Sanjha Morcha

Spotlight on Afghanistan by G Parthasarathy

Spotlight on Afghanistan
Bound: The withdrawal of US forces will not take place anytime soon.

EVER since the Soviet invasion of December 1979, Afghanistan has been the virtual epicentre of global geopolitical rivalries. Afghans assert that the main cause for their misery and suffering has been the policies and ambitions of their malevolent neighbour, Pakistan. While there was a significant reduction in external rivalries immediately after the post-9/11 American-led military intervention in 2001, the prospects for reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan have now receded. The US and its NATO allies have deep differences with Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran on the way forward for restoring peace in Afghanistan. India and Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbours regard the role of the Taliban and its ISI mentors with deep suspicions and misgivings.There has been no change in Pakistan’s policies of seeking a takeover of Afghanistan by radical Islamist groups it backs, like the Haqqani Network and the Taliban. India has legitimate concerns, based on past experiences, that a Pakistan-sponsored takeover of Afghanistan will lead to Afghanistan again becoming a centre for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and aircraft hijacking directed against New Delhi. China has provided very little economic assistance to the democratically elected government in Afghanistan. Beijing has, however, used the ISI to strengthen ties with the Taliban, while backing Pakistan’s efforts to promote a ‘dialogue’ between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government. These joint Chinese/Pakistani efforts, earlier backed by the Obama administration, and designed to promote the Taliban as an ‘equal partner’ in its talks with the internationally recognised and elected Afghanistan government, predictably failed. No self-respecting Afghanistan government can, or will, recognise the ISI-backed Taliban as an ‘equal partner’ in talks about the future of the country.With the Americans occupied in presidential elections, Russia entered the scene. Joined by China and Pakistan, Moscow tried to corner the Afghanistan government by seeking to act as a mediator/facilitator in promoting a dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban. The Afghanistan government rejected Moscow’s offer, which echoed Pakistan’s strategic priorities. New Delhi also saw these developments as a diplomatic effort by Russia, Pakistan and China to give the Taliban unacceptable international legitimacy. As the Indian and Afghan displeasure and unease became evident, the Russians broadened the talks to include India, Iran, the Central Asian republics and the US. The US declined to join, saying that Russia had not answered its queries on what the precise purpose of the Moscow talks was.The recent round of talks in Moscow with the expanded membership ended inconclusively. Backed by New Delhi, Afghanistan rejected Moscow’s moves to act as the ‘good Samaritan’ in brokering talks between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government. The Taliban, in turn, with a so-called ‘office’ in Qatar, wants to be treated as an ‘equal participant’ in any talks with the elected Afghanistan government. Going beyond the limits that China has observed in its ties with the Taliban, Moscow has significantly broadened its contacts with the Taliban, in collusion with Pakistan. According to the Americans and the Afghanistan  government, Russia has supplied the Taliban medium weapons, including machine guns. Moscow has also evidently persuaded Iran, its ally in Syria, to back its moves in Afghanistan. Given the American hostility towards it, Tehran has duly obliged Moscow, even though it had earlier worked together with India and Russia to back the ‘Northern Alliance’ against the Taliban. It was amidst these developments that the US National Security Adviser Lt Gen McMaster recently visited Kabul, Islamabad and Delhi. The visit came in the wake of the Trump administration authorising the use of a massive ordnance airburst bomb (MOAB) against the IS positions in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan. This bombing may have looked spectacular, but was not particularly meaningful. Speaking in Kabul, McMaster averred that the US was weighing diplomatic, military and economic responses to the Taliban and the IS in Afghanistan, adding: ‘Pakistan must pursue its interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere, through the use of diplomacy and not through the use of proxies’.Zalmay Khalilzad, who was the Bush administration’s ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, is now in touch with the Trump team on developments in Afghanistan. Khalilzad has indicated that the Trump administration will work with Afghanistan to make it self-reliant and to prevent the country from becoming a terrorist haven again. As this will involve working closely with US allies, Trump’s policies on Afghanistan are to be finalised before the G7 Summit in Italy on May 15. While it appears evident that there will be no precipitous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Khalilzad’s remarks suggest that while the US and Nato military logistical and training missions and economic support to Afghanistan will continue, the Afghan army will have to be professionalised and trained for combat to meet national challenges. The brutal killing of over 140 soldiers in the northern Balkh province by the Taliban should incentivise the Afghan army to raise its levels of professionalism and strike back vigorously.Pakistan’s continuing links with global terrorism have been reconfirmed by information that Bin Laden’s successor, Ayman al Zawahiri, is now known to be living under ISI protection in Karachi. With the US forces still fighting the Al-Qaeda in Yemen and elsewhere, India and Afghanistan would be well advised to mount a diplomatic offensive in the US and elsewhere, to expose Pakistan’s continuing support for radicalism and global Islamic terrorism.  Regionally, India will have to engage Iran, the Central Asian republics and Russia about the need to render unqualified support to the elected Afghanistan government and back its efforts for internal reconciliation. In the meantime, we will have to await the result of the policy review on Afghanistan by the Trump administration, even as we continue to provide economic and military assistance to Afghanistan.Given the growing strategic nexus between China and Pakistan, it would be futile to believe that the Afghanistan policies of either can be influenced by India. Pakistan can be persuaded to change its policies on Afghanistan only if we cooperate with others in raising the costs domestically and internationally for its army’s GHQ in Rawalpindi, in cooperation with others, who are similarly inclined. New Delhi will, no doubt, be considering what can and needs to be done on this score.


HEADLINES—-03 MAY 2017

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MAJ GEN GREWAL TO HEAD PESCO

ARMY, BSF BID FAREWELL TO BRAVEHEARTS

HOPE OF PEACE TALKS DEALT ANOTHER BLOW

AN UNCOMFORTABLE CORNER VIVEK KATJU

OUTRAGE ON THE LOC BEHEADINGS ARE MEANT TO PROVOKE

CHINOOK BASE IN CHANDIGARH

FINAL SALUTE, WITH ANGER WRIT LARGE MARTYR PARAMJEET SINGH CREMATED

RESPOND WE WILL, FOR SURE, PAK TOLD DGMOS TALK ON BEHEADINGS, DELHI CALLS IT DASTARDLY

AMARINDER ANNOUNCES RS 12 LAKH EX-GRATIA FOR FAMILY OF SLAIN SOLDIER GOVT JOB FOR NEXT OF KIN, FREE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN OF NAIB SUBEDAR PARAMJIT SINGH

NO THREATS ISSUED TO CAPT AMARINDER BY CANADIAN SIKHS, CLAIMS SFJ

CAPT DEMANDS FREE HAND FOR INDIAN ARMY TO TACKLE BARBARIC ACTS OF PAK DEFENDS ARMY’S ‘HUMAN SHIELD’ ACT IN J&K

WHY ALL IS FAIR IN DEALING WITH PAKISTAN AND ITS ROGUE ARMY BT LT GEN SYED ATA HUSNAIN

INDIA WEIGHS ITS OPTIONS AGAINST PAK

WALL OF HEROES’ IN 1,000 SCHOOLS, COLLEGES TO INSPIRE YOUTH

WILL RESPOND TO PAK AT TIME AND PLACE OF OUR CHOOSING: ARMY

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Trudeau rebuffs ‘Sajjan quit’ calls over false Afghan claim Defence Minister under fire for overstating role in operation

Trudeau rebuffs ‘Sajjan quit’ calls over false Afghan claim
Harjit Sajjan

Ottawa, May 2

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rebuffed resignation calls for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan over his comments on a 2006 offensive against the Taliban.Sajjan, a decorated former military intelligence officer, erroneously claimed before the Indian think-tank Observer Research Foundation last month to have been the “architect” of Canada’s largest military operation since the 1950s, known as Operation Medusa.It delivered a blow to the Taliban, loosening its grip on Kandahar province, but at a cost — a dozen Canadian and 14 British soldiers died.Trudeau and his embattled Minister endured a withering question-period offensive as Opposition MPs accused Sajjan of “stolen valour” for overstating his role in planning Operation Medusa.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Opposition parties trained their sights squarely on Sajjan, who apologised again in the House of Commons.Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose called it a “cardinal sin” in military circles for stealing valour of others. Trudeau, however, seemed unmoved. “The Minister made a mistake,” the PM said repeatedly. “He acknowledged his responsibility and apologised; that’s what Canadians expect.”Sajjan, on his part, repeated his apology. What he  didn’t do is explain his “mistake”, which Ambrose noted he’d made twice — once in 2015 and again two weeks ago. “It’s not an error when you keep repeating the lie,” New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair said. — Agencies


Pak has always been in denial mode: Father of Kargil braveheart

Pak has always been in denial mode: Father of Kargil braveheart
NK Kalia. File photo

Palampur, May 2

Condemning Pakistan Army’s barbaric act of mutilating the bodies of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Krishna Ghati sector, NK Kalia, father of Kargil braveheart Capt Saurabh Kalia, on Tuesday stated that even after committing such crimes they (Islamabad) proudly denied it saying they didn’t commit such acts.“This kind of act is very common by Pakistan; they don’t feel sad or have a heart of not doing it. Even after committing such crimes they proudly deny it saying they don’t do such acts,” he said.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

He said that to put a stop to this, the government and the Army should take strict action, or India would lose more of her sons in many more ceasefires.On Monday, the Pakistani soldiers along with their Border Action Team (BAT), which include trained border inhabitants, launched a joint attack.They first fired rockets and followed this up with firing from automatic weapons, near Kranti Post located in Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector around 8.30 am.The Pakistanis then crossed the LoC, entered 200 metres into the Indian territory, and attacked a joint patrol of the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), heading towards a nearby post.Defence Minister Arun Jaitley termed the mutilation a “reprehensible and an inhuman act” and said such acts didn’t take place even “during war, let alone during peace”. The attack triggered a major exchange of fire on the LoC and Indian troops resorted to small-arms fire and mortar-shelling, said an Army official.The Pakistan Army denied the alleged ceasefire violation or the mutilation of bodies. ANI


Grants to Army ‘misused’, accounts dept seeks action

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30

Finding widespread misuse of training grants allocated to army units in the Western Command, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has called for urgent corrective measures to be taken for checking financial irregularities and procedural lapses.A report circulated to various establishments by the Controller General of Defence Accounts last week has revealed that contrary to instructions from Army Headquarters, majority of units have utilised Annual Training Grants (ATG) and Technical Training and Instructional Equipment Grants (TTIEG) for procurement of unauthorised items, defeating the very purpose for which they were allocated.These grants are meant for activities like training camps, manoeuvres, tactical exercises, conferences and courses, fabrication and maintenance of instructional equipment and procurement of training stores. The major portion of these grants, however, were spent on purchasing items like air conditioners, TV sets, furniture and furnishings, garments, computer peripherals and sports equipment.  The annual allotment of TTIEG for Western Command in 2015 and 2016 was Rs 19.48 crore and Rs 30.31 crore, out of which over 15 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, remained unspent. For ATG, the allocations for 2015 and 2016 were Rs 25.13 crore and Rs 16.77 crore, out of which 47 per cent and 12 per cent remained unspent.The report also pointed out that in a considerable number of cases, quotations were obtained from suppliers not directly dealing with the items procured. A Special Forces unit procured various types of garments, bags, gloves etc from vendors dealing in electronic equipment, furniture and stationery. Further, different suppliers had the same telephone printed on their quotations.Procuring items repeatedly in smaller quantities spread over a period to bring the expenditure within the financial powers of lower sanctioning authorities and rush of expenditure towards the end of the fiscal are other objections raised in the report.


Daily revision of fuel prices in Chandigarh

Daily revision of fuel prices  in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, April 30

Chandigarh, along with four other cities in the country, will get a new fuel price every day starting tomorrow.Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Udaipur, Jamshedpur and Puducherry have been chosen as part of a pilot project which will see petrol and diesel being sold with a daily price change.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)This is a pilot project of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The revised prices will be conveyed by oil companies to the dealers by 8 pm and will be revised from midnight. The revised prices will also be displayed at pumps. — TNS 


Current rate For May 1Petrol Rs 68.74 Rs 67.67 Diesel Rs 58.04 Rs 57.76


Sabzar — from spurned lover to top militant

Sabzar — from spurned lover to top militant

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmed Bhat’s killing has triggered fear of another unrest, forcing the authorities to impose restrictions at various places today, for Sabzar had a criminal past before he joined militancy.It is being said Sabzar also had a failed love affair. His offer to marry a girl was reportedly spurned by her parents, thus he took refuge in religion for some time.Later, he met Burhan Wani, his mentor and commander, and joined the militant ranks. He joined militancy on the same day when Burhan’s brother, Khalid Muzzaffar, was killed in an alleged encounter and Sabzar snatched a rifle from a CRPF man in Tral and joined militants.His close association with Burhan had catapulted Sabzar to the ranks of top Hizb commander over the years even as his death triggered spontaneous protests and valley-wide shutdown on Saturday.The J&K Police records say before joining the militancy, there were many criminal cases registered against Sabzar, alias Sahab Don, and some of them were even challaned.“He was known in the area as Sahab Don and there were cases of theft, jungle smuggling and abduction registered against him. There was also a case against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,” a police officer in south Kashmir said.A resident of Rathsuna Tral, Sabzar was involved in many stone-throwing protests in the area. He operated mostly in and around Tral.However, after joining the militancy in 2015, Sabzar became a close confidant of Burhan and in most of the social media images and videos, that emerged over the year, Sabzar was seen accompanying him.There are fears that his killing may push more youth to join militancy. However, a senior Army officer said Sabzar’s death would not make more militants.“Sabzar’s death won’t attract youth to militants and there will be no spurt in violence,” General Officer Commanding of Army’s counter-insurgency unit Kilo Force, Major General AK Singh, said on the sidelines of a function in north Kashmir.

Many criminal cases against him

  • Sabzar Bhat’s offer to marry a girl was reportedly spurned by her parents, thus he took refuge in religion for some time Later, he met Burhan Wani and joined the militant ranks
  • His close association with Burhan had catapulted Sabzar to the ranks of top Hizb commander over the years
  • The J&K Police records say before joining the militancy, there were many criminal cases registered against Sabzar, alias Sahab Don

J-K DIARY

Political leadership has brought Kashmir to this dangerous pass

Arun Joshi

Over the past three decades, Jammu and Kashmir has not seen a spell of complete peace.

Here it’s why?

After the transition of power from monarchy to “popular” government, people found little difference between the two. The common themes were autocracy and arrogance of rulers.Things deteriorated to the extent that to retain power and autocracy, elections were not about fair play all the time. The year 1987 was the worst example when democracy lost all its meaning for the younger generation in Kashmir. The Congress and National Conference were equally responsible for the sorry state of affairs that followed after they managed to gain power.The militancy was a direct result of these power games, where the rulers checkmated their constituents instead of dealing with the basic problems of poverty and illiteracy.The most threatening feature of the current situation – unemployment – is rooted in this indifference of rulers towards the yearning for education and dignity.The influential got everything while the men and women with degrees were left in the lurch. This injustice became unbearable at some point of time and they clinched onto the political issue to justify their violence. Vested interests stepped in from all sides and they relished the fast-moving cycle of conflict. Pakistan’s role was a given, but the worst role was played by the vested interests in Kashmir.Today’s situation is far more dangerous than what it was in the 1990s, which is recorded in the history as the period of peak militancy. In the 1990s, anyone with a gun was a militant. His power used to flow from the gun and grenades. Some got the gun to create a balance of power, to save themselves from the gunmen who started militancy. Militancy also opened doors to criminals.Militants then were vulnerable to offers of surrender. They had a weakness for their families. During cordon and search operations, they would meekly surrender.This time around, the number of militants is not more than 200, but they are hardboiled young men. Their number is far less than what it used to be in 1990s, when thousands of them were part of the 180 outfits from Allah Tigers to Hizbul Mujahideen. For the fresh crop, the word “surrender” doesn’t exist in their dictionary. Their commitment is to fighting and dying.Nothing works on them, not even the entreaties of their family members, including wives and children. They fight and die sending out the message that their rigid love for “jihad” is unbreakable.They are perceived in two ways. They emerge as heroes for those seeking “azadi” or freedom through the “sacrifices and martyrdom” of the new generation of militants. Their support to them is unqualified.They are also viewed as destroyers of the “Kashmiri dream” of peace and normalcy. The death and destruction that has visited and peeled the values of the Valley hurts most of the people. At times, they use uncharitable language towards militants.These whispers have started getting louder.But the stone-throwing protests, which have been linked to the “freedom struggle”, have created a new scare. Stones are available in plenty, and there are hundreds of hands ready to pick them and hurl them at the security forces. They create better visuals for their supporters.No individual or collective leadership exercises any control over them. These militants and stone-throwers have their own groups and they have categorically refused to be the followers of any traditional leadership. This is a situation where the self-proclaimed stakeholders are shy of going in for any collision with the new generation of militants.The leaders know that no one listens to them. They are preserving their brand of politics and individual identities by not opposing the destructive interruption in the normalcy and education. This suits them. And these leaders also seek their relevance by acknowledging them as “our boys” after they die in encounters — be it Burhan Wani or Sabzar Bhat. That is the way they run their politics, and as a result chaos flourishes and violence is accepted grudgingly. The real victim is peace. It is being hit both by bullets and stones.When violence is relished, the peace-seekers become vulnerable. That is precisely what is happening in Kashmir in the holy month of Ramazan in 2017.

 


Burhan Wani’s successor, seven other militants killed

Hizb commander Bhat’s death leads to protests, one civilian killed

SRINAGAR: A top Hizbul Muhajideen commander and his associate were killed by security forces in Kashmir on Saturday, police said, sparking violent protests across the valley that left one civilian dead and many others injured.

WASEEM ANDRABI/HTArmy personnel stand outside a house that was damaged during an encounter between militants and security forces at Soimoh village in Tral area, 45km south of Srinagar, on Saturday.Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, 27, believed to be the successor of slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, was gunned down in an overnight raid at a hideout in Tral. The incident came within of hours of the army killing six suspected militants trying to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan described the incidents as “extra-judicial killings” and asked the international community to stop the “ruthless killing of defenceless Kashmiris”. India blames Pakistan for waging a proxy war in Kashmir by sending trained militants.

Kashmir is on the boil since the killing of Wani — a poster-boy of homegrown militancy — deepened anti-India sentiments in the valley. Nearly 100 people were killed in street protests and hundreds of others were blinded or maimed by pellets fired by forces.

Recent videos of alleged human right violations by forces, including the parading of a Kashmiri man tied to an army vehicle, have also fanned public anger.

On Saturday, the government cut mobile internet as protests spread to capital Srinagar where people rushed to stock fuel fearing prolonged unrest. The separatist Hurriyat Conference called a two-day shutdown starting Sunday.

“Two militants were killed in the encounter, one has been identified as Sabzar Bhat, commander of Hizbul Mujahideen,” said SP Pani, South Kashmir director general of police. Bhat carried a reward of ₹10 lakh on him.

Reporters saw smoke billowing from the burnt out, two-storey house where Bhat was killed. One jawan was seen carrying what appeared to be two assault rifles of the slain militants.

The bearded Bhat – a contrast to the clean-shaven Wani — was among a group of young, techsavvy militants who used social media to spread their ideology and woo the youth to their cause.

After Wani’s death, the HM named one Mehmood Gaznavi as the new Kashmir commander.

It was widely believed it was an alias of Bhat.

The news of Bhat’s death triggered widespread protests in Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Sopore, Kupwara and Srinagar, and large parts of the valley shut down. In many places, protesters pelted stones at forces, who retaliated with pellets and bullets, sources said.

A senior Pulwama district official confirmed the death of the civilian in “crossfiring” by security forces near the encounter site in Tral in south Kashmir, which has emerged as a hotbed of militancy. SRINAGAR: Sabzar Bhat picked up a gun in April 2015 to become a militant. He lasted barely two years. But by the time he was killed on Saturday, police say the 27-yearold had a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head.

Bhat was a close aide of Hizbul Mujahedeen commander Burhan Wani, who was gunned down by security forces last year. He joined the ranks of militants around the time Wani’s brother, Khalid Muzaffar Wani, was killed by security forces.

The army had said Khalid was killed in an encounter after a patrol came under fire from militants and that he was an overground Hizbul worker. Khalid’s family claimed he was innocent but was “tortured to death” for being Burhan’s elder brother.

Bhat was quite close to Wani with some reports even suggesting he was the one Wani trusted the most. In a photo that was widely shared on social media, the two were seen standing together, Wani with his short hair and trimmed beard and Bhat with a thick beard and wearing a woollen cap.

Bhat and Wani belonged to the first batch of tech-savvy new-age local militants in Kashmir. Bhat also featured in the infamous photograph of 11 militants with Wani at the centre of it.

But unlike Wani, Bhat kept a low profile on social media. After Wani was killed, news went around that Bhat would possibly be named by Hizb as the successor. But the militant body finally named one Mehmood Gaznavi as its new commander in Kashmir.

And while militant Zakir Musa — who recently made headlines after threatening to behead separatists and then announcing a departure from Hizb — routinely uploaded video messages, none came from Bhat.

But absence from social media did not dent his support base, particularly among youth in south Kashmir. Local sources say Bhat, a native of Rathsuna village in Tral, has participated in many stone-pelting protests in the area before joining militant ranks. Many referred to Bhat as “Sab Don”, sources add. As a militant, Sabzar operated in south Kashmir, in and around Tral.

Police sources say before he became a militant, he was accused of theft. In March, Bhat was trapped in a gunfight with security forces in Tral. He managed to escape only after villagers threw stones at security personnel to disrupt the counter-insurgency operation.

 

Srinagar, May 27

Six militants were killed as the Army foiled a major infiltration bid last night in Rampur sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.The bid was foiled hours after the Army thwarted a Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) attack and killed two militants in the neighbouring Uri sector. The Army said the infiltration attempt was foiled near Rustum post between Uri and Gulmarg when soldiers noticed the movement of heavily armed militants between the Line of Control and the fence, also known as Anti-Insurgency Obstacle System, around 8 pm.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Defence sources said the movement of the infiltrators was picked up and they were allowed to advance. “As they came in, they were challenged. The gunfight continued for at least two hours. A tight cordon was maintained the entire night in the thick forest area. Searches were carried out in the morning and we first recovered four bodies of terrorists while two more were found later,” they said.Four AK rifles, two pistols, an under-barrel grenade launcher and war-like stores were seized from the site. The identity and group affiliation of the militants was being ascertained, they said.Meanwhile, the Udhampur-based defence spokesman of the Northern Command said security forces had mounted operations to thwart attempts by Pakistan to boost terror activities from across the Line of Control. — TNS

 


Hemkund Sahib opens after winter closure

Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand), May 25

The Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib was reopened this morning with over five thousand devotees paying obeisance at shrine in the Himalayas.

The gates of the pilgrimage centre were opened at 9.30 am after which traditional prayers were offered, a shrine official said.

The first ‘ardas’ was offered as soon as the gates were opened a recitation of the ‘Sukhmani’ sahib was done after that, Seva Singh, a representative of the shrine’s management committee, said.

About an hour later a shabad kirtan was also held, he said.

Over 5,000 devotees offered prayers at the Sikh shrine located at height of 16,000 ft above the sea level, he said.

Guru Gobind Singh is said to have performed ‘Tapasya’ at Hemkunt Sahib, which is situated about 21 km away from Govindghat on the Badrinath National Highway. —PTI

Dekho Shri Hemkunt Sahib De Raste Vich Kive Pendi Hai Baraf

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5,000 devotees offer prayers at Hemkunt Sahib on Day 1

Gopeshwar, May 25

The Sikh shrine of Hemkunt Sahib was reopened this morning with over 5,000 devotees paying obeisance at shrine in the Himalayas.The gates of the pilgrimage centre were opened at 9.30 am after which traditional prayers were offered, a shrine official said.The first ‘ardas’ was offered as soon as the gates were opened a recitation of the ‘Sukhmani’ sahib was done after that, Seva Singh, a representative of the shrine’s management committee, said.About an hour later a shabad kirtan was also held, he said.Over 5,000 devotees offered prayers at the Sikh shrine located at height of 16,000 ft above the sea level, he said.Guru Gobind Singh is said to have performed ‘Tapasya’ at Hemkunt Sahib which is situated about 21 km away from Govindghat on the Badrinath National Highway. —PTI

5200 फुट की ऊंचाई पर स्थित है हेमकुंट साहिब, इन कठिनाईयों से होकर यहां पहुंचते हैं श्रद्धालु

यह गुरुद्वारा उत्तराखंड के चमोली जिले में है. यह सिखों का एक प्रसिद्ध तीर्थ स्थल है.

15200 फुट की ऊंचाई पर स्थित है हेमकुंट साहिब, इन कठिनाईयों से होकर यहां पहुंचते हैं श्रद्धालु

हिमालय में 15,200 फुट की ऊंचाई पर बर्फीली झील किनारे सात पहाड़ों के बीच बना है हेमकुंट साहिब गुरुद्वारा. इसे गुरुवार 25 मई से श्रद्धालुओं के दर्शनार्थ खोल दिया गया है. यह गुरुद्वारा उत्तराखंड के चमोली जिले में है. यह सिखों का एक प्रसिद्ध तीर्थ स्थल है. एक नजर इससे जुड़ी रोचक बातों पर-

  • हेमकुंट साहिब के आसपास अभी भी बर्फ जमी रहती है. जिसे काटकर सेना के जवान श्रद्धालुओं के लिए रास्ता बना देते हैं.
  • उच्च हिमालयी क्षेत्र में स्थित बदरीनाथ, केदारनाथ सहित चारों धामों की तरह हेमकुंट साहिब क्षेत्र के भी सर्दियों में भारी बर्फवारी और भीषण ठंड की चपेट में रहने के कारण उसके कपाट श्रद्वालुओं के लिये बंद कर दिये जाते हैं जो अगले साल गर्मियों में दोबारा खोल दिये जाते हैं.
  • ऋषिकेश-बदरीनाथ हाईवे के गोविंद घाट से पैदल चढ़ाई करने के बाद हेमकुंट साहिब पहुंचा जाता है.
  • गोविंदघाट ऋषिकेश से सड़क मार्ग से 290 किमी दूर बदरीनाथ के पास है.
  • गोविंदघाट पहुंचने के बाद भी और 19 किमी पैदल चलना पड़ता है, जिसके बाद पवित्र हेमकुंट साहिब के दर्शन होते हैं.
  • हेमकुंट साहिब के दर्शन के बाद तीर्थयात्री गोविंदघाट से 13 किमी दूर घांघरिया में रात्रि विश्राम करते हैं.

हेमकुंट साहिब के कपाट खुले, छह महीने बर्फ से ढका रहता है गुरुद्वारा…

प्रसिद्व सिख तीर्थस्थल हेमकुंट साहिब के कपाट श्रद्वालुओं के लिये आज से खुल गए हैं. इसके लिये तीर्थयात्रियों का पहला जत्था कल गोविंदघाट से रवाना हुआ था

हेमकुंट साहिब के कपाट खुले, छह महीने बर्फ से ढका रहता है गुरुद्वारा...

चमोली जिले में उच्च हिमालयी क्षेत्र में स्थित प्रसिद्व सिख तीर्थस्थल हेमकुंट साहिब के कपाट श्रद्वालुओं के लिये आज से खुल गए हैं. इसके लिये तीर्थयात्रियों का पहला जत्था कल गोविंदघाट से रवाना हुआ था. लगभग पांच हजार तीर्थयात्रियों के पहले जत्थे को प्रदेश के पर्यटन और धर्मस्व कार्य मंत्री सतपाल महाराज ने हरी झंडी दिखाकर गोविंदघाट से घांघरिया के लिये रवाना किया. इस मौके पर महाराज ने तीर्थयात्रियों से तीर्थस्थल की पवित्रता बनाये रखने की अपील करते हुए कहा कि इस बार हेमकुंट मार्ग में तीर्थयात्रियों के लिये बेहतर व्यवस्था बनाने का प्रयास किया गया है.

उन्होंने कहा कि स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं के लिये भी राज्य सरकार की ओर से विशेष प्रयास किये जा रहे हैं. मंत्री ने श्रद्वालुओं से अनुरोध किया कि वे मार्ग और तीर्थस्थल में स्वच्छता बनाये रखने में सहयोग दें.

गोविंदघाट से 15 किलोमीटर दूर स्थित घांघरिया में यह जत्था रात्रि विश्राम करेगा. श्री हेमकुंट गुरूद्वारा प्रबंध समिति के प्रबंधक सेवा सिंह ने बताया कि हेमकुंट साहिब के कपाट 25 मई को पूर्वाह्न में श्रद्वालुओं के लिये खोल दिये जायेंगे. उन्होंने बताया कि यात्रा की सभी तैयारियां पूरी कर ली गयी हैं.

(इस खबर को एनडीटीवी टीम ने संपादित नहीं किया है. यह सिंडीकेट फीड से सीधे प्रकाशित की गई है।)

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●एक डॉ.चाहता है कि हर आदमी बीमार हो.!

●वकील चाहता है कि हर आदमी झगड़ालू हो.!

●पुलिस चाहती है कि हर आदमी जुल्मी हो.!

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●दारू का ठेकेदार चाहता है कि हर आदमी शराबी हो.! 

●बैंक चाहता है कि हर आदमी कर्जदार हो.! 

●नेता चाहता है कि हर आदमी भोला-भाला और अनपढ़ हो.!

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*लेकिन* एक फौजी ही चाहता है कि सभी लोग अपने अपने घर सही सलामत रहें…,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,असली हीरो यह हमारे देश के जवान हैं

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