Musharraf Quits and Mehbooba's March to Muzafarrabad
Anurag Gangal
August 13, 2008
Press Trust of India reports today that President Musharraf has decided to quit on 14 August – Independence Day of Pakistan. Safe passage is being granted to him. Knowing Pakistan´s history, nothing can be certain until it happens there. This is, indeed, going to be a historic moment not only for Pakistan but also for India.
Alongside this historic possibility, the Indian Kashmir has seen a unique march led by Mehbooba and leaders of Hurriyat. Under their leadership, Kashmiri Muslims are marching from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan for opening the relevant road to Pakistan in order to go there for selling fruits and other daily need items. They are insisting to open this route on the pretext of the economic blockade of Kashmir by the agitators of Sri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) of Jammu.
Economic Blockade and Mehbooba´s White Lies:
Such a blockade occurred only for four hours on 04 August 2008 for both Srinagar and Jammu because highway from Pathankot to Lakhanpur was blocked by people in Punjab. SAYSS never asked people to block highways. Otherwise, the national highway upto Jammu is being looked after by Indian Army. From 05 August to 12 August 2008, nearly 3, 000 trucks have been to Srinagar as usual. To and fro traffic on national highway to Srinagar is functioning normally according to latest statements of the Home Minister of India and Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
As such, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti is spreading blatant lies in media and else where about an economic blockade of Kashmir. She is also insighting mutually antithetical communal feelings among the people of both Jammu and Srinagar. She is indulging openly in anti-national sloganeering alongwith other Hurriyat leaders. She has now instigated Kashmiri Muslims to go to Muzaffarabad on a long march for opening a new trade route for them.
In reply to all this, Indian Home Minister, Shivraj Patil says, "People in this long march can go to Muzaffarabad only if Government of Pakistan gives permission." What a statement! How really helpless is he?
No doubt that Indian Army is stopping this long march from reaching Pakistan. In this process, unfortunately 12 people were killed in firing by Indian Army. Similarly, in Jammu, another 09 young and precious lives sent themselves to martyrdom either through suicides for the cause of land transfer to Amarnath Shrine Board and another 04 persons were killed through Army or Police firing.
Why all this is happening? What Indian Government is doing under the circumstances? Why anti-Indian Kashmiri leaders are being encouraged and entertained by Indian Governments at the Centre and State Governments?
Three Main Villains:
There are three main institutionalised villains in this matter, namely, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah and almost all leaders of all factions of Hurriyat. But for Omar Abdullah, all these leaders are known to have had one or the other kind of anti-Indian, Pakistani, separatist and terrorist links. The Congress Party at the Centre is, however, hobnobbing with these anti-Indian and separatist leaders !
The Indian governments are nurturing these and other anti-Indian and separatist leaders for so many years now. They are not being put behind bars for life terms at least just because they are of use in moment to moment changing national political scene. Just see the level of commitment of our leaders to national cause and patriotic perceptions !
Pak Foreign Minister:
According to Radio Pakistan on 12 August 2008, Pakistan´s "Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed his grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of APHC leader Shaikh Abdul Aziz and condemned the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of Occupied Kashmir. He said Pakistan is deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Indian occupied Kashmir which is resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people. The Foreign Minister stressed the need to create an environment, free of violence to sustain the peace process and address the long standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir".Of course the Indian Government´s spokesperson has condemned this statement as uncalled interference in internal affairs of India.
Musharraf´s Impeachment:
Connected to all this is a very dangerous tangle. This relates to the move in Pakistan´s Parliament in favour of impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, 18 August 2008. It is reported in yesterday´s newspapers in Pakistan that Chief of Army General Ashfaq Kayani has shown his dedication to professionalism of army. It is as such learnt that the army in Pakistan, as of now, prefers to keep away from this tussle between the President and Parliament. However, General Kayani would like to see a respectful exit for Musharraf. Will the Pakistani Parliament listen to what Kayani is saying? Musharraf has also shown his keenness to prove himself not guilty before the Parliament ! What if Musharraf does not succeed? Is Pakistani Army really not bothered about Musharraf ? What generally happens in Pakistan when a dictator is being ousted ?
Pak Violations of Indian LoC:
In view of another dimension concerning ever increasing violations of Indian LoC by Pakistani Army through mortar and other kind of firing on Indian posts, the situation is likely to be very grave in the near future especially when it is seen in league with Musharraf´s impeachment perspective. First, such violations, as we know, are for making infiltration of terrorists into Indian territory. Secondly, These are resorted to for mapping the actual position of various Indian military posts.
The Jammu and Kashmir in India is also burning now-a-days. The Congress led Government at the Centre is very weak with a highly tentative and uncertain position in Parliament.
Attack India Game Plan:
Thus, overall situation is ripe for Pakistani General Kayani to attack on India without ever consulting Pakistani Parliament, Prime Minister Gilani, Zardari and Nawaz Sharief and others. That is what Pervez Musharraf had earlier done when he toppled Nawaz Sharief´s government. Pakistani history is replete with such examples. Even Kayani´s statements cannot be taken on their face value. It is difficult to believe that Musharraf is not having his erstwhile grip on the Pakistani Army.
Therefore, one never knows where Mehbooba´s march to Muzaffarabad will actually end. Indeed, she has a fertile and mischievous mind and inclinations while Pakistan is again reeling under uncertainties of Musharraf´s future, Pak Army´s role, ISI at large and democracy at stake !
Alongside this historic possibility, the Indian Kashmir has seen a unique march led by Mehbooba and leaders of Hurriyat. Under their leadership, Kashmiri Muslims are marching from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan for opening the relevant road to Pakistan in order to go there for selling fruits and other daily need items. They are insisting to open this route on the pretext of the economic blockade of Kashmir by the agitators of Sri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) of Jammu.
Economic Blockade and Mehbooba´s White Lies:
Such a blockade occurred only for four hours on 04 August 2008 for both Srinagar and Jammu because highway from Pathankot to Lakhanpur was blocked by people in Punjab. SAYSS never asked people to block highways. Otherwise, the national highway upto Jammu is being looked after by Indian Army. From 05 August to 12 August 2008, nearly 3, 000 trucks have been to Srinagar as usual. To and fro traffic on national highway to Srinagar is functioning normally according to latest statements of the Home Minister of India and Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
As such, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti is spreading blatant lies in media and else where about an economic blockade of Kashmir. She is also insighting mutually antithetical communal feelings among the people of both Jammu and Srinagar. She is indulging openly in anti-national sloganeering alongwith other Hurriyat leaders. She has now instigated Kashmiri Muslims to go to Muzaffarabad on a long march for opening a new trade route for them.
In reply to all this, Indian Home Minister, Shivraj Patil says, "People in this long march can go to Muzaffarabad only if Government of Pakistan gives permission." What a statement! How really helpless is he?
No doubt that Indian Army is stopping this long march from reaching Pakistan. In this process, unfortunately 12 people were killed in firing by Indian Army. Similarly, in Jammu, another 09 young and precious lives sent themselves to martyrdom either through suicides for the cause of land transfer to Amarnath Shrine Board and another 04 persons were killed through Army or Police firing.
Why all this is happening? What Indian Government is doing under the circumstances? Why anti-Indian Kashmiri leaders are being encouraged and entertained by Indian Governments at the Centre and State Governments?
Three Main Villains:
There are three main institutionalised villains in this matter, namely, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah and almost all leaders of all factions of Hurriyat. But for Omar Abdullah, all these leaders are known to have had one or the other kind of anti-Indian, Pakistani, separatist and terrorist links. The Congress Party at the Centre is, however, hobnobbing with these anti-Indian and separatist leaders !
The Indian governments are nurturing these and other anti-Indian and separatist leaders for so many years now. They are not being put behind bars for life terms at least just because they are of use in moment to moment changing national political scene. Just see the level of commitment of our leaders to national cause and patriotic perceptions !
Pak Foreign Minister:
According to Radio Pakistan on 12 August 2008, Pakistan´s "Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed his grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of APHC leader Shaikh Abdul Aziz and condemned the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of Occupied Kashmir. He said Pakistan is deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Indian occupied Kashmir which is resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people. The Foreign Minister stressed the need to create an environment, free of violence to sustain the peace process and address the long standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir".Of course the Indian Government´s spokesperson has condemned this statement as uncalled interference in internal affairs of India.
Musharraf´s Impeachment:
Connected to all this is a very dangerous tangle. This relates to the move in Pakistan´s Parliament in favour of impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, 18 August 2008. It is reported in yesterday´s newspapers in Pakistan that Chief of Army General Ashfaq Kayani has shown his dedication to professionalism of army. It is as such learnt that the army in Pakistan, as of now, prefers to keep away from this tussle between the President and Parliament. However, General Kayani would like to see a respectful exit for Musharraf. Will the Pakistani Parliament listen to what Kayani is saying? Musharraf has also shown his keenness to prove himself not guilty before the Parliament ! What if Musharraf does not succeed? Is Pakistani Army really not bothered about Musharraf ? What generally happens in Pakistan when a dictator is being ousted ?
Pak Violations of Indian LoC:
In view of another dimension concerning ever increasing violations of Indian LoC by Pakistani Army through mortar and other kind of firing on Indian posts, the situation is likely to be very grave in the near future especially when it is seen in league with Musharraf´s impeachment perspective. First, such violations, as we know, are for making infiltration of terrorists into Indian territory. Secondly, These are resorted to for mapping the actual position of various Indian military posts.
The Jammu and Kashmir in India is also burning now-a-days. The Congress led Government at the Centre is very weak with a highly tentative and uncertain position in Parliament.
Attack India Game Plan:
Thus, overall situation is ripe for Pakistani General Kayani to attack on India without ever consulting Pakistani Parliament, Prime Minister Gilani, Zardari and Nawaz Sharief and others. That is what Pervez Musharraf had earlier done when he toppled Nawaz Sharief´s government. Pakistani history is replete with such examples. Even Kayani´s statements cannot be taken on their face value. It is difficult to believe that Musharraf is not having his erstwhile grip on the Pakistani Army.
Therefore, one never knows where Mehbooba´s march to Muzaffarabad will actually end. Indeed, she has a fertile and mischievous mind and inclinations while Pakistan is again reeling under uncertainties of Musharraf´s future, Pak Army´s role, ISI at large and democracy at stake !
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