Continued sufferings of Kashmiri People

Pakistan OBSERVER, Mon, Sep,17, 2007.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema
 

It is not surprising that people engaged in almost all freedom movements suffer considerably throughout their difficult and painful journey to freedom. The post World War era has seen many freedom struggles but non have been as complex and painful as the cases of Kashmir and Palestine. Not only the people of both Palestine and Kashmir continue to suffer under the oppressive occupation of Israel and India respectively but attempts to alleviate their sufferings also seem rather scant and extremely limited. Admittedly annual reports by Amnesty International and other human rights organization continue to highlight their sufferings but remedial measures are not all that visible. 

Reports recently published in various regional press clearly attempt to draw the attentions of ruling groups to undertake some remedial measures but the efforts in this regard appears to be somewhat negligible. In a report published by an Indian magazine ‘India Today’ in its 11^th June 2007 entitled ‘Killers in Khaki’ clearly stressed the involvement of state authorities as well as central government officials in the unlawful killings of the Kashmiri people. In fact report even mentioned that police officials have been putting away arms seized during their operations for use in killing of the innocent civilians. 

While the government has announced the formation of Commission to investigate human rights abuses but it has yet to come into existence. Some voices have also been stressing that since the government officials are involved in the killings of innocent people of Kashmir, it would only be appropriate to set up an impartial body to investigate. Although there some police officials who have been emphasizing that investigations would punish the guilty officials and also restore the credibility of genuine operations by security forces but these are regarded as mere public relations exercises by most of the Kashmiris. 

Given the long night of Kashmiri sufferings and the irrationally biased attitude of some of the Indian officials, the future for the innocent people of Kashmir does not seem very rosy and encouraging. If these officials can just curtly brush aside the allegations made by international human rights organization, how can one expect that the Indian human rights groups can make some headway. For the last so many years the human rights violations in Kashmir have been regularly highlighted by the international human right watch groups yet not much action has been taken against the perpetrators. 

The only logical way out is to seriously consider associating the locals not just in the investigative processes but concerted and consistent efforts should also be directed specifically by the international community to impress upon the Indian government that time has come to associate the Kashmiri leadership with the ongoing dialogue process. Time and again the Kashmiri leaders as well as the people of Kashmir have projected their desire to be part of the ongoing India Pakistan dialogue at least as far as the talks on Kashmir are concerned. 

Once again the conclusion of Safar-e-Azadi (Journey for freedom) organized by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) which after visiting 65,000 villages across the Kashmir valley in 113 days clearly demonstrated a democratic verdict of the people in favor of what they call Azadi (freedom). The leaders of JKLF have already announced that the second phase of the Freedom Journey would commence after the Ramzan and Eid festival. 

Since thousands of Kashmiri people joined the Mashal (torch) procession in every nook and corner of the Kashmir valley, one thing is now absolutely clears that the sentiments to secure freedom from the Indian rule is very much alive. The leaders of this Journey made the people aware of their rights. ‘The overwhelming response of the people and their love and affection gave us strength to continue with our journey, remarked one of the JKLF leaders. Despite hardship and unfavorable conditions the JKLF activists kept on moving relentlessly. 

While the people of Kashmir continue to suffer under the oppressive rule of the Indian government and it associated state regime, their is no doubt that their sufferings and sacrifices would eventually result in the attainment of their coveted objectives. The suppressive tactics can only delay the freedom but it cannot kill the aroused sentiments of the Kashmiri people. It is time that the international community takes full cognizance of the Kashmiri’s sufferings and begins to exert pressure on India in some tangible form.  One way out is to associate the local NGOs and community leaders with the investigative processes. 

Enough time has passed and it is acknowledged by many quarters that Kashmiri representatives should be associated with all those efforts which are linked with the future fate of the State. One realistic approach would be that after the passage four years of India-Pakistan peace dialogue, it should be agreed by both India and Pakistan to bring the Kashmiri representative from Both Kashmir in the dialogue process. Pakistan has already expressed its willingness to involve the Kashmiri leadership. However the Indian leadership has still many reservations. This is where the international community can play an effective role if they begin to pressurize for at least the participation of the Kashmiri leaders as far as the Kashmir basket is concerned. 

The hesitant attitude that has been so far demonstrated by most developed countries within the international community has allowed India to persist on maintaining its oppressive policies in Jammu and Kashmir. Such attitudes are not only causing increased adverse feelings about those countries but the inbuilt double standards are visibly manifesting in one form or the other. 

Given the imperfect nature of operative international political system and the role expected from the permanent members of the UN Security council, it is somewhat imperative that festering disputes should be subjected to dispute resolving UN mechanism. And if such disputes involve two nuclear weapon states then it is all the more necessary to speed up the efforts. Admittedly both India and Pakistan has recognized the fact that the persistence in adversary’s relationship can hurt the interests of both countries but the progress so far demonstrated on the ongoing Kashmir dispute is indeed not very impressive. 

Many in Pakistan feel extremely sad whenever they read or hear reports about the sufferings of the Kashmiri people and almost all tend to compare their plight with the Kashmiri people living in Azad Kashmir. Admittedly the two governments are engaged in projecting the notion that the Kashmiri on their side of the divide are treated better but reports and assessments by independent observers all point towards much better conditions are in Azad Kashmir. 

From a purely humanitarian point of view, one is bound to stress that if the international community is unable to resolve the dispute between two estranged neighbors, at least it could make concerted efforts to improve the human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir.
 

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.