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Saturday 15 July 2017

Who Is Responsible For Attack On Yataris.

The attack on Amarnath pilgrims is highly reprehensible. This is very against values and ethos with which we live. This despicable act is being condemned in absolute terms by all in a spectrum.

Period.

Police in its presser called “they attacked security bunker which was repulsed, then on naka-party in which this bus came to attack.”

They were not given security escort as they were not registered as Yatris.
To political class — their minions and fascists– who derive happiness from the death of Kashmiris as well.

To those who reacted death of a 14 Year kid with a barrage of abuses, and say being Kashmiri he is destined to die.

To those who use violence in Kashmiri for political gains.

This is what a death does — yes, it shatters you from the core. This is deja vu for us as we are being used to violence.

When you are mourning their deaths, do think of thousands of victims of violence –which is sanctioned and supported by you.

*********************

Even the identity of perpetrators of this inhumane act remains unknown there was condemnation without any ‘whataboutery’; in vale — from all sides of the deep ideological divide. This attack can have repercussions beyond the vale, this can be used to sanction “unbridled” force to shun away dissidents in the vale.

Narrative of this being religious is flawed.

It was local populace their who rushed them to the hospital. Hundreds with open arms went to the hospital to donate blood. One of the donors said, “will use the last drop of my blood to save them.”

This made even union home minister of India say “spirit of Kashmiryat is alive.”

While many fascists in mainland which include “celebrities”, so called “leaders” were demanding to “cull” –to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control, Kashmiris. People here were outraged because of this despicable act and many were busy donating blood, helping injured.

Many in mainland India believe in “Hawaniyat” — inhumanity .”Kashmiryat” won over “Hawaniyat”.

It is now the duty of the state to have an impartial and independent probe to investigate this & come forth with an outcome. No Rebel organisation have claimed this attack, they should also come clear on this.

Originally published on With Kashmir.

Wednesday 14 June 2017

Who is loser in Saudi-Qatar diplomatic conundrum.









Saudi led countries accuse Qatar of ” supporting terrorism” — with no conclusive evidence. There are “reports” of both countries supporting extremist groups;so this can't be a bone of contention.
Qatar is the gulf country with disproportionate influence in the region and outside. Saudi want it to work in tandem with it’s interests. Qatar imports 90% of food products;mostly through Saudi borders — as it shares only land border with it.



Saudi tried to use this non-sufficienticy to pressureize them — but they have failed. Now Saudi’s know  Qatar isn’t any financially​ un-stable nation which will buckle under their pressure. Qatar is “a country of very high human development and is the most advanced Arab state for human development”. Qatar’s got its food security as Iran and Turkey started importing food in bulk to them. Morever they are now importing cows and trying to be “self-sufficient” in dairy. This blockade may be “a blessing in disguise” for Qatar; they may become self-sufficient to some extent.





Now Qatar is going closer to Iran ; which goes against interests of Saudi Arabia.
Qatar is getting more acceptance in muslim world — as certian reports attribute this quagmire because of Qatar’s “support” to Hamas — anti Israel resistance army of Palestine and Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt — party whose democratically elected government was thrown away by military coup. Turkey has passed resolution in parliament to deploy troops in Qatar. Air space ban hasn’t effected them much; Qatar Airways says “majority of network unaffected by airspace restrictions”. Qatar aslo have largest US military base of middle-east which camps nearly 1000 US troops. Non-Arab countries prefered to be neutral.






Qatar’s is a small sovereign country which have a disproportionate influence than its size. Al-Jazeera news channel gives it edge over other gulf countries. This is only English news-channels in Arab which covers Muslims issues and issues effecting them ; as well other international issues. Only Arab channel which questions western hegemony and counter their narratives. Many report also suggest that “reportage” of this chnnanel is a bone of contention — it is banned in Egypt; it’s website was recently banned in Saudi.



Saudi still enjoys power and “controlls” muslim world directly or indirectly. Qatar’s is questioning status-quo — if this quagmire is not ended it will dent Saudi image further. Qatar is going “self-sufficient” and close to Iran– this may start end of Saudi hegemony and “balkanize” muslim world further.

(Blogger can be contacted on Twitter @khalidbinbashir)



Published on The Times of Kashmir -- NewsPortal
Click here to read on published site.

Thursday 18 May 2017

What's way forward in Kashmir.


My way or the highway attitude is not going to work and it can prove detrimental for the long run.
If indeed there is a need to bring "stragetic" or "tactical" change in the ongoing movement, it is to be done by consultation with all stake-holders.
A single individual or group of individuals cannot decide the future of masses. It is the people's movement and people will decide how to move forward this  struggle for justice.

We should have learnt lessons from past, this internal bickering has cost us dearly in past as well. This has resulted in mayhem in past and large number of people have sacrificed their lives because of it.

What I feel may be wrong that now people in streets are deciding how to move forward and same is reciprocated by Leaders.

Student protests is something new in arena, well this started after an assault on students of Degree College Pulwama  by security persons.

This was not sole reason for mass protests but it worked as a trigger,
And people are seriously observing why  these teenagers wearing uniforms are chanting slogans in streets rather than attending classes. Infleuntail Times magazine wrote a peice on this protest titled
"Kashmir Unrest Enters 'Dangerous New Phase' as Protests Threaten India's Grip"


Students hurl stones at police in Srinagar. Shuaib Masoodi


Kashmir is back to international stage after the armed rebellion in 90's.
International Press is covering Kashmir with higher intensity now.
New York Times wrote a editorial critical of  Indian policies in Kashmir and it's title was "Cowardice and creulty in Kashmir". UN Special Rapporteurs called Indian government to end Social-Media Ban.

Report said:

“The scope of these restrictions has a significantly disproportionate impact on the fundamental rights of everyone in Kashmir, undermining the Government’s stated aim of preventing dissemination of information that could lead to violence,” 

“The internet and telecommunications bans have the character of collective punishment,” stressed the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, “and fail to meet the standards required under international human rights law to limit freedom of expression.”


Moreover our opponents are using multi-pronged policies against us , it includes narratives, miltrastic intreventions et al.
Our counter-respond should also be multi-pronged.
We need to counter their manufactured narratives , concocted news-reports , iron-hand policy et al.




A student hurls stone at jawans, As per latest reports, many students and policemen were injured(Bangalore Mirror)

At this crucial juncture our unity is the need of the hour. Our struggle for justice has been  justified even by  non-natives because our struggle has a "historical context". This historical context can't be ignored .

Nations in the world accomodate people with diametrically opposite ideologies.
That is what we need to do and move on.


(Published on The times of Kashmir)

http://thetimesofkashmir.com/2017/05/16/what-is-way-forward-kashmir/


Wednesday 26 April 2017

Here are the ways to bypass internet censorship.

According to the official order of so-called Jammu and Kashmir Government,
Social Media sites and Apps which were used to record protest are blocked.
"These sites were used to unveil mask of military subjugation" Wrote Mir Amir(@_miraamir8) on Twitter.

Gowhar Geelani (@GowharGeelani)
Wrote on Twitter
"Frustrated by pro-Azadi protests led by girls & boys across Kashmir valley, the PDP-BJP. Govt suspends 22 social networking sites 4 a month."


These include Facebook,Twitter,WhatsApp,Telegram,WeChat,QQ and so on.
Internet is the only place where a tyrant is not able to opress their subjects.
So here are apps which can be used to bypass this censorship.

If you are using an Android phone.
Install Orbot(VPN) for access to blocked sites and apps.
Link to download:
https://guardianproject.info/apps/orbot/

You can use Orfox browser(from Tor project) as well.
Link to download:
https://guardianproject.info/apps/orbot/

Also You can use Opera VPN ,which has inbuilt VPN.
Download link:
http://www.opera.com/computer/features/free-vpn
(You can download these apps directly from Play Store , but incase play store is also blocked use these links to download them)
FOR PC:
Download TOR browser:
Download link:
https://www.torproject.org/download/download

iPhone users can use Opera VPN free for unlimited access.
Download link here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/opera-free-vpn-unlimited-ad-blocking-vpn/id1080756781?mt=8


It is nearly impossible to block Vpn's as there are tonnes available online.
These are famous ones used around the globe.
Even China with such a large digital infrastructure is not able to block VPN's fully.
These are used by activists , Hacktivists including Wikileaks .
They are secure, sites you are acesessing won't be able to get your actual physical location at all.

So Keep Resisting and Dissenting to make yourself heard.

Writer can be contacted on Twitter (@khalidbinbashir)
Edited by Faizan (@faizanir)
And Nair Aalam(@selfishellfish_)