The flaming snow: Kashmir

“Bleed India through a Thousand Cuts”, is a martial doctrine that was first propounded in 1965 by the then Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and later emulated by the Pakistan Army under General Zia ul Haq, following the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). This doctrine is the salient factor that piloted the contemporary Kashmir conflict. This doctrine initially used covert and low intensity warfare with underlying militancy and infiltration in the Kashmir Valley.

On a global scale, it involved harming India economically, politically and sociologically. Gradually owing to the strong Indian militarisation of the Kashmir Valley, the Pakistani efforts of foray began to become adamantine and extortionate, while at the same time proved ineffectual on a large scale. This is when they decried a new mechanism that would ensure India’s downfall and shake India to the core. It was most competent for Pakistan to foster situations of insurgency in Kashmir. Pakistan was able to initiate a close relation with anti-societal elements, violent activists, hate preachers, politicians, rogue educationists and apparent victims of tormentation by security forces in the Kashmir Valley. With the fervent usage of miseducation and incitement, they edified and fomented them to take up arms and spread hate against India.

Pakistan’s ISI was successfully able to manifest internal terrorism cells like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which propagated the integration of Kashmir with Pakistan. But in the long term scenario, this miscarried as Pakistan soon began to lose the robust hold it had over these organisations and many offshoots were formed, who pressed for an Independent Kashmir instead of Pakistani integration. Initially the Kashmir Issue was a dispute restricted to two wranglers, India and Pakistan, but now, Kashmir itself is a third party that overpowers both the earlier disputants.

Yes, ‘Kashmir ki Azadi’ is a chimera in the eyes of the masses in Kashmir. In my estimation, if a plebiscite were to be held, around 10-15% of Kashmir would refer end to integrate with Pakistan, 25% to bide with India, but 60-65% for Independence. It is a clamour that is being raised by a ‘New Breed of Militants’, these militants who are inordinately educated and capable. They are misguided in the beginning and later indoctrinated to the core by their preachers. Being locals from the Valley, they are in a position to relate extremely well with the general masses to proliferate their propaganda.

Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa are two such recent examples. Contemporary times have seen a colossal rise in the number of militant activities in the valley; most of which are carried out by these local militants. In the 1980s and 1990s, when the armed forces would neutralize a target it would lead to a decline in the gross total number of militants. Today however, when one militant is neutralized, three more proliferate. In the 1990s, when a militant or terrorist was neutralized, it was celebrated by the masses owing to the fact that they were Pakistani infiltrators. Today, because the Kashmiris consider the new age militants, “Sons of their own Soil”, strong detestation is seen after the neutralisation of such militants. Latterly, I was in the Kashmir Valley and I got an exceptional opportunity to understand the ground narrative. During my visit, Zakir Musa, India’s most wanted militant was neutralised by security forces. Immediately riots erupted, stone pelting and unrest was seen on a monumental scale. Protestors came out in support, chanting slogans for an Azad Kashmir. I also observed young children in school attire shouting, “Zakir Musa Zindabad”. This incident portrays to us the level of indoctrination present. A young child who is unaware of a terrorist’s objectives, motives and methods, is openly paladising militants. It is said that children are a reflection of the society. I think this is a melancholic reflection of the society’s opinion. The problem at hand is large. But a solution is possible. Yes, the current situation has most terribly escalated, but gradually India is taking steps in the development of peace and stability in the region.

Yes, I am against talks with Pakistan. As Prime Minister Modi had said at a summit alongside the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, “The time for talks is over, India will have to act”. India has to act. India has to maintain a highly aggressive policy towards Pakistan. This dispute has crossed the point of amicable settlement. And I personally feel that the new External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar will manage foreign policy in a most definite and suitable manner. But saying this talks and normalcy is necessary, India may not have to talk with Pakistan, but India will have to talk with Kashmir itself. I strongly believe Kashmiris are not malignant but misguided. In order to restore normalcy, Kashmiris will have to play a big role. But India’s political system might have to play an even bigger role.

“The political system in India has dragged Kashmir from 1947 to AK-47s”. In my opinion, the issue may never have been escalated to its current situation if it was handled in a sapient manner by the politicians from the yesteryears. In fact, if one goes through the texts of the Instrument of Accession, 1947, there is no question of a dispute arising. It clearly stipulates and elucidates that Kashmir is a part of India, then when Pakistan declared War on India in 1947, it would have been a fairly simple task for India, but when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred the Kashmir Dispute to the United Nations and agreed on a plebiscite plan, it deemed that Kashmir was now disputed between India and Pakistan. Since then this issue has been lingering on and on.

The Modi Government will have to work in a perfervid manner with regards to the adjudication and execution of a solution.

Recently, Amit Shah has the taken berth as Home Minister. He is known for his aggressive and hard-core approach and knack for getting work done. The NDA has also promised to strike off Article 370 and 35 A, and to bring some certainty and more importantly finality to this issue. The Modi Administration has begun to chair several meets to introspect into the issue. Issues such as delimitation of constituencies have been taken up. I hope Modi Sarkar 2.0 will be able to finally resolve the dispute that has been beleaguering India for over 70 years.