Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Secondary Issues Are Hiding the Core Problem

Najib says at the core is a humanitarian problem that unfortunately is overwhelmed by secondary issues that have turned the Jammu-Kashmir issue into a resource and land grabbing exercise between two neighboring countries

(Sardar Muhammad Najib, 33, was born in Trarkhel, Poonch district in Pakistan administered Kashmir. He was educated at the Government Boys College, Trarkhel, and won a Gold Medal during F.Sc. Pre-Engineering as a topper in the entire Pakistan administered Kashmir. He graduated with B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar. Mr. Najib is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project management Institute (PMI), and is pursuing the MBA degree from the University of Atlanta, Dubai campus. He lives in Dubai and is the spokesman for the Jammu and Kashmir National Association of UAE that networks with other Kashmiris. He is an avid reader of historical literature on Jammu and Kashmir.)


Overlapping of Secondary Dynamics on the Jammu Kashmir Issue

The Jammu Kashmir conflict is among the oldest issues on earth which is still unresolved and the international community and organizations have not resolved. This princely and prominent entity in the subcontinent had been the victim of the division formulas of British rule. The British empire while leaving the subcontinent created a lot of complexity which is still under the un-resolvable condition.

With passage of time, the issue becomes more complex due to overlapping of other secondary issues; the prominent one is the water issue which is drastically overlapping with a very thick layer. Hence, the complexity can be visualized that how much strong, precise and dynamic process may lead to some breakthrough. The dynamics of the regional politics and economic interdependency are also in transition.

The terrorism frame work is another factor which hiding the genuine human issues. The confusion is being enhanced to distinguish the genuine human issues and the residual issues as a result of consequence of the regional politics paradigm. The other issues which are hampering to proceed on right road with milestones are the interim declarations, the laws imposed by the major stakeholders.

Because, these modifications in context of the originality of the Jammu Kashmir issue is strongly suppressed by the secondary and residual issues, which in fact are linked with the geographical position, the resources, the regional scenarios with international economic survival of the stakeholders. If we launch the stakeholder analysis for all major contributors than, the primary and secondary risks which can coat a thick layer on the issue can be visualized in view of complexity of parameters actually leading the present position of the issue. It is fact that the issue is unresolved and a lot of humanity and its emotions, sentiments and historical background are involved.

The secondary issues which are now indulge with the main issue must be visualized and their impact analysis should launched by all stakeholders if they really want to resolve the issue for sake of long run regional developments, the peace and the improved conditions for trade and bilateral ties. Although, the construction of mega dams, the hydroelectric power stations and the other such activities are exhibiting the proceedings of major stakeholders. Such type of attempts vowed that the major stakeholders have no concrete road map for to resolve the issue. The hit and trail method is only employed and hence the outcomes are always not durable.

The analysis of the major secondary issue i.e. the water resources are of the most important for the future energy needs, the cultivation and survival. The Jammu Kashmir holds the huge quantity of the snow inform of glaciers, the rivers are flowing from Jammu Kashmir to India and Pakistan the two major stakeholders. The forthcoming energy crisis and food demand highlights this important resource as a secondary but more dominant factor in the issue. The construction of Kishan Ganga, the Baghliar dams (Indian administered Kashmir), Basha, Neelum Jhelum, Kohala hydroelectric power projects (Pakistani administered Kashmir) and lot of other small projects linked with the water resource are contributing a very complex factor in the context of resolution of Jammu Kashmir issue. The race of construction is tremendously and drastically increasing day by day irrespective of the logical footings linked with issue. Hence, this secondary premier issue must be taken up and the genuine concerns of all stakeholders must be considered and frame work of the issue resolution must be managed.

The second secondary issue, the interim declarations between India & Pakistan, the Shimla agreement, the Tashkent declaration etc. have overlapped the layer which is hiding the real posture of the issue. The real posture of Jammu Kashmir conflict in reality was the empowering of the Pakistani controlled Jammu Kashmir and its utilization for the sake of diplomatic improvements to attain the support of international community. If both India and Pakistan really interested to resolve the issue in favor people of South Asia, these dynamics required to be incorporated in the peace agenda. The approach needs to be developed on the humanitarian basis not on the basis of the boarder or resources grabbing issue. The role of international community is to be managed and organized to certify the approach with real posture and right direction.

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