Syed Hamzah Saleem Gilani
THE state of Kashmir, located between northwestern India and northeastern Pakistan, is a Muslim majority area of the Indian subcontinent. Prior to 1947, the region comprising Pakistan, India, and Kashmir was known as British India and was a colony of the British Empire consisting of hundreds of small states, each of which was controlled by a local leader know as a maharajah. When the British left the region in 1947, it was up to the individual states to determine which of the two new independent countries they wished to join. Those countries with Muslim majorities opted to become part of Pakistan, while those with Hindu majorities chose to become part of the new India. Kashmir was a Muslim-majority area and decided to align with Pakistan but its owner Raja Hari Singh sold this state to Nehru family. Kashmir, termed as jugular vein of Pakistan by the founder of Pakistan, remains to be an inevitable to-be-resolved issue for the normalization of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. India’s approach to Kashmir has become burdensome because the state is the testing ground of the new idea, to run the affairs of state, projected by BJP. This new idea is based on the philosophy of ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduness’ which is an ideology seeking to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life. Kashmir has its own ethos built on the foundation of the Islamic faith of a unique strand of tolerance. It would be a great tragedy if this unique inheritance were to be submerged to BJP’s resolve to propagate its idea of India.
The struggle for Kashmir and Indian Government’s brutalism, like fuel and fire, are increasing and propelling side by side by side. And it would not be an exaggeration to associate South East Asia’s peace with the peaceful resolution of Kashmir Issue. The rules of Partition, 1947, also define Kashmir as part of Pakistan. But ill-intended ruler preferred to sow a seed of contention by selling it to Hindus. In the recent history Kashmiris continue to challenge the hegemonistic agendas of Modi’s government.
Though very unfortunate as Pakistan, stepping forward, has paved way for an amicable solution to the long and enervating issue. But, however, it appears that Pakistan’s peace initiatives are not in line with the nefarious plans of our eastern neighbors; determined to fog the visible and achievable solution-path.
Indian Government, to stay alive amongst its citizenry, or perhaps to justify its huge military budget, has recently, embarked on the trajectory of misadventures towards Pakistan. But all the, feeble, fancy maneuvers have been appropriately and vehemently reciprocated, in manifolds, earning, the Indian Government, huge embarrassment, domestically as well as internationally- Abhinandan episode was the latest.
Imran Khan has won the minds and hearts of American citizens and establishment.
Serious concerns of the United States for regional stability, meaningful economic engagement with Pakistan and resolution of Afghanistan issue, especially to curb the menace of terrorism, awaited, for ages, for a Pakistan-focused, rather than business-oriented leader to engage with the United States.
People in India and Pakistan, in majority, were appeased by the outcome of Khan-Trump meeting in hope of regional peace-prevelance.
However, by all means, this was a knockout-defeat for the hawks in India who were actively pursuing for Pakistan’s diplomatic-alienation from the international scenario.
Rather than a well thought out strategic move, recent initiatives from Indian side vis-a-vis Kashmir, are more of a reactionary in nature to offset the series of defeats, Abhinandon, Kalbhushan and Paksiatn’s diplomatic victory in US.
India has revoked Article 370 – which gave the state of Jammu and Kashmir significant autonomy from the rest of the country along with numerically inflating its military presence in Kashmir. Simple question from a sane mind would be what is India attempting to do? Engage in a war with Pakistan? That for sure is not possible, be more brutal to Kashmiri Muslims? That is already a years-long practice. Therefore in the ultimate analysis India’s, weak, muscular move is nothing more than a power show designed, as a divergent strategy, to reassert itself in the international arena.
Kashmir movement is indigenous in nature. And Kashmiris are using guerrilla tactics to counter the largest occupying force, in any region, for their right of freedom and solidarity. Historically speaking results of guerilla warfare always favor the small-numbered guerrilla fighters rather than their strong opponents.
Apparently a “smart” move from Indian perspective is serving as an open jihad-invitation for aspirants from Kashmir and adjoining areas.
Pak-India war is out of question because of their nuclear capabilities, therefore there are two possible solutions to the recently, Indian-cooked turmoil; international organizations will step in to diffuse the situation which is most likely. And in the second instance if India is willing to stretch the unholy game for a longer time, and no one intervenes, its own forces will be demoralized by the overwhelming response from the freedom fighters, and face historical embarrassment. Either way, courtesy Modi’s unwise policies, Kashmir has, once again, risen as an issue, to be solved, across the globe. Even though Pakistan is, and has always been, vocally supporting the Kashmir cause. But the recent episode is emerging as a humanitarian crisis is surely a lose-lose situation for Modi regime.
Positive vibes are springing out of my deepest conscience that Kashmir is now all set for freedom! (The writer is freelance journalist)
Though very unfortunate as Pakistan, stepping forward, has paved way for an amicable solution to the long and enervating issue. But, however, it appears that Pakistan’s peace initiatives are not in line with the nefarious plans of our eastern neighbors; determined to fog the visible and achievable solution-path.
Indian Government, to stay alive amongst its citizenry, or perhaps to justify its huge military budget, has recently, embarked on the trajectory of misadventures towards Pakistan. But all the, feeble, fancy maneuvers have been appropriately and vehemently reciprocated, in manifolds, earning, the Indian Government, huge embarrassment, domestically as well as internationally- Abhinandan episode was the latest.
Imran Khan has won the minds and hearts of American citizens and establishment.
Serious concerns of the United States for regional stability, meaningful economic engagement with Pakistan and resolution of Afghanistan issue, especially to curb the menace of terrorism, awaited, for ages, for a Pakistan-focused, rather than business-oriented leader to engage with the United States.
People in India and Pakistan, in majority, were appeased by the outcome of Khan-Trump meeting in hope of regional peace-prevelance.
However, by all means, this was a knockout-defeat for the hawks in India who were actively pursuing for Pakistan’s diplomatic-alienation from the international scenario.
Rather than a well thought out strategic move, recent initiatives from Indian side vis-a-vis Kashmir, are more of a reactionary in nature to offset the series of defeats, Abhinandon, Kalbhushan and Paksiatn’s diplomatic victory in US.
India has revoked Article 370 – which gave the state of Jammu and Kashmir significant autonomy from the rest of the country along with numerically inflating its military presence in Kashmir. Simple question from a sane mind would be what is India attempting to do? Engage in a war with Pakistan? That for sure is not possible, be more brutal to Kashmiri Muslims? That is already a years-long practice. Therefore in the ultimate analysis India’s, weak, muscular move is nothing more than a power show designed, as a divergent strategy, to reassert itself in the international arena.
Kashmir movement is indigenous in nature. And Kashmiris are using guerrilla tactics to counter the largest occupying force, in any region, for their right of freedom and solidarity. Historically speaking results of guerilla warfare always favor the small-numbered guerrilla fighters rather than their strong opponents.
Apparently a “smart” move from Indian perspective is serving as an open jihad-invitation for aspirants from Kashmir and adjoining areas.
Pak-India war is out of question because of their nuclear capabilities, therefore there are two possible solutions to the recently, Indian-cooked turmoil; international organizations will step in to diffuse the situation which is most likely. And in the second instance if India is willing to stretch the unholy game for a longer time, and no one intervenes, its own forces will be demoralized by the overwhelming response from the freedom fighters, and face historical embarrassment. Either way, courtesy Modi’s unwise policies, Kashmir has, once again, risen as an issue, to be solved, across the globe. Even though Pakistan is, and has always been, vocally supporting the Kashmir cause. But the recent episode is emerging as a humanitarian crisis is surely a lose-lose situation for Modi regime.
Positive vibes are springing out of my deepest conscience that Kashmir is now all set for freedom! (The writer is freelance journalist)
