Indo-Pak - Articles

With upheaval and limitations on the movement of people across the LOC, there is a need to improve the cross-LOC interaction. The real Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between the two parts of Kashmir can be extended by strengthening the people to people contact and by opening up the spectrum for religious and cultural heritage of both the areas.

Despite a rift and break down in the dialogues after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, both the countries have continued with interactions and have taken initiatives to improve relations further. With the recent visit of Home Minister P Chidambram of Pakistan on 26-27 June and the offer of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mohd Qureshi to fight against terror jointly, the bilateral dialogues have resumed. Now the stage is set for further CBMs on the LOC. The tourism across the LOC can be an important CBM. There is a great potential for religious, scenic, adventurous, cultural and heritage tourism in both the parts of Kashmir. We can exploit this tourism for the betterment of the people and making the atmosphere more congenial. Such ventures can bring the people closer to each other, reduce the tension and create an atmosphere of trust and faith. 

Religious Tourism:

The religious beliefs of people living across the LOC can bring in peaceful interaction between the people by encouraging religious tourism. There are a number of Sufi Shrines in both parts of the J&K state which are equally respected by the people living across the LOC. This shrine can be made the symbol of composite cultural and religious heritage of both parts of J& K.

Ziarat Khari Sharief in Mirpur district of POK is a Shrine of Sufi Saint Peer Shah Gazi (Dammrian wali Sarkar) and his disciple and great Sufi poet Hazrat Mian Mohd Bakash, and the Shrine of Sayed Ghulam Shah Badshah Shahdara Shareif Rajouri and the great Gujjar saint and Sufi poet Hazarat Baba Ji Sahib Larvi of Lar Sharief Kangan Kashmir are considered the holiest places for the people residing in either part of the Jammu and Kashmir state. This Shrine and Sufi poets have great followers among the masses in both the sides of Kashmir. Goodwill can be created by making travel across the border easier. There is also a great Sikh Shrine Dera Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji located in Rawalakote town and a Hindu Shrine of Goddess Sharda in Muzafarabad district situated in the left side of Kishan Ganga on the bank of Madhumati stream in the base of Nanga Parbat in POK which is 170 kilometers away from Muzafarabad city. Originally it was known as Sharda Peeth (University) and fourth Buddist Council was conducted at this place in 141AD during the rule of Emperor Kanishka. Alburani, who visited India in 1036AD writes in his book Indica that there is a great image of Sharda Goddess and devotees assemble here for the prayer. The long standing demand of Hindus of J&K for the Yatra of Sharda Shrine and the opening of the Sikh Shrine along with Gurudwara Chatti Pathshahi Muzafarabad to Sikh devotees for religious tourism can further strengthen the trust and confidence among the people and encourage the religious tourism. 

Cultural Tourism:

There is a strong cultural affinity between the people of POK and Rajouri-Poonch-Uri and Karnah of this area. The similarity of the mother tongue Pahari and Gojri is the main binding factor. They have common folk songs, folk dances and folk music. The Pahari folk songs like Jindah, Kainch, Dollan, Surma and marriage songs along with Ballod of Shamas Khan and the Gojri folk songs like Noora, Si-Harfies, Shopian, marriages songs and crop songs are very popular among the masses residing in both the sides across the LOC. The folk dances like Mengha, Lathbazi and Naach are the common cultural treasure of the people. They also have the common folk instruments like Tota, Jodi, and Sarangi. Apart from this, the most binding cultural factor between the people of POK and Pir Panchal region of this side is Sufiana Kalam of Sufi Saints. The Sufi poetry of Mian Mohd Bakash of Khari Sharief, Chan Zaman of Kotli, Sain Fakar Din of Poonch and Sufi poet Baba Ji Sahib Larvi and Hazarat Nizam-ud-Din Larvi is most popular among Paharis, Gujjar and Bakerwals living in both the parts of Kashmir. These factors indicate that the cultural heritage of the people of both the parts of Kashmir is very similar. We can exploit these indicators for cultural tourism. The exchange of folk cultural troops, Sufiana singers and folk musicians and conduct of folk shows of the artist of one side of Kashmir on the other part can create a friendlier atmosphere apart from the reunion of cultural heritage of the people.

Reviving this road will not only foster the relationship between India and Pakistan but will open up the road for people around the world, which will be mutually beneficial for both.