Lt Gen P S Mehta
It is rather bizarre that despite the last three decades Delhi is blurred to fathom the alliances / nexus between local political parties with various tanzeems operating in Kashmir. It is quite evident that the hardliners don’t only exist in the form of Jamiaties or Hurriyats, but also with sprinkling in the form of some disgruntled members of JKP and other Departments, apart from the OGWs. Such alliances have been in play ever since 1989 and have only strengthened during the insurgency period. To begin with, everyone in Srinagar knew that thousands of youth had crossed over to Pakistan for training as mujahidin to initiate insurgency in the State. However no political party, JKP or other intelligence agencies informed anyone at the helm of affairs at that time. This was the beginning of the Nexus. Kashmiri people remained mute to the entire affair thereby lending complete support to this cause that which was anti national and thus remained concealed within their hearts. It was the biggest intelligence failure that the country had experienced wherein everyone was caught sleeping including the Army at the Line of Control.
After August 5, 2019 when the Unions / Governors rule was catching speed, where was the hurry to release Farooq and Co? were our intelligence agencies and the advisors so naïve to have recommended their release. Perhaps for some limited and ill-conceived political gains or lacked the foresight / knowledge of the happenings on ground / within the minds of the confused masses soon after the abrogation of Article 370/35A and reorganization of the State into two UTs. It is amply clear and there are reasons to believe that the nexus exists in the form of affiliation of these parties with tanzeems operative in the valley. Affiliation between PDP – Hizbul Mujahideen, NC – Lashkar-e-Toiba have all along been talked of. To substantiate; the catchy slogan of Mehbooba Mufti in South Kashmir during her canvassing, “Muje vote do main tumeh Azadi dunge” is a case in point. For all purposes the catchy slogan may have meant giving them a better bargain after her coming to power. But for the separatist’s it may have been interpreted in their own way which is obvious. This surprisingly fell on deaf ears of Delhi moreso when South Kashmir which is the bastion of HM tanzeem and is also the constituency of PDP. The desperation to form Govt in J&K ignored these affiliations which were so clear and visible. Resultantly the so called ‘Unholy Alliance’ did not last long as BJP became the restricting factor hence prematurely disintegrated. This led to the new BJP cadre which had emerged in the valley for this alliance becoming the targets after the breakup.
Those Kashmiris who had the confidence and guts to stand for the national cause in a counter insurgency environment were left in a lurch to fend for themselves without adequate protection arrangements. Ajay Pandita Alias “Bharti”- Sarpanch from South Kashmir Anantnag followed by Wasim Bari, his father and brother fell victims of this handiwork of these very affiliations. These murders have been carried out with a view to deter the emerging parties and cadres in the Valley, besides ensuring the vested political agendas of NC and PDP. Despite the security been provided these persons were killed with impunity. Ten JKP personnel who were thereafter dismissed from service needs examination of their possible involvement or inadvertent complacency. Moreover the action of immediate release / claimed rescue of the Vice President Municipal Committee Watergam Baramulla and a BJP local leader Meraj ud Din Malla by JKP muddies the water further. It is imperative that NIA and the other intelligence agencies be more proactive, swing into serious action and keep these local political heads under constant surveillance. These clever but failed politicians should permanently be taken off their pedestals and be declared persona non grata. They have not only failed politically, but have turned anti national for their vested interests that thrive on corruption. This must cease forthwith with a view to stabilize the ongoing Governance and instilling confidence in the masses who were left puzzled after the reorganization of the State into UTs.
Delhi cannot bask in the glory of the mega Political Manoeuver, especially when militancy still exist and is again spreading both in South and North Kashmir. Kashmir issue cannot have deemed to be resolved till such time militancy prevails. Our political masters need to lay down explicit instructions for the SFs to eliminate militancy completely within a fixed time period and not left as an open ended venture till cows come home. Essential and meaningful political initiatives / processes need to be ensured simultaneously during this period to achieve complete resolution. This can only happen when Delhi spells out clear cut instructions and mandates to be follow without deviations.
Infrastructure development and employment initiatives are some methods that will draw the youth and masses of the UTs towards nationalism, progress, stability and away from the gun. The aspirations of the people lie in employment opportunities, meaningful governance, peace & stability and return of tourism. However with a clear cut message that the reemergence of Statehood can only be thought of when everything on ground normalizes including return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley as Phase 1 and integration of Gilgit & Baltistan States into J&K as Phase 2 of the larger design. It should be made to sink into the psyche of the people that the call for Azadi from an established and thriving democratic State has not only taken away their States identity, but destroyed the very fabric of Kashmiriyat. Jammu Kashmir and ladakh UTs possess all the wherewithal and have the potential to convert themselves into world class destinations and to be reestablished as “Heaven on Earth”
(The author is former GOC of a Strike Corps, Political and Military Advisor of Sainik Samaaj Party and Principal Advisor United Democratic Alliance JKUT)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel