Associate the Kashmiris

The News, Sun, October,10, 2004.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema



Undoubtedly the visit of the Pakistani journalists would certainly contribute towards the steadily improving atmosphere between India and Pakistan. However it needs to be stressed that reports sent by the visiting journalists are depicting an interesting picture. Not only this is probably the first time that Pakistani journalists have been allowed to visit the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir but reaction demonstrated by some section of the Kashmiri society certainly invokes curiosity.

In many ways the reports sent by the visiting Pakistani journalists reflect the thinking of the important segments of the Kashmiri society. The meeting at the University in Srinagar appeared to be interesting especially if one views within the context of the enthusiasm demonstrated by many students who were unable to get into the hall. It was reported that slogan of Azadi (Freedom) were repeatedly raised by the students outside the meeting hall.

‘We want freedom’, stressed the student especially those who were left outside the meeting hall. ‘Of course we will be in trouble tomorrow for what we are saying to you today but we don’t care we want our freedom’. ‘We do not want to affiliate with the territory of Pakistan or India. We just want our freedom from India’, stressed a student. All these reports clearly point towards the fact that the quest for Azadi (Freedom) appears to be as strong today as it was in the early days of struggle at least among the student community.

However it needs to be mentioned here that some students even stated that ordinarily the security personnel stay outside the university and student are able to express whatever they want to.  It was reported that outside meeting hall there was a charged atmosphere as many student felt that they have been deprived of meeting the Pakistani journalists and only the selected few were admitted to the meeting hall. Some student even alleged that they were not told that the Pakistani journalists were going to visit the university. It was also reported that the security personals who were travelling with the visitors told them that the situation would have become unmanageable if the students knew that Pakistanis were visiting the university.

Many Kashmiri appeared to be somewhat sceptical about the real purpose of visit. They were curious why the Pakistani journalists had come to visit the state? A mixture of slogans was repeatedly raised. A mix of anger and appeal were the hallmark of those gathered out the hall. While some stressed that Pakistan should be serious about our problem, the others highlighted that Pakistan is an Islamic state and therefore morally bound to help the struggling Kashmiris. It is a well known that Pakistan has always supported the Kashmiris and extended moral, diplomatic and political support to the cause of the Kashmiris. Not only the expectations of the Kashmiri student are somewhat comprehensible but it should also be clearly understood that Pakistan has never let the Kashmiris down. It has consistently projected their cause at almost all major forums. Pakistan’s moral and diplomatic support has been often misinterpreted by some.

The second point that emerged from the published reports revolves around the confusion caused by different reports. ‘What should we believe? The CNN, BBC PTV and Indian media report each incident in a different way’, stressed a Kashmir. There is no doubt that each of the TV networks tend to read events differently. While the Indian media, for obvious reasons, tends to avoid the truth, the western media is often unable to reach closer to the real situation. Ostensible it seems that the only TV networks which tend to reflect near truth are the Pakistani TV channels. Admittedly all TV channels try to depict the situation as accurately as possible but their own biases and operative constraints along with inability to fully comprehension of the societal values and practices tend to complicate the situation.

The third point that emerged from the recent reporting deals with the existing complex security situation and the operative restraints on expression. The very large presence of Indian security forces in Kashmir clearly reflect the level of concerns felt by them. While acknowledging the lessening of the intensity of operative restraints on expression, many faculty members clearly pointed towards varied kinds of restraints that are emanating from different sources. ‘First thing is that we should be given our right of expression. We feel helpless. We have withstood the pressures and now the atmosphere is changing. Security should be relaxed so people can feel safe’ asserted a faculty member. Given the changing atmosphere and increasing contacts between India and Pakistan, it is not too far fetched demand to seek security relaxation and reduction in the numbers of security forces.

The fourth significant element that emerged from the conversation of the Pakistani journalists and the Kashmiri people is the assertion that the freedom movement is not just only the product of the Kashmir people but the role of the outsiders have been extremely marginal. The cost has been paid almost entirely by the indigenous Kashmiris. According to different sources not only over 100,000 people have been killed but the number of widows exceeds 30,000.

The meeting of Pakistani journalists with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front has been reported as somewhat different as the other meetings. It has been reported that the supporters of JKLF who were present in the meeting were not only abusive but most questions that were asked contained unnecessary insinuations. One acquisition that was hurled at the Pakistani journalist rather frequently was that they were only meeting those people whom New Delhi wanted them to meet. Yasin Malik has reportedly said at the end of meeting that the charged atmosphere is the product of having remained in conflict zone for such a long time.

Other leaders of the Kashmiri freedom movement Mr. Shabbir shah stressed that nothing has changed for the Kashmir despite the thaw in relations between India and Pakistan. Indeed this assertion seems reflective of the true situation on the ground. Neither one has witnessed any visible reduction in the number of Indian security forces nor has any significant number of the political prisoners been released. To top it all, human rights violations are continuous taking place.

Perhaps the most important lessons one can derive from these reports is that under no circumstances the Kashmiri people should be ignored. Instead the efforts should be directed to get them involved as soon as possible. Not only almost all political parties in Kashmir valley and the leadership of other groups seeking freedom are unanimously demanding that they should be consulted and be allowed to participate in the peace process as a third party but they are quite convinced that no diplomatic solution would be acceptable to the people of disputed state unless they are actively involved in the process.

‘Our fate is being decided between Pakistan and India while we are the key stakeholders, yet the two governments do not consider our involvement in the dialogue necessary’ said the APHC leader Syed Ali Gilani. While Gilani opposed Muzafferabad-Srinagar bus service stressing that it would damage the Kashmir cause, Shabbir Shah complained that no body had asked Kashmiris views on this service. He was, however, supportive of the bus service provided there are no visa restrictions for people travelling through this route. Indeed there is no doubt that the success of the process is heavily dependent upon wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore it is imperative to have them associated with the process as quickly as possible.