Universality of human rights: myth or reality on December 9, 2016“No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” reads Article 5, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The statement of Mr Ban Ki-moon – UN Secretary General, deserves appreciation, who wants to console people by saying: “On Human Rights Day, let us recommit to guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms and […]
The Simla Agreement: help or hindrance on December 1, 2016The mass uprising of the people of Kashmir against Indian military occupation has evoked two reactions from the government of India. One is extreme repression, and the other is threat of war. On September 24, 2016, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India made a formal statement with full authority, “Pakistan’s ‘awam’ (people), I want […]
India-US trade and its impact on Kashmir issue on November 17, 2016While the hullabaloo over Modi’s rise on the international stage has been on the verge of being a circus, with all the elephants of trade on parade, it is a distraction from the recent collective beating of chests being put on by joint Naval forces of India, the United States and Japan in the South […]
Indias refusal to accept the disputed nature of Kashmir on October 10, 2016Ram Jethmalani, Outlook, October 8, 2016: “Kashmir is an integral part of India, constitutionally, legally and morally, something that is non-negotiable.” Sushma Swaraj, September 26, 2016: “Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so.” The fallacy advocated by one of the most celebrated Indian […]
Kashmir: where the truth doesnt matter on September 23, 2016National Public Radio’s Julie McCarthy was in Kashmir earlier in September, and she reported on how different the unrest seems now compared to previous years. “First of all, there’s this unprecedented kind of force being used. There are these high-velocity pellet shotguns for crowd control. And it’s left thousands of people riddled with pellet injuries. […]
The USs apathy to the Kashmir issue on September 2, 2016Since the current uprising in Kashmir began with the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8, there have been unjustifiable and violent attacks with bullets, birdshot from pump-action shotguns and extreme cane beatings by Indian military forces upon many of the 200,000 mourners who attended his funeral. The action has also been against many young […]
Kashmir: trouble in paradise on July 15, 2016So much for Ban Ki-Moon’s heart, and even more so, his soul. One can only recall the quote in Matthew and the betrayal of Jesus, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am […]
Kashmir: India, Pakistan and the US on July 4, 2016“Is it true Narendra Modi just boarded a flight to visit India?” Tweeted a critic of Indian Prime Minister’s globe-trotting jaunts. “Welcome home, Pradhan Mantriji! How long will you be staying this time?” was another tweet dipped in sarcasm. Modi has already been to 33 countries just this year alone. The Donald Trump of South […]