INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Kashmiris expected a rare treat this summer: peace. But a controversial land deal has made the valley turn volatile once more.

By Sudip Mazumdar | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 22, 2008 | Updated: 2:17  p.m. ET Aug 23, 2008

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  • Posted By: Lindt @ 09/26/2009 8:54:47 PM

    Extremely painful. If the Indian government decides to give greater autonomy to Kashmir as the media is reporting, we will create a new Pakistan. India as a whole is the only stabilizing factor in the subcontinent. Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan are on the brink of collapse...there will be total chaos and life will never be the same. I feel shocked by the fact that countries with no religious tolerance are UN members. This acceptability is the reason Muslims have not learnt to live with Christians, Hindus and Jews.

  • Posted By: sbyuhofs @ 08/23/2008 5:40:36 PM

    The Indian govt is too soft. A decision needs to be taken and executed with strength.
    Learn from the Russians and Chinese... does anyone discuss Chechnya anymore... what happened to the Xingiang province threat on the Olympics games?
    Looks like democracy has its downsides when there are impotent leaders on top.

    • Posted By: simba1936 @ 08/24/2009 8:26:31 PM

      sbyuhofs, You can say that again ,that is the fault with India Govt, Congress must be thrown out .and any militant Hindu party must get into power in India if India has to survive. India has to learn from Russians ,Chines ans Israelis how to hit back at Muslim extremists.Wake up India .

  • Posted By: riversand @ 08/23/2008 5:55:55 PM

    looks like this country is full of bigots who want to keep unwilling uncared people in their blood staine grasp

    • Posted By: Mr. PM @ 08/17/2009 3:38:24 PM

      Of course! The old genocide theory. It's making more sense now why Hitler chose a swastika as his symbol. I used to wonder why! Not anymore chandan. All doubts have been cleared up. LOL!

      • Posted By: 12kris @ 08/17/2009 10:56:49 PM

        When India was partitioned, of the quarter of the whole population which was expected to move to Pakistan, only half of that really did. Why do you think it happened if India is ruling under the Swastika?

  • Posted By: ahmedhussain @ 08/24/2008 5:50:37 PM

    India being projected as one of the largest democracies in the world is the biggest sham on earth. The prosecution of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits is the real side of the Indian polity which has hinduvata at heart being it Ciongress or BJP. Kashmiris have a genuine right to decide their political future and firing on peaceful demonstrations, imposing curfews and disregarding civil liberaties in this time and age will not help for long. Long live the freedom struggle.

    • Posted By: prasadk67 @ 08/25/2008 6:30:08 AM

      Sure, Mr. Ahmed, and so do the Balochs, don't they? Lets have Balochistan its freedom too.

      • Posted By: Mr. PM @ 08/17/2009 3:34:32 PM

        Umm! We the people, terrorized in India, don't care how Chinese and Pakistanis treat their people. It is not a good argument, Mr. Parsad, that Chinese and Pakistanis are killing their people so it si okay for India to kill their slaves also. What if China and Pakistan do not ask for plebisite BUT Sikhs and Tamils and Kashmiris living in India ask for one? Dalits actually can rule India only if they get smart about politics and don't get divided. They are the future watch out!! I am not even dalit but I do admit it's dalit right to rule India. I hope they realize that too.
        .
        What will happen if Sikhs, Kashmiris, Assamese, Tamils and Dalits ask for their countries?
        It i snot too far in distance when we do get 15 conutries in India also. Europe, USSR, Africa and India are NOT one country. Only difference is that others have realized it and we have not.
        Also India is due a big time turmoil. I shiver when I say that!

        A democratic country is supposed to have a plebisite but in India this does NOT happen.
        Can anyone explain? Heck! Even Russia let 15 countries go when they were communist dictators!

  • Posted By: Mr. PM @ 08/17/2009 3:26:26 PM

    Umm! What if China and Pakistan do not ask for plebisite BUT Sikhs and Tamils and Kasmiris living in Inida for one?
    What will happen than? A democratic country is supposed to have a plebisite but in India this does NOT happen.
    Can anyone explain? Heck! Even Russia let 15 countries go when they were communist dictators!

  • Posted By: prasadk67 @ 08/25/2008 6:27:58 AM

    A word of caution to people who want to 'crush the Kashmiris' and another word of caution to those who want to support secession from India. All of us have skeletons in our backyards - Pakistan has Balochistan (the entire NWFP infact) & China has Tibet. Any one asking for a 'plebiscite' needs to realize that the UN resolutions of 1949 call for a unconditional pull out of the armies of BOTH Pakistan and India from the entire Kashmir, not just the Indian portion. (People do not realize that Pakistan occupies nearly half of Kashmir too. ) So lets forget solutions that are not going to work. Those Kashmiris who want secession and Pakistan need to accept the existing Line of Control as the permanent border, and get secession out of their heads, once and forever. Once that happens, Kashmir can actually partake in the economic boom that is happening in the rest of India. And they will be happy for it.

  • Posted By: skeptikos @ 08/25/2008 6:02:32 AM

    India has tolerated the Kashmiris so far. Government of India's approach has always been to pamper and pacify these seperatists. Kashmiris should understand that India cannot allow Kashmir to secede because of security reasons. It is very much a part of India and it will remain a part of India. Now the Government of India is dealing with the situation properly. How long it will continue is to be seen. With an election just round the corner and the present position of the Government being quite rickety it will loose steam and start its usual willy nilly approach. A weak-kneed government will never be able to achieve anything. Demand for a seperate state should be considered treason and dealt with accordingly.

  • Posted By: sheel @ 08/24/2008 6:21:17 AM

    The kashmiri people start raising their voice against india, when a small amount of land is provided for installation of civic amenities for pligrims. Do they have any idea how much we support them in any activity across india, be it education, job anything. I sincerely believe ethnic leaders are playing havoc with peoples lives in kashmir instigating them to do so.. For the benefit of these leaders a lot of people will be killed again..

  • Posted By: sheel @ 08/24/2008 6:19:59 AM

    The kashmiri people start raising their voice against india, when a small amount of land is provided for installation of civic amenities for pligrims. Do they have any idea how much we support them in any activity across india, be it education, job anything. I sincerely believe ethnic leaders are playing havoc with peoples lives in kashmir instigating them to do so.. For the benefit of these leaders a lot of people will be killed again..

  • Posted By: chandan.tp@gmail.com @ 08/24/2008 12:00:43 AM

    Crush the Kashmiris and crush the rebellion. India should snuff out any hopes the kashmiri islamic thugs have about secession. Jai Hind!!

  • Posted By: chandan.tp@gmail.com @ 08/23/2008 11:59:32 PM

    India needs to crush any hopes the kashmiri dogs have of secession. We need to ruthlessly crush any semblance of agitation & rebellion. Jai Hind !!

  • Posted By: riversand @ 08/23/2008 5:53:38 PM

    looks like this country is full of bigots who want to kill and kill and keep unwilling helpless people in their grasp

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