ABDULLAH MUSTAFVI
Freedom movement in Kashmir gained a fresh momentum during last one year. It was rapid, strong and significant enough to attract the eyes of international community. Burhan Wani’s Shahadat in the hands of Indian occupied forces ignited the volcano and one can safely comment that the situation is worsening there with every passing day. A simple and popular statement from our side of border is that public uprising in Kashmir against inhuman atrocities have exposed the real face of India. Though, the statement is correct but this oversimplified and highly generalized expression lacks requisite strength to deal with a much stronger crisis. We can shame India loudly on this pretext and apply some ointment on our wounded ego but can’t move an inch forward towards the solution of Kashmir issue, which may rightly be termed now as ‘Kashmir crisis’ Highly prejudiced and unjustifiable Indian policies about Kashmir have gradually given birth to a militant struggle destined towards freedom. Burhan Wani is the new icon of armed freedom struggle. His brutal Killing by Indian forces turned him into a legendary icon. This legend offers an attractive narrative to the oppressed Kashmiris and energetic youth. Undoubtedly, Kashmiri youth has been pushed on this thorny path by the Indian state which miserably failed in initiation of a peace process through non-violent means. Locked at our generalized vision and anti-India sentimentalism, a large part of our intelligentsia predicts success of Kashmiri freedom struggle in the form of a historic Indian defeat in the Valley of Kashmir. Probably at the back of our minds, we are more concerned about Indian defeat as compared to the freedom and survival of oppressed Kashmiris. Contrary to the verbal claims, as a responsible state, we have yet to prove our seriousness towards Kashmir through concrete steps. Rise of armed freedom struggle in Kashmir must be deciphered carefully. Non-violent struggle must be compared with the armed struggles of recent era.
A call for armed resistance to the oppressed Muslim masses traditionally gains ideological strength and validity from the Quranic concept of ‘Jihad’. Unfortunately, this vibrant and highly broad concept of ‘Jihad’ once applied in isolation without appropriate political assessment proved a challenge both for the fighters and the opponents. Palestinian struggle against Israel and Afghan resistance against foreign forces, stretched over decades, provide enough eye opening lessons. Armed struggle can provide a position of strength in a temporary phase, which if not exploited though political measures, proves vice versa in the longer run. Sufferings of Muslim masses in Palestine, Kashmir and Afghanistan, are in a way, reflection of absolute political vacuum and lack of farsighted credible leadership. Dysfunctional OIC and pathetic division of Muslim countries are the most prominent contributing factors towards this disappointing failure. Rise of militancy in Kashmir is a collective failure of India and Pakistan. Leadership vacuum in occupied Kashmir and absolute blockade of credible political forces by India have created enough space for militant freedom struggle. Remember that, leader of ‘Hizb’ Syed Salah Ud Din, picked up arms against election rigging while the Yasin Malik was one of his political agent. That’s how the Kashmiris are being pushed towards militancy. US state office’s recent decree about ‘Salah Ud Din’ grading him ‘global terrorist’ will prove counter productive. This declaration has brought ‘Hizb at a center point while one of his icon ‘Burhan Wani’ remained the main driving force behind recent public uprising since last on year. A legitimate freedom movement is being rapidly pushed on the path of armed struggle with traditional slogan of ‘Jihad’. This time again, it is being applied without political wisdom. Zakir Musa, is a new name rising on the canvas of Kashmir who is chanting attractive slogans on the traditional religious themes. Figures like Modi and Yogi under the flag of BJP provide enough reasons to ignite the religious based resistance. American doubtful labeling of terrorism on the Kashmiri movement has further fuelled the sentiments. Baseless verbosity, by our ruling elite and other political figures offers nothing valuable to the oppressed Kashmiris. Absence of political vision and rapidly rising tendency of armed struggle in Kashmir are closely interlinked. How can we foresee, that global players usually invest in such trouble spots and architect a grand crisis to pursue their interests. Pak-China cooperation in the shape of CPEC provides enough reason to USA to orchestrate a grand crisis by investing in highly inflammable freedom struggle in Kashmir. Only a tribute to Burhan Wani and countless martyrs of Kashmir is not enough at this stage. It is about time to formulate a broad based workable strategy to deal with the Kashmir crisis through superior political wisdom mostly revolving around non-violent means. Pakistan should take a lead role in exploring the options to accelerate for peaceful solution of Kashmir issue by setting the political objectives for freedom fighters . Negligence on this account will be a crime not lesser than Indian brutalities . Let’s wake up and act more than the sentimental speeches .There is a need to organize and guide the anger of Kashmiri youth which at this stage is vulnerable to global exploitation with the time tested weapons of militant struggle and proliferation religious sentimental themes. Let’s save Kashmiri youth by directing them towards education , character building , modern technology and a grand scheme of political awareness against illegitimate Indian occupation.
