Since 1947 Pakistan and Afghanistan relations are uncertain, unpleasant and marked by turbulence, complexity and trust deficit. Its foundations were laid when the Afghan government refused to recognize the newly independent Pakistan and immediately challenged the legitimacy of Pakistan's borders. Afghanistan also cast the sole vote at the United Nations against Pakistan's membership in the United Nations.
According to Stephen P. Cohen, the US administration is working hard to foster better ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan but both countries are fraught with historical tensions and mistrust. However, the recent (July 7, 2008) worst suicide bomber attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul again aggravated tension between uneasy neighbours of the region such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. While senselessly, without credible evidence President Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor stated that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might be involved in the suicide attack on the Indian embassy. In this regard, Indian National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan has crossed the ethical boundaries and used highly unprofessional and undiplomatic words that "the ISI needs to be destroyed."
Pakistan Foreign Office rejected fabricated and baseless allegations against Pakistan intelligence agency and mentioned that these would serve no purpose other than creating an artificial crisis between Pakistan and Afghanistan. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on July 9, 2008 that no foreign agents were involved in the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul. Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, in an exclusive interview with rediff.com on July 21, 2008 said, "there is no convincing evidence available about the Pakistani intelligence agency's involvement in the suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul." In fact, India has started psychological warfare and ambivalent approach towards Pakistan which is nothing but to pressurize Islamabad and avoid the settlement of core dispute of Kashmir. The Indian leadership has never left any chance to abuse Pakistan, and it used incident of blast in Indian embassy at Kabul to blackmail and isolate Pakistan from its own significant influence in Afghanistan.
Currently, India has an extensive diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. It includes the Indian embassy in Kabul and another four consulates in Kandahar, Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. India has also planned to open three more consulates in Afghanistan in order to strengthen ties between the two countries. These Indian diplomatic missions serve as launching pads for undertaking covert operations against Pakistan from Afghan soil and particularly, the Indian consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad and their embassy in Kabul are used for clandestine activities inside Pakistan in general and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan in particular.
In reality, RAW has a long history of destabilising Pakistan and the News Intelligence Network (NIN) also reported that RAW is extensively engaged in disinformation campaigns, espionage, sabotage and terrorism against Pakistan. Thus, Indian and Western media continuously indicating that the US secret agency CIA, RAW and KHAD might have prepared that plan to weaken the federation of Pakistan. They are actively engaged in creating instability in Pakistan by supporting some separatist elements in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan to fulfil their common strategic agenda. Moreover, RAW has also established its training camps in Afghanistan in collaboration with the Northern Alliance remnants which are around 600 ferraris (Baluchi tribal dissidents) are getting specialized training to handle explosives, engineer bomb blasts, and use sophisticated weapons in these camps. Further, Indian diplomatic and RAW officials are in significant numbers in the Afghan ministry of tribal affairs, and are exploiting it to conduct covert activities. Indian agents are instrumental in arranging meetings of tribal elders in Jalalabad, and assisting them in spotting and recruiting suitable tribal elders from Jalalabad and Pakistan's North and South Waziristan Agencies for covert activities.
In connection with the recently received reports it has come in the notice of Islamabad that Indian secret agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and KHAD (Afghan intelligence agency) both have arranged different programmes against Pakistan. So, in the last month KHAD and RAW staged a drama of involving Pakistan Intelligence agency ISI in an un-successful attempt of Karzai's assassination. Both are also active to putting all dust on the face of ISI such as allegation of support of Taliban and Al-Qadea, cross border terrorism in Afghanistan and India. According to Hizbe Islami Afghanistan headed by Engineer Gulbadin Hekmatyar, the Northern Alliance is responsible for recent terrorist acts particularly bomb explosion at Indian embassy and attack against the civilians for achieving nefarious designs. It is believed that Northern Alliance wants prolonged stay of foreign troops in Afghanistan and desire to further deteriorate Indo-Pakistan relations. Moreover, it is the utmost desire of India to create confusion about Taliban and Pakistan in the minds of US policy makers and both New Delhi and Washington could directly attack the tribal areas of Pakistan and achieve its nefarious strategic designs. However, it has become fashion by the US, India, and Afghanistan to keep blaming Pakistan that the terrorist training and communication infrastructure is situated in Pakistan's tribal areas. They have a common agenda to divert the world attention from their incompetence and failure to destroy the Taliban and al-Qaeda network.
In reality, the murder, killing, destruction, dishonouring and insecurity in Afghanistan have been created by RAW and KHAD. The day NATO forces arrived in Afghanistan, the militants have been targeting Kabul and coalition forces in retaliation against attacks on their hideouts and the civilian population. It is ironic that on the one hand, the US is keen to reduce its military presence in Afghanistan in view of the political fallout of American casualties but on the other hand, pressurizing Islamabad to do more. Although Pakistan and its military is continuously paying heavy prices for the US-led proxy war on terrorism, hundreds of civilian and military personnel deaths and widespread resentment in the tribal areas and uncertainty in the country are presenting worst picture of the country.
Nevertheless, the continuation of "blame game" could derail the efforts of enduring peace in the region and the US which has close ties and great influence on New Delhi and Kabul, must acknowledge to these friends that without having any concrete evidence they should avoid from the rhetoric statements, because irresponsible attitude could result in derailing peace of the region. So, there is no better alternative to remove misunderstanding through peaceful dialogue because strife and despair will haunt nations of the region.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Indian Army jawans experiencing low morale
The structure and culture of the Indian Army is extremely stifling and oppressive, a lower rank officer has simply no room for growth and self-expression. Indian army jawans are misused by Indian army officers. They are treated as slaves. Jawans are the greatest sufferers because they are well…at the bottom of the food chain. They are made to do stuff that any ordinary, self - respecting person would cringe at. Moreover, they have supposedly no "right" to complain and protest. Paunchy colonels are dependent on them to tie shoelaces because the belly does not allow them to bend. Officers ought to be more understanding and sensitive towards a soldier’s feelings- especially when he is away from his family.
Low moral in Indian Army can also be attributed to poor living condition. If you try and have a closer look at the kind of rations they are supplied to eat, the kind of houses they are forced to live. You will find it completely miserable. Its a life so harsh -which results into domestic quarrels and because of it their family life suffers.
I think another factor which is contributing in Indian army's suffering is committing all those atrocities that the UNHCR and other "banned" aid agencies have been reporting for years, that the Indian army personnel and paramilitary forces are committing heinous acts e.g., (Torture, Rapes, Murder, staged encounters, genocide and ethnic cleansing) in the occupied Kashmiri state. The Kashmiri’s don't like them. And with the continued media lockout and suppression of news from the area by the government of India and continually ignoring the issue, its no surprise that the marauding and murderous Indian soldiers are beginning to show signs and mental effects from all the acts they’ve committed.
The present educational level, awareness and qualities of management of the officer cadre is fundamentally lacking in stature due to which, they are not able to provide the necessary leader-ship that is required on the field that is of emulation.The number of court-martials of officers indulging in embezzlement and self aggrandisement is so vast that it does not behove an army of the stature and magnitude as the Indian army and this contributes to building a negative morale among the forces in general.(One Gen.try to steal another’s wife, another was accused of taking money from contractors for granting the rights to supply Atta,Dhal,Eggs etc.while another Gen.escaped from custody while being escorted in a running train.) Further to-days army does not hinge on religion, caste,Izzat etc. and unless a severe over-haul of the system is under-taken by availing out-side help, there is bound to be further degradation when the rot can not be stemmed.
Low moral in Indian Army can also be attributed to poor living condition. If you try and have a closer look at the kind of rations they are supplied to eat, the kind of houses they are forced to live. You will find it completely miserable. Its a life so harsh -which results into domestic quarrels and because of it their family life suffers.
I think another factor which is contributing in Indian army's suffering is committing all those atrocities that the UNHCR and other "banned" aid agencies have been reporting for years, that the Indian army personnel and paramilitary forces are committing heinous acts e.g., (Torture, Rapes, Murder, staged encounters, genocide and ethnic cleansing) in the occupied Kashmiri state. The Kashmiri’s don't like them. And with the continued media lockout and suppression of news from the area by the government of India and continually ignoring the issue, its no surprise that the marauding and murderous Indian soldiers are beginning to show signs and mental effects from all the acts they’ve committed.
The present educational level, awareness and qualities of management of the officer cadre is fundamentally lacking in stature due to which, they are not able to provide the necessary leader-ship that is required on the field that is of emulation.The number of court-martials of officers indulging in embezzlement and self aggrandisement is so vast that it does not behove an army of the stature and magnitude as the Indian army and this contributes to building a negative morale among the forces in general.(One Gen.try to steal another’s wife, another was accused of taking money from contractors for granting the rights to supply Atta,Dhal,Eggs etc.while another Gen.escaped from custody while being escorted in a running train.) Further to-days army does not hinge on religion, caste,Izzat etc. and unless a severe over-haul of the system is under-taken by availing out-side help, there is bound to be further degradation when the rot can not be stemmed.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Kashmir crisis requires world attention
On the occasion of the G8 Summit in Hokkaido, Japan from July 7-9, 2008 Peace and Justice Forum (PJF) has urged the Summit leaders and President of the European Commission (EC) for their help in encouraging both New Delhi and Islamabad to initiate a tripartite process involving India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to negotiate in a result oriented and time-framed dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully.
Mr. Mushtaq A. Jeelani, Executive Director of the PJF, expressed his serious concern about India’s failure to live up to its promise of a "zero-tolerance" policy towards human rights violations, and the failure of bilateral process to resolve the Kashmir issue. The Executive Director underlined that the Indian occupying troops continue to carry out arbitrary detention, summary executions, custodial killings, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, rape, sexual exploitation, torture and fake encounters. Since October 1989, the 700,000 strong Indian forces have killed more than 100,000 Kashmiris to silence the people’s demand for freedom, justice, and respect for human rights. Generations of Kashmiris have grown up under the shadow of the gun; not a single family is unaffected; property worth hundreds of millions of dollars has been destroyed and the suffering and devastation continues unabated, sadly drawing no significant attention from the international community, including the G8 nations.
Moreover, India has failed to live up to its promise of a "zero-tolerance" policy towards human rights violations; the recent discovery of thousands of unidentified graves in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir containing remains of victims of summary executions, custodial killings, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses shows the real face of India’s barbarity!
Impunity has become a licence for the Indian occupation forces to wreak havoc with the lives of Kashmiris. The deliberate and unprovoked attacks and other patterns of abuse have all become too frequent to report. No perpetrator has ever been prosecuted in a real manner, despite the fact that such crimes have been extensively documented by many international human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
There is a dire need to implement recommendations made by the New York-based Human Rights Watch in its latest report issued on July 1st, 2008, suggesting an independent and time-bound commission to investigate allegations of ‘disappearances’ and extrajudicial killings. Such a commission should have the capacity to use forensic tests to identify the bodies and security forces should be ordered to cooperate with the commission’s inquiries.
On April 7th, 2008, Human Rights Watch demanded, "The United Nations Human Rights Council should insist the Indian government to take strong steps to hold accountable members of its security forces responsible for torture, arbitrary detentions, killings, and ‘disappearances.’ The report found that the impunity provided to state forces and the failure to hold them accountable for human rights violations have created an atmosphere where violators believe they can get away with serious crimes."
Contrary to the facts India likes to tell the world that it has a world class legal system that allows it to solve its own problems, but the reality on the ground is far different. Killers and torturers in the army and police do their work with official protection, degrading the law and taking the shine off of India’s claim to be an emerging world leader. Now is the time to repeal antiquated laws that protect abusers."
About 15 million Kashmiris are yearning for peace, justice and freedom. They want a just and dignified peace that guarantees total freedom from foreign occupation and alien domination. Their struggle to achieve that right of self-determination will not be extinguished until India accept its exercise by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Indian Army Jawans are facing inhuman treatment
The rise in suicide rate in Indian Army uncovers the pertinent and tragic issues of frustration, chronic depression and mass desertions, which have been marring the Indian Armed Forces since long. In the last year itself, it has been reported that almost 100 soldiers have taken away their lives. In addition to this, another 32 have been killed by their colleagues. In fact, the spate of suicides, particularly within the Army, had been on the rise. Since 2004, of the 408 soldiers that died, around 333 killed themselves. International media too has put forth the concern that Indian Army is loosing more soldiers by the way of suicides than fighting on the borders. So what has gone so wrong that soldiers who were supposed to guard the nation against contingencies, have started pulling the trigger on themselves? Empirical studies have shown that most of the suicide (civilian) cases across the world are on account of self- created crisis. But, when it comes to the Indian Army, the reasons have just been the reverse (in most of the cases). Most of the suicides have been on account of the crisis created by the nation itself. And of all the other crisis, the life-taking one had been the ‘attitude’ of the government towards the armed forces, and everything around it.
For whatever they do for the nation, even to the extent of giving away their own lives, remains thankless and often even criticised.. It is again on account of the very same attitude that the polity is completely indifferent to the fact that all this jawan does for a pittance of a salary that he draws which, for all the risk that he takes, is not even comparable to the fourth or third grade clerk of any government department. (The same is true for the commissioned officers too, whose salary comes nowhere near to what their peers might be earning in the private sector. This coupled with a bleak future of promotions in a pyramid structure leaves them with no option). And it is this attitude again that make the polity audacious enough to initiate a national debate when it comes to restructuring their salaries!This is not just about the Indian Army. The same holds true for the other two wings as well, and the conditions are even worse for the paramilitary forces. In the India army. after every two three years of field posting, they are transferred to peaceful areas. But nothing like that happens for the CRPF, which is now entirely responsible for the internal security of the country. So after postings in a grueling Kashmir, chances are high that the tired, fatigued jawan would be posted to face the wrath of the Naxals in some remote area of Chattisgarh. And the compensations in case of their death are much less than even what an army jawan gets, as if there is some difference in the cost of their lives!
In addition to this, the lack of leave, and being away for long -drawn periods creates further strains and makes them even more vulnerable to err. So they end up taking away their own lives or that of their colleagues, or they end up committing other forms of crimes, like rape and molestation, which is also on the rise! In fact, our treatment towards the forces is in no way any different from Hitler’s inhuman consideration of Jews being as lesser humans. Given the state of affairs, no amount of intervention, be it psychiatric or spiritual can help arrest this crisis, if at all it has to be arrested then the only solution is mandatory conscription for every Indian!
Indian lower rank jawans are facing discrimination
Discrimination, deprivation, exclusion and exploitation are endemic to every society, which leads to frustration, anger and aggression. Those who are subjected to injustice and oppression tend to rebel and revolt. These reactions culminate in assertion which give rise to people’s movements. But social movements are not an everyday phenomenon. Discrimination and deprivation always do not lead to protest and aggression. Only when people become conscious of these inequalities and injustices and mobilise and organise themselves to struggles against those who subject them to servitude and bondage, people’s movements takes place. Moreover when the disadvantaged and the downtrodden see that another alternative is both possible and viable they try to overthrow the existing social order and unjust system. Sadly, jawans working in Indian Army cannot become part of any revolt or movement despite their longing for quick removal of discrimination and maltreatment with them.
The question of Indian lower ranks' rights is not just a matter of addressing their grievances, but at large it corroborates to the affirmation of their rights through policy reforms in Indian army. It can help them provide a respectable status and prove a long lasting solution to their frustrations.
The question of Indian lower ranks' rights is not just a matter of addressing their grievances, but at large it corroborates to the affirmation of their rights through policy reforms in Indian army. It can help them provide a respectable status and prove a long lasting solution to their frustrations.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Suicide: A common phenomenon in Indian army
The Indian Army is loosing more soldiers to suicide than to enemy action in the battle field. This year, over 100 soldiers have lost their lives by committing suicide.The key reason of their suicides is frustration over various issues. One of these factors is leave; lack of adequate home leave enhances their depression and stress. Other factors include low morale, bad service conditions, maltreatment, lack of adequate facilities, unattractive pay packages, and a communication gap with superiors. Soldiers get extremely angry and frustrated when they are denied leave and their officers themselves take time off, it triggers a reaction, and consequently they take their own life or in some cases become revengeful.
Every one knows that Indian Army is committing heinous acts such as torture, rapes, murder, staged encounters, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and in other parts of India. In Kashmir valley, Indian Army has killed over 10, 0000 innocent people and in the state of Gujurat over 4,000 civilians were killed. These atrocities and heinous acts are the main reason of mental sickness of Indian Army. Suicide in Indian Army will keep on rising in future!!!!!How can one expect healthy normal personality from the force that has been assigned the task of massive killing and bloodshed of innocent civilians including women and children?
Every one knows that Indian Army is committing heinous acts such as torture, rapes, murder, staged encounters, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and in other parts of India. In Kashmir valley, Indian Army has killed over 10, 0000 innocent people and in the state of Gujurat over 4,000 civilians were killed. These atrocities and heinous acts are the main reason of mental sickness of Indian Army. Suicide in Indian Army will keep on rising in future!!!!!How can one expect healthy normal personality from the force that has been assigned the task of massive killing and bloodshed of innocent civilians including women and children?
Indian army faces shortage of officers and frustration of jawans
India's army, the world's fourth largest, faces a dire shortage of officers because the booming private sector is recruiting the best talent, and may have to consider conscription. Just 86 officer recruits enlisted in the current academic session of the British-built Indian military academy, which had vacancies for 250. Meanwhile, 62 of 148 college graduates who passed a separate military entrance test for officers opted out and sought jobs in the private sector. The recruitment issue has become an urgent priority for the volunteer army after 3,000 mid-level commanders recently sought early retirement on top of an existing shortage of 11,200 officers. The army needs a total of 46,615 officers.
Another worry for Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor is that most of those applying are not the right material, the private sector, which has been luring away India's best talent by offering hefty wages and generous perks, has left the military with poor pickings. The government and the services cannot compete in matters of salary and perks with the corporate world. Our deficiencies should not be met by lowering the quality standards of the world's largest army. India has never turned to compulsory recruitment, compulsory military service could be one of the avenues before the government sometime in the future, but it's not the stage for such a step now.
Another worry for Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor is that most of those applying are not the right material, the private sector, which has been luring away India's best talent by offering hefty wages and generous perks, has left the military with poor pickings. The government and the services cannot compete in matters of salary and perks with the corporate world. Our deficiencies should not be met by lowering the quality standards of the world's largest army. India has never turned to compulsory recruitment, compulsory military service could be one of the avenues before the government sometime in the future, but it's not the stage for such a step now.
Thanks to India's billion-plus population and high unemployment, the 1.23-million-strong army has no shortages in the lower ranks. But the National Defence Academy, India's largest army training ground, which enlists high school graduates and turns them into officers for the navy, air force and also the army, is struggling. According to defence ministry records just 190 students signed up this month against the academy's sanctioned strength of 300 for this academic session. Stress, low pay, slow promotions and the military's tough lifestyle are a turn-off for young people. After entering the army, an entry level officer must wait up to 10 years before donning the flashes of a lieutenant-colonel. But even at that level the monthly basic salary does not exceed 12,000 rupees (300 dollars).
These facts reveal that Indian qualified youth has no interest in serving the nation because of the high perks and privileges offered by the private sector. On the other hand, lower rank jawans in Indian Army has miserable plight, they have no other option except working under tough circumstances and low pays to meet their family needs and upbringing of their children. Their status as lower rank jawans is not more than paid servants for their high-ups and consequently they face high frustration leading to suicidal ideation. Working as lower rank personnel has become a punishment for them. The growing number of suicidal rate is not hidden from any one; low pays, discrimination, maltreatment are the most common reasons of suicide, despite knowing these causal factors of suicide Indian officers has shown no improvement in their treatment with them.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Islamic Religious Schools, Madrasas
The Arabic word madrasa (plural: madaris) generally has two meanings: (1) in its more common literal and colloquial usage, it simply means “school”; (2) in its secondary meaning, a madrasa is an educational institution offering instruction in Islamic subjects including, but not limited to, the Quran, the sayings (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), jurisprudence (fiqh), and law.
Recently, “madrasa” has been used as a catchall by many Western observers to denote any school primary, secondary, or advanced that promotes an Islamic-based curriculum. In many countries, including Egypt and Lebanon, madrasa refers to any educational institution (state-sponsored, private, secular, or religious). In Pakistan and Bangladesh, madrasa commonly refers to Islamic religious schools.
As an institution of learning, the madrasa is centuries old. One of the first established madrasas, called the Nizamiyah, was built in Baghdad during the eleventh century A.D. Offering food, lodging, and a free education, madrasas spread rapidly throughout the Muslim world, and although their curricula varied from place to place, it was always religious in character because these schools ultimately were intended to prepare future Islamic religious scholars (ulama) for their work. In emphasizing classical traditions in Arabic linguistics, teachers lectured and students learned through rote memorization. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in the era of Western colonial rule, secular institutions came to supersede religious schools in importance throughout the Islamic world. However, madrasas were revitalized in the 1970s with the rising interest in religious studies and Islamist politics in countries such as Iran and Pakistan.
In the 1980s, madrasas in Afghanistan and Pakistan were allegedly boosted by an increase in financial support from the United States, European governments, Saudi Arabia, and other Persian Gulf states all of whom reportedly viewed these schools as recruiting grounds for anti-Soviet mujahedin fighters. In the early 1990s, the Taliban movement was formed by Afghan Islamic clerics and students (talib means “student” in Arabic), many of whom were former mujahedin who had studied and trained in madrasas and who advocated a strict form of Islam similar to the Wahhabism practiced in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
Beyond instruction in basic religious tenets, some argue that after the ouster of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, a small group of radicalized madrasas, specifically located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, promote a militant form of Islam and teach their Muslim students to fight nonbelievers and stand against what they see as the moral depravity of the West. To eliminate such doubts Pakistani authorities renewed plans to require all madrasas to register with the government and provide an account of their financing sources. The government had previously offered incentives to madrasas that agreed to comply with registration procedures, including better training, salaries, and supplies. As of January 2007, over 12,000 of Pakistan’s estimated 13,000 madrasas had registered with authorities.
In the recent years and in more impoverished nations, the rising costs and shortages of public educational institutions have encouraged parents to send their children to madrasas. Although some madrasas teach secular subjects, in general madrasas offer a religious-based curriculum, focusing on the Quran and Islamic texts. Madrasas, in most Muslim countries today, exist as part of a broader educational infrastructure. The private educational sector provides what is considered to be a quality Western-style education for those students who can afford high tuition costs.
Currently, the popularity of madrasas is rising in various parts of Southeast Asia. For example in Indonesia, home to the largest number of Muslims in the world, almost 20%-25% of primary and secondary school children attend Islamic religious schools. Indonesian pesantrens have been noted for teaching a moderate form of Islam, one that encompasses Islamic mysticism or Sufism.
U.S and Britain are the most concerned countries regarding the functioning of the madaris in Pakistan, it is recommended that they must understand the functioning and responsibilities of these madaris and stop the practice of labeling them as breeding grounds of extremism and terrorism. These perceptions are absolutely wrong and an attempt to distort the image of madaris.
Recently, “madrasa” has been used as a catchall by many Western observers to denote any school primary, secondary, or advanced that promotes an Islamic-based curriculum. In many countries, including Egypt and Lebanon, madrasa refers to any educational institution (state-sponsored, private, secular, or religious). In Pakistan and Bangladesh, madrasa commonly refers to Islamic religious schools.
As an institution of learning, the madrasa is centuries old. One of the first established madrasas, called the Nizamiyah, was built in Baghdad during the eleventh century A.D. Offering food, lodging, and a free education, madrasas spread rapidly throughout the Muslim world, and although their curricula varied from place to place, it was always religious in character because these schools ultimately were intended to prepare future Islamic religious scholars (ulama) for their work. In emphasizing classical traditions in Arabic linguistics, teachers lectured and students learned through rote memorization. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in the era of Western colonial rule, secular institutions came to supersede religious schools in importance throughout the Islamic world. However, madrasas were revitalized in the 1970s with the rising interest in religious studies and Islamist politics in countries such as Iran and Pakistan.
In the 1980s, madrasas in Afghanistan and Pakistan were allegedly boosted by an increase in financial support from the United States, European governments, Saudi Arabia, and other Persian Gulf states all of whom reportedly viewed these schools as recruiting grounds for anti-Soviet mujahedin fighters. In the early 1990s, the Taliban movement was formed by Afghan Islamic clerics and students (talib means “student” in Arabic), many of whom were former mujahedin who had studied and trained in madrasas and who advocated a strict form of Islam similar to the Wahhabism practiced in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
Beyond instruction in basic religious tenets, some argue that after the ouster of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, a small group of radicalized madrasas, specifically located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, promote a militant form of Islam and teach their Muslim students to fight nonbelievers and stand against what they see as the moral depravity of the West. To eliminate such doubts Pakistani authorities renewed plans to require all madrasas to register with the government and provide an account of their financing sources. The government had previously offered incentives to madrasas that agreed to comply with registration procedures, including better training, salaries, and supplies. As of January 2007, over 12,000 of Pakistan’s estimated 13,000 madrasas had registered with authorities.
In the recent years and in more impoverished nations, the rising costs and shortages of public educational institutions have encouraged parents to send their children to madrasas. Although some madrasas teach secular subjects, in general madrasas offer a religious-based curriculum, focusing on the Quran and Islamic texts. Madrasas, in most Muslim countries today, exist as part of a broader educational infrastructure. The private educational sector provides what is considered to be a quality Western-style education for those students who can afford high tuition costs.
Currently, the popularity of madrasas is rising in various parts of Southeast Asia. For example in Indonesia, home to the largest number of Muslims in the world, almost 20%-25% of primary and secondary school children attend Islamic religious schools. Indonesian pesantrens have been noted for teaching a moderate form of Islam, one that encompasses Islamic mysticism or Sufism.
U.S and Britain are the most concerned countries regarding the functioning of the madaris in Pakistan, it is recommended that they must understand the functioning and responsibilities of these madaris and stop the practice of labeling them as breeding grounds of extremism and terrorism. These perceptions are absolutely wrong and an attempt to distort the image of madaris.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Low Morale of Indian Army
Soldiers are suppose to be the symbols of gallantry and dignity. Seems like Indian soldiers lack both of these codes.
The incidents of court of Inquiry has become a matter of routine in Indian Army. Many officers of Indian Army faced Courts of Inquiry on charges ranging from failure of command and control to cowardice and desertion, during service. During Kargil war, an Indian army officer was court marshalled upon his refusal to lead his troops up the Tiger hill. I wonder increase in Indian defence spending would be of any use when soldiers are pulling desperate measures to save themselves from combat and perhaps certain death.
A report in Indian Magazine "Out Look" under the caption of "War and Watch-Hunts" says these army officers include mostly ranks of Major and below, Junior Commissioned Officers and jawans. It says "None of the generals, whose duty it was to conduct the kargil war is facing any official inquiry for their flawed leadership. Instead, two of them have been decorated and awarded with plum posting. This has triggered enormous resentment among the junior officers and men.
The magazine quoted a senior general at army headquarters as saying," It was a foolhardy battle, which sent officers and men to certain death. Junior officers have been made scape-goats since the seniors who bungled are known to be close to the chief."
In Srinagar, officers believe that there has been selective victimisation even of JCOs. "JCOs simply follow the orders of their immediate superiors. By targeting them, the seniors are only demoralising the vital link between officers and ORs (other ranks) personnel.
These resentments and low moral has become the causal factor of suicidal attempts in Indian ARMY.
The incidents of court of Inquiry has become a matter of routine in Indian Army. Many officers of Indian Army faced Courts of Inquiry on charges ranging from failure of command and control to cowardice and desertion, during service. During Kargil war, an Indian army officer was court marshalled upon his refusal to lead his troops up the Tiger hill. I wonder increase in Indian defence spending would be of any use when soldiers are pulling desperate measures to save themselves from combat and perhaps certain death.
A report in Indian Magazine "Out Look" under the caption of "War and Watch-Hunts" says these army officers include mostly ranks of Major and below, Junior Commissioned Officers and jawans. It says "None of the generals, whose duty it was to conduct the kargil war is facing any official inquiry for their flawed leadership. Instead, two of them have been decorated and awarded with plum posting. This has triggered enormous resentment among the junior officers and men.
The magazine quoted a senior general at army headquarters as saying," It was a foolhardy battle, which sent officers and men to certain death. Junior officers have been made scape-goats since the seniors who bungled are known to be close to the chief."
In Srinagar, officers believe that there has been selective victimisation even of JCOs. "JCOs simply follow the orders of their immediate superiors. By targeting them, the seniors are only demoralising the vital link between officers and ORs (other ranks) personnel.
These resentments and low moral has become the causal factor of suicidal attempts in Indian ARMY.
Miserable plight of Pakistanis in Indian jails
According to Pakistani officials there are over 518 Pakistanis lodged as prisoners in Indian jails, while India acknowledged the presence of only 147 prisoners in its jails, the fate of the rest is uncertain!!!
Having seen off Kashmir Singh at Wagah Border amid joy and laughter, Pakistanis assembled again in the same week at the same point to receive the body of an innocent Pakistani cricket-lover amid tears and grief. Mehmood had visited India to watch the Pak-India cricket series, and was reportedly picked up by Indian secret agencies. Indian media reported that Mehmood had died of severe torture at the hands of Indian jail officials.The arrival of his body in Pakistan puts a question mark over India’s human rights groups. Bhago Begum, the Pakistani citizen who was freed last year from an Indian jail, described as “dreadful” the conditions suffered by Pakistani prisoners. She termed the authorities of Indian jails “heartless”, as Pakistani prisoners remained a target of routine “physical abuse” and verbal humiliation at the hands of Indian officials.There are many other Pakistani nationals who still continue to suffer at the hands of the Indian authorities without trial. Contrary to Indian treatment with Pakistani prisoners, Kashmir Singh, carried memories of humane treatment in Pakistani jails, despite his being a spy - a fact he admitted as soon as he returned to India after his 35-year imprisonment.
While leaving for India, Singh looked physically fit and cheerful after his release, in sharp contrast to the miserable condition of Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails, who unlike Singh do not catch the attention of human rights activists such as MR. Burney. The comparison of his figure and complexion with that of Bhago Begum speaks volumes about the treatment meted out to Pakistani prisoners in India. According to reports, as many as 48 Pakistani prisoners are languishing in jails across Indian Punjab, all of whom have completed their prison terms. Many of the prisoners have not even been granted consular access, which is mandatory under international conventions that both Pakistan and India are signatory to.
The apparent lethargy on the part of the Indian bureaucracy in processing the cases of the 48 Pakistanis in Amritsar Jail is surprising. Ranjan Lakhanpal, a Chandigarh-based lawyer and civil liberties activist, fought for three years for the release of Fida Hussain and five other Pakistanis who had languished in Indian jails years beyond their sentences. By contrast, a jail reformation process is being pursued in Pakistan and the Ministry of Human Rights is taking various initiatives.
Recently, Pakistan and India has exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other's jails as part of measures to expedite their release. Let us hope that both governments will take solid steps to solve this issue. Moreover, Indian government must take suitable measure to improve condition of Indian jails and take notice of the extremely inhuman treatment with Pakistani prisoners including verbal and physical abuse.
Having seen off Kashmir Singh at Wagah Border amid joy and laughter, Pakistanis assembled again in the same week at the same point to receive the body of an innocent Pakistani cricket-lover amid tears and grief. Mehmood had visited India to watch the Pak-India cricket series, and was reportedly picked up by Indian secret agencies. Indian media reported that Mehmood had died of severe torture at the hands of Indian jail officials.The arrival of his body in Pakistan puts a question mark over India’s human rights groups. Bhago Begum, the Pakistani citizen who was freed last year from an Indian jail, described as “dreadful” the conditions suffered by Pakistani prisoners. She termed the authorities of Indian jails “heartless”, as Pakistani prisoners remained a target of routine “physical abuse” and verbal humiliation at the hands of Indian officials.There are many other Pakistani nationals who still continue to suffer at the hands of the Indian authorities without trial. Contrary to Indian treatment with Pakistani prisoners, Kashmir Singh, carried memories of humane treatment in Pakistani jails, despite his being a spy - a fact he admitted as soon as he returned to India after his 35-year imprisonment.
While leaving for India, Singh looked physically fit and cheerful after his release, in sharp contrast to the miserable condition of Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails, who unlike Singh do not catch the attention of human rights activists such as MR. Burney. The comparison of his figure and complexion with that of Bhago Begum speaks volumes about the treatment meted out to Pakistani prisoners in India. According to reports, as many as 48 Pakistani prisoners are languishing in jails across Indian Punjab, all of whom have completed their prison terms. Many of the prisoners have not even been granted consular access, which is mandatory under international conventions that both Pakistan and India are signatory to.
The apparent lethargy on the part of the Indian bureaucracy in processing the cases of the 48 Pakistanis in Amritsar Jail is surprising. Ranjan Lakhanpal, a Chandigarh-based lawyer and civil liberties activist, fought for three years for the release of Fida Hussain and five other Pakistanis who had languished in Indian jails years beyond their sentences. By contrast, a jail reformation process is being pursued in Pakistan and the Ministry of Human Rights is taking various initiatives.
Recently, Pakistan and India has exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other's jails as part of measures to expedite their release. Let us hope that both governments will take solid steps to solve this issue. Moreover, Indian government must take suitable measure to improve condition of Indian jails and take notice of the extremely inhuman treatment with Pakistani prisoners including verbal and physical abuse.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Indian RAW instigating trouble in Tibet
Many Hindus claim that according to the tenants of Hinduism, Buddha was part of the Hindu “dharma” and a Hindu God. By this religious logic, all those Buddhists who do not accept Hindusim as the overarching “Dharam” can be the equivalent of heretics in the Judeo-Christian paradigm. Therefore many Indians think that all of Tibet should be part of India–and more. Bharat is supposed to extend from Kabul to Raj Kumari to Bali in Indonesia.
Publicly the face of Indo-Chinese relationship has publicly declared that Tibet was a part of China in 1993:
The India-China (Panchsheel) Agreement on Tibet signed on April 29, 1954, had referred to Tibet as the “Tibet region of China”. Thereafter, when the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, a Sino-Indian joint press communique issued on December 23, 1988, said that “Tibet is an autonomous region of China”. It said, “The Indian side reiterated the long-standing and consistent policy of the government of India that Tibet is an autonomous region of China and that anti-China political activities by Tibetan elements are not permitted on Indian soil.”
A joint declaration signed by the two prime ministers says, “The Indian side recognizes that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and reiterates that it does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India. The Chinese side expresses its appreciation for the Indian position and reiterates that it is firmly opposed to any attempt and action aimed at splitting China and bringing about independence of Tibet. The Indian side recalled that India was among the first countries to recognize that there is one China and its one China policy remains unaltered.”
Discreetly RAW (India’s secret service: Research and Analysis Wing) has been instigating trouble in Tibet since the early 40s right after the British left. Publicly, the Indian government regards Tibet as an integral part of China. But in popular parlance and in many of its actions, it does not behave as if Tibet is a part of China. For example, the Indian government raised in the 1980s a highly paid special service unit, a 8,000-strong commando group of Tibetans, who woke up every morning in the special camps with cries of “Long live the Dalai Lama. We shall liberate Tibet”. This commando group is still under the active supervision of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Cabinet Secretariat.
If India regards Tibet as part of China, then why is there a need to maintain such a special group? Why not instead a regular Army unit with contingency plans?
World community must understand that there is a clear duplicity and double standard in Indian policy towards Tibet which is part of its plan to destabilize China.
Publicly the face of Indo-Chinese relationship has publicly declared that Tibet was a part of China in 1993:
The India-China (Panchsheel) Agreement on Tibet signed on April 29, 1954, had referred to Tibet as the “Tibet region of China”. Thereafter, when the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, a Sino-Indian joint press communique issued on December 23, 1988, said that “Tibet is an autonomous region of China”. It said, “The Indian side reiterated the long-standing and consistent policy of the government of India that Tibet is an autonomous region of China and that anti-China political activities by Tibetan elements are not permitted on Indian soil.”
A joint declaration signed by the two prime ministers says, “The Indian side recognizes that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and reiterates that it does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India. The Chinese side expresses its appreciation for the Indian position and reiterates that it is firmly opposed to any attempt and action aimed at splitting China and bringing about independence of Tibet. The Indian side recalled that India was among the first countries to recognize that there is one China and its one China policy remains unaltered.”
Discreetly RAW (India’s secret service: Research and Analysis Wing) has been instigating trouble in Tibet since the early 40s right after the British left. Publicly, the Indian government regards Tibet as an integral part of China. But in popular parlance and in many of its actions, it does not behave as if Tibet is a part of China. For example, the Indian government raised in the 1980s a highly paid special service unit, a 8,000-strong commando group of Tibetans, who woke up every morning in the special camps with cries of “Long live the Dalai Lama. We shall liberate Tibet”. This commando group is still under the active supervision of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Cabinet Secretariat.
If India regards Tibet as part of China, then why is there a need to maintain such a special group? Why not instead a regular Army unit with contingency plans?
World community must understand that there is a clear duplicity and double standard in Indian policy towards Tibet which is part of its plan to destabilize China.
Indian hegemonic designs against Bangladesh
Bangladeshi governments, right from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Fakharuddin Ahmad, though comprehend Indian designs, but could not take bold step to frustrate those designs. On the other hand, it is an irony that most of the Bangladeshi policymakers, politicians, intellectuals, bureaucrats, business magnets, etc., who directly and indirectly control the state crafts of Bangladesh have either become India's pawns to grab their self-interest, who give priority to their immediate gains instead of national interest and sovereignty.
Sadly, Indian Brahmanic policymakers, since pre-Palasy War era, sided with the then British East India Company and aligned to one principle till date to keep the Muslims of the subcontinent under their knee. Indian leadership who against their will, though conceded to the partition of the subcontinent that led to the emergence of a separate Muslim homeland named Pakistan in 1947, kept their dream alive to jeopardise Pakistan and unify the map of the British-administered India, what they term as 'Ramraj' or 'Awkhand Bharat'. Nehru through his writings and utterances repeatedly declared that the areas that comprised Pakistan, particularly East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh) and West Punjab (today's Punjab Province of Pakistan) would return to Indian fold immediately after the partition of the subcontinent.
To translate this dream into practice, Indian leaders, whether they are so- called secularists, or communists, or fundamentalists, or arch communalists, never set aside their dream of unifying the British-India and all the successive governments, right from Nehru to Manmohan Singh, worked and work to materialize that end into practice.To reach their goal the then Hindu-dominated Congress leadership prepared a secret blueprint of undoing the separate homeland. Indian government, its intelligence agencies and media, tried their best to provoke anti-West Pakistan sentiment in East Pakistan and fueled secessionist movement in the then East Pakistan that subsequently paved the way for Indian intervention inside Bangladesh.
India's subsequent ugly and cruel behaviour unfolded the fact that under the cover of liberating Bangladesh, Indian government assisted virtually to merge Bangladesh with India in course of time. It means Indian Army marched to Bangladesh not to leave it, but to remain stationed there for ever.
To make Bangladesh totally dependent on and subservient to India, Indian expansionists ruined Bangladesh’s education, culture, social value, economy, agriculture, industries. India designs to throw Bangladesh to such an awkward position so that it becomes dysfunctional and failed State so that Bangladeshis beg India to merge Bangladesh with India.The Bengali-speaking Hindus of West Bengal have already lost their language, identity and even prosperity. Other ethnic nations living under Indian domination in Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram just on the other sides of Bangladesh’s border, now feel the bite of the mistake of their forefathers who trusting on the sweet assurances of the Indian leaders merged with India. They cannot get out of Indian claws and yokes despite their long armed struggle and shedding tears and bloods for six decades. Bangladeshi government and people should also get lessons from the sufferings of the India's minority religious communities, particularly the Muslims. In the Indian map of dreamy 'Awkhand Bharat' there is no existence of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal and even Bhutan.
To deter and frustrate India's expansionist zeal and dream people living in neighboring countries of India should shun all types of internal debates and controversies to strengthen national unity.
Let us comprehend and face Indian game and keep us protected from her domination and subjugation and we should not allow others to become our mentors.
Sadly, Indian Brahmanic policymakers, since pre-Palasy War era, sided with the then British East India Company and aligned to one principle till date to keep the Muslims of the subcontinent under their knee. Indian leadership who against their will, though conceded to the partition of the subcontinent that led to the emergence of a separate Muslim homeland named Pakistan in 1947, kept their dream alive to jeopardise Pakistan and unify the map of the British-administered India, what they term as 'Ramraj' or 'Awkhand Bharat'. Nehru through his writings and utterances repeatedly declared that the areas that comprised Pakistan, particularly East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh) and West Punjab (today's Punjab Province of Pakistan) would return to Indian fold immediately after the partition of the subcontinent.
To translate this dream into practice, Indian leaders, whether they are so- called secularists, or communists, or fundamentalists, or arch communalists, never set aside their dream of unifying the British-India and all the successive governments, right from Nehru to Manmohan Singh, worked and work to materialize that end into practice.To reach their goal the then Hindu-dominated Congress leadership prepared a secret blueprint of undoing the separate homeland. Indian government, its intelligence agencies and media, tried their best to provoke anti-West Pakistan sentiment in East Pakistan and fueled secessionist movement in the then East Pakistan that subsequently paved the way for Indian intervention inside Bangladesh.
India's subsequent ugly and cruel behaviour unfolded the fact that under the cover of liberating Bangladesh, Indian government assisted virtually to merge Bangladesh with India in course of time. It means Indian Army marched to Bangladesh not to leave it, but to remain stationed there for ever.
To make Bangladesh totally dependent on and subservient to India, Indian expansionists ruined Bangladesh’s education, culture, social value, economy, agriculture, industries. India designs to throw Bangladesh to such an awkward position so that it becomes dysfunctional and failed State so that Bangladeshis beg India to merge Bangladesh with India.The Bengali-speaking Hindus of West Bengal have already lost their language, identity and even prosperity. Other ethnic nations living under Indian domination in Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram just on the other sides of Bangladesh’s border, now feel the bite of the mistake of their forefathers who trusting on the sweet assurances of the Indian leaders merged with India. They cannot get out of Indian claws and yokes despite their long armed struggle and shedding tears and bloods for six decades. Bangladeshi government and people should also get lessons from the sufferings of the India's minority religious communities, particularly the Muslims. In the Indian map of dreamy 'Awkhand Bharat' there is no existence of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal and even Bhutan.
To deter and frustrate India's expansionist zeal and dream people living in neighboring countries of India should shun all types of internal debates and controversies to strengthen national unity.
Let us comprehend and face Indian game and keep us protected from her domination and subjugation and we should not allow others to become our mentors.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Indian Army's Suicide Rate rising constantly
The Indian Army is loosing more soldiers to suicide than to enemy action in the battle field. This year, over 100 soldiers have lost their lives by committing suicide.
The key reason of their suicides is frustration over various issues. One of these is leave; lack of adequate home leave enhances their depression and stress. Other factors include low morale, bad service conditions, lack of adequate facilities, unattractive pay packages, and a communication gap with superiors.
Soldiers get extremely angry when they are denied leave and their officers themselves take time off, it triggers a reaction, and consequently they take their own life.
Every one knows that Indian Army is committing heinous acts such as torture, rapes, murder, staged encounters, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and in other parts of India.
In Kashmir valley, Indian Army has killed over 10, 0000 innocent people and in the state of Gujurat over 4,000 civilians were killed. These atrocities and heinous acts are the main reason of mental sickness of Indian Army.
Suicide in Indian Army will keep on rising in future!!!!!
How can one expect healthy normal personality from the force that has been assigned the task of massive killing and bloodshed of innocent civilians including women and children?
The key reason of their suicides is frustration over various issues. One of these is leave; lack of adequate home leave enhances their depression and stress. Other factors include low morale, bad service conditions, lack of adequate facilities, unattractive pay packages, and a communication gap with superiors.
Soldiers get extremely angry when they are denied leave and their officers themselves take time off, it triggers a reaction, and consequently they take their own life.
Every one knows that Indian Army is committing heinous acts such as torture, rapes, murder, staged encounters, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and in other parts of India.
In Kashmir valley, Indian Army has killed over 10, 0000 innocent people and in the state of Gujurat over 4,000 civilians were killed. These atrocities and heinous acts are the main reason of mental sickness of Indian Army.
Suicide in Indian Army will keep on rising in future!!!!!
How can one expect healthy normal personality from the force that has been assigned the task of massive killing and bloodshed of innocent civilians including women and children?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Propaganda against ISI
Propaganda against ISI
ISI alluring Indian Muslims: RAW Ex-chief
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 22:30 [IST]
Indiainfo.com
New Delhi: Former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence wing, has said Pakistan's ISI is trying to get Indian Muslims involved in "questionable activities". "ISI with its surrogate jehadi groups is now targeting the Indian Muslims to get them involved in questionable activities", former RAW chief Anand K Verma, who was at the helm of RAW, from 1987-1990, said at the second Pramod Mahajan Conclave on "Threats to India's Internal Security". "A new era will not dawn in Pakistan untill military is truly confined in barracks," he said adding the President (in Pakistan) still derives his strength form the military. Dubbing China as another country that India should be concerned about, Verma said Beijing's "core concern" is to maintain its integrity - "territorial or otherwise".
Indian government and especially its intelligence agency RAW has always accused neighbouring countries including Pakistan and China for trouble making. Same has been done by former RAW chief Anand K Verma.
Indian Muslims have free will; their activities are not dependent on Pakistan's or ISI's commands. Indian tactic of blaming Pakistan for any trouble inside India is not new.
Indian authorities must focus on solving the problems of Indian minorities including Christians, Sikhs and specially Muslims rather than accusing Pakistan; solution to their grievances will surely remove doubts from their minds.
So MR VERMA better focus on resolving own issues rather than finding escape goats!!!!
ISI alluring Indian Muslims: RAW Ex-chief
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 22:30 [IST]
Indiainfo.com
New Delhi: Former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence wing, has said Pakistan's ISI is trying to get Indian Muslims involved in "questionable activities". "ISI with its surrogate jehadi groups is now targeting the Indian Muslims to get them involved in questionable activities", former RAW chief Anand K Verma, who was at the helm of RAW, from 1987-1990, said at the second Pramod Mahajan Conclave on "Threats to India's Internal Security". "A new era will not dawn in Pakistan untill military is truly confined in barracks," he said adding the President (in Pakistan) still derives his strength form the military. Dubbing China as another country that India should be concerned about, Verma said Beijing's "core concern" is to maintain its integrity - "territorial or otherwise".
Indian government and especially its intelligence agency RAW has always accused neighbouring countries including Pakistan and China for trouble making. Same has been done by former RAW chief Anand K Verma.
Indian Muslims have free will; their activities are not dependent on Pakistan's or ISI's commands. Indian tactic of blaming Pakistan for any trouble inside India is not new.
Indian authorities must focus on solving the problems of Indian minorities including Christians, Sikhs and specially Muslims rather than accusing Pakistan; solution to their grievances will surely remove doubts from their minds.
So MR VERMA better focus on resolving own issues rather than finding escape goats!!!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Constantly Increasing incidents of extra Judicial Killings in India
India has always claimed an abiding commitment to the protection of human rights. When India sought election to the Human Rights Council it reinforced those commitments by making several voluntary pledges. In seeking re-election to the Council in May 2007, the Indian government stated it believes "that in a truly pluralistic society, the growth and well -being of citizens can only be guaranteed through a culture of protection and promotion of human rights." Despite the existence of laws protecting human rights, India has failed to properly implement laws and policies to protect its marginalized communities, particularly Dalits, tribal groups, religious minorities, women and children.
Beyond failing to implement laws that vindicate human rights due to a lack of genuine political will, India has also maintained other laws shielding abusers of human rights - so that perpetrators remain unaccountable. Impunity is a major problem in India; serious crimes perpetuated by security forces are rarely investigated or prosecuted. Especially during counter-insurgency operations, security forces in India have been responsible for abuses such as extrajudicial killings, "disappearances", and torture, especially in Punjab and Nagaland in the 1980s, and currently in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur, and in states where there is a Maoist insurgency.
Human Rights Watch has investigated and reported a pattern of impunity due to Indian government policy. Our recent investigations in 2006 and 2007 have revealed an ongoing failure to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations during counter-insurgency operations in Punjab from 1985-1996 and continuing violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Impunity occurs because there is reluctance by the government to hold its officials and troops accountable. A series of Indian laws also make it difficult or impossible to prosecute abusers employed by the state. In particular, police and paramilitary forces are protected under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which provides that no court will recognize any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant (including a member of the armed forces) in the discharge of official duty without the express sanction of the federal government. Permission to prosecute is rarely granted, even when an investigation has strong evidence of human rights violations. The army is provided with additional immunity when they are deployed in areas of internal conflict under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Under this Act, no prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be brought, except with the express sanction of the federal government against any person regarding anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers under this Act.
With such impunity provided to police and armed forces, abuses such as extrajudicial killings occur not only in counter-insurgency operations, but even in regular implementation of law and order. Even worse, there are incentives to kill suspected militants or dangerous criminals through rewards and promotions. For instance, in February 2007, police investigations into a "missing person" case of a carpenter Abdul Rahman Paddar in Jammu and Kashmir exposed a culture of extrajudicial executions where people are killed in custody by security forces who construct faked "armed encounters" with militants or criminals, staging executions to look like acts of defense. Policemen arrested for the killing of Paddar were also accused of executing four others, all in an effort to claim cash rewards handed out to teams that kill foreign militants. In April 2007, three policemen were arrested for constructing a "faked encounter" in Gujarat, killing a man in custody and falsely claiming he was a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant.
These cases are among the small handful that are properly investigated. Often the police or army's argument of an "armed encounter" is accepted, although many officials privately admit to Human Rights Watch that extrajudicial executions are widespread. For instance, it is widely acknowledged that there are some policemen in Mumbai celebrated as "encounter cops" who claim to have shot down scores of criminals. While armed rebellions or criminal gangs pose a serious challenge to India's national security, the lack of accountability of police and armed forces in fact leads to further violence and further human rights violations.
There has also been a failure to vigorously prosecute public officials, including police as well as politicians and their supporters, for their involvement in mass attacks on religious minorities, whether it was the attacks upon Sikhs in 1984, or upon Muslims in 1993 and in 2002. This is despite existing findings by government inquiry commissions such as the Nanavati Commission and the Srikrishna Commission that cited involvement of government officials in the mass killing of Sikhs in 1984 and of Muslims in 1993, respectively.
Although the Indian government claims that it has internal systems of inquiry and punishment to tackle violations by security forces, details of any prosecutions or convictions through such measures are seldom available. The families of victims in areas of armed conflict say that while militants (who are also responsible for human rights abuses) are eventually brought to justice, soldiers and paramilitaries are routinely shielded by their uniform, civilian superiors, and by laws that make it extremely difficult to prosecute them in civilian courts. Impunity not only affects victims and their families, but it leads to cynicism and distrust of authority in communities. We cite as examples two well known cases of killings of prominent human rights defenders where perpetrators have not been brought to justice. The problems in securing justice in these cases reflect how difficult it is for an ordinary citizen to access justice when a crime is committed by state officials.
Jalil Andrabi, a human rights lawyer in Kashmir, was killed in March 1996. Under High Court orders, a special police team investigating the killing identified Major Avtar Singh and some other soldiers under his command as responsible for Andrabi's abduction and killing. Some 11 years later, Major Singh and his men have yet to be brought to justice and Andrabi's lawyer says that Major Singh has been allowed to immigrate to Canada.
Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist in Punjab, was killed in October 1995 after he exposed thousands of secret cremations by the Punjab police. It took ten years before a judge finally convicted six police officials for their roles in the abduction and murder of Khalra. During this time, police had attempted to intimidate key witnesses by framing false criminal cases against them which ranged from bribery, rape and robbery to establishing a terrorist organization. Eyewitness testimony implicates then-Director General of Police, KPS Gill, in Khalra¡¦s illegal detention, torture and eventual killing. However, as of November 2007, the Central Bureau of Investigation has yet to act upon a pending petition from Khalra's widow requesting prosecution.
Human Rights Watch's recommendations
Human Rights Watch calls on the Indian government to:
Repeal all legal provisions providing effective impunity to government officials such as Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Publicly announce its opposition to human rights violations by making clear that torture, custodial killings, faked armed encounter killings and disappearances will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Demonstrate its opposition to such violations by vigorously investigating and prosecuting officials who order, commit or tolerate such practices.
Ensure all individuals have equal access to justice and right to remedies, and examine the shortcomings in the effectiveness of existing justice mechanisms.
Amend the Human Rights Protection Act to allow the National Human Rights Commission to independently investigate allegations of abuse by members of the armed forces.
Provide victims and their beneficiaries with reparations through a prompt and effective procedure that redresses the entire scope of the violations.
Beyond failing to implement laws that vindicate human rights due to a lack of genuine political will, India has also maintained other laws shielding abusers of human rights - so that perpetrators remain unaccountable. Impunity is a major problem in India; serious crimes perpetuated by security forces are rarely investigated or prosecuted. Especially during counter-insurgency operations, security forces in India have been responsible for abuses such as extrajudicial killings, "disappearances", and torture, especially in Punjab and Nagaland in the 1980s, and currently in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur, and in states where there is a Maoist insurgency.
Human Rights Watch has investigated and reported a pattern of impunity due to Indian government policy. Our recent investigations in 2006 and 2007 have revealed an ongoing failure to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations during counter-insurgency operations in Punjab from 1985-1996 and continuing violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Impunity occurs because there is reluctance by the government to hold its officials and troops accountable. A series of Indian laws also make it difficult or impossible to prosecute abusers employed by the state. In particular, police and paramilitary forces are protected under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which provides that no court will recognize any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant (including a member of the armed forces) in the discharge of official duty without the express sanction of the federal government. Permission to prosecute is rarely granted, even when an investigation has strong evidence of human rights violations. The army is provided with additional immunity when they are deployed in areas of internal conflict under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Under this Act, no prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be brought, except with the express sanction of the federal government against any person regarding anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers under this Act.
With such impunity provided to police and armed forces, abuses such as extrajudicial killings occur not only in counter-insurgency operations, but even in regular implementation of law and order. Even worse, there are incentives to kill suspected militants or dangerous criminals through rewards and promotions. For instance, in February 2007, police investigations into a "missing person" case of a carpenter Abdul Rahman Paddar in Jammu and Kashmir exposed a culture of extrajudicial executions where people are killed in custody by security forces who construct faked "armed encounters" with militants or criminals, staging executions to look like acts of defense. Policemen arrested for the killing of Paddar were also accused of executing four others, all in an effort to claim cash rewards handed out to teams that kill foreign militants. In April 2007, three policemen were arrested for constructing a "faked encounter" in Gujarat, killing a man in custody and falsely claiming he was a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant.
These cases are among the small handful that are properly investigated. Often the police or army's argument of an "armed encounter" is accepted, although many officials privately admit to Human Rights Watch that extrajudicial executions are widespread. For instance, it is widely acknowledged that there are some policemen in Mumbai celebrated as "encounter cops" who claim to have shot down scores of criminals. While armed rebellions or criminal gangs pose a serious challenge to India's national security, the lack of accountability of police and armed forces in fact leads to further violence and further human rights violations.
There has also been a failure to vigorously prosecute public officials, including police as well as politicians and their supporters, for their involvement in mass attacks on religious minorities, whether it was the attacks upon Sikhs in 1984, or upon Muslims in 1993 and in 2002. This is despite existing findings by government inquiry commissions such as the Nanavati Commission and the Srikrishna Commission that cited involvement of government officials in the mass killing of Sikhs in 1984 and of Muslims in 1993, respectively.
Although the Indian government claims that it has internal systems of inquiry and punishment to tackle violations by security forces, details of any prosecutions or convictions through such measures are seldom available. The families of victims in areas of armed conflict say that while militants (who are also responsible for human rights abuses) are eventually brought to justice, soldiers and paramilitaries are routinely shielded by their uniform, civilian superiors, and by laws that make it extremely difficult to prosecute them in civilian courts. Impunity not only affects victims and their families, but it leads to cynicism and distrust of authority in communities. We cite as examples two well known cases of killings of prominent human rights defenders where perpetrators have not been brought to justice. The problems in securing justice in these cases reflect how difficult it is for an ordinary citizen to access justice when a crime is committed by state officials.
Jalil Andrabi, a human rights lawyer in Kashmir, was killed in March 1996. Under High Court orders, a special police team investigating the killing identified Major Avtar Singh and some other soldiers under his command as responsible for Andrabi's abduction and killing. Some 11 years later, Major Singh and his men have yet to be brought to justice and Andrabi's lawyer says that Major Singh has been allowed to immigrate to Canada.
Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist in Punjab, was killed in October 1995 after he exposed thousands of secret cremations by the Punjab police. It took ten years before a judge finally convicted six police officials for their roles in the abduction and murder of Khalra. During this time, police had attempted to intimidate key witnesses by framing false criminal cases against them which ranged from bribery, rape and robbery to establishing a terrorist organization. Eyewitness testimony implicates then-Director General of Police, KPS Gill, in Khalra¡¦s illegal detention, torture and eventual killing. However, as of November 2007, the Central Bureau of Investigation has yet to act upon a pending petition from Khalra's widow requesting prosecution.
Human Rights Watch's recommendations
Human Rights Watch calls on the Indian government to:
Repeal all legal provisions providing effective impunity to government officials such as Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Publicly announce its opposition to human rights violations by making clear that torture, custodial killings, faked armed encounter killings and disappearances will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Demonstrate its opposition to such violations by vigorously investigating and prosecuting officials who order, commit or tolerate such practices.
Ensure all individuals have equal access to justice and right to remedies, and examine the shortcomings in the effectiveness of existing justice mechanisms.
Amend the Human Rights Protection Act to allow the National Human Rights Commission to independently investigate allegations of abuse by members of the armed forces.
Provide victims and their beneficiaries with reparations through a prompt and effective procedure that redresses the entire scope of the violations.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Mass graves in Kashmir exposes atrocities by Indian forces
There are over 1,000 unmarked graves across a dozen villages in the area around the town of Uri. The grave sites are believed to contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses which occurred in the context of armed conflict persisting in the state since 1989. The Indian army and militants have been accused of numerous human rights abuses in Kashmir over the past two decades.
The Amnesty International has called for "prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations for about 1,000 unmarked graves found in the Kashmir valley". Sadly, the police in Indian-administered Kashmir rejected their demand for action to identify the bodies. The inspector general of police in the Kashmir valley, SM Sahai, said police had investigated all cases of disappearances reported to them and had registered cases for investigation wherever necessary.
While referring to mass graves the villagers said they have no idea who they were and that the police told them the men were foreign militants killed in fighting with the Indian troops.
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) reported that more than 8,000 people have disappeared in Kashmir over the past two decades. They fear their relatives who disappeared in the restive region might have been buried in those graves.
The human rights abuses and atrocities by Indian occupied forces in Kashmir is not a new story, but sadly international community and international human rights organizations are taking no notice of it since long. The disclosure of these mass graves and atrocities of Indian occupied forces in Indian held Kashmir must be exposed to the world community and it also requires world-wide condemnation!!!
The Amnesty International has called for "prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations for about 1,000 unmarked graves found in the Kashmir valley". Sadly, the police in Indian-administered Kashmir rejected their demand for action to identify the bodies. The inspector general of police in the Kashmir valley, SM Sahai, said police had investigated all cases of disappearances reported to them and had registered cases for investigation wherever necessary.
While referring to mass graves the villagers said they have no idea who they were and that the police told them the men were foreign militants killed in fighting with the Indian troops.
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) reported that more than 8,000 people have disappeared in Kashmir over the past two decades. They fear their relatives who disappeared in the restive region might have been buried in those graves.
The human rights abuses and atrocities by Indian occupied forces in Kashmir is not a new story, but sadly international community and international human rights organizations are taking no notice of it since long. The disclosure of these mass graves and atrocities of Indian occupied forces in Indian held Kashmir must be exposed to the world community and it also requires world-wide condemnation!!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Indian Air Force pilot stabbed to death
It is very sad to read that one young IAF pilot stabbed to death & the other injured. I wondered weather the pilots were drunk! or the culprit as it is difficult to understand that the two young trained soldiers could not overpower.
Moreover, it seems that the Lawyers in all parts of India are beginning to behave as if they are above law. Institutes of legal education in India should take note. Morality, professional ethics must be enlarged and emphasized in legal education curriculum. Most lawyers become blind defenders of criminal politicians, form groups of fighters and demonstrators for them. Perhaps, lawyers should be banned from becoming members of political parties. They should be above politics, serving the country and the courts in the correct administration of justice as per law.
Sadly, this incident of killing an Air Force pilot by an Indian lawyer has conveyed a very bad image of relation between Indian civilians and Armed Forces.
Moreover, it seems that the Lawyers in all parts of India are beginning to behave as if they are above law. Institutes of legal education in India should take note. Morality, professional ethics must be enlarged and emphasized in legal education curriculum. Most lawyers become blind defenders of criminal politicians, form groups of fighters and demonstrators for them. Perhaps, lawyers should be banned from becoming members of political parties. They should be above politics, serving the country and the courts in the correct administration of justice as per law.
Sadly, this incident of killing an Air Force pilot by an Indian lawyer has conveyed a very bad image of relation between Indian civilians and Armed Forces.
65 Indian Army Officers has quit
Unhappy with the submission of recommendations by the Sixth Pay Commission, sixty-five officers of Indian Army has resigned on March 24, 2008. The officers have sought a voluntary retirement and their applications will have to be processed before approval. Most of them are of the colonel and lieutenant colonel ranks. There has been a large-scale resentment among the rank and files of the armed forces over what they see as disparity between them and civil officers.
The large number of resignations in a span of just two weeks has come at a time when the army is facing a shortage of 11,200 officers. Earlier, around 3,000 mid-level commanders had sought voluntary retirement to move to the lucrative private sector. It is expected that more and more army officers will quit if these absurd recommendations are implemented. The armed personnel also complain for luxuries provided to politicians and bureaucrats.
Indian Army was already committing suicide due to frustration; now these recommendations have added fuel to the fire and will further aggravate their complexes!!!
The large number of resignations in a span of just two weeks has come at a time when the army is facing a shortage of 11,200 officers. Earlier, around 3,000 mid-level commanders had sought voluntary retirement to move to the lucrative private sector. It is expected that more and more army officers will quit if these absurd recommendations are implemented. The armed personnel also complain for luxuries provided to politicians and bureaucrats.
Indian Army was already committing suicide due to frustration; now these recommendations have added fuel to the fire and will further aggravate their complexes!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
US UNTENABLE 11 DEMANDS
The US has made a number of highly intrusive demands from Pakistan which has shocked every Pakistani. To offer its support in the war against terrorism, Pakistan has already given bases and logistic support to US. The latest set of 11 demands for US military and auxiliary personnel in Pakistan are extremely intrusive and highly untenable.
These demands include travel for US embassy "technical staff" without a requirement for passports and visas, that US personnel in Pakistan be subject to US not Pakistani law; and that Pakistan's government provide various support services to the US. The one which is most outrageous is number eleven:
Demand number eleven is for a waiver of all claims to damage to loss or destruction of others property, or death to personnel or armed forces or civilians. The US has tried to be smart by not using the word "other" for death but, given the context, clearly it implies that US personnel can maim and kill Pakistanis and destroy our infrastructure and weaponry with impunity.
This set of demands sounds like the US is planning on fighting a war in Pakistan, and is seeking immunity from Pakistan's laws because it anticipates that crimes will be committed. Unfortunately, these demands also sound a lot like the classic Western imperialist demands for "extraterritoriality". US must keep it very clear that Pakistan is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any foreign interference in Pakistani territory. All Pakistanis, our Defence and Foreign Ministries have shown resentment on these demands; hopefully, US will not forget the fact that Pakistan army has deployed about 100,000 regular and paramilitary troops in western Pakistan as a key ally in war against terrorism. Battles with pro-Taliban militants are ongoing and became particularly fierce and militants appear to be employing heavy weapons in more aggressive Tactics. Keeping in view all contributions and support offered by Pakistan, it is expected that US will avert presenting such intrusive demands from Pakistan in future.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
These demands include travel for US embassy "technical staff" without a requirement for passports and visas, that US personnel in Pakistan be subject to US not Pakistani law; and that Pakistan's government provide various support services to the US. The one which is most outrageous is number eleven:
Demand number eleven is for a waiver of all claims to damage to loss or destruction of others property, or death to personnel or armed forces or civilians. The US has tried to be smart by not using the word "other" for death but, given the context, clearly it implies that US personnel can maim and kill Pakistanis and destroy our infrastructure and weaponry with impunity.
This set of demands sounds like the US is planning on fighting a war in Pakistan, and is seeking immunity from Pakistan's laws because it anticipates that crimes will be committed. Unfortunately, these demands also sound a lot like the classic Western imperialist demands for "extraterritoriality". US must keep it very clear that Pakistan is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any foreign interference in Pakistani territory. All Pakistanis, our Defence and Foreign Ministries have shown resentment on these demands; hopefully, US will not forget the fact that Pakistan army has deployed about 100,000 regular and paramilitary troops in western Pakistan as a key ally in war against terrorism. Battles with pro-Taliban militants are ongoing and became particularly fierce and militants appear to be employing heavy weapons in more aggressive Tactics. Keeping in view all contributions and support offered by Pakistan, it is expected that US will avert presenting such intrusive demands from Pakistan in future.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
PPP discriminated Amin Fahim
Amin Fahim was running PPP for almost eight years when Benazir was in exile and could be the most suitable candidate for the party future chairman. Since Mr Zardari has taken control of the affairs of PPP, everyone has noticed a clear discriminated treatment with Mr. Amin Fahim. He has not been offered any Ministry and has been side lined totally.
Keeping in view all the facts the question that requires suitable answer is, why Mukhdom Amin Fahim is being discriminated by the party leadership. He has not been invited in any important meetings and decision making forums. why?
Why Mr. Zardari has forgot his contributions for the party and discriminated a seasoned politician and deserving candidate in such a discriminated way???
Keeping in view all the facts the question that requires suitable answer is, why Mukhdom Amin Fahim is being discriminated by the party leadership. He has not been invited in any important meetings and decision making forums. why?
Why Mr. Zardari has forgot his contributions for the party and discriminated a seasoned politician and deserving candidate in such a discriminated way???
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
STOP SUICIDE BOMBINGS
Pakistan is not only among the countries with the highest incidence of terrorism but it also tops the list of suicide bombings, leaving Afghanistan and Iraq behind during the first three months of 2008. Average deaths reported during 2008 in Iraq were 21 people contrary to 14 people in Pakistan. According to analysts the attacks carried out in Pakistan were more lethal in nature as they were planned to assault security personnel. Mostly security agencies were the prime target for the attackers during 2007 and 2008 as more than 65 percent security personnel's deaths were reported.
While reviewing the world history, it appears that terrorists groups are capable of carrying out bold and destructive acts that at first glance appear to be unexplainable. What kind of person would sacrifice his or her own life in order to kill innocent people? What could possibly motivate a young person to become a suicide bomber?
In the wake of many tragic events, it can be difficult to analyze objectively the causes and processes leading up to them. For many, understanding the motives behind suicide bombing comes dangerously close to excusing or approving it. It may seem easier just to assume that the people involved are "evildoers" or "callous fanatics delighting in the carnage they have created."
Terrorism is not a simple phenomenon with easy explanations; usually there are wide variety of motives and causal factors involved in it. Terrorists tend to have considerable insight into their own actions and are aware of how others view them. They believe that their violent actions, while somewhat regrettable, are justified and noble. Often their actions do not ultimately stem from hatred, but rather from love of their own group and culture that they believe is threatened and requires protection.
Those who train suicide bombers brainwash them to the utmost extend and they start believing that God has sent them on a mission. They are motivated primarily by the promise of a happy afterlife and heavenly reward and the threat of heavenly retribution their rationale is that by blowing themselves up in a crowd of people, they are making themselves martyrs and forging their own gateway to heaven. Many of these individuals are indoctrinated at an early age about the spiritual importance of purifying the world and sacrificing their lives to a holy war. In some cases, enemy countries and their agencies use the concepts of benevolence, self-sacrifice, and martyrdom to spread the idea that suicide bombing is a noble and Godly act.
Many terrorist organizations also offer economic incentives to persuade individuals that it is rational to sacrifice their lives for the good of the cause. For those who believe they lack options, cannot find a job, and have few social safety nets in place to assist them, suicide bombing may seem like a relatively reasonable option. Families of suicide bombers often receive money and are treated as heroes. Once individuals join organizations that share their frustrations, they may undergo a process of indoctrination whereby their beliefs and behaviors are made to conform the group's basic principles. Within these tight-knit communities, individuals' fear of letting down their comrades becomes greater than their fear of dying. Many come to believe that by sacrificing their own lives for the sake of the cause, those lives can take on a broader meaning.
Various grievances and social stressors can also contribute to turn a person into a suicide bomber. For example, poverty, unemployment, epidemics, and criminality often lead to social instability, which provides fertile ground for terrorist activity. Over-population, socioeconomic struggle, and a lack of professional opportunities can also produce a sense of rage, powerlessness, and resentment among the populace. Moreover, indoctrination of young minds can also play an important role in conversion of an ordinary person into a suicide bomber.
The detained terrorists in the custody of Pakistani authorities have also accepted the fact that they got indoctrination, support and lethal ammunition in Afghanistan. The main role in preparation and brainwashing young boys as suicide bombers has been played by secret operatives of Indian agencies in AFGHNAISTAN. The destabilization of Pakistan is in the interest of India therefore it has maintained training camps inside Afghanistan with the consent and support of some culprit Afghan officials.
The outcome of their game plan is constantly rising number of suicide bombing in Pakistan. The poor souls are completely unaware of the reality that they are in fact serving for the enemies of Islam and Pakistan. These misled people are completely brainwashed and they find suicide bombings as an easy way of entering into heaven.
“Learn how to live, and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll learn how to live.”
While reviewing the world history, it appears that terrorists groups are capable of carrying out bold and destructive acts that at first glance appear to be unexplainable. What kind of person would sacrifice his or her own life in order to kill innocent people? What could possibly motivate a young person to become a suicide bomber?
In the wake of many tragic events, it can be difficult to analyze objectively the causes and processes leading up to them. For many, understanding the motives behind suicide bombing comes dangerously close to excusing or approving it. It may seem easier just to assume that the people involved are "evildoers" or "callous fanatics delighting in the carnage they have created."
Terrorism is not a simple phenomenon with easy explanations; usually there are wide variety of motives and causal factors involved in it. Terrorists tend to have considerable insight into their own actions and are aware of how others view them. They believe that their violent actions, while somewhat regrettable, are justified and noble. Often their actions do not ultimately stem from hatred, but rather from love of their own group and culture that they believe is threatened and requires protection.
Those who train suicide bombers brainwash them to the utmost extend and they start believing that God has sent them on a mission. They are motivated primarily by the promise of a happy afterlife and heavenly reward and the threat of heavenly retribution their rationale is that by blowing themselves up in a crowd of people, they are making themselves martyrs and forging their own gateway to heaven. Many of these individuals are indoctrinated at an early age about the spiritual importance of purifying the world and sacrificing their lives to a holy war. In some cases, enemy countries and their agencies use the concepts of benevolence, self-sacrifice, and martyrdom to spread the idea that suicide bombing is a noble and Godly act.
Many terrorist organizations also offer economic incentives to persuade individuals that it is rational to sacrifice their lives for the good of the cause. For those who believe they lack options, cannot find a job, and have few social safety nets in place to assist them, suicide bombing may seem like a relatively reasonable option. Families of suicide bombers often receive money and are treated as heroes. Once individuals join organizations that share their frustrations, they may undergo a process of indoctrination whereby their beliefs and behaviors are made to conform the group's basic principles. Within these tight-knit communities, individuals' fear of letting down their comrades becomes greater than their fear of dying. Many come to believe that by sacrificing their own lives for the sake of the cause, those lives can take on a broader meaning.
Various grievances and social stressors can also contribute to turn a person into a suicide bomber. For example, poverty, unemployment, epidemics, and criminality often lead to social instability, which provides fertile ground for terrorist activity. Over-population, socioeconomic struggle, and a lack of professional opportunities can also produce a sense of rage, powerlessness, and resentment among the populace. Moreover, indoctrination of young minds can also play an important role in conversion of an ordinary person into a suicide bomber.
The detained terrorists in the custody of Pakistani authorities have also accepted the fact that they got indoctrination, support and lethal ammunition in Afghanistan. The main role in preparation and brainwashing young boys as suicide bombers has been played by secret operatives of Indian agencies in AFGHNAISTAN. The destabilization of Pakistan is in the interest of India therefore it has maintained training camps inside Afghanistan with the consent and support of some culprit Afghan officials.
The outcome of their game plan is constantly rising number of suicide bombing in Pakistan. The poor souls are completely unaware of the reality that they are in fact serving for the enemies of Islam and Pakistan. These misled people are completely brainwashed and they find suicide bombings as an easy way of entering into heaven.
“Learn how to live, and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll learn how to live.”
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sarabjit Singh deserves no leniency
The death sentence for Sarabjit Singh is well deserved and warrants no leniency', he is convicted for carrying out five bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990. In the recent past, Ansar Burney a re-knowned Human Rights activists succeeded in getting pardon and release of Kashmir Singh. Kashmir Singh was arrested 35 years ago while crossing back to India. According to records, he was caught with maps of Islamabad, and lists of Army installations, details of ammunition under use and the details of each commander.
Mr. Burney took up the case of Kashmir Singh on humanitarian grounds and got him released. Now he is also working to get pardon for Sarabjit Singh. It is extremely sad that he has no sympathies for those many Pakistanis who have been left to die in the dens of Indian jails. The ruthless Indian side sent the dead body of Khalid Mehmood as a sign of gratitude on release of Kashmir Singh in the same week to the Pakistani authorities. Khalid Mehmood was a poor bus conductor from village of Batapur, which happened to be on the border between Pakistan and India. Being a avid Cricket fan he went to watch 2005 Cricket series between Pakistan and India at Mohali. He lost his passport and on his way to Pakistani Embassy he was picked up by Indian agencies and put in custody on suspicion on being spy for Pakistan.
In Indian jails inhuman treatment and torture has been done to him, He had hot water poured on him and nails struck in his feet along with other sort of tortures. Sadly, he remained in Indian jails for three years, but Mr Ansar Burni never bothered to do any thing for him and other Pakistanis imprisoned in the Indian jails on HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.
I hope at least Pakistani media which has given enough coverage to release of Kashmir Singh should also turn its attention towards those Pakistanis who have been left to die in Indian jails under one case or another!!!
Mr. Burney took up the case of Kashmir Singh on humanitarian grounds and got him released. Now he is also working to get pardon for Sarabjit Singh. It is extremely sad that he has no sympathies for those many Pakistanis who have been left to die in the dens of Indian jails. The ruthless Indian side sent the dead body of Khalid Mehmood as a sign of gratitude on release of Kashmir Singh in the same week to the Pakistani authorities. Khalid Mehmood was a poor bus conductor from village of Batapur, which happened to be on the border between Pakistan and India. Being a avid Cricket fan he went to watch 2005 Cricket series between Pakistan and India at Mohali. He lost his passport and on his way to Pakistani Embassy he was picked up by Indian agencies and put in custody on suspicion on being spy for Pakistan.
In Indian jails inhuman treatment and torture has been done to him, He had hot water poured on him and nails struck in his feet along with other sort of tortures. Sadly, he remained in Indian jails for three years, but Mr Ansar Burni never bothered to do any thing for him and other Pakistanis imprisoned in the Indian jails on HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.
I hope at least Pakistani media which has given enough coverage to release of Kashmir Singh should also turn its attention towards those Pakistanis who have been left to die in Indian jails under one case or another!!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Who killed Benazir Bhutto?
The Afghan President Hamid Karzai met martyred Benazir Bhutto few hours before her assassination, besides talking on issues of bilateral interest the issue of likely risks to her life was also discussed. Reportedly, he confided with Benazir that she is the target of terrorist attack but surprisingly shared no fore-knowledge with the government of Pakistan. What was the logic behind it? Was he waiting for the sad event to take place according to plan? Was he trying to hinder her election campaign? Whatever was the fact!!! It is highly irresponsible being a ruler of a state that he did not even bothered to share the intelligence information with the government of Pakistan that might have averted this sad event to happen.
It is noteworthy to mention that Karzai is the ruler of a state that is suffering internal turmoil from almost last three decades. Hindering the resurgence of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives is beyond his control. Consequently, to divert attention of international community from own failures, he accuses Pakistan for training and providing safe hideout to militants. After assassination of Benazir, the most surprising thing is his silence over the sad incident. He is well aware of the fact that miscreants of his own homeland are behind her assassination but he did not bothered to comment anything. May be he likes his role as director and an outside spectator!!!!
It is noteworthy to mention that Karzai is the ruler of a state that is suffering internal turmoil from almost last three decades. Hindering the resurgence of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives is beyond his control. Consequently, to divert attention of international community from own failures, he accuses Pakistan for training and providing safe hideout to militants. After assassination of Benazir, the most surprising thing is his silence over the sad incident. He is well aware of the fact that miscreants of his own homeland are behind her assassination but he did not bothered to comment anything. May be he likes his role as director and an outside spectator!!!!
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