After reducing "the Paradise on Earth", Kashmir, to a virtual Hell, the Islamic ter¬rorists have extended their death and de¬struction to Doda district of Jammu Divi¬sion of the Jammu & Kashmir State. Local press of the Valley, with a few honourable exceptions, totally surrendered to the dic¬tates of the terrorists. They not only con-doned but also defended the heinous crimes like loot, arson, rape and murder commit¬ted by the so called Islamic Mujahids. The brunt of the fundamentalists' senseless fury was borne by the peaceful and defenceless Pandit Minority of the Valley. More than quarter million members of this commu¬nity—men, women and children had to flee their home and hearth to save their life and honour. Un-Islamic Mujahids, did not spare even their Muslim co-religionists, who were killed because they were the political activists of major political parties. Even they had to seek refuge, in thou¬sands, in other parts of India. This and many other aspects of the ter¬rorism/militancy in the Jammu & Kash¬mir State—its birth and rise, economic and political factors, role of Pakistan in sustain¬ing it, the dithering policy of the Central Government, the biased attitude of the so-called human rights organisations vis-a¬vis the terrorists' activities, rigged elec¬tions, controvertial Article 370, autonomy, burning of Soofi Saint Sheikh Nur-ud-Din's Chrari Sharief shrine and 'Azadi' etc. have been analysed in depth in this book by the journalists and scholars, many of whom have not only themselves been the victims of terrorism, but have also closely watched from the ring side, the Jammu & Kashmir affairs since its accession to India in 1947. The collection of articles in the form of this book JAMMU-KASHMIR-LADAKH: Ringside Views, imparts it the character of the reference material. Otherwise, they would remain scattered in the newspa¬pers, and perhaps out of reach too. These words from the Preface of the book, succinctly, bring forth the essense of this book: "This book is a collection of articles and commentaries on the trauma of Kashmir (and Jammu) by some distin-' guished writers, scholars, journalists and political commentators.... (They) have been witnesses of the agony of Kashmir.... The articles deal not only with political issues, but also the emotional, social and psycho¬logical fallout of the turmoil that is gnaw¬ing at the roots of Kashmir's ancient ethos."

Table of Contents:
I. KASHMIR : POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE 1. Sad Saga of the national Conference Mohammed Aslam 2. Cobwebs of Confusion Moonis Raza 3. Singnals from the Valley : Search for a Genuine Leader Hari Jaisingh 4. Signals from the Valley : Kalashnikovs in Paradise Hari JaJsingh 5. Implications of Foreign Mischief in Kashmir By M.M. Kliajooria 6. Article 370 Santosh Kaul 7. Kashmir - Some Realities, Some Follies Shyam Kaul 8. The Mew World Order as Applied Towards A Volatile India Subhasli Razdan 9. The American Hand : Four Decades of Steady Homework in Kashmir KN. Pandit 10. Valley Alienation : Genesis and Solution B.L Shivpuri 11. Non-Communal Perspectives on Kashmir Problem in India K.N. Pandita 12. Demographic Change in Kashmir : The Bitter Truth K.N. Pandita 13. The Poplar and Chinar : Kashmir in a Historical Outline Subhash Kak 14. Kashmir: The Issues At Stake T.N. Kaul 15. Sinister Game to Change J&K's Demographic Map O.N. Dhar 16. Kashmir: Communist Blinkers K.N. Pandita 17. Murshid and Helen of Troy Ahmad Kamal II. KASHMIRI IDENTITY 18. Whose Identity? K.N. Pandit 19. Kashmiriat Shy am Haul 20. Misunderstanding Kashmiri Identity K.N. Pandita 21. Kashmiryat is what Kashmiri Does Shyam Haul III. MILITANCY 22. How Militants Manage the Media : The Untold Story in Kashmir O.N. Dhar 23. Gathering Storm over Poonch-Rajouri M.M. Khajooria 24. The Quest Militants Shyam Kaul 25. Mujahids or Mercenaries Jam Subuhi 26. The Proxy War O.N. Dhar 27. The Plot Behind the Mirwaiz Murder O.N. Dhar 28. Kashmir Situation and Changing Regional Scenario K.N. Pandita 29. Media Failure on Kashmir O.N. Dhar 30. Pak Design Behind Doda Insurgency O.N. Dhar 31. Chrare Sharief : Whose Loss? Shyam Kaul IV. PERCEPTIONS 32. Kashmir : Whither Disillusionment? Shyam Kaul 33. The Agony and Ecstasy of Kashmiris Shyarn Kaul 34. Kashmiri O Kashmiri - Don't Be Angry Shyam Kaul V. JAMMU 35. Jammu : Alienation and Socio-Political Historicity K.N. Pandita 36. Plight of Jammu and Ladakh Hari Om VI. LADAKH 37. Ladakh, the neglected Frontier O.N. Dhar VII. POK 38. POK's Struggle for Freedom Jam Subuhi 39. Whither Darads and Baltis? Kailash Pradhan 40. Gilgit and Baltistan : Undefined Status Kailash Pradhan 41. 'Azadi': The Pakistani Version Barrister Qurban Ali Khan VIII. ETHNO-RELIGIOUS MINORITIES 42. 'Kill Him For His Brains' Shyam Kaul 43. Regional Minority : Crisis and Alienation : A Case Study of Kashmiri Pandits B.L. Shivpuri 44. Kashmir Militancy and Sikhs By Harmeet Singh 45. The Making of A Catastrophe M.M. Khajooria 46. The Neglected Gujjars Man Om 47. Islands of Fugitives Shyam Kaul 48. Migration of a Coffee House Shyam Kaul 49. Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits Vijay Kumar Sazawal 50. The Return of the native Shyam Kaul IX. HUMAN RIGHTS 51. Human Rights and Kashmir Situation K.N. Pandita X. WAY OUT 52. A Dangerous Proposal K.N. Pandita 53. The Third Option K.N. Pandita 54. Symbolic Peace and Secularism in Kashmir Kailash Pradhan