A few days ago, Farooq Abdullah - from chief minister, former Indian government minister and still a figure of influence in the National Conference - made a typically maverick, but clearly significant, comment in which he described Kashmir as a nation, a nation which seeks Azaadi and spoke positively of those who were fighting for that goal.
“Our youth are not sacrificing their lives for becoming legislators or ministers but for their rights. This is our land. These youth have chosen a path and they have promised to God. You are the sole giver and taker of lives but we will sacrifice our life for the freedom of this nation… Today, a new nation (Jammu Kashmir) is ready, the nation that does not fear guns, and the nation which is out for Azadi. They are taking up guns for something concrete. We need to look into it and the guns need to fall silent. They (Kashmiri gun-yielding youth) are not enemy of any one, neither them (India) nor they (Pakistan).”
What did he mean, why did he say it, and what is the broader context of these remarks? One of Kashmir's wisest journalists, Shuja'at Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, addresses those issues in this important article:
http://www.risingkashmir.com/article/message-from-farooqs-statement
“Our youth are not sacrificing their lives for becoming legislators or ministers but for their rights. This is our land. These youth have chosen a path and they have promised to God. You are the sole giver and taker of lives but we will sacrifice our life for the freedom of this nation… Today, a new nation (Jammu Kashmir) is ready, the nation that does not fear guns, and the nation which is out for Azadi. They are taking up guns for something concrete. We need to look into it and the guns need to fall silent. They (Kashmiri gun-yielding youth) are not enemy of any one, neither them (India) nor they (Pakistan).”
What did he mean, why did he say it, and what is the broader context of these remarks? One of Kashmir's wisest journalists, Shuja'at Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, addresses those issues in this important article:
http://www.risingkashmir.com/article/message-from-farooqs-statement
 Farooq Abdullah |  Shuja'at Bukhari |
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