Col J P Singh, Retd
Kashmir valley is mired in secessionism and terrorism since long. I conceive it as a religious missionary activity. It has become an existential menace because its practitioners are working overtime to radicalize youth and fuel anti-Indianism. During his recent visit to J&K, Prime Minister Modi addressed the so called misguided youth, who have picked up gun and stones. He said that the Valley attracts tourists form the entire world due to its serenity and beauty. He asked them to shun terrorism and promote tourism. Showing them a different path, he asked them to use stones for development not for destruction. But the happenings of post PM visit, particularly that of 9th April Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency by-poll suggest that the youth have chosen to listen to their handlers and not the prime minister. They have chosen terrorism over tourism. Jumping of college students in the fray further aggravates otherwise volatile situation.
India prides itself of its democracy and rule of law. Both have failed in the valley. Unrest and terrorism is on the rise. Innocent people continue to be killed. Pakistani and ISIS flags are being raised by the agitators. Slogans like ‘Kashmir Banega Pakistan’ are being shouted in the streets. Agitating youth and the security forces are on virtual warpath. Social media is liberally showing confrontation between them. At the govt level, corruption is rampant and administration almost defunct. Azadi is the main discourse at the moment. No serious initiative seems to be forthcoming to douse the fire. Is there a wide understanding of some other option(s) is not known. It is high time to act lest it is too late and untenable.
Azadi. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi led freedom struggle, Azadi movement took its birth in Kashmir. Some Lahore based Muslim groups unleashed a fierce propaganda against the monarchy in J&K, based on the same ideology of freedom. It became a political tool as far back in 1931 when they found Sheikh Abdullah as emerging revolutionary and pliable to their plans. While whole India was fighting for freedom from British rule, Sheikh Abdullah took the fight for freedom from Dogra rule. Even while challenging the monarchy, he sang praises of secular Indian leadership and dreamt of India as the safe heaven for Kashmiris after independence. Azadi as such was definitely not the agenda for the people of Kashmir and its leaders. During the partition of India and all through Pak abetted tribal invasion of J&K, Kashmiris supported the Indian Army and themselves fought to repel the attack. They developed hatred against Pakistani invaders for committing horrendous atrocities on innocent Kashmiri women and children. Kashmiris voluntarily, rather eagerly, joined Indian Union. Later to blackmail pro-Soviet India, Pakistan was used to sow the seeds of secessionist movement in Kashmir, as part of Western planted cold war strategy. The current phase of terrorism has picked up post 1987 Assembly election when some local Kashmir politicians revolted on the grounds of election having been rigged by Farooq led govt. Most notable among them were Syed Sallahudin, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ghani Lone and Yasin Malik. Thereafter terrorism continues to be used for political purposes in the valley. Today contribution of all separatist & politicians to the society is death, destruction and 7.14 % voting on 9th April. It shows situation is getting out of control. Despite all this Azadi is not acceptable to Indian psyche. However some more autonomy may be possible for disturbed area of the valley but how eludes my mind too.
Every large country by & large is effected by Islamic terror one way or the other. Indian establishment is concerned about the global terrorism and equally about it in the valley but does not show the requisite seriousness. It is very sensitive to the safety of separatist leaders and stone pelters. Security Forces are facing the terrorism and other dangers with their hands tied at the back. They are squeamish in handling stone pelters as was seen in a video in which CRPF Jawans were kicked around while their DIG telling the media, “it shows the restraint we are exercising”. It is difficult to understand Pakistan using tanks, artillery and aircrafts against secessionist movement on its soil and our Jawans being beaten by secessionists. Indian liberals even oppose use of Pellet Guns to control stone pelting mobs. If we extend unlimited restraints to the stone pelters and are not prepared to defend those who are defending the nation, then the defender will be destroyed and the very idea of the nation along with it.
Presently Delhi is facing a lethal Azadi movement in the valley and all it is doing is countering it with defensive military means. There is a lack of holistic view of this issue. Grasping the gravity of the rebellion, one thing is clear that Kashmir problem has two dimensions. One is bilateral between India and Pakistan and the other is domestic between Kashmir and Delhi. While Kashmir issue between the two rivals may never be solved, the domestic issue has not yet reached that stage. Subtly handled it can have its impact on the bilateral issue as well. A flexible approach and out of the box solution can open various avenues of resolution. Kashmir issue was settled on 26 October 1947. It should be frozen unilaterally as a bilateral issue. As a domestic Issue it must get attention. The trouble is confined to 5/6 districts. Azadi agitation is a phenomenon of a small geographical area. Rest of the state is peaceful. When we view the militancy affected area of the valley, it is 15 % of the population, 10000th of India and 1/1000th of the state. Hence Delhi seems to be viewing the current situation a mere security and law & order issue. Politicians in J&K call it a political problem and seek political solution without specifying any. Separatist want Azadi without suggesting a road map but going to Pakistan has not been heard even in the militancy affected areas so far. Ladakhis are firm on getting Union Territory status. Displaced Pandits want a Union Territory within the valley. The rest in the valley and Jammu; Hindus, Shia Muslims, Buddhist, Jains and Christians haven’t yet made their stand clear which means it not so serious issue as it is being feared.
Possibilities.
Let us first see separatists agenda. They do not call themselves Indian, parrot UN Resolution on right of self determination, do not accept Indian Constitution, fly Pak and ISIS flags, oppose anti militancy operations, finance stone pelting, prevent people from voting, do not allow Pandits to return and approved Sainik Colony be made and expect brutal Daesh to get them freedom. Do they wish to turn the valley to Daesh where little girls will be sold as sex slaves and infidels will be beheaded, ancient monuments destroyed and minorities exterminated? And they get support for this from so called ‘liberals’ of some universities. Viewed unrest as Islamic State inspired, there is a fear of valley’s destruction like Mosul in Iraq. India won’t allow Kashmiris be brutalized by ISIS Jihadists come what may.
Plebiscite. Plebiscite is not possible because it was to follow complete withdrawal of tribals and Pakistani troops from invaded areas of J&K after which India was to reduce its forces to a number just enough to maintain law and order while holding plebiscite. Pakistan did not withdraw its troops from occupied areas and nor will it withdraw them in future so plebiscite is permanently ruled out.
Autonomy. J&K is reasonably autonomous because of Article 370. What is not autonomous are its two regions. Everything is controlled from and by Kashmir. Like the valley, Jammu and Ladakh are craving for Azadi from Kashmir. It is possible to make all the three regions equally autonomous. It must be considered so that it may pave a way to find a solution to the main problem.
Trifurcation. Even trifurcation is possible. Make Ladakh a Union Territory and Jammu a separate state. Smaller states are well administered and fast developed. Let Pandits make own secure colonies in the valley as a ‘union territory’ and the promised Sainik Colony be developed in the valley.
Let us not be only obsessed with terrorism and ignore the Islamic ideology which is behind it. By not fighting against those who are spreading Islamic terrorism in the valley we shall be committing a blunder. Despite disgruntled NC leadership and radicalised stone pelters there are other reasonable voices which are not being heard. Voices are being raised in Jammu and Ladakh. Nationalist and moderate voices of Kashmir have shifted to Jammu. They must be heard.
Governor Rule. It is a readily available option. It was not applied after 2010 agitation. Current situation may be due to that slip up. Its demand is rising. It is worth trying.
Any viable option must first of all project itself as an attempt to build emotional bridges between Kashmir and India and address the full gamut of Kashmiri anger. Henry Kissinger, the guru of geopolitics, said, “in crisis the most daring course is often safest”. Our home minister said, “within a year you will see things changed in Kashmir”. But Henry Kissinger has said, “whatever must happen ultimately should happen immediately”. In other words, if govt is going to do it eventually, it might as well do it right now.
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