Abdullah Mustafvi
India occupied Kashmir can be rightly termed as a vast prison where human beings are being crushed in the name of security. Some times back famous Indian intellectual and journalist Kuldeep Nair pointed out that Kashmir had started slipping from Indian fist primarily because of never ending state sponsored violence. Latest report released by Human Rights Commission of UN has clearly framed a charge sheet against Indian state for committing well thought out crimes and serious HR violations in occupied Kashmir.
Kashmiri masses have mentally distanced themselves from India since long time back. If some one carries any doubt about this conclusion than reaction of Kashmiri masses upon India’s defeat in Cricket World Cup semi final may prove a litmus test. Every sane mind should ponder upon this question that why Kashmiris are celebrating Indian defeat ; unlike the rest of India which went into a state of shock and mourning in response to the same event.
Closely related to this development is another important aspect that why IOK celebrated Pak cricket team victory against India in Champions Trophy final held back in 2017? Simple answer to these both questions is that in the first place Kashmiris don’t consider themselves part of India in any capacity. There exists a relationship of master and slave between Indian state and a Kashmiri! Whole dispute of Kashmir issue revolves around this core point that Kashmir is not part of Indian state! Indian occupation over Kashmir is illegitimate and immoral.
Right to self determination for Kashmiris must be acknowledged and implemented through peaceful means under UNO banner. This remains a major risk for extremely prejudiced decision making circles who always prefer to view this complex issue with narrow lens of religious hatred towards the Muslims. Decades long inhuman state sponsored violence has proved counter productive as Kashmiri youth visibly opted for armed resistance amid sheer absence of any sort of political process.
Post Burhan Wani era appeared as a much stronger night mare for Indian security forces in Kashmir. Martyrdom of Burhan Wani in 2016 created a new wave of anger filled resistance among Kashmiri youth and whole Indian design to suppress the freedom spirit through violence proved futile.
Kashmir was in a state of complete shut down on third anniversary of Burhan Wani Shaheed. His martyrdom was a acknowledged on both sides of LoC .
This unification in public response on either sides of LoC clearly proves that Kashmiris have no political conformity with New Dehli’s thought process. Writing on the wall pointed out by Kuldeep Nair few years back has proved correct now! Kashmir has completely slipped out of Indian fist ! What left now to satisfy the false sense of face saving with Indian state is an illegitimate rule imposed with the force of guns and bayonets.
Indian occupation over Kashmir is only restricted to a vast piece of land. Hearts and minds of Kashmiri masses have no soft corner for extremist rulers. Peace can only be brought back with open hearted acceptance of Kashmiris right to self determination. Nothing short of it can prove effective in healing the old wounds of Kashmir. An idea of political dialogue offered by New Dehli will never be taken seriously by Kashmiris unless it is prefixed with immediate stoppage of inhuman state sponsored violence.
Regional stake holders , other than India and Pakistan, can hardly play a positive role in reducing the probabilities of military engagements between both rivals over Kashmir issue. China , despite being a major regional player, has surfaced as an indirect stake holder primarily due to passage of CPEC from Pak Northern areas.
Indo- China rivalry is also a major irritant in any probable mediatory process. Frequent offers for dialogue extended by Pakistan in recent past could not attract requisite positive response from New Dehli.
Expecting a change of heart from BJP over Kashmir is just like living in fools’ paradise. Religious hatred towards minorities and violence stands as a major tool in policy formulation process of New Dehli.
Acceptance of Kashmir’s demand for right to self determination in fact proves Indian state as a criminal which kept suppressing the Kashmiris for over seven decades. Unfortunately, a leader of such strong character has not yet taken birth on the political canvas of India.
On Pak side, Kashmir issue is traditionally viewed with the lens of sentimentalism ! No serious thought has ever been given to explore the multiple probable solutions.
Art of verbosity can not substitute the delicate traits of diplomacy and statesmanship. Absence of political process, New Dehli’s venomous obsession with violence and Islamabad’s unnecessary reliance on verbosity coupled with mindless state of inaction persistently causing disappointment for Kashmiris suffering under Indian occupation. A cure must be found for the deep wounds of Kashmir otherwise this unrest may create wider spill over effects at regional canvas.
