Comments for Kashmir the war of Mind and Brains http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on UNITED STATES OBSESSION WITH THE KASHMIR ISSUE: An Analysis by Sana http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/united-states-obsession-with-the-kashmir-issue-an-analysis/#comment-405 Sana Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:11 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=276#comment-405 A new book by a former US diplomat calls for an effective role by the US in resolving the Kashmir issue. “I believe that the Obama administration ought to look for opportunities to play a helpful role on Kashmir,“ says Howard B Schaffer author of ‘The Limits of Influence: America’s Role in Kashmir.’ The book has been published by the influential US think-tank, the Brookings Institution. ought “What’s important is that the Obama administration has to be on the look-out for opportunities, and whatever role it does play will have to be very low-key,” says Schaffer. “I also think - and this is very important - that the basic outline of a settlement on Kashmir now seems in view,” he said. Schaffer, currently deputy director and director of studies of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service, is a 36-year veteran of the US Foreign Service and has served as ambassador to Bangladesh (1984 to 1987), and as political counsellor in India (1977 to 1979) and Pakistan (1974 to 1977). According to the author, ‘The Limits of US influence’ spell out what America’s role has been including that in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s when the US really sought to project it towards a development of a settlement in Kashmir. But it was limited and unsuccessful. Later, US efforts were focused not on developing a framework for settlement on Kashmir - as they had been under Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy - but rather towards what you could call crisis management. “That is, we tried to calm down the situation when developments connected with Kashmir led the two parties into a critical confrontation,” said Schaffer. According to Schaffer, the elements of the Kashmir settlement as spelled out in his book include: One is that the ceasefire line or the Line of Control (LoC) should become the international boundary, with minor adjustments perhaps, acceptable to the two sides. Secondly, that there be a considerable degree of autonomy for both sides of Kashmir. And third, that there be free movement or easy movement of goods and people from one side of the divided state to the other. “What you need to do is to fill in the details, to flesh out the settlement, which will also have to include a considerable degree of demilitarization on both sides of Kashmir. And finally, I would like to see the development of some All Kashmir institutions, which can deal with non-controversial issues, such as say, tourism or electric power generation.” Obama, according to Schaffer, should proceed on Kashmir the way he told Joe Klein of Time magazine during the campaign trail. “Sure, he (Obama) makes some good arguments as to why India should want to be rid of this problem to focus on development, and why Pakistan should want to be rid of it in order to focus on the problems on the Afghanistan side. And that’s the way Obama should proceed on the Kashmir issue,” he said. A settlement on Kashmir, according to Schaffer could be worked out only if there are strong governments in both countries (India and Pakistan). “And when the two countries come closer to a settlement, it is at the point, I think, that the United States might - and I stress might - be of some help in getting the two sides across that elusive finish line on Kashmir they’ve never been able to cross on their own.” According to Schaffer there would be greater concessions to be made by Pakistan than by India, which after all will keep the Kashmir valley - which has always been the crux of the issue. Nonetheless, there will be some concessions that India would have to make - on the autonomy issue for example. Schaffer considers independence for Kashmir as unworkable, unthinkable, an idea that, according to him, will never be accepted by any Indian government no matter how strong. “I have said in the book, and I believe there are many Indian commentators who agree with me, that if they had a choice, the Muslims of the Kashmir valley would vote in favour of independence. But they are not going to have that choice.” According to Schaffer, during his visits to India, he had talked to senior Indian officials about this call on Musharraf’s self-government proposal, “and the answer we got from some of them was yes, self-government is fine - all Indian states enjoy self-government, so why would we object to Kashmir having similar self-government?” “But that, of course, is not what I see as the basis for a settlement. There would have to be a much greater degree of autonomy - and this would apply both to Indian and the Pakistani side - than is afforded to Indian states. And to make the settlement acceptable, you would have to develop ironclad guarantees that this autonomy will not erode over time. You have to do that because the experience in Kashmir suggests that Indian governments can slowly erode that autonomy. So, such guarantees have to be worked out.” A new book by a former US diplomat calls for an effective role by the US in resolving the Kashmir issue.
“I believe that the Obama administration ought to look for opportunities to play a helpful role on Kashmir,“ says Howard B Schaffer author of ‘The Limits of Influence: America’s Role in Kashmir.’ The book has been published by the influential US think-tank, the Brookings Institution. ought “What’s important is that the Obama administration has to be on the look-out for opportunities, and whatever role it does play will have to be very low-key,” says Schaffer.
“I also think – and this is very important – that the basic outline of a settlement on Kashmir now seems in view,” he said.
Schaffer, currently deputy director and director of studies of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service, is a 36-year veteran of the US Foreign Service and has served as ambassador to Bangladesh (1984 to 1987), and as political counsellor in India (1977 to 1979) and Pakistan (1974 to 1977).
According to the author, ‘The Limits of US influence’ spell out what America’s role has been including that in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s when the US really sought to project it towards a development of a settlement in Kashmir. But it was limited and unsuccessful.
Later, US efforts were focused not on developing a framework for settlement on Kashmir – as they had been under Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy – but rather towards what you could call crisis management. “That is, we tried to calm down the situation when developments connected with Kashmir led the two parties into a critical confrontation,” said Schaffer.
According to Schaffer, the elements of the Kashmir settlement as spelled out in his book include: One is that the ceasefire line or the Line of Control (LoC) should become the international boundary, with minor adjustments perhaps, acceptable to the two sides. Secondly, that there be a considerable degree of autonomy for both sides of Kashmir.
And third, that there be free movement or easy movement of goods and people from one side of the divided state to the other. “What you need to do is to fill in the details, to flesh out the settlement, which will also have to include a considerable degree of demilitarization on both sides of Kashmir. And finally, I would like to see the development of some All Kashmir institutions, which can deal with non-controversial issues, such as say, tourism or electric power generation.”
Obama, according to Schaffer, should proceed on Kashmir the way he told Joe Klein of Time magazine during the campaign trail. “Sure, he (Obama) makes some good arguments as to why India should want to be rid of this problem to focus on development, and why Pakistan should want to be rid of it in order to focus on the problems on the Afghanistan side. And that’s the way Obama should proceed on the Kashmir issue,” he said.
A settlement on Kashmir, according to Schaffer could be worked out only if there are strong governments in both countries (India and Pakistan). “And when the two countries come closer to a settlement, it is at the point, I think, that the United States might – and I stress might – be of some help in getting the two sides across that elusive finish line on
Kashmir they’ve never been able to cross on their own.”
According to Schaffer there would be greater concessions to be made by Pakistan than by India, which after all will keep the Kashmir valley – which has always been the crux of the issue. Nonetheless, there will be some concessions that India would have to make – on the autonomy issue for example.
Schaffer considers independence for Kashmir as unworkable, unthinkable, an idea that, according to him, will never be accepted by any Indian government no matter how strong. “I have said in the book, and I believe there are many Indian commentators who agree with me, that if they had a choice, the Muslims of the Kashmir valley would vote in favour of independence. But they are not going to have that choice.”
According to Schaffer, during his visits to India, he had talked to senior Indian officials about this call on Musharraf’s self-government proposal, “and the answer we got from some of them was yes, self-government is fine – all Indian states enjoy self-government, so why would we object to Kashmir having similar self-government?”
“But that, of course, is not what I see as the basis for a settlement. There would have to be a much greater degree of autonomy – and this would apply both to Indian and the Pakistani side – than is afforded to Indian states. And to make the settlement acceptable, you would have to develop ironclad guarantees that this autonomy will not erode over time. You have to do that because the experience in Kashmir suggests that Indian governments can slowly erode that autonomy. So, such guarantees have to be worked out.”

]]> Comment on Nature’s Beauty-Kashmir by nothingprofound http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-402 nothingprofound Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:23 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-402 Beautiful photos. I love the little shack. Looks so quaint and peaceful. Beautiful photos. I love the little shack. Looks so quaint and peaceful.

]]> Comment on Kashmiri parties hold Pak Govt responsible for terrorism in valley by My Money Mking Dream http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/kashmiri-parties-hold-pak-govt-responsible-for-terrorism-in-valley/#comment-401 My Money Mking Dream Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:48:10 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=317#comment-401 This is one awsome blog.4 thumbs up This is one awsome blog.4 thumbs up

]]> Comment on Nature’s Beauty-Kashmir by Corel http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-400 Corel Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:11:48 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-400 I like how your blog is laid out I have bookmark this look forward to seeing more. I like how your blog is laid out I have bookmark this look forward to seeing more.

]]> Comment on Nature’s Beauty-Kashmir by B K CHOWLA http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-399 B K CHOWLA Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:26:50 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/natures-beauty-kashmir/#comment-399 Finally they have realised as to who is the real problem creator.Pak has anti India policy which they will continue to pursue. Finally they have realised as to who is the real problem creator.Pak has anti India policy which they will continue to pursue.

]]> Comment on Huge anti-Pak protests in PoK, violence erupts by Afzal Kashmiri http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/huge-anti-pak-protests-in-pok-violence-erupts/#comment-397 Afzal Kashmiri Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:30:51 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=315#comment-397 huge protests were organised by People of POK.Pakistan's military establishment has always tried to silence the locals of POK.Nowadays pakistan is using brutal methods in order to govern POK which never really liked pakistan... watch this video also..this will give you some idea as to how we are being treated.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD5yM9OjcO8 huge protests were organised by People of POK.Pakistan’s military establishment has always tried to silence the locals of POK.Nowadays pakistan is using brutal methods in order to govern POK which never really liked pakistan…
watch this video also..this will give you some idea as to how we are being treated..

]]> Comment on Huge anti-Pak protests in PoK, violence erupts by Tabassum http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/huge-anti-pak-protests-in-pok-violence-erupts/#comment-393 Tabassum Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:12:52 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=315#comment-393 haha.. what a bleak picture shown by you??? are you insane dear?? //// just visit muzafarabad and you will yourself see how black day it was.. there was no black day at all.. people were condemning india for not liberating their land ... and were happy from pakistan to provide an independant sort of place to live on... haha.. what a bleak picture shown by you??? are you insane dear?? //// just visit muzafarabad and you will yourself see how black day it was.. there was no black day at all.. people were condemning india for not liberating their land … and were happy from pakistan to provide an independant sort of place to live on…

]]> Comment on Aksai Chin: China’s disputed slice of Kashmir by 迷你倉 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/aksai-chin-chinas-disputed-slice-of-kashmir/#comment-388 迷你倉 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:04 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-388 A court in western China's Xinjiang region has sentenced six people to death in the first trials over July 5 riots that left nearly 200 people dead, state-run television reported. China Central Television said one other defendant was sentenced to life in prison over the unrest, the worst ethnic violence to hit China in decades. During the rioting, members of the ethnic Uygur minority - most of whom are Muslims - went on a rampage in attacks directed mainly at members of China's dominant Han ethnic group. The riots left 197 people dead, most of them Han, according to the government. Officials at the Urumqi court refused to immediately confirm the sentences, but CCTV said the death sentences were meted out due to the severity of the crimes. Those sentenced appeared to all have Uygur names. Police have detained at least 718 people suspected of crimes related to the unrest, earlier reports said. State-controlled Xinhua News Agency quoted the city's prosecutor late last month saying 21 people had so far been charged with crimes including homicide, arson, robbery and property damage related to the riots. Footage broadcast by CCTV showed deserted streets in front of the Urumqi court, with riot police out in force. Urumqi has been under extremely heavy security since the riots, tightened amid a wave of needle attacks beginning in late August which Han have blamed on Uygurs. <a href="http://www.self-storage-hk.com" rel="nofollow">mini storage</a> A court in western China’s Xinjiang region has sentenced six people to death in the first trials over July 5 riots that left nearly 200 people dead, state-run television reported.

China Central Television said one other defendant was sentenced to life in prison over the unrest, the worst ethnic violence to hit China in decades.
During the rioting, members of the ethnic Uygur minority – most of whom are Muslims – went on a rampage in attacks directed mainly at members of China’s dominant Han ethnic group.

The riots left 197 people dead, most of them Han, according to the government.

Officials at the Urumqi court refused to immediately confirm the sentences, but CCTV said the death sentences were meted out due to the severity of the crimes.

Those sentenced appeared to all have Uygur names.

Police have detained at least 718 people suspected of crimes related to the unrest, earlier reports said.

State-controlled Xinhua News Agency quoted the city’s prosecutor late last month saying 21 people had so far been charged with crimes including homicide, arson, robbery and property damage related to the riots.

Footage broadcast by CCTV showed deserted streets in front of the Urumqi court, with riot police out in force.

Urumqi has been under extremely heavy security since the riots, tightened amid a wave of needle attacks beginning in late August which Han have blamed on Uygurs.

mini storage

]]> Comment on The Kashmir -History by Chandan http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/the-kashmir-history/#comment-386 Chandan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:08:21 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=304#comment-386 We all Hindu are with you bear Kashmiri Brother We all Hindu are with you bear Kashmiri Brother

]]> Comment on China aims to block India’s place in the sun by Bill Bartmann http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/china-aims-to-block-india%e2%80%99s-place-in-the-sun/#comment-385 Bill Bartmann Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:35:58 +0000 http://kashmirihindu.wordpress.com/?p=285#comment-385 There's good info here. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. Keep up the good work mate! There’s good info here. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. Keep up the good work mate!

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