SRINAGAR, India (AFP) - India's prime minister on Saturday launched Kashmir's first train service, the fruit of an eight-year project that overcame tough terrain and rebel strife, on a visit overshadowed by violence.
Security was tight as Manmohan Singh flagged off the first train to travel along a new 117-kilometre (73-mile) line which it is hoped will help transform the volatile region.
"Our intention is that the future of Kashmir should be socially, economically and politically bright," he said in a pre-launch message.
Singh launched the service from Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar, where two Muslims were killed Friday in police shootings on anti-India demonstrators protesting his visit to the revolt-hit region.
Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled Srinagar's streets as shops, schools and offices shut down after separatists and trade unions called a two-day strike to protest the prime minister's visit.
The track links Baramulla town in the north with Qazigund in the south and should eventually be integrated into India's massive national rail network. For the moment, only a 66-kilometre stretch is ready to be used.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and federal railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were also present during the tightly-guarded ceremony.
Officials said the new Kashmir trains would be guarded against possible attacks by anti-Indian rebels.
"We have set up a separate railway police force wing to guard the railway assets and passengers," police chief Kuldeep Khuda said.
The 20-billion-rupee (470-million-dollar) rail project was started in 2000 and involved thousands of engineers and labourers who had to contend with tough Himalayan weather -- especially in winter -- and rugged terrain.
They also had to work under high security, given the near-constant threat of attack by rebels who have been waging an armed struggle against Indian rule since 1989.
Work was halted temporarily after an Indian railways engineer and his brother were killed by suspected militants in June 2004.
In April 2007, a policeman was killed in an attack on a group of engineers inspecting the project.
The track will have nine stations and a pair of air-conditioned trains with large windows to provide a view of Kashmir's celebrated mountain scenery.
The main beneficiaries are expected to be those in remote areas who previously faced long journeys to larger towns and cities.
"It is a dream come true for us," said villager Mushtaq Ahmed from Baramulla. "I have never seen a train in my life. I will try to be the first from my village to board one."
The journey from Qazigund to Srinagar is a three-hour bus ride, but will take just 45 minutes by train.
"It is a god-sent gift to people like me," said Idrees Ahmed, a student who makes the trip every day to a Srinagar college.
In the second phase, the valley will be linked to the rest of India through Udhampur in Kashmir's south. Currently the only way to reach Kashmir is by a mountainous highway.
The launch came as a top Pakistani security officer arrived in New Delhi for anti-terrorism talks on a visit some officials said was linked to growing security concerns in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country, which has suffered a spate of bombings.
Pakistan's National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani will meet his Indian counterpart M. K. Narayanan for talks in New Delhi on Monday, the foreign ministry said.
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by hollowman
This train looks better than other trains good for Kashmiris bright future, isn't?
You forgot to mention the part where the CRPF decided to celebrate Manmohan Singh's arrival in Kashmir by butchering 2 more unarmed civilians (including a 15 year old boy) and injuring dozens more in indiscriminate firing.
In any case, more than 150 years after railway technology arrived in the Subcontinent, the Indian authorities decided to throw Kashmir a few crumbs in the form of 40 miles of railroads. I wonder how long it will be before the military coopts it and starts using it for its intended purpose - the rapid transport of Indian occupation forces and military supplies through Kashmir for the more efficient massacre of civilians.
There are no roads leading into the stations. They say that the building of the roads is the responsibility of the state govt and not the Indian rail co..so yea people don't have any reliable way of getting to the stations.
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by hollowman
^will you tell us what those unarmed civilans were doing?
The 15 year old boy was walking home from Friday prayers when he was shot in the head by Indian terrorists in indiscriminate firing. The other man was killed when the CRPF scum opened fire on unarmed civilians protesting the barbaric killing of that boy.
Good that Kashmir is progressing too. At least relief for the residents who are suffering from militants for so many years. Let's hope terrorists do not bomb train or railway tracks like they did for 'Samjhuta Express' (if i named it right, it travels between india and pakistant).
Imagine kashmiri's will be travelling or seeing train first time in their life !! .. i still remember my childhood days watching coal fired railway engine running ...
The 15 year old boy was walking home from Friday prayers when he was shot in the head by Indian terrorists in indiscriminate firing. The other man was killed when the CRPF scum opened fire on unarmed civilians protesting the barbaric killing of that boy.
don't be so Panic Aunty, it seems anything which is involved in the progress of Indian Kashmiris doesn't let you sleep now prove this what you are shouting in your frustration that the 15 year old boy was killed by Indian army, then I'll let you know what exactly was happened
Also, please check the response of Indian Kashmiris on this train, but please don't abuse them for using this train and don't make your blood boil, just pray for them for their bright future
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by hollowman
don't be so Panic Aunty, it seems anything which is involved in the progress of Indian Kashmiris doesn't let you sleep now prove this what you are shouting in your frustration that the 15 year old boy was killed by Indian army, then I'll let you know what exactly was happened
This "sentence" doesn't make any sense. I've heard rickshawallahs speaking better English.
It sounds like you are requesting proof of the boy's murder in that crudely pieced together sentence...
Quote:
Ishfaq Ahmad, Babloo’s friend and an eyewitness to his killing told Rising Kashmir that they had just offered Friday prayers and were sitting in Bahuddin Sahib’s Park near Police Station Nowhatta.
Like I said, he was coming home from Friday prayers when he was shot by Indian terrorists when they opened fire on unarmed youth. Mowing down stone-throwing teenagers with machine guns and rifles...looks like the Indian army is trying to match this Israelis in state-sponsored terrorism.
This "sentence" doesn't make any sense. I've heard rickshawallahs speaking better English.
I didn't ask what you ride
Quote:
Originally Posted by janab-e-ali
It sounds like you are requesting proof of the boy's murder in that crudely pieced together sentence...
"Ishfaq Ahmad, Babloo’s friend and an eyewitness to his killing told Rising Kashmir that they had just offered Friday prayers and were sitting in Bahuddin Sahib’s Park near Police Station Nowhatta.
“Youth were pelting stones at CRPF. We were sitting in the park. As the protests took a violent turn we tried to head towards our home but CRPF men fired indiscriminately. One of the bullets hit Babloo right on his forehead. I called a few youth who helped me remove Babloo in an auto rickshaw to take him to SKIMS hospital,” said Ahmad.
Like I said, he was coming home from Friday prayers when he was shot by Indian terrorists when they opened fire on unarmed youth. Mowing down stone-throwing teenagers with machine guns and rifles...looks like the Indian army is trying to match this Israelis in state-sponsored terrorism.
You yourself proved armys intention was not to target or kill Babloo, if you 've brain nd can read the whole news it is clearly mentioned there "Army fired scores of rubber bullets to control the situation but that did not work. When a group of youth tried to ransack our bunker at Gojwara we opened fire.Our men might have opened fire at Nowhatta too which caused Babloo’s death. We regret this incident"
Now go and do survey, In this kind of situation it can be happened anywhere in the world. Army doesn't kill people just for "FUN"
Last edited by hollowman; Oct 13th, 2008 at 02:59 AM..
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by hollowman
You yourself proved armys intention was not to target or kill Babloo, if you 've brain nd can read the whole news it is clearly mentioned there "Army fired scores of rubber bullets to control the situation but that did not work. When a group of youth tried to ransack our bunker at Gojwara we opened fire.Our men might have opened fire at Nowhatta too which caused Babloo’s death. We regret this incident"
Now go and do survey, In this kind of situation it can be happened anywhere in the world. Army doesn't kill people just for "FUN"
Judging from the fact that you seem utterly incapable of piecing together a coherent sentence in the English language, I'm going to assume your reading comprehension levels are equally poor. Go back and reread the article. The terrorists allege that one of their dens was being ransacked at Gojwara, and that's why they decided to indiscriminately open fire on the unarmed protesters there with live bullets. The two young men were murdered in Nauhatta, a completely different neighborhood.
As for the second part of your response, outside of India and Israel, opening fire on stone-throwing protesters with live ammunition is considered an egregious violation of basic human rights. In 2005, when tens of thousands of rioting youths took to the streets across France, ultimately causing 200 million Euros worth of damage, the French authorities managed to handle the situation without killing a single rioter. This is of course a foreign concept to the Indian scum who have been attacking Kashmir for decades now. Being a apologist for Indian state-sponsored terror, I would hardly expect you to understand.
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
^
They save the tear gas and rubber bullets for when they're raiding hospitals and assaulting patients and staff, like they did back in August when they attacked the SHMS hospital.
^after reading your this funny reply I can guess you really need to pay attention for yourself, take my advice go and join meditation classes bcoz I've never seen such a unhappy person like you here before, specially when one talks about India no one cries more than you, you seem to be mentally upset since birth.
Ok, next time whenever you will be in any Indian hospital our army will surely pay attention to use their saved rubber bullets and tear gas, Happy?
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
^
Ah yes, babbling endlessly on topics you know nothing about.
On August 11, 2008, the CRPF raided SHMS, one of Srinagar's main hospitals...firing tear gas into patient wards and attacking hospital physicians and staff. That's how depraved your army is...though, judging from your past posts, you'll probably cook up some ridiculous justification for that war crime too.
Last edited by janab-e-ali; Oct 14th, 2008 at 10:35 PM..
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
Janab, so what does all tha thave to do with this train?
Well...if you go back and read the thread, the two most recent deaths occurred during the protests against Manmohan Singh's visit to Srinagar to inaugurate the train service/flaunt Indian imperialism in Kashmir. I was just wondering why the Indians were glossing over the related atrocities when they're gloating about "all they've done" for Kashmir.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
^ the other alternative is taking two away and getting nothing in return?
Am I condemning the trains themselves? I don't have a problem with the technological advancement of Kashmir...my problem is with the smug attitude that Indians feel entitled to take as a result...as if throwing us a crumb every now and then legitimizes their illegal occupation and all the atrocities and war crimes they've committed to maintain it.
Go wage your crusade against Urdu (as if that's Pakistan's biggest problem). With Zardari's recent idiocy published in WSJ, I think we've gotten more than enough Pakistani "advice" to last us a long time.
Well...if you go back and read the thread, the two most recent deaths occurred during the protests against Manmohan Singh's visit to Srinagar to inaugurate the train service/flaunt Indian imperialism in Kashmir. I was just wondering why the Indians were glossing over the related atrocities when they're gloating about "all they've done" for Kashmir.
Am I condemning the trains themselves? I don't have a problem with the technological advancement of Kashmir...my problem is with the smug attitude that Indians feel entitled to take as a result...as if throwing us a crumb every now and then legitimizes their illegal occupation and all the atrocities and war crimes they've committed to maintain it.
Go wage your crusade against Urdu (as if that's Pakistan's biggest problem). With Zardari's recent idiocy published in WSJ, I think we've gotten more than enough Pakistani "advice" to last us a long time.
Dont get personal. To me your just an loner anti-indian hate monger. Theres nothing wrong about this train and whoever died protesting for this train, well their death is meaningless and a waste. And yes, without Pakistans support your little freedom movement or militancy (call it whatever you want) is a little bubble.
Location: usually somewhere between srinagar and san francisco
Posts: 1,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
To me your just an loner anti-indian hate monger.
Not quite sure where you're getting loner from. I wasn't aware you had been stalking me and evaluating my social life.
As for the rest of your BS, those of us who have actually dealt with India aren't quite as star-struck as you seem to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
Theres nothing wrong about this train
I never said there was (assuming the Indian military doesn't coopt it as has been their habit).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
and whoever died protesting for this train, well their death is meaningless and a waste.
Actually 1 was killed when Indian troops opened fire on men protesting Manmohan Singh's visit. The other died when troops opened fire on people protesting the first boy's death. No one was protesting the train itself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spock
And yes, without Pakistans support your little freedom movement or militancy (call it whatever you want) is a little bubble.
Of course. Lord knows we need the leftovers jihadis the Afghan war to turn our nationalist movement into a pan-Islamist mess.
Not quite sure where you're getting loner from. I wasn't aware you had been stalking me and evaluating my social life.
err hate to break it to you buddy, but kashmiri separatism and hatred of india is all ive seen from you. While your participation is good, your negativity works against what you try to accomplish, and this thread is a good example. You should welcome this move by the Indian Govt.
Quote:
As for the rest of your BS, those of us who have actually dealt with India aren't quite as star-struck as you seem to be.
im sure u'll build better trains on your own in kashmir. the day kashmir becomes independent, the day u'll see the hurriyat and the jamaat people fighting over who gets to the govern the country.
Quote:
Actually 1 was killed when Indian troops opened fire on men protesting Manmohan Singh's visit. The other died when troops opened fire on people protesting the first boy's death. No one was protesting the train itself.
Ok, but the thread isnt about manmohan singh. Thats my point, you are focusing your targeting the wrong things to criticize. Criticize Manmohan, but welcome things such as advancement of Kashmir. I think the people there deserve to be on par with the rest of the country in terms of technology.
Quote:
Of course. Lord knows we need the leftovers jihadis the Afghan war to turn our nationalist movement into a pan-Islamist mess.
The world actually looks on it as a pan-islamic mess. I think its about time you accept the reality. India isnt letting go of Kashmir, and pakistani isnt letting go of its part. this LOC will be an international boundary. Pakistan cannot afford to keep this insurgency going with all the international pressure. You might have the people's support there (including mine) but they have too many of their own problems now to deal with.
Last edited by Spock; Oct 16th, 2008 at 11:22 PM..
good for Kashmiris bright future, isn't it?
Of course it looks better that the OTHER trains in India. This is Kashmir and the other trains are in India. 
now prove this what you are shouting in your frustration that the 15 year old boy was killed by Indian army, then I'll let you know what exactly was happened
Linear Mode
gupshup
unplugged
society
arts & cul
features
services