Kashmiris: The Sold Nation

By:       Aasef Chauhdry

The fifteenth century will always be remembered for the start of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves. Dejectedly, from the ancient Greek and Romans of the medieval times till today this brazen buy and sell still exists. The olden times confirm that it has been the practice since from the start of the civilization that the dominant and fortunate society would buy deprived people for their household jobs, sex, farming fatigues and countless other menial jobs. It is called human trafficking; the trade of humans or their organs. How could the British stay behind? Hence, in 1562, they also joined in on this inhuman trade in Africa. In 1600s, other countries from the ‘civilised’ European jumped into the slave trade. These included Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark. Modern America also has a rich history of Human Trafficking.

Although history is choked with events recounting incidents of human trafficking, nonetheless, the 

historians seems either not interested in narrating or they are scared about talking of one of the worst ever human trafficking occurrence that had happened in 1846, when East India Company sold Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra for 75,000 Sikka Shahi which was the ruling currency of Punjab at that time (and not rupees as commonly referred) (7.5 million) which if converted at the current rate of exchange in Sterling Pounds amounts to a meager sum of approximately £ 93,750.00. So it means that each individual of Kashmir was sold at the rate of 7.5 Sikka Shahi per human, with one horse, 12 Pashmina (fur) goats annually and 3 Pashmina shawls.

Prior to the deal, Gulab Singh sent Dewan Jawala Sahai to the British authorities with a request that Jammu territory along with the residents be sold to him. The Dewan had a detailed parleys with Lawrence and Currie, who after discussing the issue with Hardinge, laid the condition that if the Maharajah paid the indemnity of ten million rupees, the British would be willing to grant him the territories lying between the source of the Bias to the Sindh, including Kashmir and Hazara. Gulab Singh was, however, not in a position to pay such huge amount, hence, suggested, leaving out of the grant of the territory lying to the right band of the Bias and corresponding cutback in the amount demanded. The amended proposal was approved, rather welcomed by the British authorities, thus while considering the keeping out of some territory, the amount of guarantee to be paid by Gulab Singh was reduced by twenty-five lacs. This is the only sale deed in the history of mankind when not only the land but along with it the basic rights of the people with their property were also sold. The disgraceful treaty is known as Treaty of Amritsar. In return of this petty amount, Gulab Singh acquired “all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba and excluding Lahul.

The deal was struck between the British government and Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra. It is remembered as the Treaty of Amritsar, which was signed on March 16, 1846, to settle a dispute over territory in Kashmir after the First Sikh war with the United Kingdom, ceding some land to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra. Based on the provisions of the article-1 of this shameful treaty, Gulab Singh acquired the lands “River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba and in return paid amount of 7.5 million Sikka Shahi or Nanak Shahi, along with one horse, 12 goats and three shawls, to the British Government as the price for the cessation along with other annual tributes like, One shawl and 100 goats every year, failing which, Kashmir was to revert back to the British. Unfortunately, this disgraceful Treaty of Amritsar marked the beginning of Dogra rule in Kashmir.

Some other important articles of the treaty, which will reflect the crux of the agreement, are appended below:

Article 4 The limits of territories of Maharajah Gulab Singh shall not be at any time changed without concurrence of the British Government. Article 7 Maharajah Gulab Singh engages never to take to retain in his service any British subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government. Article 9 The British Government will give its aid to Maharajah Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies. The most interesting, though quite humiliating is the Article 10 which says, Maharajah Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government and will in token of such supremacy present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female) and three pairs of Cashmere shawls.

The 9th of November, 1846 was that dark day of the history of Kashmir when Gulab Singh, an illiterate to the end, entered capital city of Srinagar.  M. L. Kapur in his book ‘The History of Jammu & Kashmir’ mentions about the atrocious manners of Gulab Singh in the following words “to quell the rebellion in Poonch and Chibbhal territory, Gulab Singh returning from Peshawar and after some desultory warfare, the rebels were completely routed.

Many of them were captured, and treated with revenge and reprisal; their hands and feet were severed by axes, while skins of Mali Sabaz Ali, two of the close accomplices of Shams uddin, were peeled off their bodies, and their heads were hung on gallows in a crossing as a warning to others. Hands were ultimately laid on the chief rebel as well, and his head was cut off.” He further mentions “Examples of brutality were thought necessary but the cruelties perpetrated by Gulab Singh both in this and in the other campaigns in which he has commanded have caused his name to be generally decried and detested.” Gulab Singh as a treacherous and licentious person is further described as “the Panchas applauded the talks with the Jammu Raja, (Gulab Singh) which went on for about a week; and during this period the latter entertained the former with “abundance of food, sweetmeats, drinks and women”.

The tragic part is that during Gulab Singh’s rule, the condition of the people of the state was appalling and intolerable. Almost everything was taxed heavily and after paying their dues to the government, fulfilling the illicit and unlawful demands of the corrupt officials, the farmers were hardly left with the one-third of their crop. Secondly, the security of life and property had disappeared. British Government received complaints against the tyrannical rule of Gulab Singh Dogra, though the succeeding governments of Ranbir Singh, Pratap Singh and even Hari Singh were no different as corruption was always at its peak and the Muslim majority community suffered at the hands of these dogra rulers who treated people like animals and would get a thrill by humiliating them which the rulers did on daily basis. To give an example, a Muslim would be sent to gallows for killing a cow compared to a Hindu who would be given a minor sentence for a similar offence or for killing a Muslim.

It is ever since the Dogra rule that the inopportune Kashmiris are considered as the children of the lesser god because their life hasn’t changed. Hari Singh, succeeded his uncle Maharaja Pratap Singh, and ascended the throne on October 14, 1925. He maneuvered to maintain his independence by playing India and Pakistan with each other by signing standstill agreement with both the countries. He was forced by India to Sign the doubtful instrument of accession on 26th Oct, 1947. As it happens with every puppet ruler, in 1951 Hari Singh’s rule was terminated by Government of India and the miseries of the Kashmiri Muslims hastened from there on. The Indian rulers are found apologetic all along vis-à-vis Kashmir case since they don’t have a logic stance. They invaded and captured the valley, unlawfully and unethically. The unarmed and innocent Kashmiri Muslims are brutally being murdered by the Indian military and Para military forces. Hence, the Indians have proved that their rule is in no way different from their predecessors; the Dogras.

PTV? INTIZAR FARMAIAYE

By: Sohail Parwaz

The studios, lights, cameras and gray paneling mesmerized me. I considered myself a fortunate person who, at a time when TV sets in Lahore could be counted on the fingers and when mobs would push each other at public places and hotels to watch the ‘picture box’, I was standing in the middle of a TV studio. This was my first ever encounter with Pakistan Television. It was December 1964 when my father Altaf Parwaz, a renowned poet and writer, took me for some Lahore-based literary society’s Mushahira. During that tour, one day my father and I were sitting in Ayub Romani’s office at Radio Pakistan Lahore, when the discussion tilted towards the advent of television in Pakistan. Lahore had just inaugurated Pakistan’s maiden television station, so it was a new and unique contraption for Pakistanis generally and for Lahorites especially. At that time like all other teenagers, television was an alluring mystery for me too. When I came to know that this TV station was situated in Radio Pakistan Lahore’s compound, it intrigued me and very hesitatingly I voiced my desire to see it. Uncle Ayub left his routine work, held my hand and took me there, where I met Fazal Kamal for the first time.

The longing to perform on stage was my childhood desire and I would soothe that itch in front of a radio microphone in 1965-70. It was Radio Pakistan Rawalpindi, where renowned broadcasters like the late Noor Ahmad and Abdul Majeed of Duniya e Radio taught me voice pitch and levels and I got the chance to stand alongside Yasmeen Tahir, Shujaat Hashmi, Najma Mehboob, Azhar Lodhi and many others. Then came 1966, and the itinerary changed. I never thought of adopting acting as a profession, so my contribution to PTV is not great, but still I hold the honour to be among the founder artists of this station (no harm in saying so!). There I had the luck to work with icons like Shahzad Khalil, Ghufran Imtiazi, Yawar Hayat, Aftab Israr and many others.
The ratio of possessing a TV set in those days was like 1 to 100. So one can easily visualize that going to the neighbours to watch programmes, even when the hosts were not willing to welcome you, was not reprehensible. The keen viewers would watch the programs till national anthem. The eyes wouldn’t be blinked even when ‘Intizar Farmaiaye’ (This time Intizar Farmaiaye has extended for indefinite spell) message was shown on screens for vague lengths. Rawalpindi/ Islamabad Television started from the army barracks of Chaklala. In 1971, I said goodbye to these barracks and kicked off for the real military barracks of Kakul. But I never lost contact with near and dear ones like Shahzad Khalil, Zahid Uzair, Fiaz-ul-Haq, Rafique Warraich, Ghufran Imtiazi, Azhar Lodhi and many others. My separation from PTV lasted for about 24 years until I said a farewell to arms.

Meanwhile, PTV voyaged from black and white to colour and from U-metic to Beta and digital. PTV produced remarkable serials like Waris, Uncle Urfi, Unkahee, Khawaja & Son and many more. The Islamic Summit 1974 and live election transmissions were memorable productions. The privilege of compelling people to change the timings of their functions, whether a marriage or a mehndi, would rest with PTV only. Neighboring India’s TV programmes looked juvenile in front of PTV’s productions. Though like many other organisations, PTV also suffered due to political groupings and corporate politics, nevertheless, nobody could snatch the mark of respect from Pakistan Television of being an institution, until 9/11 turned the whole world upside down.
In the tornado of global transformation to the trends and traditions of politics and professions, the media too was not spared. The infant channels still in their cradle developed notions and started considering themselves of PTV’s stature without realizing that most of the technicians and artists providing a base to their foundation are saplings and sprouts of PTV. No doubt many of the private channels appear to be avant-garde due to their tabloid and sensational trends, but the grace and elegance possessed by PTV (alas!) remained the sole property of this national channel for quite long. For this very reason, despite all the enlightenment and moderation, PTV was considered to be the only channel which could be watched while sitting with family members.
Through the crises, PTV’s role was always commendable and praiseworthy. So was it during the early hours of the October 2005 earthquake. The way PTV held the fort shall remain unparalleled. The coverage of such disasters was a very responsible task. So chants of reaching the calamity-hit areas with a sole camera first were meaningless vis-à-vis PTV’s coverage. The beauty lies in covering and carrying events to a logical wind-up and not in framing, forgetting and abandoning them halfway. Mature and balanced coverage of such calamities spoke of professionalism, which appeared as the sole prerogative of PTV.

Unfortunately the fall of PTV came with the years and sadly, today it stands right next to the national flag carrier PIA. It’s no more same crowd puller PTV that used to bring the shops’ shutters down when it would be time for ‘Waris’ or ‘Tanhayian’. Nobody cared for this one time esteemed institution. The political Zika virus badly hit the organisation which steadily and virtually turned it in to ‘His Master’s Voice’. Although, 1990 onwards every government exploited it as a tool for their image building, nevertheless, it still had entertainment as one of the priorities but that also vanished with the passage of time. The producers of PTV are highly professional, enthusiastic and above all ingenious and imaginative. They are more than willing to make productions, as good and classic as their precursors have been making and so are the other members of this gigantic Cruise. Unfortunately, they are asked to keep their ‘shops’ open but no selling.

Lately, I came across a news piece in the media about PM ordering inquiry about the ‘top hat’ of PTV. Regrettably, I dare to ask that why in the first place the honourable prime minister didn’t consider about this aspect at the time of appointing someone who was already a controversial figure? And secondly, just one inquiry would not be sufficient. Someone has to go deep down into this muck to find out the reasons as to what the programming department of the headquarters has been doing during all these years? Why it was literally turned into a shrine? Why the PTV’s own faculty was shoved in the back seat to get rusted and the repeated sub standard private productions were bought for heavy amounts, when, instead of purchasing one private drama at least two good serials could have been produced by the talented producers of PTV? Why there was hardly any program for the children, and to whom the slot was allotted for the cartoon films? Why the scripts and ideas submitted by the writers of repute were thrown in the dustbin and the producers were dictated to get it written from the unknown writers of authorities’ choice? It reminds me of my friend late Shahzad Khalil, who once while talking to a writer, bluntly told him, “personally I don’t like you at all but the problem is that you write good and I can’t allow my liking to over ride the quality of script”. What was happening now was totally opposite to it. Program department is the spine of PTV and sadly the negligence, corruption, nepotism and wrong appointments formed osteophytes at the multiple levels in the lumbar spine of poor PTV.

Under the dark clouds, the appointment of Mr. Ata-ul Haq Qasmi as chairman PTV emerged as a ray of hope for the fallen organisation. It’s generally known that reforming this giant set-up would be an uphill task but again Qasmi sahib is the one who can bring this sick unit out of ICU and bring the PTV’s life back. There is a very valid and meaningful term used in the armed forces and that is ‘esprit de corps’. Sadly, the esprit de corps displayed by its workers, artists and other members is the story of yester years. It’s hoped that Qasmi Sahib’s concern and interest will certainly revert it to the same old PTV. However, as a first step he is expected to open ‘Khawaja & Son’ immediately, for writers and producers and I strongly believe the rise and reputation will follow robotically.

Peace Returns to Balochistan

By Tariq Rizwan

Though government has been able to overcome the low level insurgency in Balochistan and security has improved significantly, yet it will take some more time to completely root out the factors involved. The self styled Sardars and Nawabs, tribal feuds, sectarianism, ethnic divide and external interference specially spillover effects of security situation in Afghanistan have greatly affected the law and order situation in Balochistan for the last one decade. Balochistan is laden with mineral resources and Pakistan will be able to stabilize the province’s economy as well as its own by its proper utilization in the time to come.

The peaceful transition of political governments, construction of highways across the province, improving law and order situation and rising confidence of locals as well as foreign investors are some shining indicators. The efforts of Federal government and Army in terms of employment under Aghaz-e-Haooq-e-Balochistan and establishing a strong network of Cadet Colleges across Balochistan is near to bear the fruits.

People of Balochistan are coming out of the trauma, where thousands of local Baloch, Pashtuns, settlers and security personnel lost their lives in the terror attacks. The recent Seminar “Peace and Prosperity in Balochistan”, organized in Serena hotel, Quetta by University of Balochistan, was largely attended by intellectuals, political figures and media persons from all over the country. It is considered an encouraging move on the part of Balochistan University and sitting PML (N) government. Local politicians, academics and journalists spoke boldly which may further strengthen the bond between the Federation and the Province of Balochistan.

Several external forces including Afghanistan are working against Pakistan in Balochistan. Kabul is playing an active role in destabilizing Balochistan at the behest of India without realizing that economic development in Balochistan is in the best interest of Afghanistan. Balochistan is a gate way towards Afghanistan and Central Asia. CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan and Afghanistan as it can connect Afghanistan and Central Asia to the Sea via Gwadar Port.

The foreign mercenaries and self exiled Baloch Sub Nationalists are working hand in glow to regain their lost popularity with foreign money and support. Apart from financial and moral support, hostile networks are providing ammunitions to the Baloch leaders and using them to create disturbance in the province. Their main agenda is to break and divide Pakistan once again. The miscreant leaders are enjoying abroad in a self-exile and sponsoring terror in Balochistan. Afghanistan is the hub for low tier leadership while Europe is providing asylum to all heads of these miscreant groups.

Foreign media has also left no stone unturned in projecting these Sub Nationalists as heroes of Baloch nation. They are being rewarded for their efforts of creating law and order situation in Balochistan.  The recent edition of Herald of 15 Apr, 2015 showing the article “Mama Qadeer, the Voice of Missing” written by Sana Nasir with a photograph of Mama Qadeer is an effort in this regard. Qadeer’s son Jalil Rekki was affiliated with “Baloch Republican Army – BRA”, a hard core militant group. There is no doubt, he and the group BRA are involved in terror attacks across Balochistan and carrying terror attacks including bomb blasts, hand grenade attacks, killing innocent people and destroying gas and electricity infrastructure. The group alongwith BLA and BLF, are still active in the province. Brahmdagh is controlling BRA from Geneva, Switzerland with the financial support of Indian “RAW”.

Reports in foreign media like discovery of the mass graves in Tootak area of Khuzdar on 25 Jan 2014 created a furor.  Consequently, Baloch Sub Nationalists have unleashed a barrage of allegations against Pakistan by bloating the number of bodies found and declaring them to be those of “Missing Persons”. The discovery has provided the Baloch sub nationalists a whip to wallop Pakistan and use the news as propaganda to portray Balochistan problem as a human rights issue at international forums and seek support.

In the same chain of events, on 29th January 2014, the self exiled Baloch sub nationalists including Hyrbiar Marri, Mir Suleman Khan Daud and Mehrab Baloch (Suleman Khan’s Assistant) met US Congressmen Louie Gohmert, Steve King and Dana Rohrabacher at London to propagate against Pakistan for alleged human rights violations in Balochistan. The later propagated the issue in US political circles to its maximum to malign Pakistan without realizing the actual situation and ignored the brutalities of Baloch militant groups supported by these Baloch sub nationalist leaders.

US Congressman Louie Gohmert found it opportune to deliver a highly venomous speech on 30 Jan 2014 in the US House of Representatives on Balochistan situation, citing his meeting with the Baloch sub nationalists’ leadership. Gohmert read out an article of Tarek Fateh (Canada based Ahmedi and sympathizer of Baloch sub nationalists), published by the Toronto Sun on 28 January 2014, criticizing US for ignoring the mass graves issue during US Senator John Kerry’s meeting with Pakistan’s National & Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz on 27 January 2014. He criticized Pakistan over the alleged human rights violations and strongly endorsed Baloch sub nationalists’ separatist agenda of Independent Balochistan.

However, the recent Seminar “Peace and Prosperity in Balochistan” in Quetta Serena Hotel has proved that security situation in the province as well as confidence of people has improved. The US/Western so called champions of democracy like Louie Gohmert must be repenting now on their wrong doings in the past.

Though government has stabilized its writ in the province yet the local disgruntled Nawabs, Sardars, tribal feuds, sectarian and ethnic divide are still posing serious threat and being exploited by the external forces to achieve their nefarious designs in Balochistan. People of Balochistan are being deprived from the fruits of development and prosperity. Hectic diplomatic efforts are needed to thwart any more bloodshed in the province. All the regional and extra regional stake holders to be taken on board including  like Iran, UAE, Afghanistan, India and USA to take the agenda of CPEC ahead. It may usher an era of peace and prosperity in the region in general and Balochistan in particular.

The writer is freelance journalist based at London.    

Aid curbs on Pakistan to hurt US interests: Pentagon

Washington - Restricting or conditioning of military aid to Pakistan will be detrimental to US interests as it may "reduce" the country's willingness to continue its counterterrorism operations, top Pentagon commanders have warned American lawmakers.
"The risks of ineffective and unclear signals and conditioning may risk us losing our access and frank dialogue with Pakistan in areas critical to US interests," General Joseph L Votel, nominee of the Commander of US Central Command told members of Senate Armed Services Committee during a confirmation hearing.
Votel warned that curtailing aid "may reduce" Pakistan's willingness to continue its counterterrorism and counterinsurgency and "risks our current access" to Pakistan Air Lines of Communication and Ground Lines of Communication to support operations in Afghanistan and the region.

"We will need to continue cooperation with Pakistan to defeat Al-Qaeda, support Pakistan's stability, and achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan," said Lieutenant General Raymond Thomas, nominee for US Special Operations Command during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The US-Pakistan relationship is fundamental to our vital national security interests, Thomas said. "If confirmed, I would in consultation with Commander United States Central Command (CENTCOM) continue to evaluate the specifics of the relationship based on my assessment of our shared interests with Pakistan and its effectiveness of achieving our shared goals," Thomas said.

"I will continue to evaluate the efficacy of the military cooperation we have with Pakistan and identify ways in which we can support CENTCOM efforts to work with Pakistan to enhance regional stability," Thomas added.

Votel said Pakistan's counterterrorism and counterinsurgency campaigns remain vital to targeting militants that threaten the United States and Pakistan. "Our security assistance, which focuses on enhancing Pakistani counterterror capabilities is critical in this regard," he said, adding that the risks and benefits of conditioning US assistance and support to Pakistan vary.

"The important thing will be for the United States to maintain credibility while still accruing benefits toward US interests," he added. "If we are able to strike such a balance and remain consistent in our bilateral relationship, we may see Pakistan increase its transparency and cooperation with Afghanistan on the full range of security, border control, and economic issues," he said. "Likewise, Pakistan may take further action against violent extremist organisations, such as Haqqani network," Vitol said.

Published in The Nation newspaper on 11-Mar-2016

Refocus on Extrajudicial Killings through CIA-operated Drones

 By Sajjad Shaukat

After the September 11 tragedy, the Muslim countries which joined the Bush’s fake global war on terror became the target of the US state terrorism which still continues in one way or the other.

The US-led troops, supported by CIA have carried out indiscriminate mass round-ups in catching up suspected Muslim men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq, including some Arab countries without evidence. Israeli secret agency Mossad has helped the CIA officials in arresting the Muslim men, having beard and ladies, wearing scarves. Besides Guantanamo Bay and Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, CIA torture cells were present in several Islamic countries and were set up even in ships where US secret agencies and military personnel employed various methods of torture on the militants and suspected persons like physical violence and even murder.

In this regard, in March, 2013, an investigative report by the British Guardian/BBC pointed out that acting under the direction of the top US officials; the CIA utilized a global network of secret prisons, foreign intelligence agents and torture centers in various Islamic countries including Belgium etc. where torture was conducted directly by American intelligence operatives.  

The report which also mentioned Bagram and Guantanamo, links US high officials to atrocities carried out in Iraq—unleashed a deadly sectarian militia which terrorized the Sunni community and germinated a civil war, and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

But, under the pretext of American so-called counterinsurgency programme, and while implementing the anti-Muslim policy of his predecessor, the US President Barack Obama has broken all the record of human rights by extrajudicial killings of the innocent people through CIA-operated drone attacks in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen etc. in general and Pakistan in particular, while, the United States claims to be protector of human rights not only inside the country, but also all over the world.

On March 11, 2014, Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, who conducted an investigation into targeted killings, and examined legality of drone strikes, presented his report on drone strikes to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). His report examined 37 drone strikes as sample—the US, UK and Israel have launched in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and Gaza, which resulted into civilian casualties.  Emmerson told the HRC, “These strikes require a legal duty on the relevant states to provide…a justification for the use of deadly force…to disclose the results of their own fact finding inquiries, why no such inquiries have taken place.”

Emmerson also referred to an interactive website, produced by Forensic Architecture teem which marked the location of 30 drone strikes which helped in his final report.

In this context, Professor Eyal Weizman, the Principal Investigator of the Forensic Architecture project said, “Studying buildings hit by drones reveal much of consequences of a strike. The work we do is essential because states undertaking drone strikes, such as the US and Israel, attempt to hide actions and even deny them outright.”

In another report, issued by the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner For Human Rights (OHCHR) on September 14, 2015 pointed out that since 2002 between 156 and 365 civilians including children have been killed in drone attacks in Yemen.”

In this connection, some classified US intelligence documents, obtained by The Intercept-an anonymous whistleblower, published on October 15, 2015 as the Drone Papers shed light on the secretive drone programme which has become a staple of United States counterterrorism policy since the attacks of September11, 2001. The papers indicated, “Drone strikes have often been based on thin intelligence, kill a large number of unintended people and refer to people inadvertently killed by strikes as “enemies killed in action” (EKIA), even when their identities were unknown.”

As regards these revelations about drone strikes, civil liberty groups strongly condemned the US Administration for a lack of accountability and transparency in national security decisions. Hina Shamsi, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is involved in several Freedom of Information Act lawsuits about the legal basis and the targets of America’s drone program said, “These eye-opening disclosures make a mockery of U.S. government claims that its lethal force operations are based on reliable intelligence and limited to lawful targets.”

Naureen Shah, the director of the security with human rights program at Amnesty International USA, stated, “These documents raise serious concerns about whether the USA has systematically violated international law, including by classifying unidentified people as ‘combatants’ to justify their killing.”

It is notable that in 2013, first time, a US Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of the predator attacks, openly admitted that 4,700 people have been killed by the raids of America’s secretive drone war. The number exceeds some independent estimates of the death toll.

According to the research of London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, “Between June 2004 and September 2012, these unmanned aerial vehicles killed between 2,562 and 3,325 people in Pakistan, of whom between 474 and 881 were civilians including 176 children.” In this respect, in a report, The Guardian disclosed on August 11, 2011, “The CIA claims that there has been not one non-combatant killed in the past year…it is a bleak view: more people killed than previously thought.”

Nevertheless, details collected by the Pakistani journalists show that civilian casualties through unmanned aircraft are higher as indicated by the US officials—more than 5000 innocent civilians and only 22 Al-Qaeda commanders have been killed by these aerial attacks.

While justifying these air strikes by the spy planes, counterterrorism advisor to Obama, John Brennan who had faced a Senate confirmation hearing for his nominee as CIA director is the main player, advising Obama on which strike, he should approve.

Especially, during his first presidential campaign, Obama had pledged to reverse excesses of the Bush era in relation to terrorism. He also promised to reformulate a counterterrorism policy in accordance with the legal and moral values of the US. Contrarily to his assertions, Obama followed the Bush’s approach of counterterrorism in its worst form by expanding and accelerating the predator strikes.

Notably, The New York Time on May 26, 2011, in an article which was written with assistance of several counterterrorism advisers of the administration revealed, “President Obama has become personally involved in the process” and “has normalised extrajudicial killings from the Oval Office, taking advantage of America’s temporary advantage in drone technology. Without the scrutiny of the legislature and the courts, and outside the public eye, Obama is authorising murder on a weekly basis.”

It is of particular attention that American constitution explicitly grants the right to declare war to the Congress so as to restrain the president from chasing enemies around the world, based solely on his authority as commander-in-chief by waging a secret war. But, instead of capturing militants alive and to avoid giving the right of due process of law to them in a court, President Obama has openly acted upon a ruthless policy of targeting killings by supervising the CIA-controlled drone warfare.

Besides, a report of the New America Foundation had disclosed that President Obama has “authorised 193 drone strikes in Pakistan, more than four times the number of attacks that President Bush authorised during his two terms.” The report explained, “When the US drones attack Pakistan’s tribal areas, it is not just the 10, or 50 innocent civilians they kill, these killings provide reason to the youngsters for joining terrorist groups waging war against US and of course Pakistan…while killing 10 militants, the US has murdered more than 1400 Pakistanis, not involved in any terrorist activities. Could it not imply that it gave birth to another 1400 militants?”

Based on research, a report, “Living Under Drones,” prepared by experts from Stanford Law School and the New York University School of Law had revealed that the US campaign of drone “strikes in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt is terrorising civilians 24 hours a day and breeding bitter anti-American sentiment…have killed thousands of people…even stopping their children going to school for fear of being targeted.” The report urged Washington to rethink its drone strategy, arguing it was counterproductive and undermined international law.

Citing unnamed US officials, The Washington Post reported on January 21, 2013, “The Obama administration is completing a counterterrorism manual that will establish clear rules for targeted-killing operations…the guidebook would contain a major exemption for the CIA’s campaign of drone strikes in Pakistan to continue striking Al Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan.”

The then Defense Minister Leon Panetta had defended these attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas under the pretext of North Waziristan-based Haqqani militants whom they blamed for several assaults on American and NATO bases in Afghanistan. On the other hand, US-led coalition forces had failed in stopping incursions of heavily-armed insurgents in Pakistan from Afghanistan’s side, who killed more than 100 personnel of the Pakistan’s security forces in 2011, 2012 and 2013, while targeting the infrastructure of the tribal areas. In fact, US wanted to make Pakistan’s North Waziristan areas, a scapegoat of NATO’s defeat in Afghanistan by continuing illegal mass murder of the innocent people through CIA-operated drones.

It is mentionable that Pakistan’s then Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam who visited America in August, 2012, emphatically told the then CIA Director David Petraeus that predator strikes which are violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty must be stopped. He pointed out that these strikes are proving counterproductive, giving a greater incentive to the fundamentalist and extremist elements in Pakistan, and are increasing anti-US sentiment among the people.

However, setting aside the parliament resolution, rallies and processions of Pakistan’s political and religious parties, while ignoring the Pak-US rapprochement, and without bothering for any internal backlash, these aerial attacks have kept on going on the tribal regions.

In fact, America’s such a duplicity contained a number of covert designs. The continued wave of strikes by the pilotless aircraft has thwarted the offer of militants and Pakistani government for peace talks. And the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accelerated subversive activities in the country. These aerial attacks provoked the tribal people against Pakistan’s security forces by increasing recruitment of insurgents. Another aim was to create a rift between Pakistan’s armed forces on one side and the political and religious parties on the other. Besides, Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World. Hence, US, India and Israel are determined to destabilise it. Drone campaign is also part of this game.

It is noteworthy that Pakistan’s armed forces have successfully achieved their objectives in the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency and Khyber Agency, and fight now is moving into last few pockets close to Afghan border. What the US-led NATO forces could not do in the last 14 years in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s armed forces did within 14 months, while, geographically, the North Waziristan is the largest Agency and has the same topography like Afghanistan. Even, the US and other NATO countries have praised the capabilities of Pak Army in defeating the terrorists. But, the US did not stop drone attacks which have shown American double game with Islamabad.

Nonetheless, in one of the major drone attacks, more than 40 civilians and policemen were killed on March 18, 2011 in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan.

On the one side, US top officials have repeatedly stated that America needs Pakistan’s help not only for peace process with the Afghan Taliban, but also for stability in Afghanistan in the post-withdrawal scenario of NATO troops, but on the other, CIA-operated unmanned planes on Pak tribal regions have been undermining international efforts of stability both in Afghanistan and Pakistan including peace dialogue with the Afghan militants.

US ex-presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have opposed Obama’s faulty drone strategy. Even, Secretary of State John Kerry has also criticised unabated use of unilateral drones in Pakistan, saying, “US engagement with the world is not just about drones.”

Apart from widespread criticism from some US allies and human rights groups which have remarked that these aerial attacks are illegal and unethical, and violation of the targeted countries’ sovereignty, the United Nations Charter, universal declaration of human rights and international law, the US warrior President Obama remains obstinate to continue extrajudicial killings through CIA-operated drones.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Bomb Making Materials: En route from India to ISIS

By: Ishaal Zehra         

Conflict Armament Research (CAR) was established in 2011 in response to “growing worldwide demand for weapon-specific technical expertise to support research, analysis and policy making.” The organization, with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, maintains a database which provides a global reporting mechanism on the illegal trade of arms, including light weapons and conventional weapons.

In 2016 CAR produced a compelling piece of research into the IED component parts being used by ISIS. The EU-funded group had analyzed improvised explosive devices (IED) collected over 20 months on Iraqi and Syrian frontlines to reveal how the so-called Islamic State has been able to amass its arsenal at an unprecedented speed.

The online published report cite that ISIS is manufacturing ever more sophisticated and devastating suicide bombs and improvised explosives using freely available civilian components from around the world. Over a period of 20 months, from July 2014 to February 2016, CAR field investigation teams in Iraq and Syria worked in concert with Iraqi and Syrian forces to document materiel recovered in military action against ISIS forces. Their partners included the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, the Iraqi Federal Police, the Kurdistan Region Security Council, the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the Military Council of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. The components documented in the report were recovered during major battles around the Iraqi towns of al Rabia, Kirkuk, Mosul, and Tikrit and the Syrian town of Kobane.

The study revealed that 51 companies from countries including Turkey, India, Brazil, and the United States produced, sold or received more than 700 components used by ISIS to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Further investigation found that IS forces have manufactured and deployed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across the battlefield on a quasi-industrial scale. Made of components that are cheap and readily available, IEDs have become IS forces’ signature weapon. Their chains of supply differ from those of military weapons. For the most part, IED components are commercial goods that are not subject to government export licenses and whose transfer is far less scrutinized and regulated than the transfer of weapons.

Interestingly, as per the report our dear neighbor India, one of the country involved in the supply chain of components used by IS forces to construct IEDs, is the second largest supplier of bomb-making material to IS. Seven Indian companies manufactured most of the detonators, detonating cord, and safety fuses documented by CAR’s field investigation teams. Under Indian law, transfer of this material requires a license. Hence, those were all legally exported under government-issued licenses from India to entities in Lebanon and Turkey, CAR found.

Detonating Cord and Safety Fuse:- IS forces regularly employ detonating cord in their IEDs to complete the explosive train between the detonator and the main explosive charge.

The investigation team found several spools of detonating cords manufactured by Solar Industries, India, which were exported to a Turkish company and to the Lebanese company Maybel, headquartered in Beirut.

Earlier, CAR also documented the use of Solar Industries detonating cord by IS forces on the Makhmour front line in Iraq at the end of 2014. There is no evidence to indicate to which regional entity Solar Industries supplied the cord.

On 24 February 2015, a CAR field investigation team in Kobane documented a spool of detonating cord produced by Premier Explosives Ltd., India. Premier Explosives has confirmed that it sold 6 million metres of detonating cord to the Mechanical Construction Factory, Syria, in 2009 and 2010.

The team also documented a spool of detonating cord produced by Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals, India and also a spool of safety fuse produced by the Indian company Chamundi Explosives.

Detonators:- IS forces employ a combination of electric and non-electric (plain) detonators during the fabrication of their IEDs, fuses, and improvised weapon systems (such as rockets, rocket-assisted mortars, and other improvised projected weapons).

YPG forces captured electric detonators manufactured by an Indian company Economic Explosives on 25 December 2012 and exported them (on an unspecified date) to the Lebanese company Maybel, Beirut.

At the same location, CAR field investigators observed plain and electric detonators produced by Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals, India; plain detonators produced by Premier Explosives, India; and electric detonators produced by IDEAL Industrial Explosives, India.

"These findings support growing international awareness that ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria are very much self-sustaining - acquiring weapons and strategic goods, such as IED components, locally and with ease," said James Bevan, CAR's executive director.

The sale of these cheap and readily available parts, some of which are not subject to government export licences, is far less scrutinised and regulated than the transfer of weapons.

Perhaps the most significant finding of this report concerns the speed with which ISIS forces have been able to acquire IED components. The appearance of these components in possession of ISIS forces, as little as one month following their lawful supply to commercial entities in the region, speaks to a lack of monitoring by national governments and companies alike. It may also indicate a lack of awareness surrounding the potential use of these civilian-market components by terrorist and insurgent forces. The study found that ISIS is able to acquire some components in as little as a month after their lawful supply to firms in the region, suggesting a lack of oversight in the supply chain.

James Bevan says the group was continually experimenting, refining and creating new types of IEDs ranging from suicide and car bombs to landmines, booby traps and improvised mortars.

The inventions have taken a heavy toll on the Peshmerga, Shia militias, Kurdish YPG, opposition rebels and other forces attempting to take back ISIS territory.

“Whenever they try to liberate an area, that area is absolutely littered with IEDs and they are causing the greatest amount of casualties,” Mr Bevan said. “It’s on a larger scale than we’ve seen in recent conflicts.”

CAR’s investigations map out the legal trade in component parts across the region. In all identified cases, producers have lawfully traded components with regional trade and distribution companies. These companies, in turn, have sold them to smaller commercial entities. By allowing individuals and groups affiliated with ISIS forces to acquire components used in IEDs, these small entities appear to be the weakest link in the chain of custody.

All companies and countries named in the report have been informed of the findings as investigations continue in Ramadi and other territory recently retaken from ISIS. Now the question remains that how India and others involved in this deadly supply-chain will tackle this alarming situation.

Amritsar Treaty: Agony of Kashmiris

By Sajjad Shaukat

The very agony of the people of Jammu and Kashmir started on March 16, 1846 when the Treaty of Amritsar was signed. Under the Treaty, British colonialists sold Kashmir along with its people e to a Dogra Hindu, Gulab Singh for 7.5 million rupees. The Treaty of Amritsar which was signed by Gulab Singh, Hardinge, Currie and Lawrence had common cause among the parties with the aim to end the Muslim rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Gulab Singh thus became the founder and first Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

As a consequence of the Treaty of Amritsar, a reign of terror was unleashed by the Dogra dynasty on the Kashmiris. During the Dogra rule (1846-1947), Kashmiri Muslims were leading so miserable life that it was difficult to differentiate them from beasts. Slave labour, heavy taxes, capital punishment for cow slaughter, and living under constant terror was order of the day.

In this regard, Yousaf Saraf in his book, ‘Kashmiris Fight for Freedom’ calls it “free forced labour” and “instead of donkeys and horses, Kashmiri Muslims were used for transportation of goods across the far-flung areas.” Atrocities of the Dogra regime could also be judged from the book of Sir Walter Lawrence, ‘The India We Served’. While describing the pathetic picture of the Kashmiris, he writes, “Army was employed in forcing the villagers to plough and sow, and worse still, the soldiers came at harvest time and when the share of the state had been seized” and “there was very little grain to tide the unfortunate peasants over the cruel winter.”

On April 19, 1931, the ban of Eid Khutba ignited widespread demonstrations in the Jummu city. For the first time, people openly opposed the oppression. On July 13, 1931, thousands of people thronged the Central Jail Srinagar. As the time for obligatory prayer approached, a young Kashmiri stood for Azan. The Dogra soldiers opened fire at him. In this way, 22 Kashmiris embraced martyrdom in their efforts to complete the Azan.

The people carried the dead and paraded through the streets of Srinagar, chanting slogans against Dogra brutalities. Complete strike was observed in the city, which was followed by weeklong mourning. This incident shook the whole state and the traffic from Srinagar to Rawalpindi and Srinagar to Jammu came to halt.

However, upon these ruthless killings, the Kashmiri leadership realized the need to form a political party, Muslim Conference (MC) with a view to waging struggle for their freedom. Later, in 1934, state’s first elections were held and MC won 10 out of 21 seats, and after two years in 1936, it succeeded in getting 19 out of 21 seats. Indian Congress was upset with this situation and tried to create division in the ranks of Kashmiri leadership. Afterwards, on July 19, 1947, MC passed a resolution to merge Kashmir with Pakistan, considering the geographical proximity—majority of Muslim population (77%), language and cultural relations of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the partition of the Sub-continent, in 1947, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, in connivance with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor-General Lord Mountbatten, had decided to join India, quite contrary to the wishes of the majority of Kashmiris.

When a contention arose between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute in1948, India took the issue to the United Nations Security Council and offered to hold a plebiscite in the held Kashmir under UN supervision. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India.

While passing through various phases, the struggle of Kashmiris which has become an interaction between Indian state terrorism led by the Indian security forces and war of liberation by the freedom fighters, keeps on going unabated.

Despite the employment of various forms of state terrorism by the Indian security forces, war of liberation intensified since 1989.

A report on human rights violations by Indian Army and its paramilitary forces in Indian-held Kashmir disclosed that since 1989, there have been deaths of 93,274 innocent Kashmiris, 6,969 custodial killings, 117,345 arrests and 105,861 destructions of houses. Indian brutal security forces have orphaned over 107, 351 children, widowed 22,728 women and gang raped 9,920 women.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act, security forces have extraordinary powers to shoot suspected persons.”

Particularly in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the Indian occupied Kashmir. In this context, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves. Notably, foreign sources and human rights organizations including Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) have pointed out that unnamed graves include thousands of innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death.

It is notable that leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has taken various steps to strengthen Indian illegal control on Kashmir. The Modi regime hurriedly decided to forcibly annex disputed territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, uncovering its intentions to wrap up the article 370 of the Indian constitution which ensures a special status to J&K. Therefore, United Nations Military Observer Group India and Pakistan in New Delhi was asked to vacate official accommodation. In fact, BJP government‘s long term strategy is to affect demographic changes in the Indian occupied Kashmir by composition of the region—predominately with Hindu population.

During one year of People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP alliance government in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, BJP in aid of RSS has furthered its agenda of complete integration of Kashmir into India. Though legal experts of India and IOK High Court have clarified the permanent status of Article 370 of Indian Constitution, BJP’s agenda of trifurcations is still on table. In this context, BJP is in hot pursuit of Mission 44+in IOK Assembly elections 2020. However, short of that, BJP and RSS are busy in changing religious identity of the State. For example, special concessions were given to expand the horizon of Amarnath Yatra to project that Hindus have greater stakes in IOK than Muslims.

Special efforts are being made for demographic engineering in the State. For instance, West Pakistan Refugees have been recruited in the Indian Armed Forces from IOK quota. Allocation of lands for separate cities for repatriating Hindu Pundits and allocation of INR 2 million for rehabilitation of each Pundit family in the Valley are aimed at creating Hindu constituencies in a thorough Muslim region of the Valley through delimitations.

Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership has been suppressed by the PDP-BJP government by not allowing them to organize rallies for demanding freedom and expressing love for Pakistan. Their leaders were detained in Police Stations or kept under house arrests during all important events. Detention of Masarat Alam, even after acceptance of bail by IOK High Court, exhibits coercive mechanics of Indian forces/police in the State.

Indian malicious intent is evident from the blame game against Pakistan for every internal security issue, merely to avoid serious dialogue on bilateral issues as well as the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir. Pakistan is committed to the just and democratic solution of the Kashmir issue, which is plebiscite, however, India has never been serious in resolution of the dispute, neither through bilateral dialogue nor involving third party mediation nor by abiding by the UN Resolutions.

Returning to our earlier discussion, the Treaty of Amritsar is the genesis of the agony of the Kashmiris, and their war of liberation  keeps on going, and will continue untill they get their legitimate right of self-determination.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com