Abdullah Mustafvi
AS the Kashmir issue regularly blinks on international media, month of July reminds us of two important days having close linkage with ongoing freedom movement against Indian illegal occupation. First is 13 July which is celebrated by the Kashmiris all across the world in remembrance of those twenty-two martyrs who laid their lives at Central Srinagar jail while raising voice against brutal Dogra rule in 1931. Second is 19 July, when All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference unanimously adopted resolution of accession with Pakistan in 1947. Both these events are enough to understand the root cause of Kashmir issue. It is an undeniable reality that Kashmiris will neither kneel before oppressors nor accept Indian illegal occupation on their motherland. In sheer absence of political engagement and absolute dearth of moral grounds, the only option left with India in the given situation is brutal application of force. Territory means a lot for New Delhi in Kashmir not the Kashmiris!
A free hand to the ill intended security forces has eventually pushed Kashmiri youth towards armed resistance. Though, world is taking too long to comprehend that denial of fundamental human rights to millions of people for decades is the real cause of public uprising in Kashmir but Modi’s 5th August revocation of Article 370 helped enough expose the bitter reality. Amid Islamophobia campaign, BJP stalwarts and hardliner ideologues never feel ashamed for being labelled as anti-Muslim. Definitely, Kashmir remains a tough test case for international community on account of human rights but this dimension cannot trivialize the bitter ground reality that religious identity of Kashmir has added to the miseries of masses. With BJP extremist cult led by a notorious anti Muslim character like Modi in PM chair, IOJ&K is undergoing the worst HR violations and brutalities.
Rapid rise of extremists in India means shrinkage of breathing space for minorities with the Muslims on top of the list. Hindutva ideologues cursed with the itch of past Mughal rule and creation of Pakistan over separate Muslim identity, find it impossible to see Muslim majority Kashmir slipping from the fist. In all practical terms Kashmiris are exposed to the worst discrimination due to incurable prejudice running like blood in the veins of ruling regime of India. Post-Pulwama situation was escalated by New Delhi to put Pakistan in a check-mate situation on multiple accounts. A stabilizing role by Pakistan in Afghan peace process with a change in American tone urging facilitation in dialogue with Taliban appeared as a nightmare for India amid heavy investment on anti-Pak quarters. New Delhi’s strong desire to coerce Pakistan on military, economic and diplomatic fronts is hard to hide. A quick and unexpected removal of RAW sponsored terrorist networks by defence forces remains the biggest of all shocks served by Pakistan for Modi-led extremist cult. So was the case with FATF proceedings where so far Pakistan could manage to meet the challenge between grey and black shades. Stage managed Pulwama incident and surgical strike drama could not serve the purpose fully except an electoral victory for BJP. Two jets down with one wreckage each on either sides of LoC and one pilot praising graceful conduct of Pak defence forces with a cup of good hot tea in hand actually took every advantage out of the hands of Modi. Pathetic stupidity of Modi and his warmongers brought South Asia at the brink of a nuclear clash.
Though, world seems quite worried about a likely nuclear war between India and Pakistan but there is dearth of requisite seriousness towards the solution of Kashmir issue! They are talking about Kashmir not that they care for Kashmiris! Had it been the case, they would have talked about the plight of Kashmiris with same vigour in the past as well. They are now talking about Kashmir because the nuclear war might take place! This further proves that logic and humanity carries no worthwhile impact in shaping up the opinion in existing global system. ‘Might is Right’ principal holds good in most of the matters. You cry for justice! You make appeal on humanitarian grounds! You knock all the doors with diplomatic hammer! Nobody is ready to pay any heed towards the plight of Kashmiris who suffer rapes, genocide, pellet gun injuries and humiliations in the hands of Hindutva extremist ideologues. The moment Pakistan downed two jets and mildly cleaned dust from the nuclear toy, the world was focused on Kashmir with sermons about peace, humanity and dialogue based solutions. While the Kashmiris celebrating days in memory of Srinagar Martyrs and resolution of Accession to Pakistan, it sends a clear message that flame of freedom movement is still alive. After fighting against Dogra and British Raj, now Kashmiris are struggling against the most brutal occupation forces of India. This complicated regional issue cannot be solved with verbal assurances, spiritless resolutions and stereo typed statements. Indian overstepping against China in Ladakh is a dangerous indicator of New Delhi’s aggressive regional designs. New Delhi’s extremist stance on Kashmir issue and addiction to violent means is the actual threat to peace in South Asian region.
