The Kashmir issue has been the root cause of hostilities in South Asia and a nuclear flashpoint. But resolution of this persistent source of enmity is nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, in Pakistani culture the term ‘Kashmir Dispute’ has become synonymous with an unresolvable dispute.
The current wave of violence that has gripped the valley of Kashmir is appalling and ghastly to state the obvious. Indian forces have launched a brutal and horrifying display of state’s ability to intimidate a population which is armed with stones, and crush the voice of ordinary people. The number of innocent citizens left dead is in previous 2 months are around 90 while hundreds are left seriously incapacitated. The use of pellet guns is leaving the youth blind for the crime of trying to get their voices heard. The curfew has remained enforced since the death of Burhan Wani on July 8th, 2016. Cell-phone and internet services have been blocked and press is silenced. Kashmiris have been denied all basic rights as humans by the 600,000 strong army. All this is something that should embarrass any democratic country, let alone the so-called biggest democracy of the world.
This wave of violence and use of ruthless force against civilians is all the more saddening because one feels that it was very avoidable. The armed struggle of Kashmir had lost its intensity ever since Pakistan had to revise its Kashmir policy in a changed global scenario after 9/11. The infiltration from across the LOC had reduced over the years, and from Indian point of view the situation was only going to get better with US-India relations getting stronger – leaving Pakistan ill-positioned to help freedom struggle in the valley. What remained was a weakened but indigenous struggle of Kashmiris for their rights. A show of restraint on the part of Indian government towards the outbreak of protests against the killing of Burhan Wani would have meant a more peaceful Kashmir in the long run. These remaining militants would have been the last flames of a once strong fire of Kashmir resistance.
But for some reason states always err towards brutality – fixated at the short-term dividends instead of looking at future profits. The brutalities shown in the valley in the last 2 months have reinvigorated the freedom struggle. In the meantime, Modi Government is hardly getting any criticism from his opposition parties, and the voices that are being raised, are half-hearted and lack any conviction or seriousness. This apathy of political forces of India has further convinced the people that their rights cannot be ensured within an Indian Union. Thus India has lost a great opportunity after effectively removing Pakistan from the equation. Instead of building bridges and winning over Kashmiris with confidence-building measures, it chose to try crushing the struggle in one blow. If history is any guide, genuine struggles never get completely crushed.
The plight of Kashmiris is exacerbated by the silence of international community. The newfound warmth in relations between India and US means that there won’t be any international pressure on India any time soon. Because US allies itself with India to counter the influence of China in the region, it conveniently brands Kashmir as a bilateral issue not applying any pressure for cessation of hostilities. On the other hand, it stands with India on issue of cross-border terrorism pressuring Pakistan to do more to stop the use of its soil against other countries.
Pakistan has failed to adopt any effective and coherent diplomatic strategy to raise issue of Kashmir on relevant forums. Initially Pakistan relied on standard and routine condemnations from the Foreign Office. At last Pakistan awoke from slumber and nominated 22 MPs as envoys to highlight the issue of Kashmir around the world. Also the PM house says that PM will highlight the issue of Kashmir in upcoming UN General Assembly session. So far Pakistan’s efforts have not resulted in any increased attention to Kashmir issue, and one cannot help feeling of cynic towards the diplomatic project.
The ineffectiveness of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission on Kashmir issue has two reasons. First is the fact that world community has finally bought into the Indian version of the story; Pakistan helped – and probably still helps – the insurgents in Kashmir. It is something it always believed to be true but didn’t endorse because of the strategic interests which were aligned with Pakistan at the time. This brings us to the second and main reason; the souring of relations with US. If Pakistan wants to play a better role in assisting Kashmiris diplomatically and in exerting pressure on India, it needs to engage US in a meaningful dialogue and create an environment to reduce misapprehensions on both sides. Secondly it needs to adopt a coherent and well-thought out foreign policy and pursue it relentlessly and patiently. Bringing the world attention to human rights violations committed in the valley.
This game of strategic interests is being played at the cost of innocent Kashmiri lives. For two months, life has stopped for the residents of this stunning yet unfortunate region. The need of the hour is that while continued immaturity of India and Pakistan makes Kashmir increasingly an ‘Unresolvable Dispute’, in the meantime Kashmiris are left alone to live.