Part 23

Kashmir Watch, July 18

By Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

 

Don’t confuse innocent Kashmiris

 

India has clearly confused both pro-India Kashmiris and pro-Kashmiri Muslims the world over. Of course, no one can doubt the capability of Indian networking to do a neat job of that but majority of Kashmiris have  difficult y in comprehending the fact divisions have spoiled the  chances of gaining sovereignty back from arrogant India.

 

It seems the hot blood of Kashmiris has no meaning, value and message for many who put forward irrelevant arguments that give more reasons to stay on in Kashmir killing innocent Kashmiris day in and day out. Knowing fully well the fact India resists any freedom move bids by patriotic Kashmiris mainly because  Pakistan would incorporate Kashmir into its constitution. Indian strategists keep arguing that if Kashmiris want to be a part of Pakistan why not of India . India , seeking weak neighbors for “strategic reasons”, would never allow a stronger Islamic Pakistan to emerge as is immediate neighbor. The present turmoil in Pakistan , therefore, is a boon for Indians, though they shed crocodile tears about democracy in Pakistan and composite dialog.

 

Kashmir-Pakistan Bonds

 

India also is fully aware of the fact that Kashmiris are closer to Pakistanis than Indians for genuine cultural and historical reasons and the decades long genocide and destructions in Kashmir have make them close than ever before.   

 

The present struggle of Kashmiris is to gain independence form India which has been occupying Jammu Kashmir since 1947. But Kashmiris on the both sides of divided Kashmir have been longing to come together to rule their sweet nation as before. Now Kashmiris don't want to let any foreigners capture or annex their land and occupy it with brutal force killing as many Kashmiris as they can every day.

 

It seems a good number of pro-Kashmir Muslims are under illusion and confusion about what exactly they seek from India and try to play with words like freedom, self-rule and independence and confuse the genuine Kashmiris who sacrifice their valuable lives for the sake of their homeland. It is apparent that a good number of journalists who espouse the cause of Kashmir actually don’t think that Kashmir would any time become an independent nation and Indian would continue to occupy it. It is likely that they are supporting Indian case in disguise. Then there are few others who don't want Kashmir to be independent at all.

 

So, the point is to help them get back freedom snatched by India under guise of defending them form Pakistan , which is a blatant lie. Pakistan ’s official position is pretty clear to all: they want to see a united Kashmir emerging as their trusted neighbor. And they do not have any hidden agenda as Indians do. That is reason why they fought wars with India and got themselves killed in thousands along with fellow Kashmiris.

 

The chief goal of the freedom fighters is to regain their sovereignty as quickly as possible and reunite the Kashmiris. Whether they want to be together or seek separate nations let them decide after that. It is binding on all interested persons supporting the genuine cause of Kashmiris to be cautious not to confuse the freedom fighting Kashmiris with vague definitions about freedom, independence and self-rule, all these practically mean just one key value: a nation with full sovereignty. And about the Kashmir nation, it is necessary to consider the aspirations of the people on both sides of divide now eagerly seeking to be reunited after a long separation.

 

Illusions

 

UN, USA and UK have not yet taken up the Kashmir case seriously enough. India has been thwarting all attempts by patriotic Kashmiris and Pakistan to redeem independence form Indian occupiers. Decades of active diplomacy of Pakistan could not get USA to make UN to ask India to leave Kashmir free from militarization and genocides. Even tow wars they fought and scarified thousands of lives for Kashmir have not forced India to free India . On the contrary India has intensified the militarization process.

 

Many Kashmiris and their supports are under the illusion that India would grant freedom to Kashmir and let the Kashmiris join  Pakistan . India knows the strategic importance of Jammu Kashmir and it always wants to keep the region as buffer zone to shield Indian heartlands from Pakistan and China in cases of war which should be fought in Jammu Kashmir. That is India sees Kashmir as its outer security zone to shield it central regions.

 

Also, even after joining Pakistan , Kashmir would eventually cede to form an impendent country and already some under-developed regions in Pakistan are embarking upon claming independence from Pakistan .

 

Now asking India to let Kashmiris join Pakistan would be big joke. India never wants make its enemy stronger by adding Kashmir to Pakistan . Prudence requires Kashmiris first get back their sovereignty from India. Pro-India elements always try to link Kashmir with Pakistan and sabottge the cause. Pro-Kashmir people should resist from that temptation.

 

Moreover, to be very pragmatic, with an independent Kashmir as a close, trusted ally as nieghbor, Pakistan would be greately benefited as much as Kashmir would be to have an brotherly Islmaic nation to support it in its all endeavours for advancement.

 

A Word

 

Considering the strength of Kashmiris of now it is imperative to make India see reason and quit Kashmir. One has to see if the new incumbent governor of JK would support genuine Kashmiri cause for final settlement. Redeeming sovereignty from occupying India should be the focus of the Kashmir freedom fighters and those who support the genuine cause of Kashmiris. Any talk of joining Pakistan would only further petrify the India resolve to retain Kashmir under military boots as long as they can. And that attitude would only jeopardize the freedom move, even though an independent and free Kashmir is free to chose to join Pakistan if they so desire. Geelani has clearly stated that Kashmiris seek the entire Kashmir as it existed before 1947. This should be the goal rght now. Any other unserious talk should be avoided for now.    ......(To Continue...>)

Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal Research Scholar,School of International Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University,New Delhi can be contacted at

abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com

Related Link

A Free Kashmir: Random Thoughts
Part 1-22

Posted on 18 Jul 2008 by Webmaster