Kashmir is still smouldering

The POST, Sun, Sep,07, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

While the curfew has been lifted in Kashmir after 9 days and three of the four arrested Kashmiri leaders (Yasin Malik, Mir Waiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Gilani) have been released, the dispute that triggered mass protests against the Indian rule in IHK (Indian Held Kashmir) has still not yet been properly resolved. Besides, the booking of Hurriyat leaders including Shabbir Shah under black laws is being denounced by many Kashmiri people.

Following a deal between state government and Sangarsh Smiti over land transfer issue the Hindus in IHK ended their two months old demonstration but the Kashmiri leaders rejected the deal. The deal entailed an agreement to allow pilgrims temporary use of the land near the Hindu temple. Various Kashmiri leaders and the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee not only categorically rejected the deal but also dubbed it as a move to demonstrate disrespect the popular sentiments in Kashmir.

During the protest demonstrations the Indian troops had mercilessly beaten the people, fired innumerable tear smoke canisters, and resorted to fire at will whenever they deemed it fit. The oppressive tactics did not pay the dividends. On the contrary the demonstration that started against the illegal land transfer began to be gradually transformed into a cry for freedom.

Many observers have referred to the Indian government’s tacit and hidden support to Hindus illegal land claim and consequent enforcement of blockade against the Muslims in the state as a reminder of environment that led to the birth of ‘Two Nation Theory’. Initially the Two Nation Theory was used to demand protection of political, economic and social rights of the Muslims enabling them to acquire their due share in the governance and to preserve their identity as a separate nation.

When the Congress failed to provide the requisite guarantees, the Muslims of India were left with no choice but to demand separate homeland where they could establish a government of their free and independent choice to improve the quality of life which, they believed, they could never achieve under a highly centralized rule of the Hindu majority represented by the Congress. The fact that vast geographically contiguous areas of the Indian subcontinent had Muslim concentrations like Northwest and Northeast reinforced the rationale and justification of separate state for the Muslims of India.

The unprecedented protests, first by the Muslims and then by the Hindus, is not really the product of minor dispute over the use of land adjacent to Amarnath temple, it is in fact the product of a much larger issue of Kashmiri peoples’ deep rooted political discontentment with the Indian rule and aspirations to exercise the promised right of self determination. The situation has been deteriorating over the years because of Indian military’s continuous application of brutal and oppressive tactics. Periodic calm does not necessarily imply that the people of Kashmir have resigned to their fate of living under India.

Apart from three districts of Jammu province and one district of Ladakh, almost all other districts of three main provinces(Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir valley) of Jammu and Kashmir have Muslim majority. Similarly the operative environment and the recently pursued policies of the government of India which enabled the Hindus to impose an effective economic blockade has once again created an environment in which not only many people in Kashmir are talking about the ‘Two Nation Theory’ but even the independent Hindu analysts are referring to it.

Not only the cry of complete independence is clearly gaining momentum in the IHK but even the United Nations and the United States also took notice of the deteriorating situation. Many Indians also recognize the gravity of the situation. One Indian analyst who was based at the time of Sikh militancy in 1980s in Indian Punjab highlighted the difference between the level of alienation with central government of India of both the Sikhs in the 80s and the Kashmiri people now.

According to this writer a vast majority of Sikhs were angered and alienated by the Indian army’s assault on Golden Temple but the act itself was unable to convert more than 10 to 15 as pro Khalistan Sikhs whereas in the Kashmir valley people overwhelmingly want Azaadi (Independence). However the writer also stated quite categorically that no Indian government would risk giving complete independence to Kashmir.

It is a well known fact that little rows rarely cause a major dispute. But if a dispute exists, then little rows would inevitably complicate and exacerbate the situation. The Indians always viewed the Kashmir problem as Pakistani created issue but never tried to see the real cause of Kashmiri unrest. The Kashmir people were promised to exercise their right of self determination by the United Nations.

Through out the last 60 years the Indian governments have been deeply engaged in postponing the resolution of the dispute despite having agreed to hold UN passed resolution to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their right of self determination. So far various excuses and periodically emerging developments have been employed as delaying tools.

Since 1990 the people of Kashmir has intensified their struggle for Independence. However most of time the Indian government was able to get away with the excuse that it was Pakistani sponsored saboteurs who caused troubles in the State. The Americans were particularly impressed by the Indian sponsored slogans like cross border terrorism and never bothered to look deep into the real causes of Kashmiri unrest.

The recent row over land transfer and consequent economic blockade against the Muslim population of Kashmir once again highlighted accumulated frustrations and the underneath factors that have alienated the people of Kashmir. While the Kashmir situation is undoubtedly smoldering, the question that has accompanied each adverse development in Kashmir is when would the great powers realize their global responsibilities and extend the much desired help to the UN enabling it to resolve the oldest dispute on its agenda.
 

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.