Sikandar Noorani
THE month of October carries a special significance in the history of Kashmir freedom movement. On 22 October 1947, brave sons from Pak tribal areas led the freedom fighters and liberated present territory of AJK. On 27 October 1947, Indian forces illegally occupied Srinagar and manifested fraudulent accession. Kashmiris and their well-wishers record protest against illegal Indian occupation by observing ‘Black Day’ all across the world. Ultra-violent actions of the Modi-led BJP regime against the Muslims have brought India in the spotlight of human rights organizations. Illegal unilateral abrogation of Kashmir’s so-called special status by New Delhi last year sparked a new wave of retaliation in Kashmir and jolted the international community about India.
Modi’s unflinching commitment with RSS’ extremist anti minority ideology eventually exposed the real extremist face of Indian society. Kashmir, being a Muslim majority area and an unfinished business of the partition, has always remained in the crosshairs of New Delhi. Kashmiri freedom movement has been trivialized and countered by India for decades through malicious bracketing with fabricated cross border allegations. Unlike the past it is not easier anymore for New Delhi to deceive the world with exaggerated projection of its much talked about democracy and fancy bookish Gandhian slogan of ‘Non-Violence’. Unleashing of extremism monster in India is so phenomenal under BJP rule that usual diplomatic and propaganda tricks prove too short to shroud it. In order to reinforce the unsustainable act of converting Kashmir into union territory, the Modi regime has no political design except brutal use of state power and authority.
Alarming rise in ceasefire violations along the LoC against Pakistan clearly reflect the violent mindset dominating the decision-making circles of New Delhi. On one hand, brutal application of Indian state force is pushing the Kashmiri youth towards armed militant struggle. And on the other hand, military aggression from Indian side compelling Pakistan to respond in the same coin. Persistent military tensions between two nuclear powers, like India and Pakistan, are posing quite serious threats to regional peace and prosperity. Back in 2019, Pakistan exercised maximum possible restraint in responding to Indian provoking misadventure of failed surgical strike at Balakot. Unfortunately, BJP leadership’s deep commitment with Hindutva ideology is the major hindrance in adoption of any non-violent methodology to resolve the Kashmir issue. Diplomatic moves from Pak side to enhance pressure of international community on India has proved counterproductive so far.
Response from the world community and international human rights bodies is too meager to push India towards major reconciliation. Adoption of Israeli model by Indian state has worsened the living conditions for Kashmiri masses in illegally occupied territory. Frequency of extra-judicial murders in fake encounters has increased manifolds. In order to justify the inhuman violence, Indian security establishment has started rattling the allegations of weapon supply, infiltration and terrorist training against Pakistan. Fabrication of Bollywood fiction style false allegations is one such specialty of Indian trigger-happy security establishment and media that any unbelievable item can be expected at any moment from this duo.
One such effort was recently pointed out by credible international media houses when Indian side shamelessly started airing fake news about an imaginary civil war between army and protestors in Karachi. This phenomenon is very much in play at superlative degree about Kashmir as well. BJP and its hired media are trying hard to create the positive optics about Kashmir with vigorous propaganda entirely in contradiction to the worst ground realities. When Kashmir is at the boil against inhuman atrocities and pointy attempts to alter the demography, Indian media has started posing as if the masses are more than ever happy after abrogation of Article 370. In this age of rapid flow of information, no state can hide the realities from the world on a permanent basis through cunningly devised propaganda and diplomacy. It is a bitter fact that a major part of the world has turned a blind eye towards miseries of Kashmiris due to vested economic interests with India. But this unfavourable environment cannot beat the human natural urge for freedom and peace.
Kashmiris at the moment are neither free nor at peace due to abhorrent Indian state terrorism. They have been living in an open-air prison since decades! They are exposed to extra judicial killings, custodial torture, gang rapes, house demolitions, closure of schools, pellet gun blinding and socio-economic coercion. BJP has no intent to bring peace in Kashmir. RSS’ hatemongers and warlords are striving hard to conquer the territory through violence, militarization and hateful propaganda. Months-long standoff at the LAC with China is enough an evidence to comprehend the real aggressive mindset ruling India. Prior to beginning of 2+2 Indo-US dialogues, Mike Pompeo took the side of New Delhi referring to Ladakh border tension with China. Threatening statement of Indian NSA Ajeet Doval, to fight the security threats at foreign soils, was perfectly blended with the occasion. Obviously, at this moment India is in no mood to consider peaceful coexistence or non-violent means. With this, the challenge to solve the Kashmir issue becomes more complex for Pakistan.
—The writer is a freelancer who often contributes in national newspapers.
