Published October 26th, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

The employees’ unrest

Whatever the situation, government employees are the ultimate victims!

Present unrest in Kashmir has now been completely overtaken by ego and stubbornness on all sides. There seems to be no breakthrough at any level and stake holders are engaged in exploring the ‘fatigue factor’. And in this experimentation of testing each other’s nerves only common-man is suffering badly. In this game of nerves state being a systematized entity with comprehensive powers has huge responsibility to safeguard the interests of its subjects in accordance to the existing laws. And in this structure of authority government can run its writ only through its vast network of employees, ranging from powerful bureaucrats to humble field workers. Collectively, all government employees are ultimate instruments of governance. So, rightly speaking no government can run without the active participation or support of employees. The police and law enforcing agencies too are integral part of government employees as a whole. Read More The employees’ unrest

Articles Kashmir Conflict Kashmir Government

Published October 9th, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

Kashmir—The over exploited paradise.

Three months unrest smeared with blood and unabated mayhem is a huge tragedy. Kashmir is bruised beyond recognition! Its beautiful scenery, economic health and its people have suffered a lot. How Kashmir and its people are sustaining this cruel situation of hardships, only Divinity can decode the secret? This despairing period of three months has taken toll of more than three decades of our pleasure. Amid turmoil, days become longer and nights more scary. Fear-psychosis overpowers sense of reasoning and logic and you become impaired—devoid of ability to make correct decisions. This mired situation of confused state of mind and body drags deep into the oblivions of miseries; minds get jammed and channels of wisdom clogged. And in such situation of despair when every Kashmiri irrespective of his position and standing is torn between sufferings and survival many people make political and materialistic hay while the proverbial sun of turmoil shines. Read More Kashmir—The over exploited paradise.

Articles Kashmir Conflict

Published September 8th, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

Talks, how and with whom?

When we talk beyond borders the contours of conflict and its resolution invite international ramifications

It is almost two months now; Kashmir and its people are caught in a quagmire of turbulence and unabated violence. People are dying of bullets and pellets and if the situation won’t change, people may die of starvation and disease. Discussing violence gives nothing but pain. However, seeking a justified solution to death and destruction gives you hope. Kashmir, at this point is desperately asking for a peaceful resolution of every conflict to the best satisfaction of its stake holders within the frame work of natural justice and equality. It has to be an out of box resolution where every stake holder including people of Kashmir has to cooperate. Read More Talks, how and with whom?

Articles Kashmir Conflict Kashmir Government

Published August 22nd, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

Kashmir: Graveyard of Peace

Current Kashmir unrest must be read in context of a complete failure of world powers in Afghanistan resulting in fluid political and military situation in the region.

Killing of many young Kashmiris and more than six weeks of siege is not less tragic and unfortunate for millions of Kashmiri people. Hundreds of maimed and scores of blinded people speak of a grave state of conflict; a conflict that has engulfed a generation of young people comprising more than fifty percent of our population. This time round the contours of unrest seem to be different. This unrest, unlike earlier uprisings seems not only against the present political dispensation and establishment, but against all who exploited the sentiments of Kashmiri people from time to time, irrespective of their position in power and politics or their own geopolitical interests. All stake holders of Kashmir conflict should read a bold writing on the wall, a writing of extreme anger. No political party within the state and no nation around the geographic territory of Kashmir should feel itself out of present Kashmiri anger. In my three decades of public life I have never experienced such widespread, deep-rooted resentment within the psyche of Kashmir people, against one and all. Read More Kashmir: Graveyard of Peace

Articles Kashmir Conflict Kashmir People

Published July 14th, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

Kashmir- Back to bloodshed!

How long shall we be losing precious lives?

Death of a young, charismatic man in his early twenties with a certain extreme ideology triggered a trail of killings! Scores of people who lost their lives after his death were less than thirty years. Aren’t these tragic killings an eye-opener for all stake-holders related to Kashmir conflict directly or indirectly? This is not the first incident of forceful and angry demonstrations in Kashmir. In recent past— year 2008, 2010 more than a hundred people, mostly young Kashmiries were martyred over issues that were not directly related to the basic Kashmir issue. The point is what makes the Kashmiris, particularly the younger people to react so aggressively? Obviously it is deep-rooted anger against a system, political dispensation that they find against their wishes. The situation becomes more complex with unabated exploitation, corruption, nepotism and much more that does not go well with the outlook of young, educated class with world information just a press of a button away. Kashmir and its people have gone a radical change during last thirty years. It is no more a Kashmir or Kashmiri that will swallow down any injustice or coercion so easily. Gone are the days when our elders would submit to any injustice without any resistance. With change in international politics, and social reforms world over Kashmir and its people have maintained a considerable pace with such developments. Moreover, like other parts of the India and world over Kashmiri population at present has more than fifty percent of young people who are below the age of thirty years. Read More Kashmir- Back to bloodshed!

Articles Kashmir Conflict Kashmir Problems

Published July 6th, 2016 by Fida Iqbal

Kashmir politics at the crossroads!

It”s all about power at any cost.

Kashmir has a long political history of intrigues, exploitation and suppression. No doubt Kashmiri people have also experienced glory and justice but that was always short lived. After 1947 when most of the subcontinent was free from the clutches of autocracy, Kashmir and its people got torn between two big brothers. To keep the instability pot boiling, the iniquitous British while managing a retreat put seeds of hatred in the region, now grown into a full blooming tree during last six decades. Post 1947, Kashmir has experienced a rough political situation where at several occasions misleaders (political traitors) were imposed as mass-leaders and true leaders were tamed to behave like complaisant politicians. Then with the arrival of unrest and turmoil politics became a full-fledged industry. And a new dimension of nationalistic politics (read separatist politics) got added to political lexicon of Kashmir. Read More Kashmir politics at the crossroads!