Asia

In the first part of this chapter Lal Khan looks at the role played by religion and fundamentalism in the subcontinent. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Kashmir was introduced by both the Pakistani and the Indian states to divide and weaken the movement of workers and students. In the second part he looks at the national question in Kashmir, and the position of the Marxists in relation to the struggle for national liberation in Kashmir.

Many generous donations have been made to the Pakistan Earthquake Appeal that we launched immediately after the disaster hit. Thanks to these donations several camps have been set up and thousands of people have been treated and sheltered. Now the Fifth caravan has been hit by an unnatural disaster, the hands of the thieving Pakistani state! Please protest at this scandalous behaviour!

Many generous donations have been made to the Pakistan Earthquake Appeal that we launched immediately after the disaster hit. Thanks to these donations several camps have been set up and thousands of people have been treated and sheltered. Now the Fifth caravan has been hit by an unnatural disaster, the hands of the thieving Pakistani state! Please protest at this scandalous behaviour!

Lal Khan looks at the division of Kashmir as a result of the partition of the subcontinent. The resources of Kashmir have been ruthlessly exploited for the benefit of India and Pakistan. Kashmir has long been in the throes of turmoil, instability, and deprivation, and the people of Kashmir have long looked for a solution to the situation, and an end to the misery and oppression.

Lal Khan looks at the history of post-partition Kashmir and role played in this tragic history by the Indian and Pakistani ruling classes. He also analyses the roots of the wars and the insurgency that have plagued Kashmir since partition.

The partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan, apart from being a reactionary political act, caused one of the biggest bloodbaths in history. The memory of partition is still painful for those wounded by it. The liberation of Kashmir will not come from UN resolutions or the charity of the imperialist masters. It will come through the revolutionary struggle of the Kashmiri masses, which they have carried on with such courage and bravery for so long.

The PTUDC’s fourth revolutionary solidarity caravan entered Pakistan through the Wagah checkpoint from India on November 6. There were four large trucks on this caravan carrying relief goods including 522 large tents, 4000 blankets, 300 quilts, 500 bamboos, flour, tea, sugar and other basic necessities. This is the second caravan to arrive from India in support of the PTUDC’s relief campaign.

More than half a century after the partition of India and the end of direct British rule, Kashmir is still a festering wound. The resolution of this conflict seems to be as far away as ever. Three and a half wars and several decades of official and “track two” diplomacy have failed to resolve this traumatic issue in the Indian subcontinent.

Lal Khan analyses the history of Kashmir from Mauryan Empire, to the conquest of the valley by the Mughals, to the Afghan invasion, and finally to the rule of the British and the Dogras.  Pre-partition Kashmir was in reality a hellhole for the masses. This is the background behind which the criminal partition of the subcontinent was carried out. Fifty-eight years since partition, there has been no respite in this torment.

We have received the following report from Pakistan about the proposed privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills. Amidst the devastation and destruction caused by last month's earthquake, the Musharraf regime is preparing to launch further attacks on the rights and conditions of the working class.

We have received a report from the comrades on the ground in Kashmir. Despite the devastation and the loss of life the work of the PTUDC continues to move forward and the moral of the comrades remains high.

We have received a report from the comrades on the ground in Kashmir. Despite the devastation and the loss of life the work of the PTUDC continues to move forward and the moral of the comrades remains high.

Marxist MP Manzoor Ahmed was recently in Kashmir with the PTUDC's third Revolutionary Solidarity Caravan. We have received this report along with some photographs of his trip to some of the worst hit areas in Kashmir.

Lal Khan analyses the world situation, looking at the economic and political turmoil all across the world. From this analysis he draws one conclusion: the human race must put an end to the capitalist system before the capitalist system puts an end to the human race.

We have all seen the reports in the media about the lack of doctors and medical supplies in the areas of Kashmir affected by the earthquake. As a result the PTUDC has established a series of medical camps in Kashmir. Under the banner of the PTUDC’s “Revolutionary Solidarity Camp” a team of doctors, composed of comrades from Hyderabad, went to Rawlakot to provide medical care to the thousands of people who have yet to receive any. We publish this report from the doctors on their activities at these camps.

The comrades in Pakistan were just about to publish a new book on Kashmir when the devastating earthquake hit three weeks ago. The comrades have been hard at work on their solidarity and relief operations. Given the current crisis in Kashmir, they have decided to go ahead with the publication of the book. We publish today the introduction by Alan Woods and the first chapter of the book.

An interesting letter from a reader in China, who points out that the dominant mode of production in that country is now capitalism. He asks the question; “following the full market economy then how can we class the current leadership of China, what class are they supporting?”

On Wednesday October 26, the regimes on both sides of the India-Pakistan border finally allowed three truckloads of relief goods to enter Pakistan from India. This is the third PTUDC solidarity caravan for Kashmir, and was organised jointly by MPs and PTUDC supporters in both India and Kashmir.