International day for disabled in ku

KU to observe international day of disabled today

Special Cell, Department of Students Welfare, University of Kashmir (KU) is going to observe international day of disabled and hold a seminar, a poster and painting competition on December 3, 2011. Theme for seminar will be “Creating Barrier Free Higher Educational Institutions” and theme for poster and painting competition will be “Means of Accessibility, A Way of Empowerment”. Students from various Degree Colleges and Teaching Departments of University of Kashmir will participate in the programme Shaheel Mohammad, coordinator special cell, said that objectives of the seminar are to identify the problems being faced by physically challenged persons, assess the working of various institutions established for the purpose of their help and care, and find out the gaps in redressed of their problems. He said that the seminar will recommend possible solutions in addressing their problems in an optimal way. Vice chancellor KU, Prof Talat Ahmad will preside over the valedictory event at 3.30 pm and Registrar Kashmir University Prof Syed Fayaz Ahmad will inaugurate the seminar and poster competition at 10 am.

Separatists meet Hina

Ageing hardline Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was quite blunt in telling visiting young Pakistan foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar that he disapproves of her country’s exploring alternative settlement and short-cuts on Kashmir dispute, deviating from the traditional stand of "right to self-determination."

She made it clear that Pakistan has no interest to return to former president Pervez Musahrraf’s four-point formula or any other recipe that is seen as undesirable by the Kashmiri separatist leadership. She said Pakistan will not override sentiments and aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Geelani also told her at the Pakistan High Commission here in a 90-minute interaction that Pakistan’s internal situation was a source of concern for him as well as Kashmiris back home and wanted to know what steps its government is taking to stop frequent attacks on its cities and people.

Two delegations, one led by Geelani and another by a seven-member team of moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met Khar separately.

Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference said dialogue and bullets cannot go hand-in-hand. He said onus for progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir squarely lies with New Delhi, as it has to show some accommodation in Kashmir. 

Talking to reporters, after his group met Pakistan Foreign Minister, he said that Kashmir was not a bilateral issue, but concerned people of Kashmir. He also called for inclusion of voice and aspirations of people in the discourse.

Reminding  that his faction was never against talks as they had held meetings with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and earlier L. K. Advani, when he was deputy prime minister, Mirwaiz said "we backed out when we saw nothing was moving ahead."  He asked India to come out of Mumbai syndrome and talk on other matters substantively. Admitting that issue of Kashmir was complex and difficult, but said the progress on the issue was necessary for peace.

FAI'S ARREST: Mirwaiz told reporters that his delegation shared its concern with the Pakistani foreign minister over the arrest of Kashmiri American Council's chief Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in Washington last week dubbing him as an ISI agent.

He said such acts are "shrinking constituency of peace" while everyone is interested in a peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Geelani told the Pakistani minister that he was not against dialogue but history has shown that India uses the instrument of dialogue only to "hoodwink" the world opinion and impose a more restrictive regime in Kashmir.

"We are given no space even to breathe. I was under house arrest for over past 10 days. Even orders of judiciary are openly flaunted. India’s attitude becomes harsher under the garb of dialogue with Pakistan," he told reporters after his meeting.

Though he accepted Pakistan’s support to Kashmir cause and its ramifications on the country, Geelani said he advised the Pakistani minister not to take any hasty step. "Any solution in haste and a compromise will not be acceptable to us," he said, pointing out that Kashmir is not just a border dispute but it concerns the people.

He called for inclusion of genuine Kashmiri leadership to make dialogue "purposeful" and "meaningful." He said the Pakistan foreign minister agreed that for the credibility of the dialogue process to make it result-oriented the Kashmiri leadership should also be involved in the process.

Geelani also asked Pakistan to attend its domestic problems in Baluchistan, Karachi and the issue of Taliban, who are frequently attacking its cities and people. He said Pakistan’s internal situation was a source of concern for him as well as Kashmiris back home. 

He also touched the raw nerve of Pakistan, saying his right to self determination involves not only Hindus and Budhists in Jammu and Kashmir but also the areas of Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad as well, whom Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir.

Expressing concern at the internal situation of Pakistan, he told Pakistani government to gurantee and work towards protecting life and property of people in Baluchistan. "Only your development works of words are not enough," he said. He also had a piece of advice on targeting killing in Karachi. "Why you are not confiscating arms and ammunition in that city?" he asked the Pak minister. He also said while the acts of Taliban were unacceptable as per human and Islamic values, Islamabad should settle the issue through dialogue and reconciliation.

Germany eases travel advisory

In a significant development, Germany has revised the travel advisory through its Federal Foreign Office for German nationals traveling to the Jammu and Kashmir.

Germany has issued a new travel advisory by stating, “Jammu and Kashmir was considerably calm and foreigners were generally not the direct target.”

Germany has become the first country to modify its travel advisory for tourists visiting Kashmir. "The travel advisory issued by the FFO (Federal Foreign Office) for German nationals traveling to the region (Kashmir) has been revised," German embassy spokesman Jens Urban on record has said.

Most of the stake holders here believe that the revisiting of the advisory by German Foreign office is expected to give a major flip to revive tourism in the state. Hailing the revision by Germany, Director Tourism Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah told Kashmir Times that it was much need as far as tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir is oncerned. “It is a great step, I am optimistic about the other European countries,” Shah added. 

Cheerfully, President Travel Agents' Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Rauf Tramboo said that it is a joyous moment for all the tourism related stake holders of the state. Echoing similar view on an optimism note he believes that other European and other western countries would follows the suit by revisiting their travel advisories for their nationals. 

While welcoming the move of Federal Foreign Office of German by easing the travel advisory for their national desirous to visit Kashmir, President, Kashmir Hotel And Restaurant Association (KHARA), Siraj Ahmad said that the hotel owners fraternity is happy over it. “The move would help the state in along way and this is a significant development for Kashmir tourism,” he adds.

It is the collective responsibility of us all to make the state a prosperous one as it has abundant tourism potential which needs to be tapped in a right way for boosting the economy, Siraj said.

Kashmir is not only famous for its leisure tourism but it has great tourism potential in other products, which being developed and showcased in a proper manner.  Besides, promotion of pilgrim tourism, golf tourism needs also to be promoted in a big way.

Worth mentioning, that the decision has been taken after the visit of Ambassador Thomas Matussek, to Kashmir in June 2011.

Jammu Kashmir Travel Advisories

J&K to take up travel advisories issue with foreign countries

Chief minister Omar Abdullah today said his government will take up with different countries through centre the issue regarding travel related advisories.

European countries had issued the advisories to their citizens not to visit Kashmir due to the disturbing conditions.

Omar was talking to reporters on the sidelines of sports function at Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Stadium here today. Chief minister said the situation in Kashmir has improved and things are returning to normal. “People from all the countries should visit Kashmir as they can now move freely given the improvement in the situation,” he opined.

Chief minister said the countries that had issued the advisories should think once again as the situation has improved a lot here. “Before some years a local was afraid to go to Aru-Pahalgam but these days tourists can go to every corner of valley without any fear,” he said.

Replying to a question about the work culture in valley, he said that work culture got a major setback during the last two decades but now the improvement is visible. “We are hopeful that this improvement will continue,” chief minister said.

“Our work culture has suffered a lot a for last 20 years but now the trend is changing and the improvement can be seen on the ground level,” Omar said adding that he was  waiting for one  good season, so that  remaining works are completed.

To a question as to why government did not organize any national event in valley three years before, chief minister said situation in Kashmir was not suitable to organize any tournament at that time.

“Before few years we were not having any law or order problem in valley but the militancy related incidents were prevalent in the state,” Omar said adding that tournaments could not be held in valley due to law and order problem.

Appreciating the players who are participating in table tennis championship, which is held after the gap of 24 years in the valley, Omar said, “It is just a beginning.”

Omar said that nobody might have thought that the Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Stadium would be used again for the sports activities. But now time has changed and people are coming to valley to play.

“It was unfortunate that this stadium (Sher-i-Kashmir indoor) was occupied by the security forces in the past. Then it was converted into passport office but now it will be used only for sports activities,” he said.

He assured up gradation of sports stadium. “In coming time sound and lighting system would be improved further and players would not face any difficulty while playing in this stadium,” Omar assured.

Denial of visa to Jitendra Singh

Expressing resentment over the denial of US visa to a senior BJP leader from Jammu and Kashmir, the party today said separatists are getting easy visas whereas nationalist leaders are being denied the same and asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the issue.

"While the separatist leaders from Kashmir were promptly provided visas to travel to USA and other countries, the same were denied to nationalist leaders", said BJP spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, asking the Government to clear its stand on the issue.

The BJP has also decided to take up the issue at the highest level with the American Embassy as well as the Indian Government.

The BJP was outrageous after its national executive member and chief spokesperson for Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh was denied visa and debarred from travelling to Washington as a member of the high profile eight-member BJP delegation to attend an interactive meet organised by "International Republican Institute" and Republican Party of America from June 20.

Hussain said this also raises a serious question mark on the functioning of Congress-led Government at the Centre and Congress-National Conference coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir which control the agencies providing inputs regarding leaders travelling abroad.

"Such incidents send wrong signals among the nationalistic and patriotic sections", said the BJP leader, adding that "We will not let the voice of patriotism get stifled".

Singh was to present the nationalist viewpoint on sensitive issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir, as well as India’s crucial foreign relations with Pakistan, China and other countries at the meet, claimed the BJP.

Accusing the Centre of being pro-separatist, Hussain said, "Such intimidatory tactics at the behest of separatist-friendly UPA would not discourage the BJP from stepping up its tirade against such forces".