Although the international community, by and large, has chosen to maintain silence on the gross human rights abuses in Kashmir, the world media has reported the recent innocent killings of Kashmiris in some detail. European media including the German press are no exception to this.

Majority of European newspapers, magazines and websites maintain that the dialogue between India and Pakistan is an important key to resolve all outstanding issues, including the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
French television news channel's website France24.com is also covering Kashmir extensively. Apart from daily stories regarding protests and killings of protesters, the website also covers stories like 'Police intimidating Facebook users in Kashmir', quoting rights group(s). 

Many dailies and weekly journals here in Germany are reporting the Kashmir protests, the Indo-Pak composite dialogue and the significance of a long-lasting political resolution of Kashmir dispute for the lasting peace in the region. 

Socialist German magazine 'Neus Deutschland' writes that the situation in Indian administered Kashmir turned violent just days before the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan were to meet in Islamabad for important talks. The magazine says that the normal life in entire Kashmir Valley was thrown out of gear after the separatist alliance All Parties Hurriyat Conference [APHC] gave a call to protest against the killings of civilians at the hands of Indian paramilitary forces' stationed there. 

It goes on further to write:"The anti-India protest demonstrations in Kashmir and the bloody battles between protesters and security forces have hit the headlines. Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the 'civil disobedience movement' of Kashmiri people and the peaceful protests will continue unless India withdraws its forces from the civilian areas of disputed Kashmir."

The journal also talks about the concern voiced by the Indian Ministry for External Affairs that there might have been some 'forces active in Pakistan' who did not want to 'douse flames in Kashmir' so that the focus remained on Kashmir issue during the Qureshi-Krishna talks in Islamabad. 

Germany's international broadcaster 'Deutsche Welle' reported in detail about the 'ill-treatment' meted out to Kashmiri journalists at the hands of authorities and the 'excesses' by Indian security forces during curfew restrictions. It also highlighted the 'fight of Kashmiri protesters in cyberspace'. Deutsche Welle's English, Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Dari language service websites are covering Kashmir protests in regular intervals since June 11.

These protests are being reported by other popular Deutsch newspapers like 'Bild am Sonntag' and daily 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung' [FAZ]. 

'FAZ' says that the talks between S M Krishna and Shah Mehmood Qureshi-the respective foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, were a step in the right direction. At least the deadlock after Mumbai attacks has been broken. It further writes:"It is clear that Pakistan is trying to play a role of a mediator vis-a-vis Afghanistan. That is why the attempts to present Islamabad's efforts against terrorism are gathering momentum. Pakistan's ultimate aim seems to be playing an active role in Afghanistan and to counter India's strategic involvement there. Pakistan also wants India to move forward on Kashmir conundrum." 

Another German newspaper writes that there are many political parties in Kashmir who either favour autonomy, complete independence or merger with Pakistan. 

English, Urdu, Hindi and Persian websites of BBC too are reporting Kashmir on regular basis.

Swiss newspaper 'Zurcher Zeitung' is also reporting Kashmir protests and Indo-Pak dialogue. 

(Gowhar Geelani is a Kashmiri journalist based in Bonn, Germany since 2006; where he works for Deutsche Welle [Voice of Germany] as an Editor)  

Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST