Reminder of Kashmir Black Day

By Sajjad Shaukat

Although 27th of October is celebrated every year as the “Black Day” by the Pakistanis and the Kashmiris all over the world as a protest against Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir on October 27, 1947, yet this time, this very day has come at time when the people of Kashmir have accelerated their legitimate struggle in the aftermath of the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfew. Since July 8, 2016, Indian forces have martyred more than 100 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani.

By manipulating the false flag terror attacks at a military base in Uri and Baramulla, the BJP-led Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified war-hysteria against Pakistan. After deployment of heavy arms and weapons at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces have increased troops and continue shelling in Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir. New Delhi’s main aim is to deflect the attention of the international community from the new phase of Kashmiri Intifada, while in this regard; pressure has been mounting on the Modi government both domestically and internationally.

However, during the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan according to the British-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was ruling over the J&K, in connivance with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India.

The design to forcibly wrest Kashmir began to unfold on August 16, 1947, with the announcement of the Radcliffe Boundary Award. It gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into Kashmir. There was a rebellion in the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja and were joined by Pathan tribesmen. Lord Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar.

When Pakistan responded militarily against the Indian aggression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise of holding plebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India-an integral part of the Indian union.

The very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations.

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

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.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission 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 organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule.

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries.

In this context, Egbert Jahn in his book, “Kashmir: Flashpoint for a Nuclear War or Even a Third World War?” has pointed out, “The Kashmir conflict is embedded in the wider conflict over the incomplete creation of nations and states on the Indian subcontinent, which during the east-west conflict even threatened at times to escalate into a nuclear world war between Pakistan and the USA on the one side and India and the USSR on the other. Until now, there have been three wars between India and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir: in 1947–49, 1965 and 1999… finally, the Indo-Chinese border war of 1962…after these wars…and could unexpectedly again lead to a regional and under certain circumstances…even a major nuclear war or a Third World War.”

Meanwhile, like the previous year, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the recent speech of Pakistan’s prime minister, highlighting Indian atrocities, the Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

Nonetheless, Kashmiris, living both sides of the LoC observe “Black Day” on October 27 to protest against the Indian illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. On this very day, Pakistanis and Kashmiris across the globe express solidarity with the freedom fighters of Kashmir, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination from India which continues various forms of state terrorism in order to suppress their popular movement.

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

Pak – Russia Emerging Partnership

 Sarah Khan

Recent trends in international politics involving major shifts at regional and international level are indicative of transition in global world order. There is a renewed focus on Asia and to be more accurate Asia Pacific. US, China and Russia are seeking new alliances, defense cooperation and economic cooperation with likeminded small regional states. So called non-aligned India has started to blindly bandwagon US in order to achieve strategic equilibrium with a key regional player China which is far more ahead of India in terms of military technology and economic prosperity. India’s blind bandwagoning of US has also annoyed Russia. Though, US have emerged as super power of the World after end of cold war but US-Russia ties have always remained competitive. So far, Russia remains main obstacle of America in pursuance of its goal in Middle East.

Foregoing in view, China and Russia, two key international players challenging US hegemony are seeking close diplomatic, defense and economic cooperation with Pakistan. Pakistan holds key geo-strategic location with one of the most professional Armed Forces in the region. Pakistan’s possession of Gwadar, the only deep sea port in the region, have enhanced Pakistan’s importance manifold. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a project of One-Belt One Road (OBOR), will be a major game changer in the realm of economy in the region. Other states like Iran and Afghanistan are also showing interest in the said economic activity.

The Russian renaissance in global political affairs, with a strategic design of balancing of force in the Putin era, has been shaping new contours in international politics that could provide a favorable environment for improving Russia’s overall relations with Pakistan. Russia is also seeking close bilateral ties with Pakistan. The recent Pak-Russia military exercise in Pakistan is indicative of growing Russian interests in Pakistan.

Pakistan – Russia collaboration started with a milestone military cooperation pact when the Russian defence minister, after 45 years, paid an official visit to Pakistan in December 2014. Another landmark was achieved with a $2 billion inter-governmental deal between the two countries for the construction of a gas pipeline from Lahore to Karachi in October 2015. In the same year, Moscow agreed to sell four Mi-35M helicopters to Pakistan and welcomed Islamabad when it joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, visited Moscow to enhance further cooperation.

This year, Russian Army Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov announced the first-ever “mutual special drills in mountainous terrain”. The first-ever joint military Friendship-2016 began on September 24 and concluded on October 10. Around 70 Russian soldiers and officers along with some 130 Pakistani counterparts took part in the war games called the Friendship-2016. The name is a symbolical reference to the old Cold War tensions between Moscow and Islamabad, which the two capitals are now trying to overcome. These recent engagements between Russia and Pakistan amid changing geo-political and geo-strategic milieu along with evolving inter-regional economic prospects and emerging threats to regional stability have steered both countries to define a new era of friendship.

A structured mechanism between the two countries could provide a framework to collaborate in the areas of defence, trade, investment, science, technology, agriculture, education and culture. In contemporary times, Russian actions have underscored the hardcore realities of the region, for instance, combating illicit drug trafficking in Afghanistan, improving relations with Pakistan while realising its geo-strategic importance, and preventing the emergence of the IS threat and the overflow of the Taliban insurgency from Afghanistan to the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and to its own territories.

Russia might too eventually like to seek some long lasting partnership with Pakistan and may become in some way become part of the CPEC. This leads one to visualize another possible realignment of relations and emergence of Russia-Pakistan-China Nexus. Pak-Russian relations are still at a burgeoning stage and will take time to evolve. For longstanding relations, one paramount consideration for both sides is to comprehend emerging realities in the region and accordingly coordinate and cooperate for a prosperous future. Mutual concordance among Pakistan – China – Russia will augment well for overarching role of these states in regional and international political landscape by countering emerging alliances of US and India in the decades ahead.

The writer can be reached at ardent.jingo@gmail.com

India’s press is more craven than Pakistan’s

THERE is no question that India’s democracy is stronger than Pakistan’s. It is less prone to coups and violence. Its minorities are more secure. And, most Indians assume, their media are freer. When Cyril Almeida, a Pakistani journalist, revealed earlier this month that he had been banned from travelling abroad after writing a story that embarrassed Pakistan’s security forces, India’s tabloid press gloated.

The Schadenfreude proved short-lived. To general surprise, Mr Almeida’s colleagues rallied in noisy support. Pakistani newspapers, rights groups, journalists’ clubs and social media chorused outrage at his persecution. The pressure worked; the ban got lifted.

Mr Almeida had been reporting on tensions between the Pakistani army and civilian leaders over the border crisis with India, which began last month when infiltrators from Pakistan killed 19 Indian soldiers. On the Indian side of the border, however, there has not been much critical examination of the government’s actions. Instead, Indian media have vied to beat war drums the loudest.

When an army spokesman, providing very few details, announced on September 29th that India had carried out a retaliatory “surgical strike” against alleged terrorist bases along the border, popular news channels declared it a spectacular triumph and an act of subtle statecraft. Some anchors took to describing India’s neighbour as “terror state Pakistan”. One station reconfigured its newsroom around a sandbox-style military diorama, complete with flashing lights and toy fighter planes. A parade of mustachioed experts explained how “our boys” would teach Pakistan a lesson it would never forget.

Such jingoism was predictable, given the fierce competition for ratings among India’s news groups. Disturbingly, however, the diehard nationalists have gone on the offensive against fellow Indians, too.

This month NDTV, a news channel with a reputation for sobriety, advertised an interview with Palaniappan Chidambaram, a former finance minister from the opposition Congress party. Mr Chidambaram was expected to say that previous governments had also hit back at Pakistan, but with less fanfare than the present one. Abruptly, however, NDTV cancelled the show. An executive sniffed that it was “not obliged to carry every shred of drivel” and would not “provide a platform for outrageous and wild accusations”.

Arnab Goswami, the anchor of a particularly raucous talk show, has declared that critics of the government should be jailed. Extreme nationalists in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, have urged filmmakers to ban Pakistani actors. One party has threatened to vandalise cinemas that dare show a Bollywood romance, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, due for release later this month, which features Fawad Khan, a Pakistani heartthrob. The film’s director, Karan Johar, has aired a statement declaring his patriotism, explaining that the film was shot before the current trouble and promising never again to work with talent from “the neighbouring country”. One commentator described his performance as akin to a hostage pleading for mercy.

Why, asks Mr Chidambaram, are the media toeing the government line so slavishly? Some answer that they have become ever more concentrated in the hands of big corporations, many of which carry heavy debts and so are wary of offending the party in power. Others ascribe the shrinking space for dissent to the unchecked rise of chauvinist Hindu-nationalist groups. Repressive colonial-era laws on sedition and libel also play a part.

Happily, India’s press still brims with multiple voices. Critics of Mr Modi may worry about internet trolls, but they do not fear assassination by terrorists or shadowy government agencies, as those in some neighbouring states do. The Indian public is, in fact, tired of endless brinkmanship with Pakistan and yearns for stronger, more effective government. Of course, to be truly strong and effective, governments need to tolerate and even heed critics.

Britain praises Pakistan’s gains against terror

By Our Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: British National Security Adviser (NSA) Sir Mark Lyall Grant on Sunday acknowledged the ‘significant achievements’ made by Pakistan and the sacrifices rendered by its people in their fight against the scourge of terrorism.

Sir Grant’s show of support for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts came during a meeting with Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatami, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

British General praises Pakistan’s ‘inspiring’ gains in countering terror

The British NSA reaffirmed his country’s continued support to Pakistan. The statement, according to a Foreign Office official, is significant in the backdrop of desperate efforts by India to isolate Pakistan globally.

During the meeting, Fatami underscored the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the United Kingdom and noted that partnership between the two countries was moving in the right direction.

He recalled the recent warm and cordial meeting between PM Nawaz Sharif and his British counterpart Theresa May in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.  Fatemi highlighted the improved security situation and its positive impact on economic revival in Pakistan.

During the meeting, regional security issues and matters of mutual interest were also discussed. Fatemi briefed the visiting dignitary about the current situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

Erdogan praises Pakistan Army’s contributions for regional peace, stability

He also stressed that as a country with historic links to this region, and as a member of the UN Security Council’s P-5, it was incumbent on Britain to urge New Delhi to end rampant human rights violations in the occupied territory and to enter into a sustained dialogue with Pakistan.

Sir Grant acknowledged the important role being played by Pakistan in promoting peace and stability in the region.

The minister of state also briefed the NSA about Pakistan’s serious efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2016.

Viewpoint: The perils of forcing Bollywood to drop Pakistan actors

Top Bollywood director Karan Johar promised not to work with Pakistani actors in the future after a right-wing group threatened to attack cinemas screening his latest movie starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Sidharth Bhatia on why his statement could end up encouraging the forces of bigotry.

Watching the short video of an abject Karan Johar pleading - like an errant student pulling his own ears - that he will never again make mistake of using actors from a "neighbouring country" one cannot but help asking: who wrote that script and who directed it?

Where is the flamboyant, confident and colourful Karan Johar we know so well and admire? Here he appears to be caught in one of those hostage situations, where the victim is made to admit that he is a spy, probably just before he is executed.

'Intolerance'

In a way, he is a hostage, not just to a small political party that openly threatens to 'teach a lesson' to all those who use Pakistanis in their films, but also to the growing belligerence in our polity which makes it almost impossible to tolerate a diversity of opinions.

Karan Johar pledge not to use Pakistan actors goes viral

Pakistan cinemas ban Indian films

India-Pakistan masterpiece that fell through the cracks

Yesterday it was the very word 'intolerance' that was a red rag, today it is 'Pakistani actors', tomorrow it could be something entirely different.

Once the mob - some of it on the streets, others in television studios and social media, still others working smoothly behind the scenes - decide that straying from an agenda is unacceptable, nothing can save the naysayer.

Johar is an intelligent man, with a lot of common-sense and a creative mind, which shows in his public statements and in his cinema.

When the regional Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party first 'demanded' thatPakistani actors in Bollywood be sent back in the aftermath of last month'smilitant attack on Uri - the actors had all left India by then in any case - Johar, whose film Ae Dil Hai Muskhil (Difficulties of the heart) had Fawad Khan in its cast, pointed out that a ban on Pakistani actors was no solution to terrorism.

He was not just referring to his own film, he was also standing up for a principle.

Yet, within days, he capitulated. Not just by issuing a press statement but in a video mea culpa of sorts, declaring that he would never use a Pakistani actor again.

What changed?

'Nation comes first'

One can only speculate what happened behind the scenes, but a few public developments could provide some context.

On Monday, just three days before the opening of the 18th Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) film festival, the organisers pulled out Jago Hua Savera (Awake, it's Dawn) a 57-year-old Pakistani film from its line up.

A curt press release said that the film had been dropped due to "the current situation".

The same day, at a public event where he was interviewed, industrialist Mukesh Ambani said that for him, "the nation came first, not arts and culture".

Mr Ambani's company Jio is the main sponsor of the film festival. The film, made in 1959, is a fine example of India-Pakistan entente in the arts, even if it harks back to another time.

Just a few days before that, in the aftermath of the MNS warning to drive out Pakistani actors, The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, a body of filmmakers, also declared that these actors would not be allowed in Hindi films.

The federal government had not issued any such instruction, but unbidden, the film industry was already falling in line.

Actor Ajay Devgn, a self-proclaimed fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched in by saying that he personally would not act with Pakistani actors. "We cannot isolate ourselves from the nation," he said.

Devgn's own film Shivaay is ready for release on 28 October. And not surprisingly, his statement is being seen by many as a tactical ploy to prevent Johar's film from making it to the theatres.

Cinema owners in Mumbai declared they would not screen the film after expressing fears that their establishments could be attacked by violent MNS activists.

Polarised industry

Now, twelve MNS activists who barged into a cinema to threaten the staff have been arrested and the state's chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that violent protests will not be allowed.

The state government has not made any statement, one way or the other, on Pakistani actors in Bollywood.

Nor has the Central government, though federal Information Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said that "there is an atmosphere of anger at Pakistan in India and people from all walks of life have to be mindful about it." (He has also helpfully said that the media "should understand national interest.")

It is not difficult to read between the lines.

At the best of times the Mumbai film industry is divided into several "camps" and rarely, if ever, takes a united stand on anything.

Now it is getting polarised and publicly so.

The 'nationalists' are taking a hard line, and most others are staying quiet, fully aware that remarks can be twisted and frenzied criticism from 'trolls' and politicians can be swift and ugly.

On television shows, pro-government film personalities have been hitting out at those who argue otherwise. Bollywood is now a divided house, with barely a handful - Salman Khan, Anurag Kashyap and Priyanka Chopra among them - standing up to be counted.

Amitabh Bachchan, whose daughter in law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stars in Johar's film, has remained silent, though recent reports suggested that he had gifted a watch to Raj Thackeray's son after receiving a cartoon sketch of him drawn by the MNS chief.

Soft target

In the circumstances, it is not surprising that Karan Johar must have felt beleaguered, even scared.

It is easy to criticise him for not taking a stand for free speech or even for the sorry tone of his video but with large sums of money at stake and the threat of violence in the air, he may have taken a call to make a public declaration.

The matter will not necessarily end there, since the MNS claims it will continue protesting against the release of the film and cinema owners are still wary of screening it.

Meanwhile Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's forthcoming film Raees, has Pakistani actor Mahira Khan in it and is also a likely victim of the proposed ban by cinema owners. In it he plays a criminal don in Gujarat. He is also said to have a cameo role in his friend Karan Johar's film.

Johar's video statement is only going to encourage the forces of bigotry and hatred.

Raj Thackeray, who is desperate to become politically relevant is undoubtedly happy that he got this level of attention, but the culpability of creating and nurturing this intolerance, all in the name of the "nation", goes far beyond him.

The film industry is a perennially soft target because of its high profile and its swift buckling in to any pressure, but don't be surprised if soon, reading Pakistani authors or being Facebook friends with Pakistanis or even writing about that country could be declared anti-national.

Any of us could then be turned into Karan Johar.

Indian attempts to isolate Pakistan backfired: Aizaz

By Our Correspondent

India’s attempts to isolate Pakistan have backfired, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry told a Senate panel on Thursday.

“India wants to use the United Nations platform to defame Pakistan… [but] its efforts to isolate Pakistan have backfired,” he said while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. “In fact, New Delhi itself stands isolated because of its policies.”

No country on earth can isolate Pakistan, Basit tells India

The foreign secretary added that the issue of Masood Azhar, chief of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad, will be tackled according to the National Action Plan. He told the panel that tackling the issue was not as simple and added that India is trying to get his name on the list of UN designated terrorists.

Separately, the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee
on Defence Mushahid Hussain Syed, told reporters that India is deploying additional troops along the Line of Control (LoC) and aircraft to the forward bases.

After the joint meeting of Senate committees on defence and foreign affairs on Indo-Pak tensions, Mushahid revealed that India had deployed its premier Su-30 fighter jets to the forward bases. However, the senator added that Pakistani armed forces are fully capable to respond to any challenge from India.

Mushahid also denounced India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling Pakistan the ‘mothership of terrorism’ during the recent Brics summit.

Indian deputy high commissioner summoned

Tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi continue to soar as India’s deputy high commissioner was summoned in by the Director General (SA & Saarc) on Thursday to lodge a strong protest over the latest ceasefire violations at the LoC by the Indian forces.

Modi escalates drive to ‘isolate’ Pakistan at BRICS summit

“A strong protest was lodged against the unprovoked ceasefire violations on 19-20 October 2016, by the Indian occupation forces at the Line of control in Karela Sector, which resulted in martyrdom of one civilian, Mr. Abdul Rehman S/o Gul Zaman, age 28 years. Twelve civilians including children and women were injured as a result of the Indian fire,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

It was conveyed that the Indian side must investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistan, India must instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, refrain from intentionally targeting the villages and maintain peace and stability on the LoC.

“Pakistan notes with deep concern that during the last couple of months, there have been a number of ceasefire violations from the Indian side on the LoC and the Working Boundary,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India has committed more than 100 ceasefire violations in 2016 alone. The spokesperson said India attempts to isolate Pakistan had ‘miserably’ failed. “Given Pakistan’s geo-strategically important situation in the region of international interest, the very notion of isolating Pakistan is ridiculous,” Zakaria asserted.

He said Indian obsession to malign Pakistan had not been appreciated by the mature countries. Besides, Indian negative policies towards Pakistan and regional integration efforts under various regional groupings had exposed India as the biggest hurdle in the development of the region, which was a hub of world’s largest poor population.

“Indian activities should be seen as its desperation to deflect international attention from its crimes against humanity in IOK,” the spokesperson said.  “The Indian denial to resolve all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute are clearly at tangent with its claims for a peaceful neighborhood,” he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2016.

Viewpoint: The perils of forcing Bollywood to drop Pakistan actors

Top Bollywood director Karan Johar promised not to work with Pakistani actors in the future after a right-wing group threatened to attack cinemas screening his latest movie starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Sidharth Bhatia on why his statement could end up encouraging the forces of bigotry.

Watching the short video of an abject Karan Johar pleading - like an errant student pulling his own ears - that he will never again make mistake of using actors from a "neighbouring country" one cannot but help asking: who wrote that script and who directed it?

Where is the flamboyant, confident and colourful Karan Johar we know so well and admire? Here he appears to be caught in one of those hostage situations, where the victim is made to admit that he is a spy, probably just before he is executed.

'Intolerance'

In a way, he is a hostage, not just to a small political party that openly threatens to 'teach a lesson' to all those who use Pakistanis in their films, but also to the growing belligerence in our polity which makes it almost impossible to tolerate a diversity of opinions.

Karan Johar pledge not to use Pakistan actors goes viral

Pakistan cinemas ban Indian films

India-Pakistan masterpiece that fell through the cracks

Yesterday it was the very word 'intolerance' that was a red rag, today it is 'Pakistani actors', tomorrow it could be something entirely different.

Once the mob - some of it on the streets, others in television studios and social media, still others working smoothly behind the scenes - decide that straying from an agenda is unacceptable, nothing can save the naysayer.

Johar is an intelligent man, with a lot of common-sense and a creative mind, which shows in his public statements and in his cinema.

When the regional Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party first 'demanded' thatPakistani actors in Bollywood be sent back in the aftermath of last month'smilitant attack on Uri - the actors had all left India by then in any case - Johar, whose film Ae Dil Hai Muskhil (Difficulties of the heart) had Fawad Khan in its cast, pointed out that a ban on Pakistani actors was no solution to terrorism.

He was not just referring to his own film, he was also standing up for a principle.

Yet, within days, he capitulated. Not just by issuing a press statement but in a video mea culpa of sorts, declaring that he would never use a Pakistani actor again.

What changed?

'Nation comes first'

One can only speculate what happened behind the scenes, but a few public developments could provide some context.

On Monday, just three days before the opening of the 18th Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) film festival, the organisers pulled out Jago Hua Savera (Awake, it's Dawn) a 57-year-old Pakistani film from its line up.

A curt press release said that the film had been dropped due to "the current situation".

The same day, at a public event where he was interviewed, industrialist Mukesh Ambani said that for him, "the nation came first, not arts and culture".

Mr Ambani's company Jio is the main sponsor of the film festival. The film, made in 1959, is a fine example of India-Pakistan entente in the arts, even if it harks back to another time.

Just a few days before that, in the aftermath of the MNS warning to drive out Pakistani actors, The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, a body of filmmakers, also declared that these actors would not be allowed in Hindi films.

The federal government had not issued any such instruction, but unbidden, the film industry was already falling in line.

Actor Ajay Devgn, a self-proclaimed fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched in by saying that he personally would not act with Pakistani actors. "We cannot isolate ourselves from the nation," he said.

Devgn's own film Shivaay is ready for release on 28 October. And not surprisingly, his statement is being seen by many as a tactical ploy to prevent Johar's film from making it to the theatres.

Cinema owners in Mumbai declared they would not screen the film after expressing fears that their establishments could be attacked by violent MNS activists.

Polarised industry

Now, twelve MNS activists who barged into a cinema to threaten the staff have been arrested and the state's chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that violent protests will not be allowed.

The state government has not made any statement, one way or the other, on Pakistani actors in Bollywood.

Nor has the Central government, though federal Information Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said that "there is an atmosphere of anger at Pakistan in India and people from all walks of life have to be mindful about it." (He has also helpfully said that the media "should understand national interest.")

It is not difficult to read between the lines.

At the best of times the Mumbai film industry is divided into several "camps" and rarely, if ever, takes a united stand on anything.

Now it is getting polarised and publicly so.

The 'nationalists' are taking a hard line, and most others are staying quiet, fully aware that remarks can be twisted and frenzied criticism from 'trolls' and politicians can be swift and ugly.

On television shows, pro-government film personalities have been hitting out at those who argue otherwise. Bollywood is now a divided house, with barely a handful - Salman Khan, Anurag Kashyap and Priyanka Chopra among them - standing up to be counted.

Amitabh Bachchan, whose daughter in law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stars in Johar's film, has remained silent, though recent reports suggested that he had gifted a watch to Raj Thackeray's son after receiving a cartoon sketch of him drawn by the MNS chief.

Soft target

In the circumstances, it is not surprising that Karan Johar must have felt beleaguered, even scared.

It is easy to criticise him for not taking a stand for free speech or even for the sorry tone of his video but with large sums of money at stake and the threat of violence in the air, he may have taken a call to make a public declaration.

The matter will not necessarily end there, since the MNS claims it will continue protesting against the release of the film and cinema owners are still wary of screening it.

Meanwhile Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's forthcoming film Raees, has Pakistani actor Mahira Khan in it and is also a likely victim of the proposed ban by cinema owners. In it he plays a criminal don in Gujarat. He is also said to have a cameo role in his friend Karan Johar's film.

Johar's video statement is only going to encourage the forces of bigotry and hatred.

Raj Thackeray, who is desperate to become politically relevant is undoubtedly happy that he got this level of attention, but the culpability of creating and nurturing this intolerance, all in the name of the "nation", goes far beyond him.

The film industry is a perennially soft target because of its high profile and its swift buckling in to any pressure, but don't be surprised if soon, reading Pakistani authors or being Facebook friends with Pakistanis or even writing about that country could be declared anti-national.

Any of us could then be turned into Karan Johar.

India Uses Public Safety Act for Its Crackdown on Dissent

Khurram Parvez was on his way to Geneva for the UN Human rights council session when he was arrested.

By Cholpon Orozobekova

GENEVA  - On October 19, UN high-level experts called on the Indian government to release Khurram Parvez, a well-known and outspoken human rights defender in India. The statement was signed by Special Rapporteurs, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai.

“Mr. Parvez`s continued detention following his arrest just a few days before his participation in the UN Human Rights Council, suggests a deliberate attempt to obstruct his legitimate human rights activism,” said the experts.

On September 14, Parvez was on his way to Geneva to attend the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council when he was prevented from traveling out of India by airport authorities in Delhi. The UN experts conveyed their concerns to the Government of India, but the official information received so far does not provide clear details on the exact nature of the charges against Parvez, which seem to rely mainly on vague accusations of alleged “anti-India” activities, aimed at disrupting the public order. 

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Parvez has been charged under the highly controversial Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, which is a law that permits administrative detention without judicial intervention for up to two years. The international community is concerned about allegations that this law has been arbitrarily applied to target human rights defenders.

According to Human Rights Watch, the law contains vague and overly broad terms such as “security of the state” and “public order.” The law also protects officials from legal proceedings for anything “done or intended to be done in good faith,” which is inconsistent with the right to remedy for arbitrary detention or other human rights violations. “The law has often been used to detain people on vague grounds for long periods, ignoring regular criminal justice safeguards,” says HRW.

In early July, protests began in the Kashmir region following the killing by Indian forces of a leader of the armed group Hizbul Mujahideen. The authorities have detained over 400 people. Although the amendment made in 2012 to the Public Safety Act prohibits the detention of anyone under 18, children under 18 have been detained for participation in protests.

“The use of the PSA to detain people, particularly children, violates a range of human rights, and its increasing use in recent weeks undermines the rule of law and further entrenches impunity in Kashmir,” said Sam Zarifi, ICJ Asia Director. “Police should end the use of the PSA; if people are suspected of committing offenses, they should be properly charged and given fair trials.”

According to Frontline Defenders, human rights defenders in India face a diverse range of attacks and harassment, including killing, torture, ill-treatment, forced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and judicial harassment. Human rights defenders have also been labeled “insurgents and Naxalites (Maoists), in an attempt to discredit their work and justify their targeting” says Frontline Defenders.

There are dozens of human rights defenders and journalists who are still in prison for their work in India. On March 21, Prabhat Singh, a human rights defender and journalist, was detained. He had been investigating false cases brought against tribal villagers in the areas of Chhattisgarh. He also played a key role in highlighting several cases of police brutality and human rights violations in the Dantewada district of India.

According to Frontline Defenders, while Prabhat Singh was in custody he was beaten and sharp objects were used to cut his hands. Police officers also verbally abused and made death threats against him, forcing him to sign several blank pieces of paper.

Recently, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the World Organization Against Torture Made and FIDH made an urgent appeal regarding the harassment of Kirity Roy, another Indian human rights activist and founder of human rights organization MASUM (Benglar Manabadhikar Surakksha Mancha) and his associates.

The Observatory expressed its deep concern about the ongoing harassment against the human rights defenders, including judicial harassment, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and threats. They called upon the Indian authorities to put an end to all attempts to intimidate and criminalize members of MASUM and to guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of human rights defenders in India.

Lahore Corps beat Australian Army in T20 cricket match

LAHORE -  Lahore Corps cricket team registered four-wicket victory over Australian Army cricket team in an exciting T20 match played here at the Battle Axe Stadium Cantt on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 131 in the allotted 20 overs, the hosts achieved victory in the 19th over.
Sabir Hussain was top scorer with 29 runs while M Afzal slammed 28, Anwar Khan 18 and Qayyum Nasir unbeaten 17.
Robert Maram was the most successful bowler from Australian Army, who claimed two wickets for 19 runs while Thomas Gilmore and Nicolas Brown got one wicket apiece for 12 and 17 runs respectively.

Earlier batting first, Australia Army team posted 130 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets in the allotted overs.
Mark Brown hammered stylish 39 while Craig Holmes delighted the crowd with his brief innings of 28 studded with three towering sixes and a four and Beau Wright contributed 23.
Awais Zafar, Imran Ali and Nauman Naveed took one wicket each.
M Afzal was declared man of the match.

Former Test cricketers Majid Khan, Salim Altaf, Intikhab Alam and Abdul Qadir witnessed the match at the special invitation.
Renowned cricket commentator Chishty Mujahid and Fakhra-e-Alam amused the crowd with their running commentary.
Whereas, former Test cricketer Amir Sohail contributed with his accurate and polished remarks on the match time line.
Also present were a large number of Army officers along with their families who also enjoyed the match.
Australian International Policy Advisor for Pakistan Simon Tchaikovsk and Defence Attache Col David Bruk were also present there to see players of both the countries’ army men in action.

Later, chief guest Commander Lahore Corps Lt Gen Sadiq Ali thanked Australian Army cricket team for travelling to the historic city of Lahore and hoped that Australian cricket team would also visit Pakistan soon.
He also gave away prizes to the players.

Jammu and Kashmir Government Sacks 12 Officials For Alleged Anti-National Activities

Edited by Veer Arjun Singh

SRINAGAR: The Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir has sacked 12 officials for their alleged role in fuelling unrest in the state. More than 100 others are being watched closely, and there could be more sackings, sources said.

The dismissal from service of the 12 government employees for "anti-national activities" was ordered on Wednesday evening. Those sacked are mid-level officers from different government departments, including patwaris or land revenue record officials and teachers.

Officials said the government acted on a report prepared by the state police's Crime Investigation Department or CID. Several of those sacked have been charged under the Public Safety Act or PSA, which allows people to be jailed without trial for six months.

More than 90 people have died and over 12,000 have been injured in violent clashes in Kashmir since July 8, when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. The government has said that the violent protests and stone throwing have been organised and encouraged by insurgents backed by Pakistan.

The action against the government officials comes amid a massive crackdown by the state police in which more than 9,000 people have been arrested for disrupting peace and more than 450 have been detained under the Public Safety Act or PSA, which allows people to be jailed without trial for six months.

This is second time in 26 years of militancy in Kashmir that government officials have been sacked over allegations of anti-national activities in the state.

In 1990, five officials were sacked for their pro-separatist stand, among them Naeem Akhtar who was then a Deputy Commissioner in the Excise Department. Mr Akhtar is currently a top People's Democratic Party or PDP minister in the Mehbooba Mufti government.

That dismissal had led to a three-month-long strike by government employees in Kashmir.