– a son of the Deep South devoted to civil rights, a small businessman wary of his party’s labor union base, a devout Baptist abhorred by the rising religious right, a submarine officer who was reluctant to commit American forces in war and a ferocious campaigner who disdained the compromises of governing. He parked politics at the Oval Office door, believing he would be reelected if he did “the right thing,” freeing him to take on challenges other presidents shirked. Congress , a record surpassed only slightly by the fabled President Lyndon Johnson. at his home in Plains, Georgia, was our most accomplished one-term modern president, whose enduring achievements were eclipsed by inflation, Iran, inexperience and interparty warfare. The energy security America enjoys rests on the foundation of his three , ending price controls on domestic production of oil and natural gas, focusing on conservation, and inaugurating the era of wind and solar energy. Average Americans benefited from the consumer advocates he placed in regulatory agencies, along with legislation that opened up transportation to competition, from trucking to railroads to airlines, making for the middle class and clearing the way for new carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. He even removed Prohibition-era regulations that had blocked the rise of the and began telecommunications deregulation that ushered in the cable era. Carter was the greatest environmental president since Theodore Roosevelt, through the Alaska Lands Act. With typical attention to detail, he on the Oval Office rug and on his hands and knees persuaded Alaska’s senior Republican senator to accept setting aside over for protection against development. In ethically challenged Washington, Carter's campaign pledges – “ ” and seeking a government “ " as the American people – were translated into lasting reforms: the , prohibiting companies from paying bribes to foreign officials to get business; the , creating independent inspectors general to root out fraud and abuse in federal agencies; and the , requiring senior officials to disclose their assets, restrict gifts and limit post-employment lobbying, and authorizing the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate wrongdoing – the precursor to special counsel Robert Mueller and his Russia investigation during the Trump presidency. With Walter Mondale, Carter created the modern vice presidency, making his running mate a full partner in government with a West Wing office and access to all classified papers. He appointed to judgeships and senior posts than all the previous 38 presidents together, and he , angering his conservative Southern base. Carter's domestic Achilles' heel was also his finest hour: tackling a decade of runaway inflation impervious to traditional remedies. Inflation was high during the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford presidencies and rose further under Carter, with the oil shock and gas lines from the radical Iranian revolution. He told us that every measure he tried had failed, and that even if it doomed his reelection he would choose Paul Volcker to chair the Federal Reserve, knowing full well it would mean tight money and sky-high interest rates that his advisers, including me, warned would be political poison. Carter never complained. Volcker’s prescription worked – not in time to earn him a second term, but it laid the we enjoy today, even with the temporary spike from the pandemic recovery. In foreign policy, Carter's most lasting success was the greatest feat of personal presidential diplomacy in American history. Deliberately for 13 agonizing days in September 1978 with the mutually distrustful Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Carter crafted more than 20 successive draft agreements seeking common ground. With all participants exhausted, Begin was ready to go home. Carter applied a personal touch by inscribing photographs of the three leaders to . The Israeli prime minister’s eyes teared, he relented and the rest is history: For more than four decades, the peace treaty Carter negotiated between Egypt and Israel has been central to Israel’s security and to America’s national interest. Carter made human rights a central tenet and applied those principles to the Latin American dictatorships, creating a new era in hemispheric relations along with the Panama Canal Treaty. With the Soviet Union, he combined soft and hard power: championing human rights for Soviet Jews and others, increasing defense spending, greenlighting military modernization programs (that President Ronald Reagan later built upon) and taking a tough stand on the Soviet . Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? . It was confrontation with the Iranian revolution, a conundrum no president has resolved, that brought down Carter. He supported our ally, the shah of Iran, to the bitter end, and urged the shah's army to stand up to the Islamic regime that followed. Carter was the last holdout, and after he agreed to let the shah enter the United States for cancer treatment, radical students took American diplomats hostage in our Tehran embassy. Carter mistakenly promised their families he would put their safety first, giving the Iranians leverage, and refused to blockade Iran’s oil export ports. He holed himself up in the White House to concentrate on their release, keeping the humiliating story on television . The crowning blow was a bold but unsuccessful rescue mission doomed by too few helicopters, unexpected sandstorms, and the to coordinate the complex mission. But as commander in chief, he took sole responsibility. David Jones, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, recounted to me in an interview for my book what Carter had told him: If the mission succeeded, it would be their success; if it failed, it would be on his shoulders. Carter’s enemies dismissed him as ineffectual, and former "peanuts," but they were wrong. Jimmy Carter does not deserve a place on Mount Rushmore with our greatest presidents, but he belongs in the foothills with others who strengthened our country and its place in the world. His vice president, Walter Mondale, put it succinctly in words now etched on the : “We told the truth, we obeyed the law, we kept the peace.”mind super game 。

EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Louie Semona scored 15 points off of the bench to lead Stonehill over Lafayette 70-65 on Sunday. Semona had six rebounds for the Skyhawks (8-7). Hermann Koffi scored 13 points, shooting 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Josh Morgan had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line. The Leopards (5-8) were led by Caleb Williams, who recorded 15 points. Lafayette also got 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Justin Vander Baan. Alex Chaikin also recorded 12 points, two steals and two blocks. Stonehill went into the half leading Lafayette 28-27. Semona put up seven points in the half. Stonehill used a 7-0 second-half run erase a five-point deficit and take the lead at 47-45 with 11:20 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Todd Brogna scored nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer glimpse into unusual American momentO3 Mining (OTCMKTS:OQMGF) Trading 0.3% Higher – Still a Buy?

AMHERST — Perhaps the passionate followers of the UMass football team weren’t necessarily surprised when news hit last week that Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford had fired former Minutemen head coach Don Brown after a 6-28 record with the team; it was more so the timing of the move that rubbed people the wrong way. UMass had just come off its best four-quarter performance of the season – a 35-34 overtime loss to 8-2 Liberty – when Bamford gave Brown the boot, with only two games remaining on the Minutemen’s regular season schedule. Why didn’t Bamford let Brown, who emptied the tank during his third stint in Amherst (one that lasted nearly three seasons), finish out the season before sending him on his way? The timing of the firing may not have made much sense from a fan or player perspective. But the school’s athletic director determined it had to be done right then and there. When Brown was relieved of his duties, UMass became the 11th Group of 5 school to have a vacancy at the head coaching position. And as of Monday, there are now 13 openings across G5 schools – the Minutemen’s direct competitors when it comes to staffing hires and recruiting. Bamford said sticking out the rest of the 2024 campaign with Brown and then firing him would have prevented him from talking to potential coaching candidates until Dec. 1 (UMass’ last game is Nov. 30). In order for UMass to have the best chance at getting its guy, the AD said moving quickly was an unfortunate necessity. Even further, the transfer portal opens up on Dec. 9, and early signing day for high school recruits is the week prior to that. The sooner UMass has a head coach and a staff put together, the greater its chances are at landing transfers out of the portal. Entering the second week of December without a head coach in place would’ve put the Minutemen at a significant disadvantage in recruiting, according to Bamford. “In order to be in a coaching candidate pool and make sure that we have the appropriate conversations and be seen as in the market place for coaches and for agents, we really needed to open the job when we did,” Bamford said on Monday, a week removed from Brown’s dismissal. “We didn’t wanna miss the opportunity to position our job against other jobs in the market. That’s how college football has changed in the last five years, and it’s predominantly because the transfer portal opens up in early December. You wanna have a head coach in place to have their staff at least somewhat organized when the portal opens.” Bamford, who has been the UMass AD since 2015, said firing Brown was not an easy decision. The two have a strong relationship, but accumulating only two wins against FBS opponents in three years – none of which came against the MAC (where UMass is headed in 2025) – was a disappointment in Bamford’s eyes. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Bamford denied there was an ultimatum – one where UMass had to win two of its final three games in order for Brown to keep his job. Bamford and Brown met on a weekly basis throughout the season, and the AD said he clearly stated from Week 1 that there needed to be real progress shown on the field this fall or a change may be made. After winning one game in Brown’s first year and three in his second, four or five wins were expected to continue to show improvement. But instead, the Minutemen’s only two wins this year have come against FCS opponents, and they lost every single game against MAC programs (0-5). “I felt like after three years, we had enough in the body of work for Don to understand where we were going, and we needed some momentum going into next year as we go into the MAC,” Bamford said. “We just didn’t feel like we were able to turn the corner competitively, and there are a host of reasons for that. Without question, Don and his staff have worked tremendously hard to try to get this program turned around, and the program is in a better spot now than when Don and his group got here. There’s no doubt.” Because Bamford fired Brown when he did, UMass now owes him up to $1.4 million over the next two years. If Brown takes another coaching job over the next two years, UMass would pay the difference between that number and his new salary. Had Bamford waited until the end of the season to fire him, UMass would have owed him $800,000 over the next two years. “To be fair to Don, I wanted to make sure that we honored an important piece of the termination language in the contract,” Bamford said. “We recognize him coming back to UMass and trying to build a program that he really helped put on the map as an FCS program. I thanked him for that, and I felt like it was appropriate to make sure that we did it when we did to recognize his contributions to this university.” Bamford neglected to share any names or front-runners in the coaching search, but emphasized the importance of hiring someone by the first week of December. When a hire is ultimately made, it’ll be Bamford’s third head football coach hiring of his 10-year tenure at UMass. Over the course of the past decade, the Minutemen have a 21-89 football record, including an 8-54 mark of coaches he’s hired. The Don Brown hiring back in 2021 was seen as a coup at the time, although it didn’t work out. The AD acknowledged the pressure behind this hire, but support from the administration and the help of Chad Chatlos of TurnkeyZRG Executive Search leaves Bamford confident in making a splash. Chatlos and TurnkeyZRG are highly regarded in terms of college football hiring firms, and even helped conduct the NCAA in its search for a new president back in 2022 (ultimately former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker). It’s the first time Bamford has hired a search firm to assist him with the hiring process. When Walt Bell was hired in 2019, Bamford was assisted by a few advisors, but not a formal search firm. At the end of the day, who patrols the sidelines next year still falls on Bamford’s shoulders. “I have great confidence we’re going to find the right person for the job,” Bamford said. “We have a lot to sell. The job is a different job than it has been in the last two hiring cycles because we’re not [a football] independent anymore. That’s been an important ingredient in this coaching search, is the ability to go into the MAC to be resourced really well against MAC-competitive peers. I think agents and coaches, those in the business see this as a different job now. It was hard to overcome the nature of being an independent in the last two searches.” UMass is positioned to be one of the highest-resourced programs in the MAC next season, including staff compensation and NIL money. The head football coach at UMass is as sought after a position as it’s ever been, according to Bamford. “The reality is that college athletics has changed considerably in the last three or four years with the transfer portal, in the NIL space,” Bamford said. “Now, with us being in a league, I think we’re positioned really strongly to not only go in and make a really strong hire, but have that hire have the tools and the resources to succeed in the MAC and as an FBS program.”After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizers

BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur caused uproar by backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Related Articles Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag — a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — was published over the weekend. It was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The Tesla Motors CEO also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. The newspaper was also attacked by politicians and other media for offering Musk, an outsider, a platform to express his views, in favor of the AfD. Candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, said Sunday that Musk’s comments were “intrusive and presumptuous”. He was speaking to the newspapers of the German Funke Media Group. Co-leader of the Social Democratic Party, Saskia Esken said that “Anyone who tries to influence our election from outside, who supports an anti-democratic, misanthropic party like the AfD, whether the influence is organized by the state from Russia or by the concentrated financial and media power of Elon Musk and his billionaire friends on the Springer board, must expect our tough resistance,” according to the ARD national public TV network. Musk’s opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag was accompanied by a critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on Jan. 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the “world” in the future. We will develop “Die Welt” even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.

WARSAW, Ind. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH), a global medical technology leader, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Premarket Approval Application (PMA) Supplement approval for the Oxford ® Cementless Partial Knee. The approval is based on safety and effectiveness data from an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study and non-clinical testing for cementless partial knee replacement (PKR). 1 The Oxford Cementless Partial Knee allows surgeons to perform a PKR with improved fixation, 2 better long-term implant survival rate 2,3 and improved efficiency in the operating room 4 (OR) compared to the Oxford Cemented Partial Knee procedure. Following more than 20 years of clinical experience and over 300,000 procedures across Canada , Europe , Middle East , Africa , and Asia , 5 the Oxford Cementless Partial Knee is now the only FDA-approved cementless partial knee implant in the U.S. "Cementless knee replacement procedures are increasingly preferred by surgeons seeking to improve surgical efficiency. The Oxford Cementless Partial Knee is coming into the U.S. with a proven track record of retaining more healthy anatomy with a less invasive approach and improved outcomes 6 as compared to a total knee replacement," said Joe Urban , President, Knees at Zimmer Biomet. "We are excited to address the unmet U.S. demand for a cementless partial knee with a new offering which has 20 years of clinical experience in more than 50 countries. 5 " Compared to traditional partial knee replacements that use bone cement to secure the implant in place, a cementless approach allows patients' natural bone growth to secure the implant for better long-term fixation. 2 The Oxford Cementless Partial Knee features a mobile bearing that can move with the femoral component throughout the entire range of motion to mimic natural knee movement. This design provides better range of motion, a more natural feel and a more stable implant-to-bone fixation for improved long-term implant survival. 2,3 The system's tibial and femoral components have a titanium and hydroxyapatite coating to promote bone growth into the implant 7 . The UK national joint registry has more than 33,000 patients treated with Oxford Cementless Partial Knees recorded with a 94.1% rate of implant survival at 10 years after surgery, 3 which is higher than the average 10-year survivorship for all other partial knees (89.9%). 3 Enthusiasm and usage of partial knee replacement continues to grow around the world as published research continues to demonstrate that PKR in appropriate cases provides improved patient outcomes compared to TKR. 6 "For younger and more active patients, the Oxford Cementless Partial Knee amplifies the benefits of a traditional partial knee replacement by offering knee flexion that resembles natural knee movement, and stronger adhesion of the implant to the bone for better long-term durability," said Adolph V. Lombardi Jr. , MD, FACS, President of JIS Orthopedics in New Albany, Ohio . "In my own practice, a cementless approach has increased OR efficiency by shortening my surgery time and reducing costs associated with cement preparation." Since its initial launch in England in 2004, the Oxford Cementless Partial Knee has become the preferred partial knee implant for Zimmer Biomet's European customers. 5 As part of the U.S. nationwide launch in Q1 2025, Zimmer Biomet will provide FDA-required training, focusing on the cementless surgical technique and proper patient selection. For patients in the U.S., the Oxford Partial Knee is the only implant with a lifetime limited warranty that covers the cost of Zimmer Biomet replacement implants.* Important Safety Information: The Cementless Oxford Partial Knee System is intended for use in unilateral knee procedures with osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis limited to the medial compartment of the knee. It is intended to be implanted without the application of cement for patients whose clinical condition would benefit from a shorter surgical time compared to the cemented implant. The Oxford Partial Knee is not indicated for use in the lateral compartment or for patients with ligament deficiency, or for use in simultaneous bilateral surgery or planned staged bilateral procedures. Potential risks include, but are not limited to, loosening, dislocation, fracture, wear and infection, any of which can require additional surgery. For a full list of product indications, contraindications and warnings, as well as further information on product IDE data, please see the associated product Information for Use (IFU) and Surgical Technique available at https://labeling.zimmerbiomet.com/ For more information about the Oxford Cementless Partial Knee, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com/oxfordcementless . About Zimmer Biomet Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health. We seamlessly transform the patient experience through our innovative products and suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence. With 90+ years of trusted leadership and proven expertise, Zimmer Biomet is positioned to deliver the highest quality solutions to patients and providers. Our legacy continues to come to life today through our progressive culture of evolution and innovation. For more information about our product portfolio, our operations in 25+ countries and sales in 100+ countries or about joining our team, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zimmerbiomet or X / Twitter at www.twitter.com/zimmerbiomet . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Zimmer Biomet's expectations, plans, prospects, and product and service offerings, including new product launches and potential clinical successes. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. For a list and description of some of such risks and uncertainties, see Zimmer Biomet's periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in Zimmer Biomet's filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Zimmer Biomet disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this news release are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, since there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this news release. *Subject to terms and conditions set forth within the written warranty References: Media Heather Zoumas-Lubeski 445-248-0577 heather.zoumaslubeski@zimmerbiomet.com Kirsten Fallon 781-779-5561 kirsten.fallon@zimmerbiomet.com Investors David DeMartino 646-531-6115 david.demartino@zimmerbiomet.com Zach Weiner 908-591-6955 Zach.weiner@zimmerbiomet.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zimmer-biomet-receives-fda-approval-for-oxford-cementless-partial-knee-only-cementless-partial-knee-replacement-implant-in-the-us-302315755.html SOURCE Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.NoneJudge rejects request to sideline SJSU volleyball player

TOURMALINE AND TOPAZ ANNOUNCE $242 MILLION BOUGHT DEAL SECONDARY OFFERING OF TOPAZ COMMON SHARES

Ruling elites in both Pakistan and India have been ignoring the saner elements of Kashmiri society and resorting to sledgehammer tactics to stifle them. The recent crackdown in Pakistan's Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) clearly indicates that the authorities do not want to tolerate any dissenting voice or protest against the policy of the state. This is the second recent crackdown against protests in AJK. Just a few months ago, the authorities tried to use force against those who struggled for the restoration of subsidies. The situation in Indian held Kashmir is not rosy either, where democratic forces have been put behind bars while fanatical elements were extended support by the Indian state. Secular Kashmiri nationalist leaders claim that during the recent elections in the disputed territory, New Delhi released a few former militants to contest the state assembly elections. They assert that the move was to undermine the political popularity of the National Conference, but despite all machinations of the BJP-led government, Farooq Abdullah's party managed to secure a majority in the state assembly. It seems that their victory did not go down well with those sitting in the power corridors of the Indian capital. The recent resolution of Indian-held Kashmir’s assembly clearly indicates as to why the Indian ruling elite is so uncomfortable with nationalist secular political parties. The resolution demanded of the BJP-led government to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir that had been granted to the disputed territory through the article A370 of the Indian constitution. While many in Pakistan only point their finger towards India, accusing New Delhi of adding to the woes of Kashmiri people, some Kashmiri leaders believe that Islamabad is also responsible for the plight of Kashmiri people The resolution, passed in the first week of the current month, sought a dialogue for “restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees” to the Union Territory and urged that “constitutional mechanisms” be worked out for the same. The resolution was passed by a voice vote, with all parties barring the BJP supporting it. Moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, the resolution said: “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal. This Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.” Religious Minority Voices Demand Enhanced Representation In Elections The abrogation of the article had even alienated those Kashmiri leaders who wanted greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of the Indian constitution. It created an impression that the Modi-led government is hatching machinations to alter the demography of the region besides lending credence to the claims of Kashmiri militant groups that New Delhi only understands the might of guns. It is encouraging to see that all Indian parties except the BJP threw their support behind the resolution. This indicates that most of the parties are amenable to the idea of seeking a peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kashmir dispute that is said to have been a cause of at least three conflicts between the two arch rivals of South Asia. The dispute has also been used to fan anti-Muslims feelings in India while in Pakistan it was exploited by extremist forces who attempted to tear down the social fabric of the society in the name of Kashmir Jihad. It is not only the National Conference or Srinagar-based parties that believe the restoration could create conducive environment for talks between New Delhi and Islamabad, but Kashmiri parties on the other side of the border also assert that the possible reversal of the August 2019’s decision could greatly help normalise ties between Pakistan and India besides allaying the apprehensions of the Kashmiri people towards BJP’s intention. While many in Pakistan only point their finger towards India, accusing New Delhi of adding to the woes of Kashmiri people, some Kashmiri leaders believe that Islamabad is also responsible for the plight of Kashmiri people. United Kashmir People’s National Party chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri from Azad Jammu &Kashmir asks what rights Kashmiri people have in what he calls Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “A number of Kashmiri leaders cannot contest elections in AJK without submitting an affidavit stating they believe in affiliation of the disputed territory with Pakistan.” Afrasiab Khattak Joins Chorus Of Voices Challenging 26th Constitutional Amendment Kashmiri leaders also bemoan the sledgehammer tactics that the Pakistan state is employing in AJK in a bid to control the region. Recently it undertook a number of measures to curb protests in the Pakistani side of Kashmir. The state is also coming hard on those who actively participate in the subsidy movement. Dr Tauqeer Gilani, President of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front in AJK, had to flee the country after a concocted case of blasphemy was registered against him and fanatics in the region staged protests to intimidate Gilani, who was active during the subsidy movement. It is time that both Pakistan and India listen to the Kashmiri political parties who have been seeking a peaceful solution to the inveterate dispute. Any effort to undermine JKLF and other nationalist parties on either side of the border will only strengthen the position of militant outfits whose attacks have created a spectre of nuclear war between the two South Asian rivals in the past. New Delhi will have to engage Yasin Malik and other Kashmiri leaders in talks while Islamabad must abolish the condition of affiliation paving a way for all parties that want to contest elections in the AJK. It is better to listen to saner voices of Kashmiri society before extremists start exploiting the issue again in the two countries. The environment of dialogues and respect for democratic norms might create conditions in the future for the leaderships of two arch rivals to sit together and hammer out an amicable resolution. The sooner the two states understand it the better it will be for Kashmiris and the region.

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