WE recently observed Defence Day on Sept 6 as a day of introspection, and some soul searching. We must ponder why has the Muslim world remained nonchalant to the Kashmir dispute? India utilises its trade relations with industrially advanced countries to coerce them to stay mum about human rights violations in the occupie d Kashmir.

Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani, a patient of renal cancer, was denied treatment. For about 11 years, he was under house imprisonment until he died.His body was whisked away and buried in the absence of his kith and kin. A so-called `business executive` Madi Sharma took some members of European parliament for a joy ride in a shikara (boat)in a Kashmir lake. The aim was to tell the world that it was all hunky-dory in the occupied state.

Why has Pakistan`s per capita income fallen below that of even Bangladesh which got its independence in 1971? Why have successive Pakistani governments failed to provide universal healthcare and education to their people? Why? Oh why? Amjed]aaved Rawalpindi