Kashmiris need support

The POST, Sun, Feb,10, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

The tremendous support demonstrated by the Pakistanis on the Kashmir Solidarity Day reflected the intensity of feelings and concerns for the people of Kashmir. Not only the state run television PTV ran a marathon transmission on the 5th Feb.2008 but a large number of the Pakistanis participated in rallies and seminars all over the country. Being an official holiday almost all segments of the Pakistani society actively contributed their share of support. It was indeed an impressive demonstration of overwhelming support for the Kashmir cause.

The higher officials of the government not only issued statements expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir but also asked the international community to fulfill pledges made for the rights of the Kashmiri people to choose their future. It is a well known fact that the UN is committed through its resolutions to hold a plebiscite in order to ascertain the wishes of the people of Kashmir but even after the passage of 60 years, there are no hopeful signs.

One has to admire the Indian strategy of delay to the point where the fatigue syndrome begins to take a heavy toll of international community’s commitments. Undoubtedly one of the major reasons that have effectively impeded the path towards Kashmir’s resolution is the domination of national interest over the generally propagated principles of justice and equality. The uncanny attraction of national interest not only overwhelms and overshadows all principles leaving small space to continue to pay lip service.

The other major factor that has prevented the desired resolution of the dispute revolves around Indian determination to retain the area under its control despite the commitments of Indian prime Minister Nehru who promised the world as well as the people of Kashmir that plebiscite would be held once normalcy prevails in the area. Many good and feasible proposals were advanced by men like Sir Own Dixon, Dr. Frank Graham, Gunner Jarring but almost all of them were shot down by India.

The Indian interpretation is that whenever Pakistan faces internal turmoil, the Pakistani establishment invariably attempts to divert the attention of the people of Pakistan by raising the issue of Kashmir in such a manner that it could divert attention of the people from more pressing issues of internal instability. The Indians have also frequently charged that Pakistan has been actively supporting the freedom fighters.

The government of Pakistan has never denied the charge but has always stressed that not only it has extended moral, political and diplomatic support but it would continue to extend this type of support even in future until the resolution of the dispute. It is indeed a blatant lie and total distortion of the factual situation that Pakistan has been extending support only during periods of internal crisis. In fact Pakistan has never cease to extend its above mentioned categories of support for the Kashmir cause during its independent existence. However the Indian critics always blame Pakistan for extending active military support which is, of course, regularly denied by the government of Pakistan.

Tired of Indian intransigency to fulfill its commitments, regularly demonstrated unconcern of the international community and consistently manipulated elections, the people of occupied Kashmir began to drift towards armed struggle which intensified in the late 80s. Since 1947 the Indian government rigged almost all elections that were held in Kashmir. The Indian security forces regularly employ strong arm tactics to ensure victories of their favorite candidates. Despite regular protests, the Indian government continued to violate all rules and regulations that are deemed to be essential for fair and transparent elections.

Initially Indian officials termed the intensified freedom struggle as insurgency which was sustained by efforts emanating across the temporary LOC, later they began to refer to intensified struggle of the Kashmiri people as militancy. Still later they began to call this struggle as terrorist movement. The word terrorism came into circulation after the Kenya bombing and was over projected after the tragic events of 9/11.

Fully cognizant of changing international environment after the death of the Cold war and subsequently 9/11, India has been changing its description of the freedom struggle in congruence with the dictates of changed conditions. The notion of cross border terrorism was excessively drummed as they realized that the international community is unlikely to entertain rational approach towards any freedom struggle within Muslim World.

Recognizing Indian interpretation of cross border terrorism, the international community easily became victim of clever Indian policy pursuits. It demonstrated the exact opposite of what it used to propagate in terms of civilized international norms and readily bought the Indian interpretation of the developments in Kashmir. The partisan attitude of the international community further strengthened Indian resolve not to allow the promised plebiscite in Kashmir.

All sorts of new excuses and arguments were advanced in support of its contention that Kashmir has become an integral part of Indian Union and holding of a plebiscite would generate many complex problems for India. Initially it was projected as a strong pillar of Indian secularism and later the idea that separation of Kashmir could strengthen many other independence movements in India. Another aspect of dispute that was projected by the Indians revolved around the nature of dispute.

Camouflaging the real nature of the dispute the Indian writers began to dwell heavily upon the territorial aspect of the dispute. Lacking comprehension of the real nature of the dispute the international community neither devoted much attention to how the dispute originated and the UN resolutions that were accepted by both India and Pakistan nor suppressive methods employed by Indian security forces causing regular human rights violations.

Neither of these arguments appeared convincing to those who understand the real nature of the dispute. What the international community has to learn that by not focusing on the plight of the Kashmiri people and ignoring the verdict and commitments of international body like the UN, not only it is establishing a bad precedent but also helping the perpetuation of the dispute which entails seeds of future conflicts.

Given the efforts put in by the people of Kashmir and regularly expressed determination to exercise their right of self determination, it is not too far fetched to assume that a day will come when not only the international community would become realistic and realize the gravity of the situation and even try to impress upon India to stop their brutal policies and allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their right of self determination as was promised to them by the UN resolutions.

To sustain their struggle, the Kashmiri people need the support and encouragement from all peace loving people. Those nations who believe in justice and civilized norms need to come forward and extend support to the suppressed people of Kashmir. Pakistan’s overwhelming support to the struggling people of Kashmir is indeed commendable and it is expected that similar level of support need to be expressed by members of international community in general and from the Islamic world in particular.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.