Your Mother

YOUR MOTHER

"Your mother is without a 

doubt the only person that 

loves you unconditionally. 

You are very fortunate 

if you still have her; 

take good care of her."

Popularity and fame

POPULARITY AND FAME 

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Winter foods

آیا مونگ پھلی کا موسم - سردیوں میں صحت کیلئے بھی کافی فوائد ہیں اور دوسرے میوے بھی (جیسے چلغوزے، کاجو، اخروٹ وغیرہ)

سردیوں میں وٹامن سی کیلئے کنو، مالٹے یا فروٹر ضرور کھانے چاہیئں جس کا فائدہ یہ ہے کہ انسان نزلہ، زکام سے محفوظ رہتا ہے- روزانہ کم از کم دو دانے کھانے چاہیئں - الگ جوس نکال کر پینے سے بہتر ہے کہ پورا پھل کھایئں کیونکہ اس کی جلد (فائبر) بھی صحت بخش اجزا فراہم کرتی ہے -

ISIS and Israel

ISIS and Israel

Afghan Taliban were never involved in any terrorist activities. Former Afghan spy chief Rehmatullah Nabil is the main pawn of RAW in Afghanistan !

Jumm'ah

(Repeat) - Winter Tips

30 TIPS TO FIGHT WINTER:

LINK: http://together-we-rise.blogspot.com/2014/12/30-tips-to-fight-winter.html

Wishing Christmas (Urdu)

کرسمس کی مبارکباد دینا

مسلمانوں کو غیر مسلموں کے مذہبی تہوار کے حوالے سے محتاط ہونا چاہیئے - ہم اپنے ملک میں غیر مسلموں کو ان کے مذہبی تہوار منانے کی اجازت تو دے سکتے ہیں لیکن ان میں شریک نہیں ہونا چاہیئے خاص طور پر وہ تہوار جن میں شرک ہو- کرسمس بھی ایک ایسا تہوار ہے جو عیسائی حضرت عیسٰی علیہ السلام کی پیدائش کے طور پر مناتے ہیں اور انھیں نعوذ بااللہ خدا کا بیٹا مانتے ہیں- اس لیے مسلمانوں کو نہ تو کرسمس کے تہوار میں شریک ہونا چاہیئے اور نہ ہی اس کی مبارکباد دینی چاہیئے کیونکہ مبارکباد دینے کا مطلب ہے کہ آپ بھی نعوذبااللہ اس شرک میں شریک ہیں- شرک سب سے بڑا گناہ ہے جو اللہ کبھی معاف نہیں کرے گا- اگر کسی سے ایسی کوئی غلطی ہو گئی ہو تو وہ توبہ استغفار کرلے۔

(Career) - Employees Stay When They Are

EMPLOYEES STAY WHEN THEY ARE:

Employees require certain incentives from their superiors to perform in a firm. It depends on them also though how much they are delivering and whether they are dedicated to their job. All the above incentives can also not be provided by small or mediocre companies.

Labaik Ghazwa-e-Hind

LABAIK GHAZWA-E-HIND

Pakistan Armed Forces - Best of luck

PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES - BEST OF LUCK

Proudly represented armed forces as DG ISPR for 4 yrs 7 months amidst our fight against terror, an eventful time.Great journey for Pakistan. We are best nation with invincible AFs, world recognising. Thanks all spec media for unwavering support. Best of luck MG Asif Ghafoor.

Tribute to Jinnah - 25th December

TRIBUTE TO JINNAH

"THE LOST DREAM" - 25th December, 1876

Posted at: http://bit.ly/1B8En18

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Prophet Jesus (pbuh)

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (pbuh) AND PROPHET JESUS or I’SA (pbuh) -

THE PROPHETS’ BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER (PEACE BE UPON THEM ALL)

All Prophets (peace be upon them all) are intensely respectful towards one another in order to set an example for their followers to hold the other Prophets in great esteem, and exhort their associates to admire, revere and venerate other Prophets. It is not in any manner tolerable or admissible for a Prophet or a truthful believer to be disrespectful towards any Prophet or offend the honour and dignity of an apostle. One such respectful bond is referred to below.

Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) relationship to Prophet I`sa (pbuh)

Imam Bukhari (d.256/834) and Imam Muslim (d.261/839) have narrated that our Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:

"Both in this world and in the hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Maryam. The Prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different but their religion is one."

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported Allah’s messenger as saying,

"I am akin to the son of Mary among the whole of mankind and the prophets are of different mothers, but of one religion, and no prophet was raised between me and him."

These Hadith inform us that all the Prophets of God are sent to perform one sacred mission, and therefore, they all form one fraternity and brotherhood in faith. The difference, if any, is not in the fundamentals of faith, but in the offshoots which in religious terminology is called Shari`ah.

Hazrat Anas (ra) has stated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said:

"Whosoever amongst you is able to meet Jesus son of Mary, should convey my salutations to him without fail."

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said,

"All the Prophets of Allah are like sons of the same father whose mothers are different. I am nearest unto Jesus. There is no Prophet between me and him. Remember, he will certainly descend and you should recognize him as soon as you see him for he will be of a medium stature, his color will be red and white. The hair of his head will be straight and it will appear as if water is about to flow therefrom although there will be no moisture in it."

The similarities between Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and I`sa (pbuh)

There are some striking similarities between Prophets Muhammad  (pbuh) and I`sa (pbuh), son of Mary. Some of these similarities are also found in the Quran. Some of which are listed below:
 
 

1. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) saved the first generation of this nation (Ummah) from the evils of infidelity and ignorance whilst Prophet I`sa (pbuh) will descend as a savior for the last generation of this Ummah, from the evils of Dajjal and his striking force. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said,
   
   

"How can this Ummah perish when I am at the beginning and Jesus son of Mary at the end?"

2. Both Jesus (as) and Muhammad (pbuh) were deprived of fatherly love and care. The birth of Jesus was miraculous in the sense that he was born without a father, whereas the father of our Holy Prophet (pbuh) had died before he came into this world. So both of them grew up under divine care from the very outset of their lives.
   
   
3. Both Jesus (as) and Muhammad (pbuh) were such Prophets who were given Holy books by Allah. The Quran says about Jesus (pbuh):
   
   

"He said : I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me the book and made me the prophet." (19:30)

About Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the same thing has been said:

"Praise be to Allah, who revealed the book to His servant and allowed not there any crookedness."(18:1)

4. Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was supported by Ruh-ul-Qudus (Angel Gabriel or Jibrail), as the Quran says:
   
   

"And We vouched unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with Ruh-ul-Qudus" (2.87).

So was the case with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wa-alaihi wasallam), as the Quran says :

"So Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you saw not." (9:40)

"Say: Ruh-ul-Qudus has revealed it from thy Lord with truth, that it may establish those who believe, and as a guidance and good news for those who submit." (16:102)

5. The most important point of resemblance between both Prophets is that in both of them the predominant quality is that of mercy and peace.

6. The burial place of both the Prophets is in Madinah since when Prophet Jesus (pbuh) passes away, he will be buried next to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Pakistan's Desired Reply To Indian Aggression

PAKISTAN'S DESIRED REPLY TO INDIAN AGGRESSION

PAKISTAN'S DESIRED REPLY TO INDIAN AGGRESSION

Summary below from discussion with Mr. Zaid Hamid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ywvxhkgr0

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared openly that India was responsible for arming Mukti Baani against Pakistan in 1971 and also that India is doing it again in Balochistan to break Pakistan into pieces God forbid. And at present, there are seven lakh Indian troops in Indian-held Kashmir just to oppress the Muslims. How can you negotiate with Indian rulers? They are like mad dogs and the only cure for mad dogs is to shoot them in head. So Pakistan also needs to think of counter-strategy by arming rebel groups in Kashmir against Indian troops, and by also supporting Sikhs' Khalistan movement in India. We should answer bricks with stones.

NOTE: Voice of ZH is not audible at certain sections of the video

شام کے سائے

شام کے سائے

سچ بولو، نما ز پڑھو، حقوق العباد نبھانے کے بارے میں علم حاصل کرو اور لڑکیوں کے پیچھے “زیادہ“ نہ بھاگو - تھوڑا بہت بھاگنا آپ کا حق ہے کیونکہ ابھی نہیں بھاگو گے تو کیا بوڑھے ہو کر بھاگو گے؟ ویسے بھی ہر طرف ماحول ہی ایسا بنا ہوا ہے لیکن ہر چیز میں توازن قائم رکھنا ضروری ہے اور ہر چیز کی ایک حد ہوتی ہے- کبھی مسجد بھی جایا کرو جمعے کے علاوہ بھی، بلکہ کوشش کرو کہ دن میں زیادہ سے زیادہ نمازیں مسجد میں ہی پڑھو- ًمولوی صاحب اور موزن کے زیادہ قریب ہونے کی بے شک ضرورت نہیں لیکن دین کے معاملات کے بارے میں مولوی صاحب سے پوچھنا آپ کیلئے فائدہ مند ہو سکتا ہے- آہستہ آہستہ کچھ اچھی دین کی کتابیں بھی خریدو (بڑوں کے صلاح مشورہ سے) اور اچھے اسکالرز کے لیکچرز بھی سنا کرو- ہمیں اپنے دین کے بارے میں کم ازکم اتنی بنیادی معلومات حاصل کرنا ضروری ہے کہ زندگی دین کے مطابق کیسے گذاری جائے؟ باقی آپ ڈاکٹر بننا چاہیں یا انجینیئر یا آرمی آفیسر یا چارٹیڈ اکاونٹینٹ یا شوہر، وہ سب اور اس کے علاوہ بھی آپ بن سکتے ہیں، آپ کو کسی نے نہیں روکا
:)

- سید رومان احسان

Bollywood - Do You Care Enough?

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مسلمان اور دوزخ

مسلمان اور دوزخ

خود کشی کرنے والا مسلمان ہمیشہ دوزخ میں رہے گا اور قاتل کی بھی اتنی آسان چھوٹ نہیں ہے- اسی طرح نماز کا ترک کرنے والے کی بھی سخت سزا ہے اگرچہ صرف اللہ بااختیار ہے، چاہے تو وہ کچھ لوگوں کے معاملے میں معاف کردے یا نہیں - اور بہت سے گنہگار مسلمان پہلے دوزخ میں جایئں گے اور پھر سزا پوری کرنے کے بعد جنت میں جائیں گے- سزا کا پتہ نہیں کتنی لمبی ہو، صدیوں اور ہزاروں سالوں کا اندازہ نہیں - قیامت کا دن صرف پچاس ہزار سال کا ہو گا اور نیک لوگ آرام سے ہوں گے لیکن بدی کے راستے پر چلنے والے بہت سختی میں ہوں گے- باالآخر سب مسلمان دوزخ سے نکال لیئے جایئں گے سوائے ان کے جنھوں نے شرک کیا ہو اور اللہ بہتر جانتا ہے- اللہ ہمیں صراطِ مستقیم پر چلائے اور دین کی صحیح سمجھ عطا فرمائے - آمین

 سید رومان احسان -

Nature intended normal relationships

Nature intended normal relationships

If a gay couple cannot produce a child on its own then how can some crazy people in this world scream about the "importance of other relationships such as gay parents"? Can we challenge nature when it did not intend to nurture such relationships? If such people cannot control certain trends by living together, the media in East should at least take responsibility by not projecting support for them. There's always a way out if right philosophies are promoted so that a man and a woman live in mutual love and harmony which is what nature intended in the first place. All other abnormal relationships should not be practiced openly and definitely not celebrated by the world through whatever media sources. Our Holy Qur'an also gives the story of an entire nation which was condemned and destroyed by God (Almighty Allah) because the inhabitants were engaged in such relationships without any regard for modesty & morality! 

We seem to forget the concept of "opposite-sex" and the objective of such relationships is the continuation of human race. All other relationships arose out of abnormalities in human life, just like drug-addicts, suicide tendencies etc. Some of the accepted norms in the West are considered very big evils in an Islamic society, especially those about which clear direction is given in Holy Qur'an, the word of Allah (God). Such abnormal relationships should not be advertised in our Islamic society. Only then we can control them from spreading out to others.

~ Syed Roman Ahsan.

POST - Promoting Indian Movies in Pakistan

PROMOTING INDIAN MOVIES IN PAKISTAN

Leaders

LEADERS

Ban on Bollywood should stay

BAN ON BOLLYWOOD SHOULD STAY

It is surprising to see news by DAWN that ban on Bollywood movies in Pakistani cinemas is to be lifted. We highly protest against any decision of lifting of ban against Bollywood movies in Pakistani cinemas and hope this news is just hoax. Indians have carried out immense cruelty towards Kashmiris this year and there is constant firing at our borders by Indian troops since months (in fact since 2014).

Bollywood is not everything and besides the quality of Pakistani TV plays is promising - similarly the movies produced in Pakistan can seize the audience here too. Indian movies are more about fake emotions and height of glamour now. We should not let the moral values of youth be destroyed by Bollywood.The ban should not be lifted !!

- S Roman Ahsan.

December 16, 2016 - A Reminder

DECEMBER 16, 2016 - A REMINDER

ARTICLE FROM 2014 - http://together-we-rise.blogspot.com/2014/12/safety-dua-peshawar-incident.html

سب سے ادنٰی جنتی کیلئے اَسی ہزار خادم ہوں گے- یہ کم عمر لڑکے ہوں گے جو ہمیشہ لڑکے ہی رہیں گے اور ایسے جیسے بکھرے ہوئے موتی - اتنے خادم کس لیے؟ جنت میں جنتی کیلئے کوئی کام نہیں ہو گا، صرف مختلف تفریح کے ذرائع ہوں گے اور اس سے اندازہ کرلیں کہ وہ اسی ہزار خادم کیا کریں گے - اللہ تعالٰی پشاور کے آرمی پبلک کے سانحہ میں شہید ہونے والوں کو بلند مرتبہ عطا فرمائے - آمین

Cold Drink Manufacturers

COLD DRINK MANUFACTURERS

Some of the soft drink manufacturers are Multinational Giant Corporations that are sucking the blood of consumers around the world. Their products are carbonated water that has excess of sugar (roughly 6-8 spoonfuls per 250 ml) and no health value. But people buy these drinks because the corporations employ the best advertising companies for the promotion of their products. These ad companies make catchy jingles and use Number No. 1 models in their ads to attract their audience. Their ads are shown with little time-spacing on TV since these corporations have huge funds to afford their frequent runs. Due to high top-of-mind recall of their ads, an average person would prefer to buy these drinks from market. Would he/she care if these drinks are not good for health or if these companies directly or indirectly fund Israel? Well not exactly...

- S Roman Ahsan.

Best of Wasif Ali Wasif (ra)

BEST OF WASIF ALI WASIF (ra)

Quwwat-e-Ishq

قوت عشق سے ہر پست کو بالا کر دے
دہر ميں اسم محمدﷺ سے اجالا کر دے

Ahmadis or Qadiyanis - Comprehensive Description

QADIYANIS - COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION

Qaidiyanis (who call themselves Ahmadis), are group of people who originated in India and spread to Pakistan and other countries. While the Quran and Hadith clearly states, that Hadhrat Mohammad PBUH was the seal of the prophets, the Qadiyanis, reject this and claim their founder was also a prophet.

Consider this survey of the status of Qadiyanis in some of the Muslim countries:

Afghanistan

In the early 20th Century Qadiyanis were persecuted and some were sentenced to death for apostasy. By circa 1930 there were reportedly no more Qadiyanis in Afghanistan.

Indonesia

In 2008 the president of Indonesia signed a decree ordering the Qadiyanis to stop practicing their version of Islam. Qadiyanis have been killed and their mosques have been attacked.

Kyrgyzstan

In 2014 the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan upheld a 2011 decision that prohibited Qadiyanis from registering with the state as a religion and from gathering for religious activity. They are not recognized as Muslims.

Malaysia

In 1975 the Selangor Fatwa Council issued a fatwa declaring that the Qadiyanis were non-Muslims. The fatwa called for them to repent; if they failed to do so they should be put to death. This was repeated in 1998, when the Selangor Fatwa Council again ruled that Qadiyanis were non-believers, and that any individual that followed the Qadiyani teachings was an apostate. Selangor is the most populated and prosperous state in Malaysia.

Qadiyanis have been arrested for the crime of offering Friday prayers.

Mauritius

This was the first country to declare that the Qadiyanis were non-Muslims; this occurred in the 1930′s.

Pakistan

In 1947, the Qadiyani Community moved its religious headquarters from Qadian in India to Rabwah in Pakistan. But within a few years Sunni Muslim groups came together to form an anti-Qadiyani movement. In 1974, under pressure from Muslim clerics, Pakistan's first elected Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, introduced a constitutional amendment (known as the Second Amendment) which declared the Qadiyanis to be non-Muslims.

In 1984 the Pakistani government added Section 298 to the penal code. This section is commonly referred to as the anti-Qadiyani laws, and it prohibits the Qadiyanis from, among other things:

Calling themselves Muslims or posing as Muslims.
Referring to their faith as Islam.
Preaching or propagating their faith.
Insulting the religious feelings of Muslims.
Referring to their places of worship as mosques.
Sounding the call to prayer.
Qadiyanis can be arrested for “posing as a Muslim” by, for example, reciting verses from the Qur'an.

Saudi Arabia

In 1997, Sheikh Ali Bin Abdur Rahman Al Huzaifi, Chief Imam of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah, condemned Qadiyanis as “traitors…misleading others by their self-made and false Quranic commentary.”

Saudi textbooks teach that Qadiyanis are not Muslims, and Qadiyanis can be arrested and prosecuted solely because of their religion. The focus of such arrests is largely on foreign national workers brought into Saudi Arabia, although some Saudi nationals have been arrested for becoming Qadiyani. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims are required to take once in their life if they are able. The Saudi government has officially banned Qadiyanis from making the Hajj, but some Qadiyanis do so anyway (obviously without declaring their religious affiliation).

In addition to Muslim countries, there are many Muslim organizations and scholars that have declared that members of the Qadiyani Community are not Muslims, e.g.:

Al-Azhar University Fatwa Department, Cairo, Egypt

Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America

Imam Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty, The Gambia

Imam W. Deen Muhammad, United States

Islamic Community of the Bosniaks in the U.S.

Islamic Fiqh Academy, Egypt

Islamic Fiqh Council, South Africa

Mufti Ebrahim Desai, South Africa

Mullah Bashir Rahim, Great Britain

Mullah Tahir ul Qadri, Canada

Muslim World League Islamic Fiqh Academy

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Islamic Fiqh Academy

Permanent Board for Inquiry and Fatwa, Saudi Arabia

Shariah Council, United Kingdom

Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, South Africa

Sheikh Ahmed Kutty, Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, Founder of Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, Saudi Arabia

Conclusion

The Qadiyani Community is a small, fringe group that is widely rejected by the world’s Sunni Muslim community. Muslim countries, and Muslim organizations and scholars around the world do not consider the Qadiyanis to even be Muslims. Consequently, news stations are doing themselves and their viewers a tremendous disservice by allowing Qadiyanis to “speak for Islam.” If we want to be called Muslims, then we need to be very clear that Qadiyanis are not Muslims even if we cannot hurt or kill them.

O You Of Little Resolve

O You Of Little Resolve

The Messenger of Allah (سيدنا محمد ﺻﻠﯽ الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ ﻋﻠﯿﮧ ﻭﺍٓﻟﮧ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction. He replied: “The Prophets (peace be upon him), then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him. A man is continuously tried with an affliction till he walks on the earth having no sin.” - [Sahih Bukhari]

“O you of little resolve, where do you stand upon this path? Adam (as) found it difficult and Nuh (as) lamented because of it, while Allaah’s Khaleel, Ibraaheem (as), was thrown into a pit of fire due to it. Isma’eel (as) was laid upon his side ready to be sacrificed for its sake, while upon it Yusuf (as) was sold for a cheap price and then falsely cast into prison for many years. Zakariyah (as) was sawed in half, and Yahya (as) was slaughtered due to it. Ayyub (as) suffered great distress, while Dawood (as) cried copiously, and ‘Isaa (as) cured the wretched poor of their diseases and walked with wild beasts due to it. And how many, how many forms of difficulty and hardship did the Messenger Hadhrat Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa Alaihi wasallam) face while proceeding upon it – yet you live through amusements and distractions!" [Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: al-Fawaaid]

The Simla Agreement: Help or Hindrance

The Simla Agreement: Help or Hindrance

By

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

December 3, 2016

The mass uprising of the people of Kashmir against Indian military occupation has evoked two reactions from the Government of India. One is extreme repression and the second is the threat of war. On September 24, 2016, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India made a formal statement with full authority: “Pakistan’s ‘awam’ (people), I want to say to you, India is ready to fight you.” He added, “We will isolate you. I will work for that.”

The world powers, including the U.S. has exerted no influence in restraining this belligerent rhetoric. There is also not the slightest sign yet of even a beginning being made towards a meaningful peace process, eliminating the danger of war between these two nuclear countries. The present situation has made it abundantly clear that the status quo in Kashmir is both unjust and untenable. It has thus thrown into sharp relief the urgent need for India and Pakistan to settle the 69-year old Kashmir dispute on a just and lasting basis. 

The question arises: what should be the point of departure for determining a just and lasting basis? The answer obviously is (a) the Charter of the United Nations which, in its very first article, speaks of "respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples" and (b) the international agreements between the parties to the dispute. 

India and Pakistan have concluded multiple agreements which fall in this context.  The first is embodied in the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) on 13 August 1948 and second on 5 January 1949. These resolutions constitute an agreement because, unlike most  resolutions of the Security Council, their provisions were first negotiated with the parties and, in  written statements, explicitly accepted by them.

The first resolution is written out in detail and is self-explanatory. Since it binds both India and Pakistan to respect the verdict of the people of Kashmir to be obtained through a free vote under the impartial supervision of the United Nations. India seeks to propagate the impression that it has been superseded by the Simla Agreement. That the implication is false can be readily seen from a comparison of the two texts. But even if it were true, it would run counter to a standing principle of international relations which is set out in Article 103 of the Charter of the United Nations (accepted by every Member of the United Nations, including India). The Article says: 

"In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the present Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the present Charter shall prevail." 

What, then, is the relevance of the Simla Agreement as far as instituting a peace process between India and Pakistan, fully recognizing Kashmiri’s inherent right of self-determination, is concerned? 

The pertinent facts about the Simla Agreement are: 

i.  It was concluded in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan war of 1971 over what is now Bangladesh. Pakistan had suffered a decisive military defeat and 93,000 Pakistani prisoners-of-war were in Indian captivity. The factor of duress in thus obvious. 

ii.  Despite this circumstance, the Agreement nowhere precludes a settlement of the Kashmir dispute along the lines laid down by the United Nations with the consent of both India and Pakistan. Nor does it require that the United Nations be by-passed in the effort towards a settlement. On the contrary, it expressly says that the relations between the two countries shall be governed by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. One of the basic principles of the Charter (Article 33) is to seek a solution of any dispute by negotiation, enquiry, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means. The linked principle (Article 34) is that the Security Council may investigate any dispute and (Article 36) at any stage recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. The Simla Agreement thus reinforces the obligations of both parties to achieve a settlement in accordance with the resolutions endorsed by the Security Council and, if their bilateral efforts fail, to turn to the United Nations for assistance. Nothing would be more contrary to the Charter -- and, therefore, to the Simla Agreement itself -- than to bar recourse to the United Nations. 

iii.  The Simla Agreement makes mention of "a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir" as one of the objectives of the two parties.

iv.  It provides that, pending the final settlement of any of the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation. This obviously is not a license for leaving problem unresolved. If anything, it implies a commitment to making efforts towards a final settlement. 

v.  The Simla Agreement says that "in Jammu and Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the cease-fire of 17 December 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognized position of either side". To " respect" the line means not to cross it militarily; it dose not convert the line to a legally accepted international frontier. This is clear from the words that the "respect" will be "without prejudice to the recognized position of either side".

vi.  The position consistently maintained by Pakistan that the status of  Kashmir shall be decided by an impartial plebiscite has been recognized by the United Nations and, as it is identical with the position which India itself originally assumed at the world body, it is reflected in more than dozen substantive resolutions of the Security Council. A position safeguarded by the phrase "without prejudice to" can hardly be deemed to have been abandoned. 

vii.  In its preamble, the agreement states the resolve of the two governments to establish durable peace in the subcontinent. Durable peace results from setting the outstanding disputes, not from denying its existence.

It is thus a misconception that the Simla Agreement has in any way superseded the resolutions of the United Nations accepted by both parties. Nor can it be supposed to have narrowed the gulf between them and, to that extent, simplified the task of evolving a settlement. Even if it has done so, its impact on the Kashmir situation would have been open to question. Nothing in international law confers on two parties the authority to make decisions or conclude agreements which adversely affect the rights of a third. The third party here is the people of Kashmir.

Why is the Simla Agreement put in the forefront rather than the resolutions of the United Nations? There can be several explanations. One is deference to India because of its superior might. If this motivates the current diplomatic stance of the world powers, including the United States, it is, to say the least, undignified and contrary to the enduring principles of U.S. policy towards all situations which involve inalienable human rights. Another reason can be the impression that the Simla Agreement, being of more recent origin than the resolutions of the United Nations, might be more effective in activating the process. This is wrong in view of the fact that, for 44 years, the Agreement has signally failed to shake India out of its obdurate refusal to negotiate a settlement of the Kashmir problem. The current Indian position is that India is prepared to talk but there is nothing to talk about except how to crush the popular resistance in Kashmir and perpetuate the status quo. 

If non-implementation were to render an agreement defunct, then the Simla Agreement is in no better state than the earlier, far more concrete and comprehensive resolution painstakingly worked out by the United Nations and concluded under its auspices in 1948-49. If passage of time were allowed to extinguish solemn international agreements, then the Simla Agreement has already suffered the same fate as the resolutions of the United Nations. If agreements are to be revived, then why one and not the other? 

It may also be that the Simla Agreement is being invoked because of lack of knowledge about its actual terms and the circumstances in which it was signed. India is taking full advantage of this factor to spread the misinformation that the Simla Agreement sanctions the perpetuation of the status quo in Kashmir and absolves her from the responsibility of striving for a settlement of the dispute. By citing the Simla Agreement at this stage, or encouraging others to do so, India obviously seeks to prevent those basic issues of the dispute being addressed that were fully taken into account by the United Nations. The Simla Agreement is pressed into service as a formula for evasion. 

A sincere and serious effort towards a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute  must squarely deal with the realities of the situation and fully respond to the people's rights involved in it. The Simla Agreement does neither. Indeed, it was not intended to do so; at best, it is reticent on the issues that need to be grappled with. A peace process mounted on its fragile platform is bound to collapse. Indeed, any process that ignores the wishes of the people of Kashmir and is designed to sidetrack the United Nations will not only prove to be an exercise in futility but can also cause incalculable human and political damage. 

Dr. Fai is the Secretary General of World Kashmir Awareness and can be reached at: 1-202-607-6435   or   gnfai2003@yahoo.com

Random Thoughts on Islam

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON ISLAM

CELEBRITIES OR HOORS?

Many female models/actors of Pakistan today are photogenic and have style but don't forget that jannat ki hoor is a greater reward for chaste & practicing Muslims. So instead of becoming big fans of celebrities, read more about real Muslims heroes and heroines of the past and don't neglect to devote time to 5 obligatory prayers & zikr also. Jannat Ki Hoor will have more style, purity and grace than any of these celebrities we see today.

P.S. - I am not fan of any celebrity and more interested in talk shows on TV but it is hard to miss clips when someone else is watching TV at home.

REWARD FOR PRACTISING MUSLIM WOMEN IN PARADISE

A hoor (heavenly maiden) is God's creation especially for paradise who will have beauty, grace and purity which cannot be put in words. About paradise, the Prophet (pbuh) said that a corner for keeping bow in paradise is better than all that which we see in this world (this is just an allegory since there will be no fighting in paradise). As for practising Muslim women in this world, they will be rewarded in paradise with beauty which is at least 70 times more than a hoor according to the saying of the Prophet (pbuh).

CAN A MUSLIM WATCH MOVIES FOR FUN?

We live in an imperfect world today. We have moved much further away from nature and from our real purpose in life. Technology has benefited mankind in many ways but it has also created artificiality in our lives. There is no harm in watching good and clean movies "occasionally" but we should not become obsessed with them. Try to discipline yourself and learn to say "No" to even your close friends who are pushy. It is because at young age, friends are the ones who spoil you. Say your prayers (Salah) 5 times a day which is absolute farz (obligation) and if missed, then offer 'qaza' (delayed prayer) for it. Balance out your lives and strive to serve ALLAH in whatever do. Your ultimate reward is in afterlife, this life is just a delusion (dhoka) according to Surah Al-Kahf (No. 18 in Qur'an). - S Roman Ahsan.

- S Roman Ahsan.