Why civil disobedience and not armed struggle ?
For
the last four years, the people in Kashmir are faced with bloodshed and
destruction. In December 1992, in a barbaric action in Sopor alone, more
than a hundred innocent persons were done to death. These figures
emanated from Indian newspapers. It was also reported that some people
were burnt alive by the security forces. Some were butchered inside
a passenger bus while it was on the move. The incident was reported
by the Jammu - based daily Kashmir Times under the headline
'Murder in Uniform'. The newspaper gave the bus number along with details
of this gruesome murder. In the Sopor arson incident more than 500
houses were gutted. Fire extinguishing personnel and medical staff were
not allowed to come anywhere close to the site of this incident.
Passengers in a private car were also burnt alive.
This
naked play of the angel of death has become an everyday affair in
Kashmir. Such barbaric scenes were enacted in Khanyar
locality in May 1991 and in Chota Bazar on 11 June 1991. The entire
market in the town of Handwara was reduced to ashes. According to a
reliable source more than nine thousand innocent lives have been consumed by
the orgy of violence in Kashmir till date. They have become martyrs at
the hands of Indian security forces. Many people are untraceable, and
still many more have been either killed by the Indian security forces while
crossing the border or were buried under snow over the mountains.
The pain and agony through which the parents and close relatives of these
young people are passing can be felt only by those whose skin is deeply grazed
by it.
The
phenomenon has brought economic destruction to Kashmir. Economic
activities like handicraft, carpet weaving, tourism, horticulture etc. which
form the backbone of Kashmir's economy, have met with a disaster. Apart
from the people belonging to the religious minority of Pandits, more than
600,000 Kashmiri Muslims also have been forced to seek shelter in various parts
of India. Kashmir is now in the grip of a scourge of destruction.
What is more, even the educational system in Kashmir has crumbled giving rise
to apprehensions that our next generation may be totally of illiterates.
Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the Indian Union where the rate of
literacy had touched 47 per cent.
The
most depressing thing in this dark scenario is that no organization, no
individual and no group is coming forth with any concrete proposal or plan to
put an end to the suffering of the people in Kashmir. Some people are
disposed to allude to Afghanistan-like situation while speaking about the
struggle in Kashmir.
Today Afghanistan is in ruins; organizations
fighting 'freedom war' are at war with one another indulging in
fratricide. Rockets are rained on Kabul which take a heavy toll of life
each day. The people there are seeking shelter in remote places not
because of Russian troops but because of inter-group fighting among the
mujahideen themselves. In two preceding weeks, the so-called champions of
Islam and 'freedom' have murdered more than a thousand persons mostly the poor
and the innocent. We pray to God Almighty that He may spare the Kashmiris
Afghanistan type of freedom because that type of freedom brings nothing but ruination,
devastation besides sharpening the sense of revenge.
The
question is this: Should all this be allowed to happen just either not to
endanger one's life or to escape repudiation which is likely to result from
telling the truth? The other alternative would be to invite
Kashmiri intellectuals, literati, journalists, teachers, students, true
nationalists and the suffering people to re-examine the entire movement,
its parameters and its achievements during these four years. We must
also compare and contrast losses we have suffered and our enemy has
suffered. We should also have a look at the support we have received from
our friends. If we are in a better position in political,
diplomatic and military terms, and if the cause of national liberation is
actually served by our struggle, then we must agree to let the on-going
struggle go ahead. But if we find that we are on the side of more losses
and that our nation reached the brink of the precipice, then we shall have to
reconsider the entire gamut of our struggle. We shall have to discard our
self -aggrandisement and bring about a change in our policy. This means a
new path shall have to be found to save ourselves and the entire nation from
the great tragedy. This is a tragedy which may as well submerge the
entire nation into despondency.
I
must say in very soft but clear words that I have made it an article of faith
to dedicate my life to the welfare of my compatriots, to respect their
sentiments and promote their aspirations. This necessitates looking for
and speaking the truth. Of course one always needs courage to speak the
truth. At a time when the ISI of Pakistan had projected a particular
person as a towering leader for Kashmiris in the context of on-going struggle,
I opposed him on the basis of my strong reasons. Time has proved me
true for what I had predicted two years ago.
What
are the leaders of today thinking and what is their perception of the
situation? First of all let me examine the interview given by Azam
Inquilabi to the correspondent of Hindustan Times on February 4, 1993. He
said," In the last two years it has gone completely out of
control. It has become a story of in-fighting , kidnapping and killing on
one hand and of State terrorism on the other. All Indian offices had lost
their control on the valley of Kashmir because of peoples' struggle.
State administration is now gradually reasserting. People affiliated to
various organizations are being apprehended every day . Some of them are
martyred after arrest and in the most gruesome manner.
Those who are
instrumental in their arrest are our own brothers who were formerly called
mujahids. Many former militants have turned informers after they were
arrested. They got their own companions arrested, those with whom they had
taken oath to remain faithful to the movement. Previously, common
people used to give shelter to these mujahids in their homes with respect
and with pleasure. But now they are avoided. Many people have set up
gates at the entrance to their localities which are opened and closed by the
local residents when they feel necessary to do so. This was because many
so-called mujahideen used to fire at security forces and then hide in densely
populated localities. The security personnel would then enter the
locality and kill innocent people. Many people and organizations were
responsible for kidnapping persons in order to extract money or to cater to
some selfish motive. This practice continues even today. The
kidnapped are released only when ransom is paid. One can cite many
names in this context. I can also give the exact amount of money
paid as ransom and the agency that received it.
I once met a Kashmiri
Muslim who was on kidnap list of the militants. He was paying five thousand
rupees per month as ransom. Yet he was kidnapped once and his son twice.
Then in a spate of inter-gang rivalry, activists contrived the arrest of
members of rival groups. The Jung of Karachi carried a news in its
issue of February 7, 1993 saying," The opponents are liquidating one
another in order to establish their sway over the respective areas. Thus
instead of becoming angels for the people, they have become the enemies of
peoples' honour and respect as they are false mujahids." On July 6,
1991, there appeared a statement of Hizbul Mujahideen in Al Safa of
Srinagar. It said," Kidnapping of innocent girls has become a
routine. A meeting of the superiors of Hizbul Mujahideen of district
Srinagar was held under the chairmanship of General Musa. It was said that some
persons posing as mujahids are using the name of the organisation and are
committing crimes like kidnapping, loot, arson and murder in order to foment
public hatred against the movement. Killing of the innocent people and
kidnapping of girls has become a routine." It should be remembered
that General Musa had a good reputation among his followers. Now he is a
martyr. I can give the names with proof of kidnapping of three girls and
the organisations involved. But that brings us more shame and
disrepute. At best, I can send the proofs to the editors if not to our
readers.
Whatever
is happening in Kashmir, the full facts do not reach us. If at all some
facts are brought to our notice, we sift out the stuff to choose only that
which suits us. Moreover, more often than not, the we tend to exaggerate
the reports of excesses committed by the Indian security forces and bring to
light in the Indian press. But when the same sources highlight the
atrocities committed by the mujahids, we like to understate it or even block it
out completely calling it Indian propaganda. But in this article I
have mostly cited from local papers of the valley because these have been a
part of the national movement. The daily Aftab published a news
item under the caption 'Alas! Martyr Noor Muhammad Kenu". The news
ran as this," From the residents of Zarechpora, Khanabal: On May 25,
unbridled gun-wielding youth killed a 22 year youth Noor Muhammad Kenu. He was
a thorough gentleman, charactered and affable. His brutal killing cast a
pal of gloom over the entire locality. Nobody knows why he was gunned
down. The leader of a known organisation called Al Jehad announced in Lal
Chowk, Islamabad before a gathering of thousands of people that his murder was
unjustified and promised to apprehend the culprits within 24 hours."
In another statement, the same organisation said," Every crime does not
deserve death punishment". Condemning such acts, it further
said," The tendency of giving death punishment for every crime is on
the increase in Kashmir which is totally un-Islamic act. This is
the reason why the roots of freedom struggle are becoming hollow."
The
highly negative and damaging aspect for the freedom movement is the
rising tendency of mutual killing meaning killing the opponents.
According to an estimate till date more than 500 persons have been killed in
inter-group rivalry in the valley.
In an incident, a particular organisation kidnapped an area commander of the
Liberation Front. When he was shot at, he asked for water. His
assailant brought him some dirty water from a dirty drain in the hollow
of a shoe and poured a few drops in his mouth. I knew that youthful
victim very well.
Such
deeds are done by those in the name of freedom of Kashmir for whom Kashmiris
put at stake their lives, property and their sons and daughters. How sad
that this great movement, and the sacrifices of our martyrs have been wrecked
and spilt by some self-seeking and baneful elements. It is unfortunate
that various organisations seized by group interests do not call to book
these malevolent elements. We the Muslims are prone to adopt ostrich -
like behaviour.
Let me remind my readers that in 1971 Indo-Pak war, Azad
Kashmir Radio and PTV as well as newspapers continued to give upto December
15, 1971 tantalising news of Pakistani troops victoriously overpowering
Mukti Bahini and Indian army contingents thus keeping their nation fed with
false expectations. When on December 16, the Pakistani army suddenly
surrendered before Indian troops, this was almost life-snatching news for
them. For many people, this actually became the reason of death by
shock. If one rummages into the newspapers of those days, one finds that up to
December 15, General Yahya Khan was a hero and 'the protector of the
nation". But a day later on December 16, he became a traitor
to the nation and the country. The newspapers published his pictures in a
mood of drinking and dancing.
Likewise,
the print media in Kashmir (meaning Kashmir outside the valley because the journalists
within the valley are caught between the devil and the deep sea) and Pakistanis
are putting under cover the negative and disastrous aspects of the on-going
struggle in Kashmir. This is tantamount to enmity against the movement
and genuine mujahideen. The entire movement is put on a track of
total disaster bringing dejection and despondency to the masses of
people. Without proper accountability a movement slips out of control
notwithstanding how much sanctimonious it may be. The worst thing is that
when somebody with a penetrating eye is able to lay his finger on the malaise
that has crept into the movement, and offers the suggestion of taking
timely action to eradicate it, then he is branded by self-serving people and
those on the pay roll of agencies and bidders on dead bodies of the
Kashmiri youth as 'Indian agents'. But can facts be changed just by
levelling accusations without checking where the truth lies? When the
critics in Pakistan expressed objections to Mrs. Benazir Bhutto — the former
Prime Minister and now leader of opposition becoming chairperson of Foreign
Affairs Committee, she said that she had accepted the office because until the
other day , these very people used to call her an Indian agent and of its
intelligence agency RAW. In present -day Pakistani politics it is
common place to stick the label of 'traitor' and 'enemy agent' to one who
speaks the truth.
But
we shall, in no circumstances, hesitate to tell the truth. I must say
that the ;prospect of gun going out of control in Kashmir, international
situation and the events of politicking on the dead bodies of Kashmiris,
all have aroused my deep sentiments and forced me to express myself. It
has re-confirmed my belief that if Kashmiris are to obtain freedom at all, it
can be got only through non-violence and civil movement. Whatever
analysis I have been making about this movement for the last three years, has
been proved correct by history. Every one in the valley is going through the
conditions I had predicted. However, the nationalists in Azad Kashmir,
intellectuals and farsighted people in Pakistan should know the conditions so
that keeping our weaknesses in mind, we draw plans for our success. In
this connection, I would like to refer to the open letter of Jamaat-e-Islami
leader, Ali Shah Geelani to the militant organisations published in the daily Aftab
of November 24,1992. The text of this letter was also published in the
weekly Insaf of Rawalpindi. Geelani wrote: " We need the
mujahids who speak the word of truth, who are pure and selfless and whom no
enticement can induce into betrayal with the movement. We need such
soldiers with fortitude who can fight on empty stomachs.
We regret to say that
instead of unity, cooperation and organisational cohesiveness so necessary and
unavoidable for this vanguard group, it is divided into various groups.
This groupism has adversely affected the heroic struggle on the one hand and on
the other hand the hopes and aspirations of the oppressed and helpless masses have
been bruised and mauled. We tried again and again for unity and
cooperation but contrarily the heroic struggle has, sometimes, deviated
from its targets assuming the shape of mutual clash and strife thus bringing
discredit to the immensely valuable sacrifices made by the
community." Geelani continues," Emergence of various groups
adhering to the objectives of accession to Pakistan and establishment of
Nizam-e-Mustafa (meaning Islamic theocratic system) and their inter-group
strife is extremely painful and regrettable putting to doubt their sincerity
and struggle." He continues, " Militant groups should
observe the code of non-interference in personal and group vendettas because
such involvement would result in losing the sight of the targets.
Militant
organisations should refrain from interfering in government offices and from
seeking official favours. It is so because the entire community is
demonstrating its preparedness to make sacrifices alongside the heroic youth in
order to uproot the oppressive system and liquidate its illegal existence and
bring the people their fundamental right of self-determination. By
interfering with government offices and by demanding official favours, an
impression is created that the existing system is lasting one and a struggle
against it is neither serious nor result-oriented. Unintentionally the people
become disinterested in this entire struggle. They begin to seek
assistance from militant organisations in order to surpass others in garnering
for themselves benefits from the system." Geelani
continues," Looting the banks, accepting bribes and taking part in
frauds is to put the whole effort of self-determination into doubt and subject
it to abuse. The militant organisations shall have to think seriously
over giving calls for strikes which instead of damaging the enemy, would
exacerbate the difficulties and problems of the oppressed community. If
we are to depend on strikes, then poverty stricken people will be forced to beg
for a loaf. All this will have adverse cumulative effect on the entire
struggle."
In
this letter Geelani Sahib has confirmed the mutual strife among militant
organisations, acts of loot, arson and vandalism, interference in personal
affairs and vendettas, As such people in England or at other places, who
are used to politicking on the dead bodies of Kashmiris without understanding
or knowing the ground realities, should acquaint themselves with the hard facts
of the on-going situation failing which we may have to face the East
Pakistan tragedy.
would
now venture to present excerpts from an interview with Mr. Shabbir Shah, the
chief of Peoples League. It must be remembered that Amnesty International
has called him " the prisoner of conscience." The interview was
given by him to the Tribune News Service on November 3, 1992 from a
nursing home. This was published by The Tribune of Chandigarh
(India) in its issue of November 4, 1992. He said," Kalashnikov was
a part of the struggle. In reality political struggle is needed which
will force India to come to the negotiating table because Kalashnikov is not
the solution of the problem. If the militants think that they will throw
out India through force of arms, they are mistaken because India's military
might cannot be overlooked. There is no solution to the problem except a
tripartite dialogue."
While
raising his voice against the oppression and tyranny of Indian security forces,
Shabbir Shah has also protested against the excesses of the so-called
mujahideen with the public. He has appealed to them to make proper use of
the gun giving an opportunity to political leaders like Abdul Ghani Lone,
Sayyid Ali Shah Geelani, Maulana Abbas Ansari and Abdul Ghani Bhat to give the
movement its real political colour and content. He said," It is our
misfortune that the movement has been hijacked by contractors, businessmen and
bureaucrats who are making fortunes by exploiting Kashmiri youth." Shabbir
Shah also pleaded for giving representation to Ladakh and Jammu regions and
Kashmiri Pandits. He conceded that in Kashmir, there were people
representing anti-Pakistan views which, however, did not mean that people had
turned pro-Indian. A majority of people voted for independent
Kashmir. He said," Kashmiris were being used a guinea-pig in the war
of wits between Islamabad and New Delhi." Giving the example of
Palestinians and Israelis, he said that if they could talk, why not India,
Pakistan and Kashmiris? Shabbir Shah has endorsed my stand that we can
reach our goal only through political struggle. He has endorsed my view
that Kashmiri Pandits should repose trust in us and return to Kashmir.
Disillusioned
Let
us now examine what the political leadership on the other side of the line of
actual control meaning Pakistan Occupied Kashmir say, In this context, I
would like to reproduce for our readers parts of the letter written by the
Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (Freedom Movement) Janab Farooq Rahmani in the
monthly Gash appearing from London and Rawalpindi. The letter appeared in the
issue No. 11 of September 15 — October 15, 1992 under
the caption "Kashmir and Bosnia - a test for the Islamic World'. He wrote
as follows:
"
India has already been backtracking on her commitments on Kashmir. But
now Pakistan, too, is not fulfilling her promises which she had
made to us in 1988. Not only that, we are not told to stop this
jehad because Pakistan apprehends a threat to its solidarity ..... It is
surprising that on the one hand Pakistani rulers, politicians, and religious
leaders claim that Pakistan is the protector of Muslims all over the
world, and on the other hand they see their daughters and sisters fallen in the
clutches of cruel and uncouth Hindu soldiers and yet their sense of manliness
is not touched. During last couple of months there has been a spurt in
acts of molestation of Muslim women and massacre of Muslim children in Kashmir
at the hands of the Indian troops. If despite receiving news of these
atrocities Pakistani rulers sit together with their Indian counterparts in
Delhi or Islamabad over lunch and dinners, and various cultural
delegations continue their exchange visits to two countries, or invite the
enemies of Kashmir and Pakistan
to their country, and what inference should we draw from it? Does it not
mean that those who are to die let them die; those who are to be vandalised let
them be vandalised but we continue our business. It is interesting to note that
the people of Kashmir and their children are not allowing the Indians to build
the Wular Barrage in the name of navigation as that would choke Pakistan's
water resource. But the Pakistanis themselves are negotiating with India
the construction of Wular Barrage thereby endorsing India's occupation of
Kashmir."
Let
it be reminded that accession to Pakistan has been an article of faith with
Farooq Rahmani. The group of Sardar Qayyum Khan never considered
accession to Pakistan an article of faith because they carry the condition of
sovereignty and power with their ideology. It is Rahmani who made great
sacrifices for his political ideology in Kashmir valley.
Another
stalwart of Plebiscite Front in the valley namely Azam Inquilabi gave an
interview to India Abroad and said," In the beginning, people supported
the gun but now they want a political solution..... We are aggrieved by what the
security forces are doing, but we are equally aggrieved by what our brethren
are doing." He has thrown full light on the murder of Maqbul Malik
by the Hizbu'l-Mujahideen activists. Speaking about the international
support (to Kashmir movement), he says," We have been left to our
fate by the rest of the globe including the Islamic world."
Lessons
we learn
It
was in the light of these events that Azam Inquilabi floated new
organisation by the name Kashmir Bachao Tehreek (Save Kashmir
Movement). He argues," Since people of Jammu, Ladakh, Azad Kashmir,
Gilgit and Baltistan are not practically participants in the freedom struggle
of the people of Kashmir, and perhaps they are satisfied with the present
system (Jammu and Ladakh with India and Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan with
Pakistan), therefore, the valley of Kashmir may be made free for the
present." In this connection, he gave an interview to the Saudi
Gazette also. Taking ground realities into consideration, there is sense
in what Azam Inquilabi says. There has neither been an uprising against
Pakistan in Azad Kashmir nor have the people in Jammu and Ladakh responded to
the call from the valley. Strange to say that one self-styled leader who
calls himself the Hochi Minh of Kashmir has no following even in his own
village. He has styled himself as a leader not on any public following
but on the supreme sacrifices made by the people of the valley.
I may
remind my readers that the proposition of Azam Inquilabi with regard to
realities on the ground, meaning the political movement and political platform,
are precisely the one I had put forth in 1990. Those who have made
politics their pastime at the cost of the precious lives of our youth in
Kashmir, and make it a source of sustenance as well, have started a campaign
against Azam Inquilabi and say that it is Indian idea. In other words
they want to convey that Save Kashmir Movement is India's brainchild.
Obviously they want that "Destroy Kashmir Movement" should be floated
just as they continue with ' Destroy Afghanistan Movement '.
The
matter of fact is that a few paid agents, self -seekers and beneficiaries
of Kashmir Affair Ministry in Islamabad have started a vilification campaign
against those who as nationalists want to save Kashmir from destruction and
devastation. When drawn into a logical debate based on harsh realities,
they find they are only incoherent and speak only in terms of destruction
and decimation of generations. The point to note is that the offspring
of such critics and detractors live in luxury and comfort outside Kashmir,
receiving education and training in excellent institutions. It is argued
that India is spending a thousand million rupees per month on Kashmir.
How long will India bear this heavy cost, they ask. But they forget that
the rulers on the subcontinent do not hesitate to starve their paupered people
in order to maintain their false prestige. In the clash of egos, they are
prepared to drag the subcontinent to the brink of disaster. A thousand
million rupees a month makes one rupee per head per month in India. In
comparison to this, we have wrought immense destruction to ourselves.
We have destroyed our economy, our art treasures and our educational
system. Has anybody cared to keep an account of this massive self
inflicted destruction? Bidding farewell to accepted ethics of war
strategy, Kashmiri mujahideen have destroyed a large number of big and small
bridges in the valley thereby inflicting inconvenience to common man.
This they did with the intention of arresting the mobility of
Indian army. We all know that mobility is no problem for any army
in modern times. And then came the turn of school and college buildings
in the valley. Even the local newspapers issued appeals against burning these
institutions. In these appeals it was said that bridges, colleges
and schools are built with the sweat and blood of the nation. A mujahid,
Jamshed Khan by name, burnt Islamic College. As the building was burning,
crowds of people who had gathered on the spot, instead of trying to extinguish
the fire and save the building, looted the library and the laboratory.
Let anybody contradict me. Those who think of proving me false, I can
lead them to the houses where the stolen books and apparatus are dumped.
When this Jamshed Khan was arrested, he turned to be the most prized
informer of the security forces.
The
attitude of the so-called mujahideen with the pressmen in the valley is best
explained by the victims themselves despite the facta that press in the valley
remained biased towards the freedom movement from the very beginning. Not
prepared to oblige the wishes and desires of certain groups, the vehicle of the
owner of Srinagar Times was blasted by planting a bomb in it. The owner
of Al Safa, Muhammad Sha'ban Vakil was shot dead for writing the
truth. (I may mention here that a paid agent once warned me while speaking in
the context of Muhammad Sha'ban Vakil. He said. " Sha'ban Vakil was
shot dead because he wrote the truth which did us harm. You are writing
the truth but you should take care that this truth does not do us harm.)"
The
daily Al Safa was forbidden by the militants to publish the paper;
the building of weekly Chattan was damaged, other papers were
regularly intimidated; twice bombs were hurled in the house of Yusuf Jameel
(the correspondent of BBC). This is the treatment meted out to the press
by the militant organisations. If a newspaper reported kidnapping
and subsequent killing of a person, the perpetrators of the crime became its
enemy forcing the proprietor to suspend its publication for a long time.
In its issue of October 19, 1992, the weekly Chattan of Srinagar wrote
editorially under the caption ' Chiragh-e-tur jalao bahut andhera hai'
It said,
" One of the biggest reasons of dejection for Kashmiris is
that the honourable militants have divided the common national movement into
different compartments and thus brought about its dispersal. They could not
stop the gun getting out of control. The sanctity which the mujahid had
won for himself in the eyes of common man, could not be preserved and
perpetuated by him The dream of a colourful spring of hope and
expectation which they had been dreaming during the initial days of the
movement, soon turned into dull autumn of despair and dejection.
Political leadership remained interned during the same period. It was
evident from the very beginning that they could play any effective role only
with the support of the militants. But it is a harsh reality that except
for lip service they did not get any substantial support worth the name from
the militants. Some militants perhaps only unconsciously got bogged down
by the apprehension that political leadership could become a source of threat
to the gun. As such they adopted an attitude in which political
leadership was ignored. For example, when the political leadership
opposed the tactics of forcing strikes , the militants sponsored a prolonged
phenomenon of strikes. Obviously they wanted to convey a message to the
political leadership that only their (militants') writ could run. They
brought in the example of the neighbouring State of Punjab where, during its
heyday, Sikh militants humiliated the Akali leadership now and then.
Recently two Sikh extremists, Jinda and Sukha were hanged for killing the
former Indian Army Chief, General Vaidya. Punjab Akali leaders gave a
call for a strike in protest but nobody listened to them. What is more,
even the Sikh majority paid no attention to the call."
Two years after this editorial had been written, I said " In
Kashmir political platform and political movement would by itself guarantee the
security of the mujahids because unless common man participates
through political platform and political movement, the mujahids cannot remain
secure. They are weak vis-a-vis Indian security forces. Their
strength lies in their sincerety to their stand and the masses of the
people."
Let anybody judge if I was not right in what I had
said. The security forces are liquidating the mujahids one by one.
This then is the situation on the ground.
Pakistani politicians speak
Having said that, let us now cite a few statements of some
Pakistani politicians in the context of international situation and Kashmir
issue. On the eve of her departure to London, the former Pakistani Prime
Minister, Benazir Bhutto said at Karachi airport on 30 December 1992," In
regard to Kashmir issue, the government's policy has failed; on international
level, it stands isolated. The government is thinking of sealing the
Kashmir border which would be dangerous for Kashmiris." Maulana
Noorani, too, has called Pakistan's Kashmir policy a failure. Pakistani
politicians, intellectuals, mediperson and progressive writers have been
writing about Kashmir in detail laying emphasis on political struggle and
political solution. Adventure - loving people should understand that if
at all India decides to leave Kashmir peacefully and without international
pressure, she will do so only after a war with Pakistan. This will be an
atomic war resulting in colossal destruction on both
sides. Therefore the question of Pakistan's own integrity
and solidarity cannot be overlooked. A Pakistani patriot said," If
in the course of asking annexation of Kashmir, Pakistan itself gets
dismembered, what will happen to us? If Pakistan is declared a
terrorist state, then India will be facilitated in launching an attack on her
because as a declared terrorist state, Pakistan will get isolated in the
international community."
Freedom movement or terrorism
If Kashmiri politicians have been the cause of failure of the
movement, Pakistani bureaucracy is no less responsible because it failed to
comprehend the import of the movement. It discouraged formation of a
political platform. It broke all those political platforms and parties
which refused to be subservient to it. For example, in order to fragment
Liberation Front, Pakistani bureaucracy and intelligence encouraged Amanullah
Khan because this organisation could guarantee freedom and self-determination
of Kashmiris. We wish that political struggle in Kashmir had been
encouraged so that this organisation would not have been labelled as a movement
incited by Pakistan. It would have been known widely as the movement of
Kashmiris in real sense of the term. Even Sardar Qayyum Khan said that
Pakistan had not succeeded in mobilising international opinion on Kashmir in
its favour (Jung of London, February 19, 19193)
Evidently, as a result, on international level, Indian ruling
circles have been projecting the peoples' movement in Kashmir as Pakistan's
interference and her abetment of an armed uprising. They argue that
till 1988, Kashmiris used to take part in elections. Even Jamaat-e-Islami
also took part in the elections of 1988. With the end of cold war,
Pakistan is no more vital for the promotion of the interests of the US and the
West. As such, for them she does not enjoy the same importance as
in earlier days. Pakistan's atomic programme is another reason for
incurring West's displeasure. Pakistan has not been able to control the
drug mafia since heroin continues to be smuggled into the Arabian and the
western countries from Pakistan. It has also become an irritant in the
relations between the USA and Pakistan ( so far 40 Pakistanis have been
beheaded in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking: December 1992 to
February 1992)
Alongside these reasons, India raked the issue of Punjab and
Kashmir. The United States made much noise about Pakistan being declared
a terrorist state. This is the reason why I repeatedly wrote that a civil
disobedience movement in Kashmir should be in the hands of local
leadership. In that case no blame would come to the doorsteps of
Pakistan. The four year armed struggle as part of disorganised
movement, has, of course yielded one good or bad result on
international platform. We the Kashmiris have succeeded in distorting the
respectable and dignified international image of India, the country that
followed the non-violence ideology of Mahatma Gandhi ( I may mention that in a
big park in Amsterdam in Holland, and also at a main square in New York, the
statutes of Mahatma Gandhi have been installed).
International opinion
But unfortunately, international politics and our own actions,
meaning making the gun our guide in the valley, only protected India's position
on international level. Powerful nations argue that since India is faced with
externally launched terrorism, therefore, human rights violations will occur in
the course of cross-firing. Also at some places, in individual cases, the
security forces may be carried away by acute sense of retaliation resulting in
some excesses but proper action against them is taken. If not the human
rights organisations, but most of the western governments accept this line of
argument from Indian side. As far as the human rights organisations are
concerned, these consider the excesses of the militant organisations or their
punishment of the people for being alleged informers, also as human rights
violations. Owing to these conditions, the Labour Party in UK publicly
announced its Kashmir policy in December 1992 as this, " Kashmir is a part
of India and we condemn external support to the terrorists inside
Kashmir." (Jung, London December 2, 1992) Again the British Prime
Minister, John Major said on India's Republic day at New Delhi that
political process should be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir. He demanded that
external support to the separatists in Kashmir should be stopped and India and
Pakistan should resolve Kashmir issue in accordance with the Shimla
Agreement. He also demanded that human rights violations should be
stopped. A few days earlier, Prime Minister John Major, while replying to
a letter from a British MP, said," the real issue in Kashmir is that of
interference by Pakistan. India wants to hold elections there and
initiate a political process." Boris Yeltsin , the Russian President
reiterated his country's known stand, viz " Kashmir is a part of India and
we will support India in the matter of her territorial integrity."
The German Chancellor visited India. He declined to accept the Kashmir
question as a question of freedom and self-determination stressing that India
and Pakistan should resolve the dispute according to the spirit of Shimla
Agreement.
It will be noted that till date Pakistan has been projecting
Kashmir as a border dispute between the two countries. For example we
find that Nawaz Sharif refused the third option. Benazir Bhutto, in
a lengthy interview with Saudi Gazette declared that the solution of Kashmir problem
was Kashmir's accession to Pakistan.
Even the US, the only super power of today has not adopted a clear
cut policy on Kashmir. She wants to bring Pakistan on the list of
terrorist states just because of Pakistan's role in Kashmir.
International media is silent on the festering sore of Kashmir because of
events like the loot and arson, and forcible occupation of Pandit houses and
properties after their exodus from Kashmir, murder of Vice Chancellor Mushirul
Huqq and kidnapping and subsequent murder of innocent civilians by the militant
organisations. A few days ago, Raja Munish Khan, a supporter of Sardar
Qayyum Khan (who is a candidate for overseas Kashmiri Assembly seat) called a
conference of Kashmiris in Nottingham. A few British MPs participated in
it. The news was given wide coverage in Urdu newspapers. However, the
British media did not publish a word about this conference nor about the visit
of Sardar Qayyum Khan. Srinagar - based BBC correspondent, Yusuf Jameel
said, "Those who feel happy that a particular news has been given by the
Urdu service of BBC, I must tell them that the news is what we have sent and
they broadcast it so that we may hear what we have told them."
Why not react?
This copious analysis has been made with the purpose that the
sympathisers of Kashmiris, so-called deliverers of Kashmiris from their agony
and suffering should reconsider the on-going struggle in Kashmir.
The gun has become uncontrolled, bringing in trail acts of kidnapping,
murder, loot and arson (Azam Inquilabi's words). Both genuine and
spurious mujahideen are faced with notoriety. Should we not react to this
situation by initiating a peoples' movement of the type we found in connection
with the theft of the holy relic? If various organisations in Kashmir
fail to converge on this point, then that would only spell more disaster for
Kashmiris which has already reached its limits. At the same time, I would
also like to invite the attention of the intellectuals, politicians, secular
section of people, lawyers, justice loving people and followers of Gandhiji's
teachings towards the naked oppression and tyranny let loose by the security
forces. They mercilessly fired at unarmed and peaceful demonstrators in
Khanyar, Chota Bazar, Hawal etc. They dragged out innocent people from their
homes and shot them dead on streets. Will not this blood of innocent
people weigh heavily on the conscience of India? Is it not negation of
the ethical principles of Gandhi Ji and Nehru Ji? In December 1992,
Indian security forces burnt innocent people alive in Sopor and brought a
devastation to the town amounting to three thousand million rupees.
It
took a toll of more than a hundred precious lives. An Indian newspaper
brought out an editorial under the caption ' Murder in uniform'. Which
picture of India's secularism and democracy is presented by these acts?
Today the soul of Gandhiji, Subhash Chander Bose and Bhagat Singh will be
shuddering at the oppression let loose on Kashmiris. We ask the
Indian leadership whether actions like these are the pillars of her democratic,
secular and non-aligned principles? If the upholders of secular and
humanistic principles in India expect Kashmiris to be faithful to India in the
face of these oppressions and tyrannies, these killings and this destruction ,
as we find in the case of Sopor, the proposition sounds difficult.
Pronouncements of the official circles before the human rights organisations
that security forces will be punished for excesses if any, carry no
weight. If justice is not done in open, if the oppressed are not shown
the true face of justice, meaning without convincing the oppressed, then it is
no justice but merely an eye wash. Indian authorities would better follow
the example of the incident of Tando Bhawal in Sindh, Pakistan where Pakistani
army officers were court martialled for killing innocent persons,
and given punishment. We shall appeal to the Indian masses to raise their
voice against oppression in Kashmir. Indian authorities should
demonstrate courage and find a solution to Kashmir problem through a tripartite
dialogue. Liberal and secular elements in Kashmir are prepared to
cooperate with democratic sections in India and Pakistan in finding a solution
to Kashmir problem in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
In conclusion, I would like to ;appeal to the Kashmiri people also
that we should
not sacrifice entire Kashmiri nation for the two countries.
We should keep international situation in sight and forge a political platform
and organisation in Kashmir. Those who have been forced to leave Kashmir
should be invited to return without any preconditions. Kidnapping and
killing of innocent people should be stopped so that we demonstrate our sense
of responsibility of building our future generations.
February 26, 1993
This article is published in my book "Kashmir: The unveiling of
truth", 1998