Siachen and Kargil linked to Kashmir issue: Musharraf

The former Pakistan President, General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf warned of many more Kargils and Siachens if the Kashmir issue was left unresolved.
At times ducking questions at the India Today Conclave on Saturday night, he was also emphatic and agitated, especially when asked whether the present Army chief General Pervez Kayani was correct that the Taliban was Pakistan`s strategic asset. But Gen. Musharraf only nodded when a Parliamentarian ticked him off after he listed their “ill treatment” as a factor bedevilling India-Pakistan relations. “Aapki nasihat ki zaroorat nahi [We don`t require your counsel],” he was told by Lok Sabha Member Mehmood Madani.
He did not want to comment on Kargil as it was a very sensitive issue but went on to observe that Siachen and Kargil were linked to the Kashmir issue and warned that if the “story went on” there would be more Kargils and Siachens.
Gen. Musharraf blamed “some forces behind the scene” for twice sabotaging an agreement in 2001 that would have formed the basis of durable peace. “The draft of the declaration was done at the highest level – me, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jaswant Singhji. We did that draft. Unfortunately, some forces behind the scene sabotaged that. We attempted twice.”
The former Army chief denied that the Taliban could be a force multiplier for Pakistan. “This is a lie. He [Gen. Kayani] cannot say that. I challenge them to show me the proof. His words have been distorted. How can we say something we don`t believe in?”
There was no danger of the Taliban taking over Pakistan politically because it was confined to a very small part of the country. :::::
Mutual damage ::::
Not responding to a question about terrorist camps in Pakistan, Gen. Musharraf felt both sides had done “damage to each other” and was aware of “what the Indian Embassy is doing in Jalalabad and Kandahar. A terrorist from Kabul has been received by Indian intelligence agencies in India and looked after. I have documents to show this. Let us stop the blame game. India is a big country. You try to do damage to us, we will do damage to you.”
The audience laughed when the former President said he did not know if Dawood Ibrahim lived in Pakistan but felt an individual like him was a small issue and his repatriation would not improve bilateral ties.
Speaking at a function organised by industrialists on Sunday, Gen. Musharraf restricted himself to the realm of economics.
In keeping with his desire, the general was shown around the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort later in the evening. (Hindu)

Coalition ditched employees, PDP

JAMMU, March 4: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today asked the coalition government to fulfill its promise of providing unemployment allowance to the educated unemployed youth of the State. He charged the coalition regime with ditching the people of Jammu and Kashmir especially the unemployed youth and government by making false promises.
Talking to the reporters here this afternoon, the PDP MLA said that National Conference had promised to provide unemployment allowance to the educated unemployed youth of the State. Furthermore the ruling party had also promised to enhance the retirement age from 58 years to 60 but no step has been taken so far. “The National Conference had sought support of the youth with a promise to reduce the recruitment qualification in police from Matriculation to 8th standard”, he said and regretted expect promises nothing concrete has been done so far in this regard.
Earlier raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly, PDP MLA from Darhal Choudhary Zulfikar Ali pointed out that during the just concluded assembly elections, National Conference had promised to provide unemployment allowance to the educated unemployed youth of the State. He said that it was high time for the coalition to fulfill the promise.
The MLA also pointed out that during election campaign the National Conference had also promised that the qualification for recruitment in the police would be reduced from Matriculation to 8th standard. He asked the Government to clarify what steps so far has been taken to implement this promise.
Choudhary Zulfikar Ali also raised the issue of present recruitment policy through which district cadre posts are filled up amongst the eligible candidates from all over the State due to which candidates of the particular region, district and block are badly affected.
It was only after PDP member raised these issues, the concerned Minister assured that remedial measures have been taken in this behalf. The Minister said that the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Bill has been introduced in the current session of the Legislative Assembly.

Appointment of A Special Envoy on Kashmir Will Hasten the Peace Process in South Asia: Dr. FaiWashington D.C.-

“The United States, Britain and France have traditionally been committed supporters of the plebiscite agreement as the only way to resolve Kashmir issue. They sponsored all of the Security Council resolutions which called for a plebiscite. Their commitment was indicated by a personal appeal made by America's President Harry Truman and Britain's Prime Minister Clement Atlee in 1949 that differences over demilitarization be submitted to arbitration by the Plebiscite Administrator, a distinguished American war hero: Admiral Chester Nimitz. India rejected this appeal and, later on, objected to an American acting as the Plebiscite Administrator. India repeated the same thing after 60 years by saying ‘NO’ to President Obama’s initiative to appoint a special envoy on Kashmir. The amazing thing was not the rejection of India to President Obama’s initiative but that the United States took the ‘NO’ of India as an answer.,” said Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, ExecutiveDirector, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center during a lecture, entitled, “The Role of the United States in Resolving the Kashmir Dispute” at Rumi Forum, Washington. Rumi Forum was founded in 1999 with the mission to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue, stimulate thinking and exchange of opinions on supporting and fostering democracy and peace all over the world and to provide a common platform for education and information exchange. Forum is headed by Dr. Ali Yurtsever, an educator, researcher and scholar.Dr. Fai reiterated that the Kashmiri resistance which is indigenous, spontaneous, peaceful and popular, involves the life and future of 15 million people of the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Because of its impact on relations between India and Pakistan, however, it directly affects the peace and stability of the South-Asian subcontinent. The denial of this right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir has brought these two neighboring countries to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. Dr. Fai reminded that there has always been bipartisan expression of support for the U.S. position toward Kashmir. It is apparent from: When the Kashmir dispute erupted in 1947-1948, the United States championed the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The U.S. was a principal sponsor of the resolution which was adopted by the Security Council on 21 April 1948 and which was based on that unchallenged principle. Dr. Fai said that the US position was in full conformity with the position taken by India at the UN. He quoted Mr. N. Gopalaswami, Indian delegate to the UN who said at the Security Council on January 15, 1948, “The question of the future status of Kashmir vis-à-vis her neighbours and the world at large, and a further question, namely, whether she should withdraw from her accession to India, and either accede to Pakistan or remain independent, with a right to claim admission as a Member of the United Nations – all this we have recognized to be a matter for unfettered decision by the people of Kashmir, after normal life is restored to them.”The Executive Director highlighted that it was not the inherent difficulties of a solution, but the lack of the will to implement a solution, that has caused the prolonged deadlock over the Kashmir dispute. The deadlock has meant indescribable agony for the people of Kashmir and incalculable loss for both India and Pakistan . The peace that has eluded the South Asian subcontinent, home to one-fifth of humanity, should be made secure.Dr. Fai suggested that a sincere and serious effort towards a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute must squarely deal with the realities of the situation and fully respond to the people's rights involved in it. A peace process mounted on a fragile platform is bound to collapse. Indeed, any process that ignores the wishes of the people of Kashmir and is designed to sidetrack the United Nations will not only prove to be an exercise in futility but can also cause incalculable human and political damage. He said that the urgent necessities are:(i). an appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir which would go a long way to hasten the progress of peace and reconciliation in the region of South Asia, particularly India, Pakistan & Afghanistan; and(ii) Inclusion of the genuine leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in all future negotiations with India and Pakistan.Mr. Tariq Shafi, a well-known human rights activist in Washington metropolitan area moderated the event.

07 dead, 12 injured in road mishaps

Jammu March 04: Nine persons died and twelve others were injured in different road accidents in Jammu.
A road accident took place between Truck No Jk02G- 7345 driven by Mushtaq Ahmad s/o Mohammad Bashir R/O Budhal, Rajouri and Tata sumo No JK02W-0178 at Makerkote, Panthal near Ramsoo in the jurisdiction of Police Station Banihal both the vehicles were on way from Jammu to Srinagar. During the accident the TATA Sumo rolled down 150 feet deep Nallah resulting on spot death of Farooq Ahmad S/o Mohmmad Rustam R/o Barabanki, Jarkhand, Deleep Kumar Verma S/O Ramji Verma R/o Budnapoo Uttar Pradesh , Varun Sain Singh S/o Faj Rattan Sain Singh R/o Khalilabad, SantNagar, Uttar Pradesh, Dijent Kumar S/o V.S Dubey R/o Village Dama, Jaunpur Uttar Pradesh , Driver Javed Ahmad S/o Manzoor Ahmad R/o Bulbul Nowgam Anantnag , Maryam Akhter R/o Nassar ullah Pura Budgam and another unknown lady . Case Fir No 44/09 U/S 279,337.304-A RPC registered in Police station Banihal. Injured persons have been shifted at E.H Banihal.

02 consume poison in Jammu
Jammu March 04: Rakesh Kumar S/o Som Raj R/o Chand Nagar and Shakeel Ahmmad S/o Mohmmad Yaqoob R/o Janipur were admitted in GMC Jammu for consuming poison.
05 Suspicious deaths in Jammu
Jammu March 04: Hans Raj S/o Prem Nath R/o village Patti Pangara at present Rehmbal died in suspicion at home, Inquest proceeding initiated at Police Station Rehmbal.
Dead body of Amanat Ali S/o Mohmmad Gujjar R/o Batri Tehsil Samba was recovered from Borota, Nadni Samba. Dead body was handed over to his legal heirs after post mortem for last rites. Inquest proceedings initiated at Police Station, Samba.
Dead body of Varin Ali, age 27 S/o Bahadur Ali R/o Nepal Ramkote was found lying near Punjabi brothers Restaurant in suspicious circumstances, inquest proceeding initiated at Police Station Janipur
One person Ghulam Mohammad S/o Abdullah died due to fall at Goshlana, Kalimasta falling in the jurisdiction of Police Station Gool in suspicious circumstances, inquest proceedings initiated at Police Station Gool.
One Bharat Singh Jamwal age 50 years son of Som Nath resident of Bawewali Gali, Shaheedi Chowk Jammu jumped from Gujjar Nagar Bridge into river Tawi and died on spot. Further detail awaited.
Fire Incidents
Jammu March 04: One Masher S/O Tajri R/O Rang Tehsil Ramnagar lodged a written report at Police station Ramnagar that on 27-02 09 evening due to a sudden fire spark, his cattle shed consisting of one room gutted. No human loss reported .
During intervening night of 02/03-03-09 one Kacha house belonging to Abdul Hamid son of Gulab resident of Drabi, Anji Nallah Tehsil Reasi was burnt as a result 90 Sheep/ Goats were burnt alive in the fire.

Div Com imposes ban on lopping/felling of Chinar trees

Srinagar, March 04-Taking strong note of the alleged complaints from ecologists, environmentalists, NGOs and especially media that reckless lopping and felling of Chinar is taking place in every nook and corner of the Valley, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr. Masaud Samoon has imposed a blanket ban on felling and lopping of Chinar. The Divisional Commissioner said that Chinar is the heritage of Kashmir unparallel in beauty, strength and size amongst the trees of Kashmir. It is fast disappearing due to reckless felling, unkind and unfriendly attitude of the people in general and callous interference of vested people in particular. He said permission for felling of Chinar tree can only be granted if five new Chinar trees are planted against one felling/lopping, which is not being done. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has also directed all Deputy Commissioners that permissions for felling/lopping of Chinar trees, which have not been put to execution or which are pending grant for permission, be put in suspended animation and all such cases shall be referred to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir for review and orders. No. INF/PR-524/2009Power shut down Srinagar, March 04-According to Power Controller, Kashmir, the power supply to Bemina-Fateh Kadal areas shall remain affected on March 05, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. due to carryout necessary urgent repairs on 33 KV Bemina-Fateh Kadal line. Meanwhile, owing to replacement of ACSR conductor of 33 KV Amargarh-Bandipora line, power supply shall remain affected to the areas fed from this line alternately from March 05, 07, 09, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30 and from April 01, 04, 06, 08, 11, 13 and 15, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No. INF/PR-525/2009Annual Credit Action Plan for Shopian Shopian, March 04-An amount of Rs. 62.78 crore will be the Credit Action Plan for creating the 5709 income generating units in Shopian district this year. This information was revealed in a District Consultative meeting chaired by the District Development Commissioner, Shopian here today. The meeting was attended by various bankers and district officers. The meeting was informed that during last year, 1295 income generating units were provided as financial assistance. No. INF/PR-526/2009 VC inaugurates upgraded school for visually impaired Srinagar, March 04-The Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir, Prof. Reyaz Punjabi inaugurated upgraded special school for visually impaired and vocational centre at Bemina today. The centre is run by Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for the persons with disabilities. More than 30 children are presently registered with the centre. Prof. Reyaz Punjabi in his inaugural speech said that the physically challenged persons need lot of sympathies and we should take care of the rights of the disabled and encourage them to contribute to the society as other individuals. The Director Social Welfare, Mr. Hilal Ahmad Parray said on the occasion that Social Welfare department has several schemes for providing assistance to the disabled persons. Director, National Institute for the Physically Handicapped (NIPH), Dr. Dharmendra Kumar also spoke on the occasion. No. INF/PR-527/2009 Attention Ganderbal ISSS, IGNOAPS Ganderbal, March 04- All those applicants of district Ganderbal who have submitted their forms under Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) in their concerned Tehsil Social Welfare offices before April 2008 are hereby informed to report in their concerned Tehsil Social Welfare offices alongwith their account numbers within three days so that the amount due to them can be released in their favour. No. INF/PR-528/2009 Poultry hatchery re-commissioned in Mattan Srinagar, March 04-The poultry hatchery of the Poultry Development Project in Mattan has been re-commissioned on Tuesday by Director, Animal Husbandry department, Kashmir, Dr. A.A. Baba. The refurbished hatchery has a hatching capacity of 12000 chicks envisaging to cater to the farmers’ demand of low-input technology birds for backyard rearing in the Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts. The department has planned to produce and supply poultry chicks of Vana Raja, Chabro and Kashmir Commercial Layers from the hatchery. The hatchery’s defunct incubators and setters have been repaired and special power supply line has been laid to run it for 10 months a year at a cost of Rs. 49 lakh. Besides, poultry rearing space has been created at the project site at a cost of Rs. 85 lakh under centrally sponsored scheme. Dr. Baba while addressing the farmers and departmental officers on the occasion urged them to rededicate themselves to provide all kind of technical know-how to farmers in this connection. No. INF/PR-529/2009

Liquor consumption in Kashmir at an all-time high

It's a myth that Kashmir does not touch liquor. Over 10 lakh liquor bottles were consumed in the Valley in the last two years alone. This in a state that dashed liquor baron Vijay Mallya's plan to restart cultivation of hop — used in the manufacture of beer — in the state. Chief minister Omar Abdullah was categorical about not doing anything against the religious sentiments of the people.
But his minister of finance and law Abdul Rahim Rather furnished some startling figures in the assembly in written reply to a question by BJP MLA Jugal Kishore. More than 6.25 lakh bottles were consumed in 2007-2008 and 3.85 lakh bottles in 2006-2007 in the Kashmir valley alone. Besides, liquor is a major source of revenue in the state. Finance minister said the government earned Rs211.10 crore in 2006-07, Rs242.64 crore in 2007-08 and Rs203.62 crore in 2005-06.
What is more striking is that liquor consumption has increased despite the ban imposed by militants in 1989 and the social stigma attached with it in Kashmir's predominately religious society.
Allah Tigers had issued a blanket ban on sale and consumption of liquor in 1989 when militancy erupted in Kashmir. The outfit ransacked and looted liquor shops, forcing them to shut down. Only a few shops reopened later, and are operating under heavy security.
Officially, there are six liquor vends in Kashmir, four in Srinagar and two in Anantnag. Jammu district has 135 liquor shops, the highest in the state.
The government admitted that liquor consumption was rising in the state and noted it had adopted a restrictive approach in issuing liquor licenses. "The relevant rules prohibit liquor advertisements and display of liquor in glasses or bottles in any shop. The licensed shops selling liquor need to cover liquor bottles with black tinted glass", said the finance minister.
The moral police received the news with shock and disbelief. "We are planning a two-pronged strategy to counter the liquor consumption in Kashmir. We will write to the government, asking for legislation to ban liquor sale. Secondly, we will camp outside liquor vends to counsel the people who buy booze," said Parvez Maqbool Shah, general secretary of the Forum Against Social Evils (FASE).

India, Pakistan Came Close to Peace Deal in Kashmir

Recent media reports in the U.S. and Pakistan reveal that India and Pakistan came close to reaching an informal agreement on Kashmir after three years of secret negotiations. The reports say the deal could not be formalized because the Musharraf government fell. India's Kashmir Valley, once a paradise for tourists, is often under curfew now because of a separatist drive led by a dozen Muslim militant groups. Hundreds of army troops patrol the valley to crush these groups, which India says are being armed and funded by Pakistan. Islamabad denies this.Over the past two decades, India and Pakistan have tried several times to reach agreement on a plan to bring peace to Kashmir, but have failed. But recent media reports have revealed that the two neighbors did come close to reaching an informal agreement last year, just before Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was ousted.General Musharraf was in Washington last month and confirmed these reports to South Asia expert Shuja Nawaz."They were not just discussing Kashmir but they were discussing the entire India Pakistan relationship, according to President Musharraf himself," says Nawaz, an analyst with the Atlantic Council. "Recently when he was here in Washington he confirmed this that they were very close to an agreement," he said.India controls two-thirds of Kashmir and Pakistan the rest. Both claim the entire region that for now is divided by a U.N.-marked boundary, known as the Line of Control, or LOC. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has repeatedly said he wants to make the LOC irrelevant and let the divided Kashmiri families visit each other. Shuja Nawaz says that was the basis of the aborted accord."The idea being that Kashmir should progress, in the sense that people on both sides of the Line of Control should be able to cross to and from and let there be some commerce, let there be some movement so that over time it ceases to be a hot border," Nawaz explained.General Musharraf said he wanted to change the old Pakistani policy of insisting on a referendum in Indian Kashmir demanded by a 1948 U.N. resolution. But then last year General Musharraf himself landed into political turmoil after he replaced the judiciary."Even within the military, people started doubting his ability to get Pakistan out of the hole which he had dug for the country and for himself. … India also saw him crumbling," Nawaz said.But the turmoil may have contributed to a lost opportunity - especially for India, according to Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution. "I don't think they truly understood how radical and different Musharraf's proposal was. He broke with the past Pakistani policy," he said.India is expected to hold general elections later this year, and Cohen is not optimistic the two sides can pick up the thread that General Musharraf left until afterwards. "We have to come back to this issue in about four months from now after the Indian elections, after the new Indian government and by that time we are not quite sure what is going to happen in Pakistan," he said.Shuja Nawaz says he also sees no short term solution. He says both countries must realize that the impasse over Kashmir cannot be resolved simply through bilateral discussions - but must include the participation of Kashmiris on both sides of the LOC before a permanent solution can be reached.
(Source:VOA)

Kashmiri Pandits are integral part of J&K: Omar

Kashmiri Pandits, whose sense of security was snatched in the '90s, are an integral part of the state and their return to the valley would be possible only when they again begin to feel safe, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said.
The sense of security was snatched from them in 90's and only "when this sense is restored, their return to the valley will start", Omar said yesterday during the motion of thanks on the governor's address in the legislative council.
The Chief Minister said that although the Mumbai terror attacks have adversely affected Indo-Pak bilateral ties, good relations between the two neighbours are important for lasting peace in the region.
The government is open to dialogue with all shades of opinion and ready to facilitate it at other forums, he said.
Recalling the earlier initiatives by his father Farooq Abdullah to break the ice between the two countries by facilitating talks and four months of truce during the Vajpayee government, Omar said they were a good beginning which needs to be taken to its logical conclusion.
The government would again work for restoring the dialogue process and initiate political measures to resolve all issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Two girls hang themselves

Two girls committed suicide in an identical fashion, hanging themselves at their homes in the Kashmir Valley today, police said.Fahmeeda (20) ended her life by hanging herself at her home at Dhobiwan-Kunzar in Baramulla district today, a police spokesman said.In a similar fashion, Masooda (18) committed suicide by hanging herself in her home at Bagh Sangarwani in rajpura area of Pulwama district, he said.Proceedings under section 174 CRPC have been initiated to ascertain the motive behind such an extreme step taken by the two girls, he said.

Congress-NC to go to polls together in J&K

The ruling Congress-National Conference coalition in Jamu and Kashmir will contest the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state together,
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday.

The ruling alliance will fight the elections for six parliamentary seats in the state together, Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of his visit to the Tulip garden on the banks of the famous Dal Lake here.

However, the issue of seat sharing would be discussed with the leaders of the junior partner in the combine, he said.

Referring to the reported statement of Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone about his intention to contest the upcoming general elections, the Chief Minister said it was good that separatist leaders were thinking of joining electoral politics.

Media reports quoting sources close to Lone said that he was thinking of contesting the ensuing parliamentary polls.

Abdullah said by contesting elections the separatists could put their point of view before the people in a better way.

Situation

Mahaz meets on present scenario
An extraordinary meeting of Jammu Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi (MeA) was convened at party headquarters Srinagar chaired its President Mir Mohammad Iqbal in which expound discussions were held on present world scenario in contrast with Kashmir imbroglio. Some valuable suggestions were sought from other Mahaz leaders so that party programmes will reach to the common stock of people effectively . Meanwhile deepest condolences were extended to the Senior party leader Mohammad Ayub Ahanger of Bejbehara on the death of his paternal aunt, who left heavenly abode on 28th Feb.2009
02 Girls Commit Suicide
Srinagar March o4: Two girls committed suicide by hanging in Kashmir Valley
One Girl namely Fahmeeda age 20 years daughter of Abdul Ahad Rather resident of Dhobiwan Kunzar ended her life by hanging herself at her home. Proceedings under section 174 CRPC have been initiated. In another incident, Masooda daughter of Abdul Gani resident of Bagh Sangarwani Rajpura, Pulwama committed suicide by hanging herself in her home. Police has initiated an investigation in this regard
Lady hit by a Sumo: dies
Srinagar March o4: A Tata Sumo bearing registration number 1925- Jk01L hit and critically injured one lady namely Haja wife of Abdul Aziz Baba resident of Chajhama, Dangiwacha near Hadipora crossing under the jurisdiction of Police Station Sopore, who later on succumbed of her injuries. Police has registered a case in this regard.
Fire incident
Srinagar March o4: One residential house was gutted and a shop damaged in different fire incidents in Kashmir Valley.
Fire broke at Timran Utersoo Achabal Anantnag one joint three storied residential house of Mohammad Amin Lone,Yousuf Lone and Aba Lone was gutted. However no loss of life or injury was reported.
In another fire accident one electronic shop of Mohammad Rafiq Bhat son of Zahoor Ahmad resident of M.R.Gunj, Wazpora at Qamarwari Srinagar was gutted partially. No loss of life/injury.

Unemployment Troubles Kashmiri Minds

When Mohammed Amin Bhat finished his graduate study, he was full of hope for the future. Today, the unemployed, poverty-stricken young Kashmiri suffers from depression and thinks of nothing but ending his miserable life.
"To me, unemployment is much worse than death," says Bhat, who is about to turn 35-years-old.
"I am not able to feed my father who managed to educate me despite his poverty," he laments tearfully.
Like thousands of unemployed youths in Kashmir, Bhat, a graduate of political science, has given up on hopes to get a state job.
"I have been trying to get a government job over the past five years but I failed."
The long years of dependence on his aging impoverished parents has led him to severe depression.
"I am the eldest son of my parents and I have to shoulder them at least now as they got old," said in a painful voice.
Irfan, another young Kashmiri, has applied to every single job he came across over the years, but in vain.
His failure to get a job has led him to fall prey to depression and anxiety.
"I am now turning old and I see no chance of getting employed."
Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir government sought European help in addressing the unemployment problem in the state which has around 300,000 jobless youth.
Colossal
Dr. Iqbal-ul-Zaman a retired physician, says depression is now a common mental disorder among the youth, citing unemployment as the main cause.
"Over the past two decades, about 76% percent of the patients come suffering from unemployment stress," he told IOL.
"It is a colossal problem. Patients with multiple psychiatric disorders have been coming to us for treatment."
Iqbal-ul-Zaman warns that unemployment does not only put Kashmiris under the yoke of depression but also affects their family life.
"I have seen family breakups and breakdowns due to depression among the youth."
Many young Kashmiris are turning suicidal or violent as they reel under the stress.
"Youth have lost self-control and they overreact to any kind of situation," said a local doctor in Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital.
He added that the cases of committing suicide by hanging, stabbing and jumping into rivers have increased dramatically and they are linked to unemployment.
According police records, about 34 unemployed youth attempted to commit suicide, and 19 of them succeeded, in 2008.
Other depressed youth escape to drugs.
"Sometimes abuse of drugs, like anti-depressants, can also lead to death," Dr. Mansoor Qadri, a post-graduate student in Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), told IOL.
"In such cases, one cannot be sure whether the death was accidental or intentional."
A survey by the Kashmir chapter of Action Aid International last month showed that nearly half of the unemployed youth use drugs to overcome stress and depression.
"I do smoke and even some times take sedatives to ease the tension," Mukhtiyar Malik, a graduate from Kashmir University, told IOL.
He can’t help taking drugs to forget how his parents suffered to help him finish his studies, only to see him end up helpless and hopeless.
"How long will I remain dependent on my father? what is my fault?"

Improve Indo-Pak ties for normalcy in Kashmir: Omar

Gulmarg (IANS): Relations between India and Pakistan should improve so that "complete normalcy" returns to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here on Monday.
“I hope relations between India and Pakistan improve in the near future so that complete normalcy returns here,” Abdullah said while inaugurating a two-day ski event, Gulmarg Derby 2009.
The event at the popular resort town, 60 km from the state's summer capital Srinagar, is being attended by participants from about 40 countries and includes a free ski run, snow boarding and a cross country ski event.
The five kilometre cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola, to carry skiers to the starting point of the race was the brainchild of his father, former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, and even he did not expect it to become such a great attraction, the chief minister said.
He added that infrastructure augmentation for Gulmarg was being planned under a comprehensive project.
“Gulmarg should become a dream destination for all the seasons and not just for summer and winter months.”
In a lighter vein, the 39-year-old chief minister said it was for the first time that he was inaugurating a ski event here and not actually participating in it.
Later, Abdullah actually did a few ski runs to the cheers of the participants here.
“There are participants from nearly 40 foreign countries. Everybody is encouraged by the response we are getting in putting Gulmarg on the international ski map,” said Mehmood Shah, joint director of the state tourism department here.
Many local ski enthusiasts are also taking part.

5-phase Lok Sabha election to be held April 16-May 13

Lok Sabha polls will be held in five phases from April 16 to May 13, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
The five phased polls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh while Bihar will have four-phased elections, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told a press conference in New Delhi.
Maharashtra and West Bengal will witness three phased polls while Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab will have elections in two phases.
Remaining 15 states and seven union territories will have one-day polling.
The counting of votes will take place on May 16 and the 15th Lok Sabha will be constituted by June 2.
In the first phase, 124 constituencies will go to polls on April 16. 141 constituencies will witness balloting in the second phase on April 23, 107 seats in third phase on April 30, 85 seats in fourth phase on May 7 and 86 constituencies in the last phase on May 13. Elections to Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Orissa will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.

Rs. 10650 fine recovered from erring traders in Sgr

Srinagar, March 02–The Legal Metrology department conducted an extensive market checking in Srinagar city including Batmaloo, Byepass, Shalteng, Dalgate, Lawaypora, Jawahar Nagar, Hawan and Khonmoh during the last month and booked 34 erring traders for violating provisions of Weights and Measures Act. A composition sum of Rs. 10,650 was realized from the defaulters, whileas a revenue of Rs. 78,663 was collected from traders for standardizing their weights and measures. No. INF/PR-502/2009Counseling programme for Kupwara KAS aspirants Kupwara, March 02–A day long counseling programme for the KAS aspirants would be organized by the Employment department in Town Hall Kupwara on March 03, 2009. The interested aspirants have been asked to attend the programme on the scheduled date and time. No. INF/PR-503/2009Showket takes over as DC Kupwara Kupwara, March 02–Mr. Showket Ahmad Mir who assumed office as District Development Commissioner, Kupwara today reviewed the development scenario at a meeting of district officers. He was apprised about the status of development works in the district. No. INF/PR-504/2009Mushtaq, Manzoor take over as DCs Srinagar, March 02–Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad and Mr. Manzoor Ahmad took over as Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Kulgam today respectively. Both the Deputy Commissioners reviewed the status of development works in meetings of officers at their respective district headquarters and emphasized the need for achieving the targets in time. No. INF/PR-505/2009 Government of Jammu & KashmirDepartment of InformationPress & Public Relations, SrinagarMonday, March 02, 2009E-mail:-ddiprs@gmail.com Sood assumes as DC Bandipora, Rs. 17 cr spent on dev works Bandipora, March 02–Mr. Mohammad Sharief Sood, soon after taking over as District Development Commissioner, Bandipora today convened a meeting of district officers and took stock of various developmental works under execution as also the supply and stock position of essential commodities in the district. The meeting was informed that an amount of Rs. 17 crore against plan outlay of Rs. 42 crore have been spent on various developmental works upto end of December, 2008 in the district. Speaking on the occasion, the District Development Commissioner said that 500 housing units would be established in the district under Indira Awas Yojna which would provide residential facilities to the people living below poverty line in the district. He said that three ambulances would be provided to the district hospital Bandipora and 25 new transformers would be installed in the district. No. INF/PR-506/2009 Bla Staff Nurses interview postponed Baramulla, March 02–According to a notification of Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, the interview of Staff Nurses scheduled for March 03, 2009 in his office has been postponed. The next date of interview will be announced separately. No. INF/PR-507/2009 Election for MC Magam Prez Budgam, March 02–According to a notification of Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Mr. Mohammad Rafi, the election to the posts of President and Vice-President of Municipal Committee Magam would be held on March 07, 2009. The polling shall be conducted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Hall Magam. No. INF/PR-508/2009 Government of Jammu & KashmirDepartment of InformationPress & Public Relations, SrinagarMonday, March 02, 2009E-mail:-ddiprs@gmail.comHaj Committee announces programme for Haj-2009 Srinagar, March 02–The Haj Committee of India has announced the programme for Haj 1430 (H) -2009. According to Chairman, J&K State Haj Committee, the first phase, single Haj application form for provisional registration for Haj-1430 (H)-2009, can be made by the persons intending to go on Haj. These forms will be available with the J&K State Haj Committee and the respective Deputy Commissioners from March 05, 2009. The specimen of the registration form alongwith necessary information is also available at the website of Haj Committee of India, Mumbai www.hajcommittee.com. The State Haj Committee will also entertain the Xerox copies of the same. The Haj application form duly filled and accompanied by pay-in-slip of Rs. 200 per pilgrim in the name of Haj Committee of India, Mumbai under its Current Account No. 30683623887 should reach Executive Officer, J&K State Haj Committee, Srinagar or the concerned Deputy Commissioner by or before March 31, 2009. The condition of International passport is not pre-requisite at the time of filing of provisional Application for registration commencing from March 05 to March 31, 2009. Subsequently, all the provisional application forms thus received would be put to lots and the selection of Hajis made through “Draw of Lots”. After the draw of lots, the position regarding the list of selected pilgrims will emerge who thereafter can prefer application for issue of International Passport. The intending Haj Pilgrims have been advised to prefer applications for International Passports with concerned authorities in connection with their Haj Pilgrimage only after their selection is made through the draw of lots. This can even at the later stage facilitate the concerned authorities to deal with the Passport cases for the selected Hajis for their pilgrimage on priority. No. INF/PR-509/2009 Government of Jammu & KashmirDepartment of InformationPress & Public Relations, SrinagarMonday, March 02, 2009E-mail:-ddiprs@gmail.comAir sortie for Gurez on March 03 Bandipora, March 02–According to Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora an air sortie has been arranged from Bandipora to Neeru and Budoaab in Gurez on March 03, 2009. The interested persons have been asked to report at Sonarwani army helipad before 8 a.m. tomorrow. No. INF/PR-510/2009