MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI (1869-1948)

Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation of India. Assassinated 61 years ago today.

"As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side."
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"
"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." - MKG

Gandhi's Ashes Scattered At Sea - BBC, 30 January 2008.
Sad, but Hindu nationalists have Ambivalent Views Over Gandhi Killer - BBC, 30 January 2008.
Photo credit: MHIP

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (1929-1968)

Our world is rife with division and struggle, intolerance, misunderstanding and hatred, war and oppression. Our civilization depends on the courage of men and women resisting these tyrannies to lead mankind into a future of cooperation and peace.

Although Martin Luther King Jr., is mainly identified with the civil rights movement in the US his message of peace is universal, and it speaks to people of all nations. That message is relevant to the current struggle in Kashmir; his dedication to peace everywhere is the reason Dr. King is a hero.

"Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - MLK

Photo credit: Associated Press

BENAZIR BHUTTO (1953-2007)

Today is the first anniversary of Benazir Bhutto's death by assassination in Rawalpindi. Condolences to all those mourning this fallen leader, taken far too early from life.

Pakistan mourners honour Bhutto - BBC, 27 December 2008.
Obituary: Benazir Bhutto - BBC, 27 December 2007.
Bhutto: Who Ordered Her Killing? - BBC, 28 December 2007.
Pakistan Blames Qaeda Link - IHT, 28 December 2007.
CIA Names Bhutto's Killers - BBC, 18 January 2008.
Questions & Answers - BBC, 8 February 2008.
Photo credit: BBC

BRIGHT SPOT FOR KASHMIR

"The number of militant attacks fell 40 percent from 2007-2008, reaching 709 this year from roughly 1,100 last year, Kuldeep Khoda, a senior police official, said in a statement." (Emphasis added)

Violence in Kashmir lowest in 20 years - IHT, 26 December 2008.
Photo credit: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters

MILITANTS DIE IN KASHMIR BATTLE

'Militants die' in Kashmir battle - BBC, 19 December 2008.

THE MUMBAI TRAGEDY

Condolences to the lives lost, the families, & the friends left to mourn.

From The Daily Show - "John Oliver explains that when you're a bankrupt ideology pursuing a bankrupt strategy, the only move you've got is the dick one".

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mumbai Tragedy

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

IN-DEPTH: What did Kashmir have to do with the Mumbai attacks? - Time, 7 December 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

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)

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.

KASHMIRIS KILLED DEFYING CURFEW

Kashmir Muslims defy India curfew - BBC, 25 August 2008.
5 killed, Demands for separation from India - IHT, 25 August 2008.
UPDATE: Clampdown turns Srinagar into ghost town - HT, 25 August 2008.
UPDATE: Uneasy calm prevails in Kashmir - HT, 26 August 2008.
VIDEO: Srinagar protests turn violent - 25 August 2008.



From the BBC:

Are you in Srinagar? Have you been affected by the curfew? Send us your experiences...Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.

15 KILLED IN KASHMIR LOC CLASH

Army officer among 15 killed in Kashmir - Reuters, 23 August 2008.

POLICE SHOOT MOURNERS, RIOT ENSUES

Muslims riot in Kashmir over deaths - Reuters, 14 August 2008.
UPDATE: Police shoot Kashmiri protester - BBC, 14 August 2008.
UPDATE: Toll rises as Muslims protest in Kashmir - Reuters, 15 August 2008.
UPDATE: Police Says Only 21 Died - KO, 14 August 2008.
VIDEO: Violence flares again in Kashmir - BBC, 13 August 2008.
VIDEO: Violence erupts in Kashmir - 14 August 2008.

FIFTEEN KILLED AS KASHMIR PROTESTS BOIL

Fifteen killed as Kashmir land row boils - Reuters, 13 August 2008.
Kashmir mourns deaths in huge protests - Reuters, 13 August 2008.
FACTBOX: The Jammu & Kashmir valley dispute - Reuters.
ANALYSIS: Killings may be Kashmir tipping point - Reuters.
IN PICTURES: Kashmir in turmoil - BBC.
VIDEO: Protesters shot dead in Kashmir - BBC, 12 August 2008.

TENSIONS HIGH IN INDIAN KASHMIR

Tensions high in Indian Kashmir - AJ, 9 August 2008.

ECONOMY WORSENS IN KASHMIR

Kashmir short of essentials after blockade - Reuters, 5 August 2008.
Blockade of Kashmir Valley To Continue - KO, 4 August 2008.
Carpet, Shawl Industry In Deep Slump - KO, 31 July 2008.
UPDATE: J&K industry may lose 15 billion rupees - Reuters, 13 August 2008.

It wasn't all that great to begin with, the economy it is.

THREE KILLED IN KASHMIR PROTESTS

Three killed in Kashmir protests - BBC, 4 August 2008.
UPDATE: 15 Year Old Killed in Srinagar Clashes - KO, 4 August 2008.
UPDATE: Protester dies in Kashmir clash - BBC, 5 August 2008.
UPDATE: Second day of protests in Kashmir - AJ, 5 August 2008.
UPDATE: Kashmir Valley Shuts Down Again - KO, 5 August 2008.
UPDATE: PM calls meeting to end Kashmir protests - Reuters, 6 August 2008.
UPDATE: Indian PM in urgent Kashmir talks - BBC, 6 August 2008.

UPDATE: Indian army shoots Hindu protesters - AJ, 6 August 2008.

UPDATE: Tension in Srinagar as Yasin's Condition Worsens - KO, 7 August 2008.
UPDATE: Indian Kashmir protests continue - AJ, 8 August 2008.
UPDATE: Kashmir separatist leaders: House arrest - Reuters, 8 August 2008.

JAMMU-SRINAGAR HIGHWAY IMPERILED

Kashmir Blockade Comes Into Effect - KO, 29 July 2008.
Fanatic Mobs Rule Highway - KO, 31 July 2008.
Drivers Caught Amid Goons & Partisan Police - KO, 2 August 2008.
Army called to Jammu: Mobs attack property - KO, 2 August 2008.
NH handed over to Army - KO, 2 August 2008.
UPDATE: Highway Of Terror: Drivers Bring Tales Of Horror - KO, 6 August 2008.

There is now a super-abundance of anecdotal evidence on the unreliability of this land route to Kashmir. The national highway linking Srinagar and Jammu is the only road linking Kashmir to the rest of India, and for a variety of reasons - landslides, snow blizzards, political and religious interference - it is too often closed. Tourists ought to fly into Srinagar, rather than risk having their journey involuntarily becalmed. I met two individuals in Gulmarg last winter who were stranded on this highway for several days with nearly a dozen people and no food in a 4-5 passenger jeep. Thrilling. Read a post from my blog last winter: National Highway Shuts Down, Re-Opens