Neelum Valley, AJK

Impediments to Political Development and Social Change in Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

1. Impediments to Political Development And Social Change A Case Study of Neelum Valley (Azad Jammu & Kashmir)

2. Presented to; Dr. Sadia Mushtaq

3. Location & Geography… British Colonial Heritage left Kashmir not only as Physically Divided But with a Stratified S ociety and a Truncated Social Order

4. Physical Features… A Neglected Paradise along the Highly Militarized LoC… The Neelum Valley is long and narrow and is surrounded by craggy peaks, it has largely escaped development from 1948 to date because of Indo-Pakistani firing along the LOC that intensified between 1989-2003…

5. Religion… From Buddhism to Islam The majority of the people of Neelum Valley belong to the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam. This sect also runs madrassas in some villages. Many people in the region regard the Pir of Choora Sharif in Attock district, as their spiritual leader…

6. Ideological Struggles…

7. Insurgency & Its Aftermath… Neelum Valley remained an active Flashpoint during the Kashmiris Armed Struggle for Freedom from India between 1989-2003…

8. 1989-2003, The Toughest Years… At least 1,300 people were killed and 4,600 injured by LOC firing between 1990 and 2002…

9. Natural Calamities… October 2005 Earthquake hit the Valley soon after a long-awaited Ceasefire…

10. Divided Families… The Valley has been deeply affected by the division of Kashmir… Before 1947, the people related to Srinagar as the state’s capital and as its administrative, judicial, educational, employment, and trading center. After the division of Kashmir these ties were cut off and people had to relate primarily to Muzaffarabad and the areas beyond Muzaffarabad (Hazara, Rawalpindi) for all these purposes…

11. Settlement Patterns… Scattered Settlements in the rough mountainous terrain make public interaction difficult and it is an impediment to mass political participation…

12. Economic Activities; Subsistence Farming & Transhumance Industrial Activity is Non-Existent, hence Poverty is Rampant…

13. Travel & Tourism… Huge Potential for Tourism becoming the Main S ource of Income for the Poor P ublic But No Infrastructure and Proximity to LoC hamper its Development…

14. Low Quality Education and Slow Pace of Social Change

15. Local Politics The Neelum MLA Mian Abdul Waheed (PPP) is serving as AJK’s Education Minister… In Neelum’s Parochial Politics, Loyalties are P rimarily Tribal or Religious…

16. AJK’s Elitist Politics & The Poor Neelum… The Vale of Kashmir holds key importance in the Indian Occupied Kashmir But Neelum Valley has no such significance in Azad Kashmir…

17. Poverty, Catastrophe and Tragedy…

18. My Great Hope is to Laugh as Much as I’ve Cried…

19. Thank You…! Your Questions Are Welcome…