Gobind Thukral

OUR economist prime minister has once again predicted that prices would fall to the level. He has assured that by December prices would decline to the range of 5 to 6 per cent. Celebrating completing his first year in office during the present regime of United Progressive Alliance, Dr Manmohan Singh claimed that his government was deeply concerned with price rise and the conditions of the poor people in India. He declared, “The government attaches highest priority to containing inflation so that there is no distress to the common man.”

The day Dr Manmohan Singh was celebrating his sixth year in office, 15 homeless starved people had died on the roads of Delhi, our national capital. This is as per the records of the police. A committee constituted by the Supreme Court, our highest court has said, “There is a mass grave of people in Delhi who do not matter to the rulers”. On an average ten people die on the roads of our national capital every day. We are spending several thousand crores of rupees to host Commonwealth games this year. But we cannot build shelters from the homeless and provide food to let them live. By 2030 over 59 crore people in India would live in cities. There is forced migration from the rural areas to escape poverty and unemployment and seek better life. At least 30 per cent of them would be homeless. Is there any plan for them? And the government also claims to be committed to the welfare of aam admi.

Last year on February 5, this very prime minister had made a similar powerful promise. Dr Manmohan Singh had told the Congress Working Committee discussing the spiraling price rise that the situation was of high concern, but there will be improvement. Prices would fall shortly. Here is that report in detail, “Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi, said: “The price rise issue was discussed at the meeting, and 18 people expressed their views on it and gave their suggestions. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also spoke on it and expressed hope that the condition will become normal soon. At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister also spoke on the issue and expressed his concern. He said that things are improving and soon there would be more improvement.”

And, how have the prices behaved. The wholesale price index rose 7.3 percent in December from a year earlier, its highest since November 2008, and accelerated from a 4.8 percent gain in November. The rise was driven by near 20 percent jump in food prices, which rose on weak monsoon rains and flooding in parts of the country, but inflation in manufacturing products picked up to 5.2 percent from four percent in November, a sign that inflationary pressures were spreading to other sectors of the economy.

But Dr Manmohan Singh is bugged by the same mania of gross domestic growth as patted himself by claiming, “In the current financial year, the economy is expected to grow at 8.5 per cent. This is one of the best performances in the world and reflects the strong fundamentals which we have built over several years.” He said India recorded 7.4 per cent growth in 2009-10, which was more than the 7.2 per cent projected earlier. Economic growth had slipped to 6.7 per cent in 2008-09, after four straight years of average nine per cent expansion.

Annual food inflation hovers around 17 per cent. It has continued to rise for the past five years. And yet the government claims to have made determined efforts to accelerate the pace of development while maintaining reasonable price stability. Control of inflation has been a priority concern. Later releasing the report card both, prime minister and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the all powerful chairperson of the UPA and president of the Congress party patted themselves for achieving so much in a such a short time. Hail these leaders.

Dr Manmohan Singh is an honest man, but he presides do over the government that reeks in corruption. The ministers are either incompetent or in league with the black marketers and hoarders and do nothing to help the common man survive these hard times. India’s political system is oiled by the black economy. Hardly any political party undertakes a proper audit of its accounts. Politicians are among the richest Indians and they thrive on the so-called cash donations. They hardly pay any taxes.

Many political parties in India run today on massive unaccounted cash. India took steps to end feudalism during early years of independence. But did not know that democratic India’s politicians would emerge as greater feudals. The net result is that most political parties have become fiefdoms of various families and are controlled by them because of money power. The money used by political parties and political leaders, the new feudal lords, comes from the parallel economy. In short, this is daylight robbery of India’s resources for no tax is paid on these cash transactions. The figures are so staggering that a vast amount of this money is reportedly stashed abroad. Those who own this money do not need it in India.

Those who thrive on the parallel economy are the ones who have the money power to indulge in massive hoarding. It makes good economic sense for them to keep their cash in warehouses as commodities instead of keeping bundles of paper. Thus, we have a situation where certain commodities required by the people for their everyday needs – be it sugar or lentils – which would be in short supply because of this black economy. These goods come into the market at high prices. The investor, who has access to parallel economy, makes a still bigger kill with his unaccounted wealth. This in a nutshell is the crux of the problem.

Be sure of thing. This government or these mainstream political parties have nothing to do with the plight of the common people. Price would continue to rise, corruption graph would also rise and as also the level of inefficiency. Government can manage or manipulate a section of the powerful media- newspapers and television networks for a while, and get a pat. But gets exposed in a moment when Maoists gill score of people or the poor die on the roads. Poverty, malnutrition and ignorance are not confined to far off villages and backward areas. It is there just a few kilometers away from the hose of the prime minister. Yet our godowns and are full and over ten lakh tones of food grains are eaten by rodents. What face the government has got, one wonders.

BACK

Beatings, Abuse, Doctored Evidence Emerge

Mel Frykberg

ALTHOUGH Israel successfully controlled news of its deadly commando raid on the Free Gaza (FG) flotilla during the first crucial 48 hours of media coverage, emerging evidence from witnesses and survivors is challenging the Israeli government's version of events. These include claims of medical treatment being withheld; beatings and abuse of passengers who never resisted; the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) doctoring audio and selectively editing videos.

Furthermore, allegations of a possible shoot-to-kill policy, amidst autopsies revealing repeated gun shots to the heads of the victims, are also part of an emerging pattern.

One of the first targets of Israeli commandos raiding the FG flotilla was the international media. Photographers were attacked, and journalists had their video, audio and other communications equipment confiscated. The equipment has still not been returned.

"It was clear that Israel wanted to control the media coverage of the situation from the very beginning," Huwaida Arraf, FG’s chairwoman, told IPS.

Approximately 60 journalists from around the globe were on board the FG flotilla. They were amongst the last to be released by the Israelis.

Israeli authorities denied other media access to the imprisoned journalists and activists during the entire period they were incarcerated. Reporters were also prevented from speaking to the FG activists when they were deported from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International airport.

The IDF imposed a media blackout on the wounded being interviewed in Israeli hospitals, with soldiers stationed in hospital wards to enforce the ban. Journalists trying to enter Gaza to cover the raid were turned back by the Israeli authorities at the Erez crossing.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced Israel’s editing and distribution of footage it confiscated from foreign journalists aboard the FG flotilla.

CPJ refers to claims by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel that the military "is selectively using footage to bolster its claims that commandos opened fire only after being attacked."

In another incident, the IDF had to clarify and correct another audio tape it released to the media after questions were raised as to its authenticity.

In the audio one of the ‘activists’ on board the FG allegedly tells the Israelis, amongst other things, to "go back to Auschwitz" in what appears to be a fake accent from the United States’ deep south. The "activist" is also heard telling the Israelis: ‘’We are helping Arabs go against the U.S. Don't forget 9/11 guys."

The IDF also claimed that the voice of Arraf was recorded on the ‘Mavi Marmara’, the boat where the activists were shot dead. However, she was on a different boat, the ‘Challenger 1’.

"There were no Americans from the south on the flotilla. Furthermore, the only people to communicate with the Israelis other than myself were the captains," Arraf told IPS.

"One of them was British, two were Greek, two Turkish and one Algerian and they acted in a very professional manner. I was near the VHF radio during the entire period of communication with the IDF and none of those alleged slurs were made," added Arraf.

However, despite the IDF’s retraction/correction, discrepancies remain even in the edited IDF audio which was released five days after the original one. The alleged slurs about Auschwitz and 9/11 remain.

Although it was inevitable that contradictory evidence would emerge following the arrival of hundreds of the released activists in Istanbul, Athens and other European capitals, the first dramatic events are no longer the main headlines of the major media outlets and network corporations.

And this was probably what the Israelis relied on as they went on the diplomatic offensive.

Nevertheless, the raid and its ramifications are not going away. Post-mortems carried out by the Turks reveal that a number of the dead had numerous shots to the head in addition to other parts of the body. Thirty shots were used to kill nine people.

The IDF has a "confirm kill" policy where even after a person (who is considered a danger to the life of a soldier or other Israelis) is neutralised by several bullets, a final shot is fired into the head at close range to "confirm the kill".

Critics have questioned how individuals, who allegedly constituted threats to the life of the commandos, and would therefore be fighting and moving around, remained still long enough to receive so many shots to the head at close range.

Activists further accuse the Israelis of denying the dying and seriously wounded medical attention despite their desperate pleas for help. Other activists were forcibly prevented from going to the aid of the injured.

Survivors, reportedly, have also disputed Israeli claims that their soldiers used live ammunition only after they were attacked by some of the activists who fought back and managed to wound several of the soldiers. They claim the soldiers began shooting before they were attacked as well as after those who fought back had been neutralised.

Further, Israeli claims that the commandos only used violence against activists who attacked them have also been disputed. A number of activists have claimed they were beaten up in jail and at Ben Gurion when they were being deported.

This IPS correspondent was physically threatened and verbally abused by Israeli police when she witnessed, and took pictures of, several frightened and cuffed activists being frog-marched away from the airport’s departure lounge.

Paul Larudee, a 64-year-old activist from the U.S. and a diabetic, had to be hospitalised after he was beaten repeatedly on different occasions by the navy seals. Kenneth O’Keefe, an Irish-American and former marine, was hospitalised in Tel Aviv after he too was beaten by security officials at the airport.

O’Keefe wanted to fight his deportation but was advised by his lawyer to leave the country for his own safety. [Courtesy IPS]

BACK

The sorry state of  Pakistani economy

Ishtiaq Ahmed

THE landowning class must pay tax on the income they derive from the land. A value-added tax should be imposed on all items sold in the market, especially at the retail levels. The Lahore-based Institute of Public Policy (IPP), Beaconhouse National University, was established in 2008 as a think tank to monitor economic, social, political and foreign policy issues pertaining to Pakistan and recommend public policy measures needed to ‘improve the welfare of the citizens’. Its Executive Council consists of distinguished Pakistani economists, educationists and social scientists.

The chairperson is the former finance minister and World Bank vice president Shahid Javed Burki. The main policy thrust of the IPP is that institutions matter and Pakistan should strengthen the institutional bases of a modern, pluralist-democratic polity. Such a polity should facilitate free trade to flourish alongside equitable distribution of national wealth, so that all-round development takes place and peace within and without Pakistan consolidated.

In the Third Annual Report being released today, June 1, there is an upbeat tempo with regard to developments on the constitutional and political fronts. It is noted that the 18th constitutional amendment will strengthen parliament and the federal structure. In particular, under the new constitutional regime, the provinces will be able to significantly increase their financial resources, enabling them to carry out the additional functions that have been transferred to them through the 18th Amendment. The report also expresses satisfaction over the military operations against extremism in Swat and South Waziristan.

With regard to the economy, however, there is very little to cheer. “Of prime concern is the near total breakdown in the delivery of basic public services like power, gas and water,” it is noted (page 3). Indeed a visit to Pakistan in the summer can be quite a punishment. With the mercury rising to 40 plus Celsius already in May, and sleeping on rooftops no longer possible because of the perennial threat posed by robbers and dacoits, one is dependent on privately-owned generators to go through the summer months. How many people can afford them? Well, as will be shown later, they are likely to be those who are not willing to pay taxes to enable the state to undertake the modernisation and development of public services. In recent times, the public has been agitating over the lack of such basic public services, and if nothing is done to alleviate their suffering, the result can be violent protest. We already have our hands full with jihadi violence. Does it make sense to have another brand of violence called ‘citizens’ violence for the provision of basic services’?

We learn from the report that inflation has combined with rising levels of unemployment to produce stagflation. As a result, households are experiencing declining real incomes. One does not have to be an economist to deduce from such reasoning that the incidence and level of poverty is increasing in Pakistan. Now if we remember that jihadi terrorism strikes terror in the hearts of not only the real and imagined enemies of Islam and Pakistan but also all those who may want to invest their money in Pakistan to generate jobs and wealth, the connection between violence, terrorism and negative economic growth becomes quite clear. We are told that there has been a big fall in domestic and foreign private investment in Pakistan. The only redeeming fact in the otherwise very gloomy economic situation is that, because our banks are not integrated in any big way in the international banking system, the current financial crisis which has hit much of the Western world has not inflicted any major punishment on us. In short, the IPP 2010 Report calls for a range of remedial measures to rectify an economic situation that is patently bad.

Among those measures the most important deal with our obligations as citizens. The theory of citizenship is that there is a contractual relationship between the rights we can claim in a state on the basis that we are bona fide citizens and our obligations to the political community that we live in. Alongside democratic development, which extended the right of vote to all citizens, the concomitant economic growth resulted in all categories of the population becoming citizens and the state imposing a tax on all individuals who earned income, no matter what was its source.

The IPP 2010 Report draws attention to the wholly unacceptable levels of taxation that prevail in Pakistan. Although there is no standard rate of taxation that is followed worldwide, economists have agreed that it should be at least 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is a measure of a country’s overall economic output. In other words, it is the market value of all final goods and services within the borders of a country in a year. In Pakistan, the state is able to collect a mere nine percent of GDP in the shape of taxes, i.e., about one half of what is needed. Therefore, the following measures are imperative to correct the current situation:

1. The landowning class must pay tax on the income it derives from the land. At present it does not since its political clout remains considerable. Such parasitism must be abolished and all landowners should be taxed on the basis of the income they derive from their land.

2. A value-added tax should be imposed on all items sold in the market, especially at the retail levels. Pakistani shopkeepers pay no such duty and that makes no sense at all.

3. All political leaders and members of the national and legislative assemblies must declare annually the tax they have paid. Some of the tax statements are sick jokes. The reason is that some of the most powerful figures in Pakistani politics own huge properties outside Pakistan and those they hold in Pakistan are concealed with the help of clever lawyers.

4. Beside these recommendations, I can add another concern that many of us have: the budget allocations to the military needs to be discussed in parliament. Recently, it was announced that there will be a 31 percent increase in the military budget. To many of us, this makes no sense. An open discussion on it can help us understand why the white elephant needs to be fattened all the time.

[Ishtiaq Ahmed is a Visiting Research Professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) and the South Asian Studies Programme at the National University of Singapore and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Stockholm University. He is currently working on a book, Is Pakistan a Garrison State? He can be reached at isasia@nus.edu.sg]

BACK

Kashmir: No formula, build trust-4

Urmilesh

THERE is no dearth of formulas for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Innumerable suggestions, demands, proposals and formulas have cropped up since 1947-48. Some of them were discussed at bilateral forums, others reached international platforms.

Conversation with former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mufti Mohammed Sayeed

Q: Your party, PDP, is giving great importance to self-rule for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

A: We are raising this issue regularly. We adopted a resolution to this effect at the party conclave. We firmly believe this is the right time for solving the Kashmir dispute. Implementation of self-rule will boost the process.

Q: Your proposal for self-rule is not very different for the autonomy proposal given by the National Conference. Why the mainstream political parties of Kashmir are not making a common programme and charter of demand?

A: No, there is a major difference between the two. You look at the contents of both the proposals. Our proposal is broader and can solve all types of problems.

Q: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has suggested some new formulas for finding the solution of the Kashmir dispute. Or, we can say, he has started thinking differently as these formulas suggest. What’s your view?

A: We have welcomed it. Indian Government has also reflected a constructive approach. Atmosphere is getting conducive on both sides. We believe something good will come out of this process. The Centre should proceed on our self-rule proposal. The PDP will forcefully put up this issue at the Roundtable conference called by Prime minisy6er Manmohan Singh. God willing, the outcome will be positive. I always believed four important aspects of Jammu & Kashmir will have to be seriously addressed if we want to solve this problem. First is the issue between India and Pakistan. Second is between the Centre and the state. Third, the problems and relations between the peoples of two regions within the state; and fourth is distrust and imbalance among Jammu, Valley and Ladakh.

Q: How does the Central Government react to your thinking and proposals.

A: The Centre has been very constructive. The situation has changed for the better in comparison to the past; it has changed both in the state and the Centre. This is good for Kashmir and Kashmiris. The need of the hour is to speed up development works, address people’s grievances, protect human rights and resolve political issues with a spirit of cooperation. (February 2007)

• CONVERSATION WITH SARDAR MOHD.ABDUL QAYUM KHAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF PAK-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR

(This dialogue with the 82-year-old former President of Pakistan-adiministered Kashmir and supreme leader of Muslim Conference took place on April 27 & 29 in two phases. He had come to participate in the Heart-to-Heart talk organized by Kashmir’s National Panthers Party in New Delhi)

Q: India and Pakistan are engaged at different levels these days. How do you foresee the outcome?

A: I am happy that the talks are proceeding. I always felf and even now suggest that Kashmiri representatives should also be involved.

Q: Which representatives? There are many claimants of being Kashmir’s representatives. Whom should the Governments talk with?

A: Everybody should be approached. I feel even militant organizations should be involved.

Q: The Indian Government once talked to Hizbul but the outcome is known to everybody.

A: A positive outcome of that talk was not even expected. It won’t be wise for me to speak about that in detail. Good intentions are must for talk to succeed. You should come with the right perspective and the will to resolve issues.

Q: What should be done for that?

A: I guess you have to use both your brains and heart. Both the countries will have to concede that there is a third aspect of their mutual dispute and that’s the people of Kashmir. The two countries should also withdraw their armies from Kashmir in a phased manner. Kashmir anyway does not need such military presence. If both India and Pakistan resolve their differences and leave Kashmiris at their will, the problem will automatically come to an end.

Q: The Government says terror strikes will intensify if the military is withdrawn. Infiltration will increase significantly. There is no denying the fact that terrorist camps are operating from Pakistani-administered Kashmir and elsewhere. Why don’t you people dismantle those camps and try to solve the problem through political negotiations?

A: This is true that there were camps of those who fight for Kashmir’s freedom and self-determination. But Pakistani rulers have recently tightened screws on them. There are hardly any camp functioning now; maybe a few here and there. I am not sure. The charge of infiltration is not credible. There is no border. People are similar on both the sides and they will keep crisscrossing. In a way, infiltration cannot stop altogether permanently. This does not pose any danger. As far as political dialogue is concerned, this can happen only with the consent of both the countries. India has greater responsibility to change its attitude. India has been wary of talks. Musharraf sahib has taken a good initiative. India should respond with concrete proposals. In comparison to the past, the mood in India is also constructive. Manmohan Singh Government has good understanding and approach. I believe things will improve.

CONVERSATION WITH HARDLINE HURRIYAT LEADER SAYYED ALI SHAH GEELANI

Q: Mr Geelani, many formulas have come up for resolution of the Kashmir dispute but nothing has materialized so far. What’s your opinion?

A: I think there is only one formula that can solve the problem. Indian Government should fulfill the commitments it made to the Kashmiris. We should get the right to self-determination. The new formulas that have cropped up recently have no meaning. These formulas conspire to maintain the status quo. One lakh people have been killed here so far since 1988. Ten thousand youths are missing. India and Pakistan have fought three wars; Bangladesh has come into being. And we are suffering oppression for 60 years.

Q: The four-point formula suggested by Pervez Musharraf is in the reckoning. Don’t you think this can be a starting point for moving towards a solution?

A: Kashmiris want the right to self-determination. Even people of Jammu and Ladakh are also not separated from this. People of Pakistan-administered Kashmir are also involved in this. They will also want this right. Thirteen million people want the right to self-determination. This should be done under the supervision of the United Nations. Whatever the outcome, we will accept it. If the majority favours staying with India, we will certainly feel aggrieved but accept the verdict. If the decision is to go with Pakistan or become independent, India should honor that outcome. In 2004, a European delegation said after visiting this state that Kashmir has been turned into a beautiful jail. The people must get right to self-determination and then only they will breathe in free air.

Q: But Geelani sahib, people of Jammu and Ladakh do not agree with you or leaders of your perspective. You don’t count them as people of Jammu & Kashmir?

A: They are very much the people of J&K. If they are happy with India, let them be. This does not mean we will pressurize them. But there are Muslims in Doda, Jammu, Rajouri-Poonch. They are not happy with India.

Q: Do you view the Kashmir issue through the prism of religion?

A: You cannot describe Islam as a mere religion like Hinduism, Christianity or Jainism. This is a comprehensive way of living the life. In this way, there is class differentiation, no violence, no riots.

Q: In that case, what is happening in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia and Kosovo?

A: These are all because of American action and reaction. Somewhere its Israeli tactics, somewhere India is playing games.

Q: But Pakistan, which was carved out on the basis of religion, is grappling with violence, riots and turmoil. Its politics is dominated by autocracy, feudalism and oppression.

A: True Islam didn’t get a chance there, too. True Islamic rule will provide the best atmosphere. There will be no room for violence and riots.

Q: Geelani sahib, this logic can be given by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also, that true Hindu rashtra will have no scope for violence and riots.

A: The whole world is now aware of Modi and his party’s true character.

Q: Let’s return to Kashmir formula. Not only separatists, even mainstream political parties and groups are debating Musharraf’s formula. Is it possible to take things forward on this formula?

A: The question does not arise. No genuine Kashmiri organization will accept Musharraf formula. Nobody here considers Mufti’s party, Farooq’s party or Miwaiz group a genuine Kashmiri outfit. These forces advocate status quo. Musharraf speaks the language of America. Who does not know he is not the representative of 60 crore Pakistanis. He is a US tool. He is working under American direction.

Q: Pakistani establishment nowadays does not support your campaign. Do you feel isolated?
A: Why should we feel isolated? Pakistani people is with us. Their print media supports our philosophy.

Q: Benazir Bhutto is about to return to Pakistan. Nawaz Sharief is also trying to return. Will your agitation be strengthened if these people come to power?

A: If they respond to the feelings of Pakistani people, they will have to stand by us. As far as Benazir is concerned, she will ride to power on America’s back. Nawaz Sharief will back us. I met in Jeddah in 2006. He expressed his support to Kashmiri movement. Anyway, his action only will decide up to what extent he goes to support us.

(October 29, 2007, Srinagar)

* CONVERSATION WITH J&K CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHAIRMAN DR MOBIN SHAH:

Q The peace process between India and Pakistan has seen many confidence-building measures. Cross border movement has also begun. How do you view the future?

A: It’s a good beginning. This needs to be given further push. Travel by road through both sides of Kashmir has started but there are many obstacles. They should be removed. Commerce and trade between the two sides should be started immediately. I don’t know why the delay. Both sides were told to furnish a list of goods for commercial exchange but the governments are still studying this aspect. Union Minister of state for Commerce Jairam Ramesh came here recently and he assured all measures to improve business relations between the two sides.

Q: How does the Chamber of Commerce view this in POK. Are they also interested in business ties?

A: Of course. Mr Zulfikar Abbasi is their Chamber of Commerce head. I have talked to him. They were supposed to have come in November but that could not materialize.

Q: If strong business relations emerge between the two sides, peace process will get strengthened and it will ultimately help in finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute. It is possible new ideas will emerge.

A: That will be a big development. People will meet each other. We expect a business of Rs 400-500 crore annually. This will create a new trade route for Central Asia. The old silk route will revive. Road to China can be developed from that side of Kashmir. We can then make trade ties with China through road route. This will be an easy route.

Q: Maybe this will also throw up some solution to the Kashmir dispute.

A: That’s correct. Many problems get resolved when people meet. I believe the solutrion to Kashmir dispute should be found through peaceful means, not through violence.
Q: Many formulas have come up since 1947-48 for the resolution of the conflict. Which one do you think was the most suitable?

A: I think there is readymade formula for the resolution of the conflict. If sincere and honest efforts are made to resolve the problem, some way-out will come forth. In addition to cordial relations between India and Pakistan, even the two sides of Kashmir should establish a close rapport. Trade, tourism and lots of other activities can help. (October 30, 2007, Srinagar)

* CONVERSATION WITH JAMMU’S KNOWN HINDUTVA IDEOLOGUE PROF HARI OM

Q: What future do you see of the process to resolve the Kashmir dispute?

A: It is my personal opinion that this dispute, or issue, will remain as it is. I doubt if a permanent solution can ever be found out.

Q: Why do you sound so pessimistic? Many bigger issues in the world have been resolved.

A: I am not a pessimist, I am a realist. Only a border question is not attached to the Kashmir dispute; there are many issues entangled into one. That makes the problem very complex. It is possible this issue is pushed to the sidelines as other bigger issues may take the centrestage in Pakistan. India and Pakistan will fight over water in future. My assessment is that Pakistan will witness a major quarrel between Sindh and Punjab for water. The waters of Sindh, Jhelum and Chenab move from Punjab to Sindh in Pakistan. In Pakistani Punjab, there are big landlords worth 2000-3000 acres of land. Big political leaders and Army Generals come from these families. They will go to any extent for water.

Q: Will the autonomy formula create a possibility for solution?

A: Nothing will come out of it. The demand for restoration of pre-53 status goes against our state and the country. The country today needs unity and integrity and such proposals encourage disintegration.

* CONVERSATION WITH ALL-PARTY HURRIYAT CONFERENCE LEADER MAULVI ABBAS ANSARI

Q: How does the Hurriyat see the autonomy report?

A: It is meaningless. Kashmir dispute is not about improving administration or cosmetic changes in the political structure. This is a 60-year-old problem. The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution on this.

Q: But all old disputes have not been solved through old formulas.

A: We are ready to discuss new formulas if they are sincere. But let there be some initiative.

Q: Recently, the Prime Minister of India took a major initiative and invited the Hurriyat Conference to the Roundtable conference. But you ignored the Prime Minister’s invitation.

A: Such conferences, where there are no concrete proposals for Kashmir problem in the agenda, are meaningless. Most of the parties present in the Roundtable Conference do not even consider Kashmir to be a matter of dispute. They either run government in the state or wait for their chance to come in power which sitting in opposition. Why should Hurriyat attend such a conference?

Q: Several formulas on autonomy, self-rule, joint monitoring of borders are on the table. How does Hurriyat see them?

A: Hurriyat rejects the thesis of transforming the Line of Control into International Border. We cannot see Kashmir in division. We have already rejected autonomy and self-rule talks.

Q: Kashmir issue is again getting internationalized. It is said even Hurriyat has come under some kind of American influence. Will that help finding a solution?

A: I don’t favour any American scheme for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. India and Pakistan are free to take help from their friendly countries. If people like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela mediate, we will welcome it. Countries like Iran too can help.

* Reference

1. The Hindustan Times, September 27, 1950
2. Balraj Madhok, Kashmir: Centre of new alignment, 1963
3. Report of the State Autonomy Committee, Jammu, April 1999, page 86-87
4. Hindustan, New Delhi, July 5, 2000
5. Wahi, New Delhi, February 5, 2007
6. Kashmir Times, December 19, 2007
7. South Asia Tribune, March 10, 2005
8. Reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir, Indraprasth Vishwa Samvad Kendra, RSS resolution passed in Kurukshetra meeting, 2002
9. NDTV.com December 5 2006
10. Frontline, Chennai, August 2006

[Urmilesh is Delhi-based writer-journalist. He has six Books to his credit. Among two are on different aspects of Kashmir .Presently he is Political Editor with Business Bhaskar. This paper was presented for Panos south Asia Sania Hussain Indo-Pak Media Fellowship in Oct.2007.]

BACK