Violence in the Valley

R C Ganjoo

Kashmir in the 1990s' witnessed gun culture. It has now e n t e r e d into a new phase of stone pelting culture. Stone pelting is an old tactic to give vent to anger. The Ideological conviction of the present lot of militants is more deadly today. Kashmir is witnessing a trend where the young boys are opting for the path of militancy knowing it fully well that they are at the risk of being killed. But they are motivated by ISI agents, according to intelligence reports. Former counterinsurgent Abdul Rashid Parray alias Billa was killed at his home in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on 17th April, 2017 . His son Fayaz Ahmad Parray directly blamed Pakistan.

Kashmir is burning. Pro-Pakistan elements in the Valley are insulting and killing security forces personnel. US National Security Adviser Lt Gen H R McMaster has criticised the Pakistani leadership for selectively targeting terror groups. He also said "Pakistan should use diplomacy and not "proxies" that engage in violence to pursue its interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere"
The surge in locals joining militancy began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen's poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8 last year. According to reports, the main affected areas from where youths were reported to be missing included Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and parts of Awantipora in south Kashmir and certain areas of downtown Srinagar .
Questions are being raised why militancy in Kashmir erupts with intervals. It has been noticed as and when elections are announced to run institutions under democratic system. Regional political parties skilfully exploit the sentiments of people in the name of Kashmir issue.
According to Home Ministry's report, Pakistan is responsible for change in its tactics and resorting to disrupting law and order in Kashmir by infiltration and fomenting unrest through radicalization of Kashmir Muslim youth. Pakistan through the means of social media whips up religious sentiments of Kashmiri youth, spreads hatred against India and security forces, including the police. In 2016, 364 infiltration attempts were made and 112 terrorists infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. The year 2016 witnessed a 54.81 per cent increase and a 110.25 per cent increase in the number of terrorist incidents and fatalities of security forces in comparison to the corresponding period of 2015.
Another alarming situation is of illegal settlement of Rohingya refugees in the state. "As they are dependent on aid and relief from the government and NGOs and don't have any means of livelihood, they could become a tool in the hands of antinational elements which will prove disastrous for the security of the state," according to an intelligence source. After entering India, the refugees covered hundreds of miles and took shelter in Jammu.
The state government has said the Rohingya refugees were not brought here under a well-thought-out plan. "As many as 5,743 Burmese (Rohingyas) are staying in the state. They have entered the state on their own and are staying at various places in the districts of Jammu and Samba," stated Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the Legeslative assembly . Out of the total Rohingya refugees living in Jammu district- 4,912 are having United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards and 186 members are without them," said an official statement.

China's strategy for GB

China has entered in Gilgit - Balistan (GB) with a well conceived plan. It wants to keep its military presence in Pakistan under the pretext of of strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. China also wants its military existence to counter effectively the Muslim separatists , operating from the tribal areas of Pakistan for almost a decade carrying out cross-border activities in trouble- torn Xinjiang , autonomous region in China. Beijing is setting up its military bases in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) or the Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan). In exchange of this strategic plan Pakistan wanted China to Build a naval base at Gwadar in Baluchistan .
Both China and Pakistan have crushed the legitimate concerns raised by the people in GB . The locals here feel Pakistan and China are exploiting their resources. Several local NGO delegations and intellectuals are constantly voicing these concerns in the United Nation Human Right sessions.
Pakistan is trying to silence the voice of GB as independent region.
Security agencies have been given powers under the National Action Plan (NAP) to keep people in check. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), in its latest report on Gilgit Baltistan, has demanded the government to stop security agencies from allegedly exploiting antiterrorism laws against youths and political activists. Former HRCP chief Asma Jahangir, who released the findings of the report in Islamabad, asked the federal government to empower democratic forums of Gilgit Baltistan, appoint judges from among the locals, and address the issues of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Wahajat Hassan According to Senge H. Sering, a scholar based in Washington DC, "China has a huge and long-term presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and is building extensive road, bridge and telecom networks to sustain it. The drivers compelling China to develop Karakoram Corridor are diverse and mainly pertain to its economic, strategic and political ambitions."
Pakistan has been trying to declare GB its new province. But its move has vehemently been opposed by India . On March 23, 2017 British Parliament condemned Pakistan's plans to declare Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth Province. The motion says "Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947."
Abdul Hamid Khan ,Balwaristan National Front President (BNF) while condemning the attempts to merge Gilgit Baltistan with Pakistan has said " the attempt amounts to deliberate violation of UNCIP as well as against the will of the people after the passage of 67 years of deprivation under the occupation of Pakistan in the name of J&K dispute."

Members of the European Parliament (MEP) in a conference titled 'Opposition against CPEC in Pakistan' held at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 1, 2017 highlighted the fact that the projects under the CPEC were being built largely against the will of the locals of Baluchistan, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan. The speakers said that on the pretext of the CPEC, there was a deliberate move by Pakistan to re-settle Punjabis and Chinese nationals in the region.



		EDITOR'S MAIL MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY MARCH OF AYODHYA INDIAN PRESIDENCY REALPOLITIK FOR CREDIBLE OPPOSITION A GAME CHANGER DEFENCE MODERNISATION STATE OF EDUCATION DELHI MCD POLLS FRANKLY SPEAKING SACRILEGE IN PUNJAB KASHMIR WATCH CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN POLL-YEAR HIMACHAL KERALA UNDER LDF CHANDIGARH DIARY U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AMERICAN DIARY JADAV ISSUE INDO-BANGLADESH TIES CIVIL AVIATION HITS & MISSES TEST CRICKET SPORTS BOOK BAZAAR SIGNS OF THE TIMES MIGRATION & WOMEN'S RIGHTS YOGA IN DAILY LIFE-XIII ART OF LIVING Issue:May' 2017 Subscribe Now	KASHMIR WATCH Violence in the Valley R C Ganjoo Kashmir in the 1990s' witnessed gun culture. It has now e n t e r e d into a new phase of stone pelting culture. Stone pelting is an old tactic to give vent to anger. The Ideological conviction of the present lot of militants is more deadly today. Kashmir is witnessing a trend where the young boys are opting for the path of militancy knowing it fully well that they are at the risk of being killed. But they are motivated by ISI agents, according to intelligence reports. Former counterinsurgent Abdul Rashid Parray alias Billa was killed at his home in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on 17th April, 2017 . His son Fayaz Ahmad Parray directly blamed Pakistan. Kashmir is burning. Pro-Pakistan elements in the Valley are insulting and killing security forces personnel. US National Security Adviser Lt Gen H R McMaster has criticised the Pakistani leadership for selectively targeting terror groups. He also said "Pakistan should use diplomacy and not "proxies" that engage in violence to pursue its interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere" The surge in locals joining militancy began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen's poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8 last year. According to reports, the main affected areas from where youths were reported to be missing included Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and parts of Awantipora in south Kashmir and certain areas of downtown Srinagar . Questions are being raised why militancy in Kashmir erupts with intervals. It has been noticed as and when elections are announced to run institutions under democratic system. Regional political parties skilfully exploit the sentiments of people in the name of Kashmir issue. According to Home Ministry's report, Pakistan is responsible for change in its tactics and resorting to disrupting law and order in Kashmir by infiltration and fomenting unrest through radicalization of Kashmir Muslim youth. Pakistan through the means of social media whips up religious sentiments of Kashmiri youth, spreads hatred against India and security forces, including the police. In 2016, 364 infiltration attempts were made and 112 terrorists infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. The year 2016 witnessed a 54.81 per cent increase and a 110.25 per cent increase in the number of terrorist incidents and fatalities of security forces in comparison to the corresponding period of 2015. Another alarming situation is of illegal settlement of Rohingya refugees in the state. "As they are dependent on aid and relief from the government and NGOs and don't have any means of livelihood, they could become a tool in the hands of antinational elements which will prove disastrous for the security of the state," according to an intelligence source. After entering India, the refugees covered hundreds of miles and took shelter in Jammu. The state government has said the Rohingya refugees were not brought here under a well-thought-out plan. "As many as 5,743 Burmese (Rohingyas) are staying in the state. They have entered the state on their own and are staying at various places in the districts of Jammu and Samba," stated Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the Legeslative assembly . Out of the total Rohingya refugees living in Jammu district- 4,912 are having United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards and 186 members are without them," said an official statement. China's strategy for GB China has entered in Gilgit - Balistan (GB) with a well conceived plan. It wants to keep its military presence in Pakistan under the pretext of of strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. China also wants its military existence to counter effectively the Muslim separatists , operating from the tribal areas of Pakistan for almost a decade carrying out cross-border activities in trouble- torn Xinjiang , autonomous region in China. Beijing is setting up its military bases in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) or the Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan). In exchange of this strategic plan Pakistan wanted China to Build a naval base at Gwadar in Baluchistan . Both China and Pakistan have crushed the legitimate concerns raised by the people in GB . The locals here feel Pakistan and China are exploiting their resources. Several local NGO delegations and intellectuals are constantly voicing these concerns in the United Nation Human Right sessions. Pakistan is trying to silence the voice of GB as independent region. Security agencies have been given powers under the National Action Plan (NAP) to keep people in check. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), in its latest report on Gilgit Baltistan, has demanded the government to stop security agencies from allegedly exploiting antiterrorism laws against youths and political activists. Former HRCP chief Asma Jahangir, who released the findings of the report in Islamabad, asked the federal government to empower democratic forums of Gilgit Baltistan, appoint judges from among the locals, and address the issues of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Wahajat Hassan According to Senge H. Sering, a scholar based in Washington DC, "China has a huge and long-term presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and is building extensive road, bridge and telecom networks to sustain it. The drivers compelling China to develop Karakoram Corridor are diverse and mainly pertain to its economic, strategic and political ambitions." Pakistan has been trying to declare GB its new province. But its move has vehemently been opposed by India . On March 23, 2017 British Parliament condemned Pakistan's plans to declare Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth Province. The motion says "Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947." Abdul Hamid Khan ,Balwaristan National Front President (BNF) while condemning the attempts to merge Gilgit Baltistan with Pakistan has said " the attempt amounts to deliberate violation of UNCIP as well as against the will of the people after the passage of 67 years of deprivation under the occupation of Pakistan in the name of J&K dispute." Members of the European Parliament (MEP) in a conference titled 'Opposition against CPEC in Pakistan' held at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 1, 2017 highlighted the fact that the projects under the CPEC were being built largely against the will of the locals of Baluchistan, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan. The speakers said that on the pretext of the CPEC, there was a deliberate move by Pakistan to re-settle Punjabis and Chinese nationals in the region.