Meeting Between Heads of State

Leaders of Conflict Region Meet

Several reports confirm that a meeting has taken place between the Presidents of India, Pakistan and China concerning the events that have unfolded in the Kashmir region. The contents of the meeting have been kept secret, but these are the first high level talks between the three powers, suggesting efforts to deescalate the conflict.

-Reuters

Statement from the Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs

The Minster of Religious Affairs for Pakistan would like to clarify a statement made by CNN saying that he believed that the tension between India and Pakistan is a “Holy War” against the Hindus, is misleading. This statement does not reflect the current views of the Minster of Religious Affairs. The Minster has been spending most of his days praying for peace between Pakistan and India. He said at a prayer meeting today, “It is troublesome that close brothers in the region are fighting over land. There are much more important issues in life and I pray that governments can come to a resolution soon. I can reassure you brethren, that the government of Pakistan wants peace and wants it as soon as possible. Bless you all brethren, bless Pakistan, bless the Indian people, and praise Allah.”   

United States Press Release

(Washington D.C.) The United States calls upon China to use their regional power to appease the situation between Pakistan and India. The United States mobilized the fifth fleet in response to rising tensions and violence between the two nations and continues to strongly condemn the unacceptable troop mobilization. The US will continue to work with its allies to ensure lasting peace throughout the region. 

Political Corruption in Lhasa

Lhasa, China: May 19, 2012

Police chief of Lhasa has been convicted of political corruption.  

Statement from the President of India (#2)

Presidential Statement

The Republic of India is a nation of law and justice. General Singh has capitalized on sentiment that is in easy supply in these trying times: fear. Citizens of our country have many rights; they have the right to criticize their government for instance. What they do not have the right to do is launch military campaigns of their own volition. General Singh is using our country's current state to further his own political career.

For all those troops who have been misled: your country is with you. Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and when the time comes for it to be defended, we will do so to ensure the well-being of our citizens. The people responsible for this terrorism will be brought to justice.

Statement from the President of India

The President of India has asked the heads of state of Pakistan and The People’s Republic of China to meet with him to discuss the situation in Kashmir. India believes that a diplomatic solution would be the most direct way to solve the situation in Kashmir, and the government of India wishes that Pakistan and China agree to this summit. India has pledged to stop the military build up on the border if China and Pakistan remove their troops from the border.

Statement from the People's Republic of China

The government of the People’s Republic of China is greatly concerned by the recent encroachment of the United States Navy in the Indian Ocean. We assure the United States that this action is not warranted. We suggest that the United States refrain from intervention in this regional affair..The issue surrounding the Kashmir region should be left to the parties directly involved to resolve without external involvement.

Growing Jihad Sentiments in Pakistan

Ten Hazara Shias traveling through the Balochistan Province of Pakistan were identified as Hazara and pulled out of a bus by an unidentifiable gunman. The ten Hazara Shias were brutally murdered—execution style by the gunman. He is suspected to be affiliated with the Lashka e Taiba (LeT). Attacks on the Hazara have only increased with the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden. LeT continues to suspect that the Hazara of Abbottabad, bin Laden’s final hiding place, helped US intelligence in tracking down bin Laden. 

Hafiz Saeed, a high-ranking official of the LeT, expressed the LeT’s sentiments when he stated, “We do jihad”.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs stated that the increasing tension between India and Pakistan is a “Holy War” against the Hindus. The Pakistani government and the terrorist groups based in Pakistan are engendering a growing sentiment of jihad or Holy War. Ironically, religious persecution continues as ongoing negotiations as Pakistan asserts the legitimacy over their claim of the Kashmir region, due to the substantive population of Muslims within the region. 

Shots fired at the India-Pakistan border

Shots fired at the India-Pakistan border

Reports indicate that shots have been fired on the India-Pakistan border as tensions rise in the Kashmir crisis. Several minor skirmishes have been reported across the border line, but seem to be isolated events at this time, with no major conflicts as of yet. Both militaries are on high alert as the crisis continues to escalate and both China and the United States have mobilized forces in the region.

-Reuters

Rumors of Indian General being removed from his post

Rumors of Indian General being removed from his post

Rumors are circulating that the Indian government is attempting to remove General Singh from his command of the Indian army along the Kashmir border. The General had previously defied the Indian government by unlawfully moving the troops under his command to the border in order to “secure India” and “protect his people from clear Pakistani aggression.”

The General has been a divisive character in Indian politics, with a large part of the population supporting his actions. The government’s decision to remove Singh from power clouds the nation’s intentions on how they will deal with the situation. Will India strengthen the defense of their border or will they remove their troops from Kashmir? We can only hope that the nations will control their impulsive actions.

Statement from the Security Council

Press Release regarding General VK Singh

We, the United Nations Security Council, strongly condemn General VK Singh’s authorization of the deployment of troops to the India-Pakistan border. Military action against Pakistan will not be met with a silent response. The United Nations Security Council is dedicated to preventing a conflict on the India-Pakistan border. The United Nations Security Council also requests that the Indian government maintains control over all aspects of the Indian military as understood by the constructional law. We would like to express significant concern on the presence of a rouge military in a rapidly destabilizing environment. We encourage both the Pakistani and Indian governments to maintain restraint and to halt the increased militarization of the borders. We are highly concerned for the people of these regions as the threat of biological, chemical, and nuclear warfare is significant.

Presidential Statement

The Republic of India is a nation of law and justice. General Singh has capitalized on
sentiment that is in easy supply in these trying times: fear. Citizens of our country have
many rights; they have the right to criticize their government for instance. What they do
not have the right to do is launch military campaigns of their own volition. General Singh
is using our country's current state to further his own political career.

For all those troops who have been misled: your country is with you. Kashmir is an
inseparable part of India and when the time comes for it to be defended, we will do so to
ensure the well-being of our citizens. The people responsible for this terrorism will be
brought to justice.

Statement from the Government of India

The deliberations between the government of Pakistan and the government of India have broken down in absence of Pakistan’s cooperation in recent meetings. The government of India had offered to meet and discuss the destruction of an Indian aircraft and the terrorist attacks in Kashmir. Pakistan obviously does not consider the illegal, terrorist attack of its neighbor to be important to its operations. In the meeting Pakistan sent an unrelated minister, in nature and intention, to meet with the Minister of External Affairs, discrediting Indian attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Kashmir. India is very disappointed with the actions of the Pakistani government and condemns their lack of effort to discuss the issue with us.

Furthermore the government of India considers the inclusion of Kashmir essential, and the region is and will be an inseparable part of India. 

Statement from the Government of China

Alarmed by the unsanctioned actions of a one Indian general VK Singh in the volatile region of Jammu and Kashmir, the People’s Republic of China has bolstered military operations to defend our sovereignty and to defend the Aksai Chin region from rogue Indian elements. It is the desire of the PRC to stress that no Chinese incursions will be made into foreign territory, but unauthorized movements into China will be dealt with appropriately.

Official Press Release from the United States

Official Press Release from the United States

(Washington D.C.) The United States has officially announced that it is mobilizing the fifth fleet in response to the escalation of Indian and Pakistani troops around the Kashmir regions. President Obama has assured the international community that they are working multilaterally to relax the situation and will ensure continuing peace in South Asia. The fifth fleet, under the command of Vice-Admiral Mark. L. Fox. will heavily relocate along the Pakistani and Indian coastline in the Indian Ocean and will monitor the situation. 

Increased Militarization on the Pakistan/India border

Increased Militarization on the Pakistan/India border: May 19th 2012

Increased militarization of the Pakistan-India border has led to politicians in both countries finding it hard to be sensible: even those who would like a resolution are susceptible to domestic pressure—the Indians from Hindu nationalists, and the Pakistanis not just from Muslim militants but also from the generals, who regard India as a military, not a political, problem.

Last month it announced that Pakistan had tested a new mobile missile designed to destroy invading tanks, thus increasing the risk that a border incursion could escalate into something much more dangerous. The head of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence told parliament that he had already picked targets in India, and rehearsed attacks. This is a dangerous time: Pakistan’s militants are keen to show that Islamist terror will survive bin Laden’s death.