fiscal 2021-22; $3.28 trillion for fiscal 2022-23; $3.44 trillion for fiscal 2023-24; $3.61 trillion for fiscal 2024-25. If the desired target of $5 trillion is to be met by 2024-25, the annual rate of GDP growth must be at least 10%. [This presumes calculations at today’s exchange rate, which is incorrect.] So, this unrealistic target is in the realm of wishful thinking, especially considering the state of the world economy which is threatened by impending economic depression, ongoing trade wars, political uncertainties in major geographies, paucity of mega scale monetary resources including large scale FDI required for India’s exponential growth, demographic make-up, and so on.
A
GDP of $4 trillion by 2024-25 would be a realistic target to attempt, provided
all conditions are favourable and a complete range of effective reforms are
indeed implemented.
“Five women from Jammu and
Kashmir pass out from OTS and become 0fficers of Indian Army.” It’s this kind
of news heading that one wishes to see from the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir in times to come. Why only the Army, one would like to see women playing
a dominant role in fields like medicine, law, corporate, administration, media
etc.
The foregoing is very much in
the realm of possibility considering the massive boost to education given across
Jammu and Kashmir over the last few years. At a cursory count the state now has
new IIMs, AIIMS, IIMCs and a host of others institutions, over and above its
existing education infrastructure. Modern Indian women are known to leverage
such facilities to the maximum and there is no reason that the young ladies of
Jammu and Kashmir will not do so.
The women of the state have
every reason to feel empowered and confident now that the shackles constraining
them have been removed. The major constraint was that women, under the state Constitution
of Jammu and Kashmir and due to provisions of Article 370 and Article 35A, were
being denied full-fledged rights to land and property in the state. Such women
who were state subjects but married a person who was not a state subject had to
forfeit legal and ancestral rights to their own property in the state. The
legislation passed by the parliament on 5th August, sets aside this
proviso and gives all those women, who have married non-state subjects, full
right over their land and property.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
there’s a lot of ground to be covered so far as full empowerment of women in
the state is concerned. According to statistics, women fare poorly in workforce
percentage parameters in comparison to other states of the country. In urban areas the share of female population in
workforce stands at a miniscule 14.4%; in rural areas it is slightly better at
26.3%. In comparison, neighbouring Himachal Pradesh boasts of a women work
force in urban areas of 44.82%. Lack of employment opportunities along with low
levels of education are the biggest culprits in keeping women socially deprived
and facing inequality.
There is
some serious work underway to empower women in the Union Territory. The outgoing
Governor, Satya Pal Malik paid a lot of attention to this aspect. He
reconstituted the Governing Body
of Jammu and Kashmir Women Empowerment Society (JKWES) for implementing various
schemes and programmes related to women in the state.
Women who belong to deprived and poor segments
of society can now apply for loans from the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) which will be provided at minimum interest to
assist in setting up small businesses. Support to Trainees and Employment Programme
(STEP) will provide training to rural women in agriculture and allied sectors, like
dairy, handloom, etc. The Swayam Sidha Women Empowerment Programme (SWEP), an
integrated scheme for women’s empowerment is designed for formation of women
into Self Help Groups (SHGs). Benefit and empowerment for women is also bound
to flow from the flagship central schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao;
Sakhi, the Nirbhaya fund generated One Stop Centre Scheme for security of women;
Swader Greh, for rehabilitation of women and other women centric
initiatives being run as part of digital India, Skill India etc.
Such forward looking schemes are likely to usher a positive change in
comparison to the cosmetic treatment given to the matter by the previous state governments.
The Mehbooba Mufti-led government abolished stamp duty on the sale of
property registered in the name of females, in what it termed as an incentive
to encourage families to register their properties in the name of their female
family members. A noble thought indeed, but, the former chief minister failed
to factor in the fact that no family would register property in the name of
women in view of the draconian provisions of Article 370 and Article 35A that
limited their rights to property as explained above.
There
is a need to take this noble thought process of women empowerment ahead with
motivation coming from all segments of society, be it the family, civil
society, role models, seniors and intellectuals among others. Workshops and
seminars should be organised at various levels, awareness campaigns on job and
business opportunities should be held, especially in villages. Research on the
subject should be commissioned in universities to identify best practices in
taking forward the noble venture. A conscious attempt has to be made to bring
the women of the region at par with rest of the country.
Exploitation
of women in the work place is a universal malady; special attention needs to be
paid to this aspect so that women as well as their families feel safe while
going out to work. It also has to be ensured that working women are not
exploited in terms of wages. In short, everything possible should be done to
build confidence levels of women and encourage them to forge ahead.
Women,
along with their children, have remained the most vulnerable victims of the
environment of foreign sponsored terrorism and militancy in the region. They
have witnessed the degeneration of their otherwise enlightened society leading
to a perceptible increase in domestic violence, humiliation and harassment. The
Indian Army has very well understood the trauma being faced by the women due to
debilitating shadow of terrorism. In response it has given, for more than three
decades now, special attention to their needs though the medium of its welfare
initiative –Operation Sadbhavna. The government would be well advised to study
the model for women empowerment followed by the Indian Army by its Operation
Sadbhavna and carry it forward.
A
sustained effort to ensure empowerment of women in Jammu and Kashmir with
required momentum, can, within a short period of time make women
important stakeholders in every segment of society. Such a situation will go a
long way in ensuring much needed stability in the region.
It’s a very
old joke that would probably have remained forgotten had it not been for
Islamabad enacting it out so often. For those who haven’t heard it, the joke
goes like this: A student who was weak in English language got a ‘sure-shot’
tip from his friends that the subject of the essay in the upcoming exams would
be about witnessing a hockey match. So, he looked up numerous English
guidebooks and after finding a sample essay on this topic, got down in real
earnest to memorise the same. But on the day of the exams he was aghast when he
saw the question paper because instead of being asked to write about a hockey
match for which he had so assiduously prepared, the topic of the essay was ‘a
train journey’!
While his
friends who had tipped him off about the essay topic looked on in pure horror, he
appeared to ponder for a moment as though he was collecting his thoughts and
then commenced writing furiously without stopping as if there would be no
tomorrow. After the exam was over, his friends asked him as to how come he was
able to write so confidently and so much on a topic he hadn’t prepared for. He
replied that though initially shocked, he had no problem as he had started off
his essay by mentioning that he had got onto a train, but after covering a
little distance it came to an abrupt halt as the engine had developed some
fault. Then he wrote that on looking out from the window of the stationary
train, he saw that a hockey match was being played and thereafter faithfully
regurgitated all that he had learnt by rote. To ensure that he did not miss out
mention of the subject matter in his conclusion (which was a must those days),
he added that just as the hockey match finished, the engine fault was rectified
and he thereafter proceeded on his train journey!
Many
amongst the younger generation would find this joke woefully lacking in
‘wit-content’. But when one sees how desperately Islamabad tries to juxtapose anti-India
rhetoric in each and every situation and occasion (often with disastrous
results), one is automatically reminded of this hockey match joke!
Wasn’t it
extremely naïve of Pakistan’s Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood to behave just like the protagonist
in the above cited joke by trying to expect that he would actually
succeed in his attempt to internationalise the Babri Mosque issue during the
general policy debate of the UNESCO
General Conference? Doesn’t his side-splitting attempt to try and peddle anti-India tirade by alleging that Indian
Supreme Court’s decision on the Ayodhya issue was not in line with UNESCO’s
values of religious freedom bears an uncanny resemblance with the hockey match
and train journey joke? But, why single out the poor Education Minister when many
others at the helm of affairs in Pakistan too are making a laughing stock of
themselves!
Two and a half months ago, during the 4th South
Asian Speakers’ Summit on ‘Achieving the Sustainable Goals’ held in Maldives,
Pakistani delegate Qasim Suri surprised everyone by raising the Kashmir issue. However,
instead of being debated (as an over-optimistic Islamabad had probably
thought), not only was his out-of-context statement summarily rejected, but
according to reliable sources, the Pakistani delegation was also told to
confine itself to the agenda and Maldivian Speaker Nasheed assured India that
all references to Kashmir would be expunged from the records! The net result
was that while Islamabad gained nothing, Indian delegates got the opportunity
of using this forum to remind the world of Pakistan Army’s horrific brutalities
against the innocent people of erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971 and human rights
excesses in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)!
Remember how just like the student in the joke who tried to connect
a train journey with a hockey match, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi too thought that he could get away by linking resolutions passed by
UNSC on Kashmir with provisions of the Indian constitution while submitting an
official complaint to its President Joanna Wronecka. However, the initial confidence
that he was oozing suddenly seemed to vanish when UNSC President answered media
queries on the same with a terse “No comments,” reply. Qureshi’s
cockiness was perceptibly missing just before the UNSC ‘closed door’ meeting
when he told the media that “Giving vent to emotions is easy and raising
objections is much easier. However, it is difficult to understand the issue and
move forward. They are not waiting for you with garlands in their hands.”
Then we have Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan who seems to be working overtime trying to live up to his ‘Prime Minister of U-turns’ moniker. Hekept saying that while Islamabad has always been keen on dialogue with India, it was New Delhi that had upped the ante by escalating tension along the Line of Control (LoC). But what Khan hasn’t been able to explain is that if Islamabad is really so committed to dialogue, then why did his government unilaterally downgrade diplomatic relations with New Delhi? Furthermore, if he genuinely wants unconditional talks to “resolve all outstanding issues, including that of Kashmir,” then why has he declared that “unless they (Government of India) lift curfew in Kashmir and rescind the revocation of Article 370, there is no chance of negotiations”?
Postscript In a surprising reversal of roles, while Prime
Minister Imran Khan is speaking on matters military like the increasing probability
of a nuclear war, by declaring that “Reality of Kashmir was neither changed by
an illegal piece of paper in 1947, nor will any other do it now or in
future,” Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa appears to have
adorned the Prime Minister’s hat. But then, this isn’t something unusual in
Pakistan.
The politicians are making a fool of themselves by trying to
use anti-India sentiments and the Kashmir issue as the ‘master key’ (like the
hockey match in the joke), under the erroneous belief that it will give
Islamabad a chance to spew anti-India venom anytime and anywhere. However, the
cake goes to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) for confusing one and
all by stating that “Pakistan never recognised the sham of Indian efforts to
legalise its occupation of J&K through Article 370 or Article 35-A decades
ago, efforts which have now been revoked by India itself.” One is tempted to
ask Gen. Bajwa that if your country never ‘recognised’ Articles 370 and 35A of
the Indian constitution, then why all this ruckus over its abrogation?
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