I am working on a few posts related to Kashmir. I can’t promise when they will be posted since I have to do a lot of research on the topic and am busy with my dissertation as well.
You might ask why I want to write about Kashmir, a place where I have never lived and have visited only a couple of times on the Pakistani side. There are two reasons, one of which is personal. My Dad was born in the city of Jammu (currently part of the Indian Kashmir) in 1937. My ancestors lived in Jammu for a few generations before migrating to Pakistan in the chaos that was partition in 1947. However, I am not an ethnic Kashmiri.
The other reason is my interest in international affairs and conflicts everywhere combined with the fact that most of the world sees Kashmir as a border dispute between two nuclear-armed countries. Recently, people have also taken an interest in the terorrist dimension of the conflict. Most Pakistanis and Indians see Kashmir as their property as if no humans lived there. Not many people are interested in the history of the region and its people.
Discussion about Kashmir among Indians and Pakistanis often gets very acrimonious with extremist viewpoints prevailing. I’ll try to be as impartial as I can be and hoepfully my readers will keep it civil and correct me when I am wrong or shrill.
Also, if I can convince my Dad to write his memoirs of his early life in Kashmir and his travails during the massacres in 1947, I’ll post them here.
To be quite honest, I don’t really know much at all about Kashmir. What scarce knowledge I do possess focuses, as you mentioned, on the border disputes and terrorism aspects, and not on the Kashmiri people themselves. Looking forward to reading your posts, insha’Allah. =)
yasmine: Thanks. I am not sure how much insight I am provide since I don’t know much either. My posts will probably focus more on the political aspect but more from a Kashmiri point of view. I’ll try to write about the people and the region as well.
I’m looking forward to reading your kashmir posts also! Also, could you write from a Kashmir perspective about the pakistan india mess? I have never come across that. Most Pakistani/Inidan politicians/journalists seem to be raving/saying the same things with a simple search and replace done to them…
KO: I should probably not raise everyone’s hopes so much. As I said, I am not a Kashmiri. But I’ll try to bring some fresh perspective.
i think that people are treating this issue as simply a political one. one cannot seperate real life into black and white. life is much more complicated; reality is littered with shades of gray. the people in charge should admit that atrocities have been committed by both Pakistanis and Indians. they should do what is best for the people of Kashmir – hindu, muslim, christian, buddhist. After all, no God condones the killing of innocent people, and that is exactly what has been happening for the past 50 year. ishwar ya allah ya God, tum ek hi ho.
swati: An excellent comment, thank you.
The posts sound interesting. I was wondering is someone will be able to fill me in on the issue in Kahmir. A tad bit about it’s history, what the Pakistanis’ want, what the are negotiating, and what is been done in their cause?
And little bit will help,
Jazakullah,
Zainab: Your questions require quite long answers. For now, let me just point to what I have written about Kashmir. There are links there to further information as well.
kashmir no India no Pakistan may be joint control by both countries in this way can peace
Please do not make a issue of honour of Pakistan and India think about us Kashmiri we want see our homland please make a solution such as finish this border between Kashmir in which remain honour of Pakistan and India please please
i m fond of these stories which you have written … actually very frankly i am in cyber cafe so i cant read all these which you have written. can u help for that.
i am working in raymond, jalgaon maharashtra.
i want establish my own business in textile in garment sector. can you help me in this matter.
do help
sudeep koul