KASHMIR CELEBRATES EID-UL-FITR

Kashmir celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr today - KO, 30 September 2008.

I had to look it up. Thank you Wikipedia: Eid-ul-Fitr.

Photo property of Kashmir Observer

PAKISTAN & US TROOPS EXCHANGE FIRE

Pakistan & US Troops Exchange Fire - TO, 25 September 2008.
Shots fired in US-Pakistan clash - BBC, 25 September 2008.
Pakistan, US differ on incident - Reuters, 25 September 2008.

SPY PLANE CRASHES IN PAKISTAN

'US drone crashes' in Pakistan - AJ, 24 September 2008.
Pakistan recovers 'US spy drone' - BBC, 24 September 2008.
Pakistani Military Probes US Drone Crash - TO, 24 September 2008.
Pakistan denies shooting US spy plane - IHT, 24 September 2008.
US denies Pakistan 'air incursion' - AJ, 23 September 2008.
BACKSTORY: STOP US BOMBING IN PAKISTAN

INDIAN AIR FORCE JETS TO KASHMIR

India deploys fighter jets in Kashmir - Khilafah, 19 September 2008.
Sukhoi jets to roar over Kashmir skies - HT, 17, September 2008.

STRIKE SHUTS DOWN KASHMIR

Strike against Indian rule shuts down Kashmir - Reuters, 20 September 2008.

SRINAGAR PROTESTS INDIA RULE

Police clash with Kashmir protesters, 35 hurt - Reuters, 19 September 2008.
Police disperse Kashmir protests - BBC, 19 September 2008.
Photo credit: Owais Zargar

INDIA PLANS ANTI-TERRORISM CENTRE

India plans special anti-terrorism centre - Reuters, 18 September 2008.
India's concern: Pakistan support for militants - Reuters, 15 September 2008.
RELATED: India warns Pakistan over attacks - AJ, 15 August 2008.
POST: PAKISTAN LINKED TO INDIAN EMBASSY BLAST IN KABUL

KASHMIR: LOC BUS SERVICE RAMPS UP

Srinagar-Muzaffarbad Bus Runs Weekly - KO, 18 September 2008.

"After being flagged off on April 7, 2005, the bus service ran for the second consecutive week for the first time on Thursday, having been a fortnightly affair till now."
BACKSTORY: INDIA-PAKISTAN DISCUSS CROSS-LOC TRANSPORT & TRADE

SRINAGAR: THIRTY INJURED BY GRENADE

Thirty injured in Kashmir attack - BBC, 17 September 2008.
Photo credit: Owais Zargar

SOLDIERS, MILITANTS KILLED IN KASHMIR

Soldiers among eight killed in Kashmir - Reuters, 15 September 2008.

"Four Indian soldiers and three Muslim militants were killed in gun battles across Kashmir on Monday, police said. They said suspected militants also beheaded a Muslim villager suspecting him to be an informer of Indian troops." (Emphasis added)

GULMARG IN SNOWBOARD CANADA

On shelves now, the August issue of Snowboard Canada, with a cover shot for Matt Belzile, on location at Gulmarg, Kashmir, India. An excellent, detailed article is available to readers of the magazine, but sadly, is not available online. To my knowledge this is the first feature on Gulmarg for a snowboard magazine in North America. Kudos!

SBC is a great magazine that too few American riders recognize; it is hard to find on sale in the US. If this trip had been covered by the SoCal press it might have been reduced to six, two-sentence paragraphs of xenophobic kerfuffle and a "Drunken' Go Nuts" episode. Instead, Gulmarg is fairly represented and readers get a deeper understanding of the trip to this extraordinary place. Highly recommended reading. 

The SBC cover shot of Belzile is the work of John Scarth, in Gulmarg with Carlo Wein as part of the Alterna Films crew. There is a sequence shot from a different angle at this photoset from Griff & Smith, Provisioners and Local Source of Delirium. The SBC story on Gulmarg coincides with the release of their latest DVD; check out Knockout! - The Alterna Films Trailer, or press play below.



Alterna Films crew were our neighbors at the Hotel Alpine Ridge in Gulmarg, home of "360-degree monkeys" - Read about our dirtbag life in related posts at Gulmarg '07/08.

PROTESTS RESUME, DEATH TOLL RISES

After a quiet week in the press reporting from Kashmir, protests Friday result in two deaths as police use tear gas and bullets to deter crowds in the border towns of Shopian and Baramulla.

Two die in new Kashmir protests - BBC, 12 September 2008.
Two killed, 80 wounded in Kashmir - Reuters, 12 September 2008.

STOP US BOMBING IN PAKISTAN

Bush OK'd Secret U.S. Strikes In Pakistan - CBS, 11 September 2008.

Stop, Mr. Bush, you're ruining it for everyone else. I predict this stupid stunt will be revealed as a political effort to boost Republican Party chances at the polls in November. Criminal homicide, plain and simple.
ANALYSIS: US attacks raise stakes in Pakistan - BBC.
ANALYSIS: Backlash: Turning to the Taleban in Pakistan - BBC.
UPDATE: Pakistan soldiers 'confront US' - BBC, 15 September 2008.
UPDATE: Pakistan army 'fires on US forces' - AJ, 15 September 2008.
UPDATE: 'US raid' kills four in Pakistan - BBC, 17 September 2008.
UPDATE: Pakistan 'not warned' of US raid - AJ, 18 September 2008.
UPDATE: U.S. did not warn of pending missile strike - IHT, 18 September 2008.
UPDATE: Pakistan in sovereignty warning - BBC, 20 September 2008.

GRENADE ATTACKERS ARRESTED IN KASHMIR

Al-Badr militants arrested in Kashmir - Hindu, 10 September 2008.
Police arrest 4 ‘grenade throwers’ - GK , 9 September 2008.
POST: GRENADE KILLS NINE AT SRINAGAR BUS DEPOT
POST: GRENADE ATTACK ROCKS GULMARG

SNOWFALL IN KASHMIR VALLEY

Quake rocks valley - GK, 6 September 2008.
Light Snowfall in Kashmir Valley - KO, 7 September 2008.
Nip in air as rains, snow lash Kashmir - PNI, 9 September 2008.

HINDUS CALL OFF KASHMIR PROTESTS

Hindus call off Kashmir protests - AJ, 1 September 2008.