Syeda Mazhar
Kashmir, a zone of conflict is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The issue contagious with the geopolitics of Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in repeated formidable wars, hostility and has always been a source of low intensity tensions. A militarized zone in the world stems insecurity and quarrel where both India and Pakistan claim, all this because of its physical contiguity with the two. Pakistan claims Kashmir as her lifeline; it’s Jugular Vein. Having geo-strategic, economic and military significance for Pakistan, Kashmir becomes an unfinished agenda of the partition and core of Pakistan’s ideological survival.
July 19 is observed every year in renewal of the historical resolution of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan passed by the people of the state.The All Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference on July 19, 1947, in Srinagar demanded the then Dogra rulers to materialise the accession of the Jammu Kashmir state to Pakistan honouring the decision and point of view of the majority population of the Muslim majority in the state.
The existence of limited democratic development in Kashmir until the late 1970s had caused a lot of resentment in the masses. By 1988, many of the democratic reforms introudced by the Indian Government had been reversed. The fall of non-violent channels for expressing discontent caused a dramatic increase in support for insurgents advocating violent secession from India. The disputed election of 1987 became the catalyst for the insurgency when it resulted in some of the state’s legislative assembly members froming armed insurgent groups. Dispute over local autonomy is the root of conflict between Kashmiri insurgents and Indian Government. In 1988 a series of demonstrations, strikes and attacks on the Indian Government began the Kashmir Insurgency.
The killing of a popular young militant last week in Indian-held Kashmir, has already opened a new chapter of violence and agitation in the long-troubled region. The death of 22-year old Burhan Wani has been characterized as one of Indian Army’s “biggest successes”. However, his popularity among Kashmiris, who rallied around his magnectic rebel tactics and zeal to fight for the independence of Kashmir, can potentially make his death a fresh rallyng point. it could also serve to energise the protesters in a way not seen since 2010, when civilians confronted government to launch a popular uprising that took four months to contain and inspired a new generation of youth.
The region has seen an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989, although violence has waned in recent years. Wani, largely credited with reviving and legitimising the image of militancy in the Muslim-majority Indian administered Kashmir. Extremely active on social media and unlike militants in the past, Wani, did not hide his identity. His video messages, which would often go viral in Kashmir, were on the topics of Indian injustice, and the need for young people to stand up to oppression. Wani was notoriously known amongst the Indian officials for being instrumenetal in persuading local boys to take up arms. Burhan Wani’s death in a gun battle with government forces in Indian-administered Kashmir has sparked days of deadly violence again.
Indian authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in most parts of IHK after Wani was killed, but massive protests continued despite attempts to suppress violence. Almost all the dead in the current outbreak of violence are protesters.The BBC’s Riyaz Masroor in Srinagar says tensions remained high on Monday, with crowds attempting to breach curfew orders. Leaders have issued a joint statement in which they called on India’s government to “abandon the policy of stopping people’s marches by bullets”. The voilence has led to the suspension of a popular Hindu religious pilgrimage to the Amarnath temple shrine, which has stranded some 15,000 devotees in the neighbouring region of Jammu.
Moreover, rights groups have described the current situation as a state of emergency. Hospitals struggled to cope with wounded protesters and phone and internet services were suspended. Pakistan has called upon EU, OIC to urge India to stop the blatant violations of Human Rights in Kashmir. Over 3100 people, including 1500 security personnel, have been injured during the ongoing unrest in Kashmir that began after the killing.
Analysts in the area say that the absence of political engagement to resolve the Kashmir dispute is setting a new political discourse and militancy is gaining legitimacy among people who believe Delhi is ignoring political realities. The question that is being asked now, is if Wani is more dangerous to India now that he is dead.
The challenge the government now faces is fighting the ideology that Wani promoted, clearly reflected in the outpouring of sentiment over his killing. In light of the atrocities taking place in Kashmir, on July 15, PM Nawaz Sharif while addressing a cabinet meeting at Lahore’s Governor House, announced to observe 19th of July as a ‘Black Day’ in protest against the killings of innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. However, the government appeared to be unaware of the historically significant day. Kashmirs all over the world celebrate July 19 as ‘Accession to Pakistan’ Day. It is celebrated to rededicate all energies and resources to continue the liberation movement.
“Kashmir’s Accession day will be observed on July 19 while nation-wide ‘Black day’ will be observed on July 20 to protest the brutalities of Indian forces in Kashmir,” the government announced on Saturday.
