Proposed Kashmir Conflict Memorial

By Alexandra Eckman

DailyPioneer.com recently reported that the Prime Minister of the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Chaudhary Abdul Majid, approved the proposal of a war memorial dedicated to all of the fallen soldiers and militants in the Jammu and Kashmir region since 1947. There have been many attempts, by the separatist groups as well as human rights groups, at creating this type of memorial, but with all the failed attempts, the suggestion was finally turned to the PoK government, who seems to be following through with the idea, originally suggested by the Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

It is said the purpose of this memorial would be to represent the “freedom struggle in Kashmir.” It seems like there could a lot of controversy about whether this memorial is a good idea. It had been proposed many times by the separatist groups to the Jammu and Kashmir Government, but every time they were turned down because the Jammu and Kashmir Government did not agree with the recognition of the people who were killed in custody. However, plans are being put in motion since Majid has now approved the proposal, and a committee has been put together in order to begin the planning process. This committee will be in charge of designing the memorial, deciding on the location of where the memorial will be erected, and essentially building the memorial. Majid has put the PoK Finance Minister in charge of this project. 

Syed Ali Shah Geelani said, “After World War, every European city housed memorials and museums…it is our duty to have a similar memorial for the people who have sacrificed since 1947.” According to Daily News and Analysis, there have been 43,460 people killed in Jammu and Kashmir between 1990 and 2012. This memorial would recognize these people, along with the thousands of others killed since the Kashmir conflict began in 1947.

Recent Developments in the Kashmir Conflict

By Alexandra Eckman

Kashmir

New developments in the Kashmir conflict have now resurfaced in both India and Pakistan. According to The Korea Herald, many people believe that Pakistan has not benefitted much from this long ensued conflict, known as “one of the world’s longest-standing and most intractable conflicts.” The conflict has caused and incredible number of casualties for both countries, and is now causing a collapse in Pakistan’s economy, due to inflation and a large number of unemployed citizens focused on this conflict. Even citizens of the Kashmir region are becoming tired of this never-ending struggle, saying that this conflict “should certainly not come at the cost of our own survivals, and not when all that we will be able to offer them is a failed state,” according to The Korea Herald. From India’s standpoint, many people believe it’s time for them to take a stand and begin the process of forming a resolution over this conflict. The South Asian News Agency (SANA) has reported that the governments of both countries are getting ready to meet to come up with a new solution to this long standing issue. The prime minister of India has agreed to a discussion with the Pakistani government, but India is not hopeful that peace can be brought upon this issue because India does not believe that the Pakistani army is going to support the meeting, and it looks as if India believes they need all the support they can get in order to finally reach a decision over this issue. However, it was also recently reported by The Times of India that Pakistan is not ready to discuss this issue and is currently going to put in on the back burner for now due to their own internal political issues going on. It doesn’t seem like a good idea for Pakistan to put off this meeting because this conflict has been going on for so long and it has brought along so many problems and casualties and economic problems that it’s very likely it could only get worse and continue being a burden to Pakistan. 

Pakistanis Battle Afghan Taliban Lashkar-e-Islam

By Ashley Tomford

According to the Long War Journal, 55 Pakistanis were killed in Khyber from a combination of military attacks, and a suicide bombing on March 2, 2012. This was a fight between the Lashkar-e-Islam, a radical, Talibal-like group, and Pakistani troops. The Lashkar-e-Islam started off the battle by ambushing a military checkpoint, killing 10 Pakistani soldiers. The soldiers manning the ambushed post returned fire and "claimed" to have killed 23 Lashkar-e-Islam fighters. Soon after this first attack, another took place. Outside of a mosque in the Tirah Valley, which was known to be a common place of several Lashkar-e-Islam members, one single Taliban member took their own life in a suiced bombing. In this attack, 22 people were reported killed and it is claimed that only 6 of these 22 people were Lashkar-e-Islam fighters. 

The Taliban tries to justify their attack by saying that it was basically a rebuttle for the deaths of several of their fighters last month. These deaths were caused by the Lashkar-e-Islam. This attack tops off the past attacks in the week leading up to it. Some of these other attacks include the killing of two women and a child in IED attacks and a "clash" between Pakistani fighters and Lashkar-e-Islam fighters, which led to the death of seven men in total. The article goes on to describe why the attacks have most likely been taking place and the past history between Pakistanis and Lashkar-e-Islam members. Lashkar-e-Islam members are fighting over control of the Tirah Valley and will go to all ends to successfully get it. Even if it means taking several of their own lives, in the consistent suicide bombings.