K B Jandial
In the last 27 years of militancy, Kashmir has seen many long cycles of violence and blood baths and this spell too would come to an end without any gain for any body. Every stakeholder in the theatre of Kashmir politics is a loser. Look,the post- Burhan period of 10 days has made Kashmir bleed more than what he was able to bleed India in six years. So far,over 40 liveshave been lost in this senseless violence erupted after the successful operation on 8th July, 2016 at Sharifabad village of Kokernag area of South Kashmir, once considered bastion of PDP and now epicenter of new brand of ” young” militancy. And the count continues. The protesters who defy the law or indulge in violence willfully invite action from the police which runs risk of disproportionate globally.
All stakeholders in Kashmir’s perpetual unrest- Pakistan, its abetted terrorists and separatists, stoking further bloodbath on the streets on daily basis. Neither Pakistan nor the separatists has anything to lose in this game as none of the wards of these separatists is plunged into “armed struggle”. All of them are abroad, studying, making career or employed gainfully. A long list of them with names and placements has gone viral in social media nowadays. Shedding of blood of ordinary Kashmiri is capitalized by them for their survival. And Pakistan which stood isolated internationally on terrorism for harbouring terrorists on her land is on the piggy back of China to checkmate India’s international advancement. Pakistan’s only friend China is the same country that bans fasting of Muslims during holy Ramadan.
This cycle of violence has already taken a heavy toll of human lives yet no wise counsel has descended on protesters that their “martyrdom” is going waste. A local SSP has aptly summed up Burhan’s killing by saying, “Let truth be told, his life was a waste… one more man sacrificed for a futile cause… he is not the first, he won’t be the last!!” The 27-year history of militancy only points it to this reality.
The story of all terrorism centers around one reality- those who pick up the gun, for whatever reasons and causes, are destined to die by the gun. Those joining this path should know that the indoctrination, religious or otherwise, cannot change this reality of the fate that awaits them. Even the father of Burhan, a retired Headmaster of a School has, in a statement, conceded that the average life of a militant is seven years and Burhan met his fate six years after he graduated into militancy.
Handsome as he was,Burhan had added glamour to the militancy with his boyish looks that caught the imagination of local youth. His posts on the social media with his picture, especially one of a group of 10 young militants wearing battle fatigue and brandishing AK-rifles became viral on social media. He was able to build a “young force of mujahedeen” of about 70. Sadly, many of them were killed before Burhan’ send that raised a finger of suspicion towards him, suspecting him an Indian agent, and remaining too will meet the same fate tomorrow or day after. Precious human resource is being channelized for self-destruction.
One of the main problems in Kashmir politics is that even a neat and clean operation of Burhan Wani is being suspected by no less than responsible mainstream politicians including former CM Omar Abdullah.He said, “I don’t recall any militancy incident attributed to him while I was in office. Not sure after that.” In his tweet after the gun fight, he said, “Burhan’s ability to recruit in to militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media.” How can they ignore that a J&K Police cop has received two bullets in the gun fight on Friday evening and is getting treatment at undisclosed hospital in view of confirmed threat to his life. Those who follow tweets often make logical response. One follower to Omar on his tweet on Burhan’s no participation in any operations replied that Osama Bin Laden was never seen killing anyone but still he was the world’s dreaded terrorist. Does that mean Osama should not have been killed?
Muzaffar Beig too questioned the procedure followed in the encounter and asked for Court of Inquiry to ascertain whether it was conformity with Supreme Court’s guidelines. Another PDP MP, Karra too condemned the killing. Political leaders wait for opportune time to hit the rivals for petty political gains.
Media too has its own share of blame to make terrorists hero, be it unwittingly, and complicate situation by its overdrive. Burhan too owes his rise to certain channels and news agency. He wasn’t a dreaded commander or taking part in many operations but there was a mad race in media to project him. Even on his killing too much focus was given to him and his burial that would inspire many new entrants in to jihad fold.
While the operation based on the specific tip off, was neat and clean, the Govt. appeared to be clueless on handling its aftermath. Omar Abdullah was right when he said that the Govt have not learnt the lessons from the mistakes of 2008 and 2010. Either the administration was not prepared for its fallout or miscalculated it.
Despite being a prized catch, his head carried an award of Rs. 10lakh; Burhan’s Robin-hood image had serious dimensions. The first question before administration, albeit political bosses, was whether to allow Burhan a huge “publicfuneral” or forced a “quite burial”. Under the present practice, the Govt. had been allowing public funeral to every neutralized militant attended by ever swelling number of the mourners. Even a Pakistani terrorist last year attracted about 30,000 people. These were alarming signals that were being critically analyzed but in the wisdom of the Govt. it didn’t seek want confrontation on this issue. Nearly two lakh people joined the martyr’s burial with armed terrorists giving him salute with gun fire.
Burhan lived a poster boy of militancy and on his death became an icon that has negative potential to put many more boys to tread his path and consequently meet the same fate but without Burhan’s halo of martyrdom.His grave may become a rallying point for “youthful” militancy with his folklore in the making. Who will prevent it and prevent such continuous catastrophic trend in otherwise paradise on the earth?
There has been literally a deluge of material in the media on Burhan ranging from his academic excellence to awe-inspiring HM commander. And much more would be written but nobody has answer as to why Kashmir with its own elected genuine Kashmiri representatives running the Govt, failed to change the narrative to peace even after huge loss of human lives and public & private property.Why after successive well participative elections, including last month 34 % polling in Mehbooba Mufti’s Anantnag constituency, killed terrorists attract alarming number of mourners at their burial?
Kashmir presents a paradox. A sizeable number of Kashmiri youth, despite many with brilliant academic aptitude and favourable trend of increasing number of youth joining in India’s defence forces and Civil Services with laurels, still romanticizing terror at a time when entire world is joining hands to fight terrorism? Why our administrative, security and political systems failed to address Kashmiri youths’ concerns that transform them from “pen to gun” at impressionable age? And why the State and the Centre failed to wean away these reportedly bright young minds from the clutches of radicalization?
Different people in Kashmir give different answers to the inquisitive questions on what motives the Kashmiri youth to join militancy today.Answers are many. These include growing radicalization, continued foot prints of Indian security forces, feeling of perpetual siege by armed forces, public humiliation of the self or their elders at the hands of Security forces, little or unresponsive political system to their concerns including stories of atrocities, just or perceived injustice to Kashmiri Muslims, influence of aggressive, well-conceived anti- India and anti- army propaganda backed by Pakistan and its agents, prejudices against Delhi and recently the ghost of hindutva seen in PDP-BJP Govt. in J&K etc.
On the top of it, is a fresh challenge to the security forces and the police from the local civilians throwing stones and create physical impediments on the forces engaged in operation to help escape besieged militants. Still, Security Forces and the Police are managing their operation with success.
Politics apart, it should be nobody’s case that the section of Kashmiri population, who doesn’t consider themselves as Indian, be disowned by the State. Every citizen deserves a decent behavior and protection of dignity and those indulging in terror attacks or anti national activities must face action. The Security Forces and the Police have to be made accountable for such lapses.
Many security experts and political commentators blame Pakistan for using religion to get the youth for jihad or even throwing stones by radicalization. It also infiltrates for terrorists for terror strikes and helps the local militants in consolidating their area of influence. Alienation in Kashmir is increasing and Pakistan is getting fertile ground to execute its agenda. Pakistan will continue to abet terrorism in Kashmir but that should not be an excuse for us to justify unrest. The question arises that while it is always easy for us to blame Pakistan for all our ills but what we have been doing to make our borders fully invincible and keep our house in order? Is there any concrete action on the ground to prevent radicalization and demotivate the youth from joining jihad? What is our track record?
Are Kashmiris really victim of injustice? The story is otherwise. It is Jammu and Ladakh which have been crying over discrimination at the hands of Kashmir. This wrong impression must be corrected. Other issues like footprints of armed forces in certain areas, harassment of civilians at the hands of security forces, could merit immediate consideration. Mehbooba Mufti, a mother and astute politician following her father’s”battle of ideas” philosophy can be trusted to apply a genuine healing touch wherever need.
Burhan used social media to give to himself a larger- than- life status and motivate many other young boys to join militancy in six years but India failed to use the same technology to bring them back. Why? Have Indian planners and experts including of J&K dried up their ideas to match even a teenager? India can’t win the war against terror by killing more and more militants and their sympathizers but by reaching out to the indignant Kashmiris and then neutralizing the radical feelings. Shutting down internet during the last 10 days is a good step to check spread of provocative posts but that can’t be the permanent answer.
The responsibility for drifting away the boys from centres of learning to jihad and then sure killing lies with the elders who have failed to control them. Then there is our hostile neighbor, Pakistan which herself is faced with terrorism and using air strikes to kill militants, will not stop instigating Kashmiri youth for jihad. Blood of Kashmiris shed either in encounters or in related violence is necessary for sustaining its anti-India campaign for domestic as well as international forums. And there is another class of aged separatists who too needs blood of their fellow citizens to remain relevant. But there is one silver lining in post-Burhan turmoil that it has not made Jammu versus Kashmir.
(feedback: kbjandial@gmail.com)
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