Bangladesh Feature Post Hindus Human Rights Security

Hindu Genocide Unfolding in Bangladesh

The situation in Bangladesh has reached a critical and alarming juncture, with a systematic and coordinated campaign targeting the Hindu community through acts of violence, destruction, and terror. This genocide, characterized by the deliberate annihilation of Hindu religious and cultural sites, as well as the targeted killings and displacement of individuals, poses an existential threat to the Hindu population in Bangladesh. The interim government must act with urgency and decisiveness: deploying security forces to protect vulnerable communities, ensuring justice through swift prosecution of those responsible, and initiating a comprehensive restoration of destroyed religious and cultural heritage. Moreover, the government must engage with international bodies to secure support and demonstrate a commitment to protecting all citizens, ensuring that such atrocities never occur again. Immediate action is not only a moral imperative but also crucial for the preservation of Bangladesh’s core fabric. Updated – Hindu Genocide Unfolding in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Hindus Human Rights Security

672

‘Drip-Drip Genocide’ of Religious Minorities in Pakistan

Arun Anand The movement for the creation of Pakistan out of the larger landmass of India was based on the (in)famous ‘two-nation theory’ that positioned Hindu and Muslim as two irreconcilable identities, and therefore, deserving separate homelands. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the struggle for Pakistan, envisaged it as a Muslim-majority homeland but one that housed and treated equally other minorities as well. However, since the early days of the establishment of the new country, the tone was set when it declared itself as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan under the 1956 constitution, barring non-Muslims from becoming President or Prime Minister. The partition of the Indian subcontinent had wreaked grotesquely inhuman carnage, killing between 1 million to 2 million people and uprooting around 15 million people on both sides of the border. Ever since then the religious minorities in Pakistan such as Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs continued to face existential threats, shrinking demographically and politically. The onslaught confronted by religious minorities in Pakistan is reflected in the distressingly marginal increase in their population since the country conducted its first census in 1951. Religious minorities, which constituted only 3.12% of West Pakistan’s total population in 1951, could only grow to 3.72% by 1998. This 1998 census put the Hindu population in Pakistan at around 2 million, however, it was shown to increase to only 3.5 million in the 2017 census, that is, in almost 20 years. In fact, a comparison between the 2017 and 2023 census figures reveals that the Hindu share of the total population declined from 1.73% to 1.60%. The Christian population in the same period was also shown to have marginally risen from 1.27% to 1.59%. The Sikhs, despite their relentless demands, are not given a separate column for documentation, and are clubbed under the category of ‘others’. Nonetheless, the NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) shows only 6,146 registered Sikhs in 2021, a gigantic downgrade from their numbers before the partition. In contrast, in India, Muslims, who are the largest minority group, registered a 4.4% increase, from 9.8% of the total population in 1951 to 14.2% in 2011. There are multiple reasons behind Pakistan’s pathetic demographic statistics. However, they can mostly be summed up in two factors- institutional discrimination and blatant impunity or even encouragement to radicalized social elements. Over the years, increased space to radical Islamist parties for political expediency or regional geopolitics has meant that the ‘Islam is in danger’ narrative that was employed to demand Pakistan has been sharpened to vilify ethnic, sectarian, and religious minorities. Attacks on minority places of worship have become routine, amid frequent reports of abductions, forced conversions, lynchings, and open calls for genocide. Among the nearly 4 million Hindus in Pakistan, around 90% live in the Sindh province. According to a report, it is estimated that around 1,000 Pakistani women and girls from religious minority groups between the ages of 12 and 25 are abducted, forcefully converted to Islam, and married to their abductors every year. This criminal practice, called a ‘human-rights catastrophe’ by the report, is most acute in the Sindh province, and although girls from all religious minorities are subjected to this brutality, it is most commonly enacted on Hindu girls. Around 20-25 Hindu girls are estimated to be kidnapped and converted in Sindh every month, which means that their already limited access to education, healthcare, and other public facilities is even more curtailed due to a prevalent fear of abduction. The police and judiciary often exempt the perpetrators who many times enjoy social influence and support for ‘scoring’ a conversion to Islam. Another major weapon that has been widely deployed in Pakistan to persecute minority groups has been the notorious blasphemy law. The blasphemy law, although in existence since colonial times when its purpose was to avert inter-religious conflict, was given an extremely harsh form under the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq who is known for institutionalizing Islamization in Pakistan. The law has been weaponized to frivolously accuse persons from minority groups, most prominently Christians, spawning a culture of vigilantism, lynchings, glorification of perpetrators, and expulsion of persecuted people from the country. Prominent political figures such as the former governor of Punjab Salman Taseer and former Federal Minister for Minorites Shahbaz Bhatti have been assassinated for opposing the law, and judges who either convict vigilantes or acquit the falsely accused have to flee the country to save their lives. The pervasive misuse of the law is illustrated by the fact that since the 1920s till 1986, only 14 cases of blasphemy had been reported under the law, whereas at least 1,472 people have been charged under the same between 1987 and 2016. Even more disturbingly, at least 70 people have been reportedly murdered over blasphemy accusations since 1990, including the Sri Lankan Christian worker Priyantha Kumara. In addition to this, attacks on minority places of worship are frequent, however, those have never been tried under the blasphemy law in Pakistan. In August 2023, the fundamentalist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik reportedly led attacks in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad in Punjab and ended up burning 21 churches and hundreds of Christian houses, over an allegation of blasphemy. A month prior to that, the 150-year-old Mari Mata temple of Karachi was destroyed and 2 days later, dacoits attacked a Sindh temple with rocket launchers. The Pakistani state has subjected its religious minorities to structural discrimination in every sphere. From vilifying them in school textbooks, underrepresenting or tokenizing them in government bodies, to systematically promoting their persecution through fundamentalist proxies, it has forced many people from the minorities to seek refuge out of the country. In the words of Pakistan’s former minister and media advisor to the President, Farahnaz Ispahani, the state has been enacting ‘drip-drip genocide’- a form of slow genocide- against its minorities, as it seeks to ‘purify’ Pakistan which literally translates to ‘the land of the pure’. (Author is a senior journalist & columnist. He has authored more than a dozen books)

Hindus Human Rights

742

Akhand Bharat: Manifestation of Spiritual Nationalism

‘Indian Nationalism’ is quite different from European or the Western Nationalism. In this context, it is important to bust this myth propagated by the colonial and Marxist historians that the rise of nationalism in India was an outcome of British rule hence it needs to follow the paradigms set by ‘Western Nationalism.’ The trajectory of Western nationalism and Indian nationalism are altogether different. Arun Anand We have been talking about Akhand Bharat i.e. an undivided India since independence. Many people, especially the youth of today’s generation, consider this concept impractical. Those who oppose this concept often ask the question whether the formation of Akhand Bharat would mean that we will join Pakistan, Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries with present India as a geographical unit? Does the idea of Akhand Bharat include only the Indian subcontinent? Where do countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, which have a deep influence of Hindu culture, find a place in the concept of Akhand Bharat? Will any other country be ready to give up its existence and merge into a unit to make Akhand Bharat a reality? Is it even possible? The answer to these questions can be given in one sentence – Akhand Bharat implies a continuous cultural flow whose root is spirituality, not materialism. Therefore, geography is secondary in the concept of Akhand Bharat. It is not necessary that all countries merge with each other. The eternal consciousness of Sanatan Dharma and Hindu culture has been the basis of the dharma-based life of societies and communities settled on a large part of the earth. With time, this consciousness based on eternal values got lost in many regions. Led Islamic preachers and Christian missionaries, countries were invaded, cultures were destroyed and massive conversions by force were carried out. Exploitation, racism and colonialism were the hall marks of these campaigns. In Bharat too, an attempt was made to eliminate this cultural consciousness from eight century AD onwards. Unfortunately, there was no course correction after independence. But the consciousness based on eternal values is basically spiritual in nature, so it was not possible to eliminate it. In India, with the efforts of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and many other spiritual, social and cultural organizations, there has been a re-emergence of the Bharatiya consciousness. This consciousness is still prevalent on a large part of the earth. When this consciousness emerges in a strong form in various other regions, the dream of Akhand Bharat will come true. Even if all countries are not named India or Bharat on the political map, wherever the values on which Bharatiya consciousness is based are re-established, all those territories and societies will be a part of ‘Akhand Bharat’. Indian vs Western Nationalism One of the key reasons that has led to this confusion over the concept of Akhand Bharat is the absence of understanding the Indian concept of nationalism. What ‘nationalism’ means for Indians is however vastly different from what ‘nationalism’ means for the West. The time has come for the West to look at Indian nationalism from an Indian lens and not through their own perspective which is deeply flawed because of the oppressive and colonial character of Western nationalism. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, Nationalism means “loyalty and devotion to a nation; a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” The dictionary further mentions in an additional note, “intense nationalism leads to war”. Thus, nationalism, in the Western framework, is seen as an oppressive concept that leads to wars and conflicts. While the concept of ‘nationalism’ in Bharat or what we may call, ‘Hindu nationalism’ dates back to thousands of years, it is a very recent phenomenon in the West. The western concept of ‘Nationalism’ originated from the French Revolution in 1789. If you look at the map of mid-eighteenth-century Europe, you will find that there were no ‘nation-states’ as we know them today. What we know today as Germany, Italy and Switzerland were divided into kingdoms, duchies and cantons whose rulers had their autonomous territories. Eastern and Central Europe were under autocratic monarchies within the territories of which lived diverse peoples. They did not see themselves as sharing a collective identity or a common culture. Often, they even spoke different languages and belonged to different ethnic groups. The Habsburg Empire that ruled over Austria-Hungary, for example, was a patchwork of many different regions and peoples. It included the Alpine regions — the Tyrol, Austria and the Sudetenland — as well as Bohemia, where the aristocracy was predominantly German-speaking. It also included the Italian-speaking provinces of Lombardy and Venetia. In Hungary, half of the population spoke Magyar while the other half spoke a variety of dialects. In Galicia, the aristocracy spoke Polish. Besides these three dominant groups, there also lived within the boundaries of the empire, a mass of subject peasant peoples – Bohemians and Slovaks to the north, Slovenes in Carniola, Croats to the south, and Roumans to the east in Transylvania. Such differences did not easily promote a sense of political unity. The only tie binding these diverse groups together was a common allegiance to the emperor. Noted historian David Sasson who earned his PhD under Eric Hobsbawm, one of the foremost authorities on Western nationalism, observed in his introduction to a collection of essays and lectures by Hobsbawm ‘On Nationalism’, “In Europe, nationalism was the product of the ‘dual revolutions’, the French Revolution and the British Industrial Revolution. Some, such as the historian Elie Kedourie (who defined nationalism as a political religion), suggested that the invention of nationalism could be traced back to German Enlightenment thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and Johann Gottlieb Fichte in response to Napoleon’s occupation of German territory.” John Hutchinson underlined the true character of Western nationalism in Nations and War as he wrote, “The ideology of nationalism, powerfully articulated in the French Revolution, emerged in late eighteenth-century

Leadership Policy Security

670

From Turmoil to Transformation: A Tale of J&K after 370

Dr. Preeti Sharma In a recent development, the United States issued a travel advisory, underscoring the grave security threats pervading select regions of India, including the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which was identified as a high-risk destination due to the specter of crime, civil unrest, and terrorism. India responded by characterizing this advisory as a routine practice among nations, thereby downplaying its significance. Notwithstanding this, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has made remarkable strides in its post-2019 journey, marked by the abrogation of its special status and reorganization into Union territories. This transformative shift has accelerated the region’s progress towards restoring peace and developmental activities, as borne out by official data indicating a significant decline in infiltration attempts. After decades of turmoil, Jammu and Kashmir is now experiencing an unprecedented era of growth, marked by improved administration, a secure environment, and an influx of tourists and investors. The substantial developments in socio-economic security, stability, and growth measures have transformed the scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, which now boasts a decline in recruitment into militancy and terror activities. As per the official records, till July 2024, J&K has completely done away with organised stone pelting and strikes, and despite a few incidents happened in last few months, there is a decline in terrorist initiated incidents, encounters, killings of security forces and civilians. The region has witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of 58.46% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the highest in 35 years, underscoring the public’s growing faith in the democratic process. The G20 meeting in Srinagar served as a testament to the UT’s gradual elevation in stability and global significance. Despite sporadic incidents of violence, the progress achieved in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be negated, as evidenced by the record tourist footfall of over one crore till June 2024. In consideration of the intermittent yet persistent reality of sporadic violence, it is imperative to acknowledge the transformative progress unfolding in the region, unobscured by the travel advisories issued by nations such as the United States, which serve as a standard precautionary measure. The remarkable strides made by Jammu and Kashmir are exemplified by the unprecedented tourist footfall of over one crore till June 2024, surpassing the previous year’s tally of two crores. This surge in tourism can be attributed to the significant improvements in law and order, coupled with the successful organization of various events, including the tourism conclave. Furthermore, Jammu and Kashmir has borne witness to a record number of scholars, academicians, journalists, and individuals from diverse backgrounds converging to engage in discourse on peace, nation-building, and institution-building, in addition to the myriad positive developments that have transpired in the aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation. These grand events, facilitated by the ‘South Asia Center for Peace and People’s Empowerment’ in collaboration with GDC Shopian, have been instrumental in revitalizing a locale that was once a hotbed of secessionist fervor and a bastion of intransigence, where the specter of anti-India sentiment once held sway, and constructive engagement was deemed anathema. In this erstwhile state, which was, until recently, a cauldron of insurrectionary zeal and a forbidden terrain for benevolent initiatives, a plethora of schemes and policies have been unveiled, inviting investments and promoting foreign investment in both small and large industrial sectors. The introduction of the new industrial policy in 2021 has been instrumental in catalyzing investments in Jammu and Kashmir, as evidenced by the record investment proposal of Rs 84,544 crores received in the industrial sector. The forward-looking investment policy of the UT has attracted large business groups, including Dubai’s Emaar Group, which has invested USD 60 million, thereby removing roadblocks and redefining politico-economic developments in the region. The burgeoning interest of domestic and foreign investors in vital sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing can be attributed to the lifting of restrictions, improved security conditions, and liberalized land policies, which have collectively shaped the state’s investment policy by attracting Foreign Direct Investment, a crucial catalyst in developing the state’s economic potential. The abrogation of Article 370 and afterwards lifting of restrictions marked a watershed moment for Jammu and Kashmir, heralding the dawn of a new era of economic liberation. The confluence of improved security conditions and liberalized land policies has precipitated a remarkable influx of Foreign Direct Investment, unshackling the region’s latent potential in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Through a series of visionary initiatives and policy reforms, the government is painstakingly transforming Jammu and Kashmir into an investor-friendly haven. The judicious regulation of FDI will serve as a catalyst, elevating the state’s business environment, generating employment opportunities, and enticing further investment. As the region strives for unprecedented economic growth and development, FDI will assume a pivotal role. The possibilities are endless, and the future holds boundless promise, provided that forthcoming opportunities for growth are seized with alacrity and executed with unwavering efficiency. The horizon beckons, and the sky’s the limit, as Jammu and Kashmir embarks on an odyssey of unbridled progress and prosperity. These momentous developments serve as a testament to the remarkable headway achieved in cultivating an atmosphere of enduring peace, stability, and security for the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, this auspicious trajectory shall persist in charting a course of unbridled progress, kindling a radiant beacon of democratic principles, and thereby ushering in an epoch of unparalleled advancement and felicity. Notwithstanding the remarkable socio-economic advancements witnessed in the region, the recent terrorist attacks constitute an incontrovertible reality, having surfaced in novel areas of Jammu, hitherto unscathed by the decades-long terrorist insurgency that has plagued Kashmir. These attacks possess far-reaching implications and underlying motivations, including the strategic recalibration of Pakistan-based terrorist groups in the aftermath of the revocation of Article 370. These groups have redirected their focus from the heavily fortified Kashmir Valley to the relatively vulnerable Jammu region, exploiting its vast and rugged terrain to infiltrate armed militants across the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC). These militants often assume the guise of civilians, procuring weapons from

American Indian Movement - Confronting Injustice and Oppression of Native Americans

World

661

American Indian Movement: Confronting Injustice and Oppression of Native Americans

In July 28, 1968, a revolutionary American Indian Movement was founded that struggled for the rights and dignity of Native Americans, often known as American Indians. It was a response to the community’s severe institutional and cultural oppression. To eradicate the native community’s culture and identity, along with atrocities, there were several treaty violations, forced relocation from native land, and the implementation of hazardous laws. The primary priorities of the movement were defending land rights, restoring sovereignty, and ensuring the continuation and prosperity along with the pervasive marginalization and disenfranchisement, as well as their frequent experiences with poverty, poor healthcare, and education. The social and economic underpinnings of native societies were undermined by the loss of ancestral lands and the extraction of natural resources from those regions.

Business Education Technology

683

Seven Red Flags That Can Sour India’s Growth Story

By Balbir Punj The 2024-25 budget is a smart fusion of political stratagem, coalition compulsions and a slew of deft moves to accelerate economic growth to help realise PM Modi’s resolve to turn India into a developed nation by 2047. However, given the domestic constraints and dismal emerging global economic scenario, the NDA Government’s quest to make India a global financial powerhouse is fraught with serious challenges. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have disturbed global supply lines and devastated the world markets a great deal. No wonder the latest forecast for global growth five years from now, at three per cent, is the lowest in decades. The rise of India would be hamstrung by a bleak international scene, for a vibrant Indian economy will need to increasingly engage with the rest of the world. The budget is undoubtedly an exercise to retrieve the political ground the BJP lost to the opposition in the last Lok Sabha polls. But it’s not populist or irresponsible. The underlying theme is fiscal prudence and consolidation. The promise to peg the fiscal deficit at 4.9 per cent of GDP in 2024-25 is a significant reduction from 5.6 per cent last year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also reiterated her resolve to reduce the deficit to below 4.5 per cent by next year. The misgivings about India emerging as a developed nation over two decades from now aren’t entirely misplaced. India faces some insurmountable challenges that are difficult to deal with, particularly with a fractured polity that has evolved post-2014. Outrageous toxic narratives – completely divorced from facts and reality – are banded about to derail the public discourse. ‘Caste-identity’ – a divisive signature tune – is the season’s flavour. What’s the basis for believing that Modi’s vision of a developed India is not just a pipe dream but something doable? His track record. During his previous two terms, Modi managed to break the mould. Defying the system, he ensured the delivery of benefits to ordinary people sans any leakage. Modi made available gas connections, foodgrains, toilets, housing, drinking water, and road connectivity to crores of Indians. As a result, poverty levels dropped drastically, and today, India is among the world’s fastest-growing large economies, with a GDP growth above eight per cent. But here is the proverbial catch. The aspirations of millions who have moved out of morasses of poverty have since outgrown what the state freebies can offer. This exploding phenomenon is full of unchartered challenges and unexplored opportunities for the country. The expectations of India’s young millions have soared to unprecedented levels. They now want access to a decent standard of living. But can India meet their aspirations? Seven red flags can hold the country back and sour its dreams. #Education and Jobs: Among the “real” challenges India faces, the Economic Survey (2023-24) has outlined the lack of jobs. According to the survey, the country must create an estimated 78.5 lakh jobs annually. The government has launched five schemes to fix the problem. It’s a patchwork solution and leaves the core of the problem untouched. The issue is not unemployment. It’s that of ‘unemployable’. Leaving aside some islands of world-class academic excellence, most organisations styling as educational institutions don’t dispense education or talent but degrees. The state-run educational system is broken. There is no serious effort to resurrect it. According to the 2023 Annual Survey of Education, almost a quarter of all youth (14-18 years) cannot fluently read a class 2 text in their regional language. Only 43% can solve simple division sums. There are millions of slots waiting for qualified candidates. India ranked seventh in a talent shortage, with 81 per cent of employers reporting difficulty finding a skilled workforce. The skill gap is estimated at 2-2.5 million. It’s difficult to miss the irony – millions of jobs are going abegging, and countless remain unemployed. Rising Trade Gap with China: India-China trade touched almost $118 billion, with India’s exports at only $16.67 billion, with a trade deficit of over $100. The Economic Survey has termed it a “challenge”, a “Chinese Conundrum”, and a problem sans a solution. There appears to be no escape from the fact that China would continue to be the overbearing trade partner, with sinister implications for India’s security. Bureaucracy: Rampant corruption and inefficiency have been India’s bane. To Modi’s credit, corruption is nearly extinct in the top echelons of politics and babudom at the centre. However, the twin evils of graft and sloth continue to gnaw at the system from within. The raging NEET controversy and the scandal involving Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer (now under investigation), underline the unsavoury fact of the extent to which the rot has set in. No plans, however perfect they may be, can work till the delivery mechanism is fixed. Judicial Reforms: To repeat an adage, justice delayed is justice denied. These statistics speak for themselves. In 2024, the total number of pending cases of all types and at all levels stood at 5.1 crores, including over 180,000 court cases pending for more than 30 years in district and high courts. Agriculture: The growth in agri-GDP in 2023-24 (FY24) was just 1.4 per cent as per the latest provisional estimates. The second advance estimate was, in fact, only 0.7 per cent. This sector engages 45.8 per cent of the workforce. Most of those claiming to be ‘kisans’ are, in fact, victims of disguised unemployment. Giving 5 kg/per capita/month of free rice or wheat is a dole. Vested interests (read so-called farm protests of 2020-21) successfully sabotaged all efforts to introduce reforms in this sector. This large section of India’s population has to be partnered in the country’s success story. Distorted Narratives: Foreign-funded groups have been hijacking popular mandates using globally tested tool-kits by building narratives based on white lies, half-truths and twisted facts. The ‘toolkit’ was used during India’s CAA and farm law protests. Power Outage: Per capita electricity consumption in India jumped from 16 units in 1947 to 1327

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)

579

RSS is Apolitical, Does Anyone Doubt?

Restrictions on government officials to associate with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were lifted by through a Government of India directive on July 9, 2024. The said order was issued after detailed review of instructions issued in 1966, 1970 and 1980 by Bharat’s Home Ministry. In the process, Home Ministry or Home Office memorandums dated November 30, 1966, July 25, 1970, and October 28, 1980 were amended to allow Indian government officials to participate in RSS activities.

Brief – Moscow Diplomacy: PM Modi’s Strategic Engagement in Russia

Geopolitics International

1.09K

Brief – Moscow Diplomacy: PM Modi’s Strategic Engagement in Russia

The official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow from July 8-9, 2024 was a watershed moment for relations between Delhi and Moscow. In his departure statement, PM Narendra Modi talked about special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. He further stressed the achievements of both nations in the past decade in areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. The strength of strategic partnerships between the two nations was demonstrated by this first bilateral summit since December 2021. The summit gave two leaders an opportunity to evaluate and strengthen bilateral ties. In constantly shifting global dynamics, pressing issues and new areas of collaboration exist for further bilateral developments.

Geopolitics Human Rights Pakistan Security

561

Pakistan Army At It Again!

Army Generals are out there with roaring business deals through land grabs in Gilgit Baltistan that smacks of spreading poverty. Arun Anand Pakistan Army is systematically acquiring land in Gilgit-Baltistan under guise of promoting Green Tourism. Green Tourism Limited, a new enterprise owned by Pakistan army, has secured long-term leases for 44 tourism sites in the region. Registered just before Pakistan’s February 8 elections under Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the move expands army’s commercial interests that already encompass gas stations, housing colonies and industrial units nationwide. Systematic land grab has sparked widespread discontent among locals that view tourism as a crucial means of their livelihood in the region under Pakistan’s controversial control. Groups like Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), Awami Action Committee of Gilgit-Baltistan, and Das Khareem Supreme Council of Astore have vehemently opposed the move. Pakistani government claims that this initiative will attract local and foreign investment in tourism. But stakeholders in tourism doubt the actual deliverables behind the project. They see it as first step to transfer control of these sites to military entities and vested interests. ‘The Friday Times’ report said that 30-year leases include seven Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) motels, 20 guest houses managed by Communications and Works Department (C&WD) and 17 sites under Forest Department. This move exemplifies Pakistan Army’s expanding influence across various sectors of economy, raising concerns about its motives behind acquiring land. Implications for local communities and the region’s autonomy are manifold as the military’s involvement in tourism would lead to further militarization and economic marginalization of locals. The growing discontent and opposition from local representatives underscore risks associated with this initiative and its adverse impact on socio-economic fabric of Gilgit-Baltistan. A significant portion of Hoto Plantation, spanning 450 kanals and considered Skardu’s largest along with 55 kanals of Forest Park, the only public recreational area in Skardu, have been leased under controversial circumstances. Baltoro Guest House in Skardu that was hitherto used by visiting officials has been forcibly taken from Gilgit-Baltistan government. Bullying by Green Tourism Limited, a military-owned enterprise, in acquiring these properties is striking and an indication of how things would unfold in this region. Officials have been emphasizing that Pakistan’s tourism potential is valued at (‘inflated’) $30 billion. A spokesperson for Gilgit – Baltistan Chief Minister justified these strong-arm tactics and claimed that the acquired properties were financially unsustainable. The government argues that leasing them will enable renovation and development, making them profitable ventures. It’s proposed that 35 per cent of income generated will be set aside for Gilgit-Baltistan government and supplemented by 20 per cent annual rent from the properties. But, this claim is dubious and seems to be a cover-up for the military’s economic expansion. Additionally, it has been revealed that Green Tourism Limited has leased at least 17 motels of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for 30 years! Official documents show that this controversial outsourcing was carried out under Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a body seemingly designed to extend military’s economic influence. Pakistan Army’s relentless appropriation of public assets illustrates its unchecked authority and widespread influence. This aggressive takeover of land and resources, purportedly for economic growth and tourism improvement, risks deepening poverty and worsening food insecurity among the already struggling population. By displacing local governance and eroding regional autonomy, military’s incursion exposes a hidden agenda focused on consolidating military control and economic supremacy. Through systematic transferring control of valuable assets from civilians to Pak military, the latter is undermining economic foundations of local communities and perpetuating cycles of disenfranchisement and impoverishment. This dispossession and economic marginalization exacerbate socio-economic disparities, widening the gap between military elite and ordinary citizens. The broader implications are deeply concerning; militarizing economic resources disrupts local economies, diminishes community leadership, and deprives residents of their livelihoods. This appropriation of public and private assets not only hampers potential economic growth and development but also consolidates military’s grip on the nation’s wealth and resources. If this trajectory continues unabated, it forewarns profound socio-economic consequences. The weakening of local governance and consolidation of economic authority among military leaders are likely to provoke heightened social unrest, increased poverty, and exacerbated economic inequality. Pakistan Army’s relentless pursuit of land and resources undermines principles of fair development and democratic governance, posing a serious threat to Pakistani society. These aggressive land seizures and economic takeovers by military pose a significant risk to Pakistan’s socio-economic stability. The unchecked militarization of economic assets not only undermines local autonomy and governance but perpetuates cycles of poverty and exclusion. (Author is a senior journalist & columnist. He has authored more than a dozen books)

Geopolitics Leadership Security Technology

599

Vienna Waltz for NSG

Modi’s visit to Austria signals global leaders to act decisively on nuclear governance, stability, innovation and facilitate India entry into NSG Rahul Pawa In a momentous visit that marks a significant milestone in India’s diplomatic history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Vienna on Wednesday after a successful tour of Russia. This visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 40 years, underscores Modi’s strategic vision to elevate India’s global standing, particularly in the realm of nuclear technology and security. Austria, a key participating government of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), plays a pivotal role in shaping global nuclear policy. For India, securing NSG participating government status has been a long-held aspiration, one that Prime Minister Modi has tirelessly pursued. The NSG, a body of 48 participating governments that seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment, and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons, represents a global group that India has sought entry into for over a decade. India’s quest for NSG entry began in earnest after its landmark civil nuclear agreement with the United States in 2008. This agreement, which allowed India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), was a significant diplomatic achievement. However, for India to fully benefit from global nuclear commerce, NSG entry is crucial. It would provide India with greater access to nuclear materials and technology, enhancing its energy security but most importantly allowing India to contribute more significantly to global nuclear governance efforts. Modi’s visit to Vienna comes at a time when the global tech and security landscape is rapidly evolving. India’s potential inclusion in the NSG should be viewed not only as a recognition of its impeccable nuclear safety and clean usage record but also as a crucial step toward strengthening global nuclear technology and innovation. Austria’s influence within the NSG makes it a crucial ally for India in this pursuit for global good. India’s entry to the NSG has been a topic of discussion at multiple NSG plenaries over the past decade. Despite substantial support from several strong participating governments, Communist Party of China’s (CPC) opposition has been a significant obstacle. At the 2016 NSG plenary in Seoul, CPC insisted that India’s application could not be considered until the group agreed on criteria for non-NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) signatories, effectively blocking India’s bid despite strong backing from other major powers. CPC’s consistent stance against India’s entry, citing rules, procedural issues and the need for consensus, has frustrated many NSG members who view India’s inclusion as beneficial for global nuclear governance efforts and nuclear commerce. Meanwhile, India has made significant advancements in nuclear technology, particularly with its ambitious plans to develop thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a safer and more abundant alternative to uranium, promises to revolutionise nuclear energy. India’s expertise in thorium technology positions it as a leader in this field, with the potential to offer cleaner and safer nuclear energy solutions worldwide. The development of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), designed to use thorium as its primary fuel, marks a significant stride in this direction. Several key NSG members, including the United States, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, support India’s bid, arguing that India’s impeccable nuclear record, responsible nuclear behaviour, and potential contributions to global nuclear security make it a suitable candidate for the NSG. However, despite India’s commendable nuclear track record and significant advancements in nuclear technology, the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) objections to India’s entry into the NSG are perceived as a strategic maneuver to maintain its dominance in South Asia. CPC’s rationale appears to be rooted in a desire to prevent a regional competitor from accessing advanced nuclear technology and materials, thereby preserving its own strategic leverage. This stance is further complicated by CPC’s continued support for rogue nations like Pakistan and North Korea, which have contentious nuclear programs. By blocking India’s NSG entry, CPC not only undermines global efforts to foster responsible nuclear governance and energy security but also hampers broader international goals of enhancing nuclear safety, advancing technological progress in the nuclear sector and avoiding institutional scrutiny of its support to Pakistan and North Korea. As India continues its ascent as a major economic and technological power, its influence on the future of nuclear energy and security becomes increasingly crucial. PM Modi’s visit to Vienna transcends mere diplomacy; it is a powerful call for the world to acknowledge the evolving dynamics of global nuclear governance. The moment has arrived for the international community to move beyond regional politics and strategic rivalries, embracing a future where India’s contributions play a vital role in shaping global nuclear policies. During his visit, PM Modi is likely to engage in high-level discussions with Austrian leaders, emphasizing the mutual benefits of trade, business cooperation, collaborations, and significantly, India’s imminent NSG entry. This visit serves as a clear signal to the international community to recognise the significance of including India in the NSG and to act decisively in the interest of nuclear governance, stability and innovation. (Author is Director – Research, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a New Delhi based non-partisan think tank)

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