Worldfocus.org presents a live webcasted radio show on Kashmir with the help of BlogTalkRadio.
The disputed region of Kashmir — a source of tension between India and Pakistan — has seen renewed attention following the attacks on Mumbai. But often the interests of India and Pakistan dominate the discussion of Kashmir.
Worldfocus’ radio show discusses the Kashmiri people, their history and the human rights situation in Kashmir.
Worldfocus anchor Martin Savidge has reported from Kashmir and hosts a panel featuring a range of voices and perspectives on Kashmir:
Mohsin Mohi-Ud Din is a Kashmiri-American who is involved in humanitarian efforts in Kashmir, working independently with the Kashmir People’s Tribunal. Mohsin is a Fulbright scholar to Morocco and the drummer of a Kashmiri rock band Zerobridge. He blogs at the Huffington Post. He currently works for the international Human Rights NGO, Human Rights First.
Haley Duschinski is a cultural anthropologist at Ohio University who travels to Kashmir annually. Her research focuses on violence and war, human rights and transitional justice in Kashmir within the context of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. She answered questions about Kashmir from Worldfocus viewers here.
Azmat Hassan is a career diplomat of 33 years standing and former ambassador of Pakistan, where his postings have included Ambassador of Pakistan to Malaysia, Syria and Morocco, and Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York. He is currently on the faculty at Whitehead School of Diplomacy.
Chitralekha Zutshi is a professor of history at the College of William and Mary. She is the author of the book, “Languages of Belonging: Islam, Regional Identity and the Making of Kashmir.” She is currently exploring how Kashmiris see their own past.
Credits:
Host: Martin Savidge
Producers: Lisa Biagiotti, Katie Combs and Stephen Puschel
01/02/2009 :: 12:43:43 PM
Gowhar Fazili Says:
A very basic discussion on Kashmir, probably introducing the rudimentary issues to the World that would find the layers the tragedy difficult to comprehend. Lived experience shows that disempowering and dispossession operates much more subtly and astutely… The motivation to keep the suffering going on over such long durations of time… despite all the stated goodwill, emenates from darker aspirations and desires (mostly collective and concealed)… Kashmir tragedy is not just a product of errors made by chance… but by will. I think, why Kashmir happens to inspire such passion for so many people may have little to do with Kashmir itself (I find exoticisation of Kashmir banefully ridiculous!) but with the deeper selves of those involved. It is only by coming to terms with these hidden aspects of our collective personalty… that are little understood, having never become part of our intellectual discussions… that Kashmir crisis may be understood.