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Friday March 29, 2024

Way Out for Captive Kashmir

By Mohammed Ajeeb Cbe
November 19, 2019

Most of the tragic events in human history can be linked to man’s desire for the acquisition of power — the power to subjugate his fellow human being. Contemporary conflicts abound and the quest for peace and global stability continues unabated.

Oppression and the urge to usurp is practised by powerful nations, without hindrance and with little deterrence. Most commentators would agree that there are two obvious examples of this phenomenon in modern times. One is Palestine, and the other Kashmir.

Since the partition of India in 1947, the region has suffered four inconclusive wars between India and Pakistan and military and diplomatic tension still persists even after the passage of more than 72 years.

The death of Kashmiri fighter Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 2016 at the hands of Indian occupation forces sparked waves of protests in Indian occupied Kashmir. The clashes that ensued brought about death of more than 1000 people and injuries to over 15000. Pallet gun, an internationally banned weapon, was used by the Indian security forces to bring about all this loss. An apparent policy of dehumanisation has given licence to a portfolio of brutal torture, not the least of which is the gang rape of women.

The Indian government’s decision, on 5th of August this year, to abrogate articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution has added a new dimension to the volatile and politically desolate complexion of the region. This move, rushed through both houses of the Indian parliament, has deprived Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir of the special status previously accorded to it and has given Indian citizens the right to buy land and property within the state.

Kashmiris — all 8 million of them — are being deprived of basic needs. Hospitals are inaccessible for them. They live under a strict curfew and communications vacuum. Jammu and Kashmir is now a place where there is no internet service.

An additional 10000 paramilitary troops have been deployed in Srinagar, to bolster the 800000 members of the Indian security forces already deployed there.

Since PM Modi came to power in India, political and social life in that country has been controlled by the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing nationalist militant organisation regarded by many commentators as a subsidiary of the ruling BJP. With the apparent blessing of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS indoctrinates young Hindus the notions of racial, religious and moral superiority over their Muslim neighbours. In the India of today, Muslims, Christians, low-caste Hindus and members of other minorities are being forced to denounce their religion or suffer the consequences — lynching or burning alive.

This all adds up to a policy of enforced submission that has transformed the region into the largest prison on earth. Comparisons with Nazi concentration camps are not fanciful.

The recent speech by Imran Khan at the United Nations General Assembly was a brave and passionate assessment of the challenges facing Pakistan, Kashmir and Muslims in general and it certainly raised eyebrows among Muslim and non-Muslim leaders alike. But it’s too early to say whether his wise words will have any real impact on those leaders who pull the strings. Sadly, the nominal standard bearers of global liberty, the defenders of human rights, stand on the touchline as neutral spectators. And, to some eyes, the UN looks increasingly like a toothless, impotent puppet of the big powers who bankroll its existence, rubber-stamping illegal invasions and occupations.

And any hope of support from the United States, never a steadfast ally of Muslims, seems particularly vain with Donald Trump in the White House.

So, what is the solution? How can the region move forward?

Desperately, but unfortunately, the government of Pakistan seems to pin her hopes in the remote possibility of international pressure being applied to India to lift the siege and end the occupation. But this is a long-term strategy with little prospect of a positive outcome for those suffering in Kashmir.

War is often mooted as a solution to relieve the people of Kashmir from their current predicament. A limited conventional war could be a possibility, and would doubtlessly find support in some domestic political quarters, but it seems unlikely to produce a quick and easy solution to the dispute and is more likely to prolong the stalemate.

The drastic option of a full-blown nuclear engagement of the region’s two nuclear powers, which finds support in some extremist circles, would of course be a collective insanity. Meanwhile, less hawkish elements were relieved to hear Imran Khan’s commitment to pacifism in the UN speech.

And diplomatic efforts, as noted above, have tended to consist of foot-shuffling neutrality and equanimity. The view among Western leaders has long been that Kashmir is a bilateral dispute and it should be settled peacefully through dialogue between India and Pakistan. No shift in this policy has been prompted by the dreadful events in Kashmir. A lucrative trade with India is the basis of a non-interventionist policy based on vested economic interest.

A small beacon of hope was lit at the Labour Party conference just a few weeks ago when, with the full support of Jeremy Corbyn, a resolution was passed supporting international intervention and calling for an UN-led referendum on action in Kashmir. Kashmir-watchers are watching with interest the developments at Westminster as the country appears to edge towards a general election this side of Christmas.

But appeals to international effort and goodwill, however well-intentioned, would likely fall on deaf ears. Short of war or some miraculous opening of bilateral communication channels, how can the situation be addressed?

The solution I’m proposing will be seen by some as a controversial and desperate measure. But these are desperate times.

So, I suggest that Pakistan-administered AJK and Gilgit Baltistan be declared a successor government of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of the State.

Pakistan should recognise it as an independent State. They should use their influence to get it recognised by the countries in their influence. And UN should be approached through friendly permanent members of the UNSC for its membership of the United Nations.

India herself has demolished all the foundations of the so-called accession of the State and reduced it to an occupied territory, so it is no more binding on either to Kashmiris or to Pakistan to bother Indian claims over the state.

Pakistan needs to take a bold step and have confidence in the people of J & K. They will never betray Pakistan.

An independent State of Jammu and Kashmir would act as a buffer between India and Pakistan and a means for restoring regional peace. I believe it could be economically viable, as it is rich in natural resources and hot pursuit of the world class tourism. Kashmir would become the Switzerland of Asia. But this can only be achieved if Pakistan wholeheartedly trusts Kashmiris to manage their own destiny.

Nelson Mandela said, ‘It always seems impossible until it is done.’

It’s time we get this done.

The author became the UK’s first Asian Lord Mayor in 1985-86. He’s been the subject of two BBC films. He was awarded the CBE in 2001