I have seen a Kashmir
Which bathing with blood
I have seen a Kashmir which can’t hear sound of peace but, hear
creepy sounds
I have seen a destroyed paradise, Kashmiris go to sleep but, they do
not wake up
I have seen a Kashmir, children are born but, after some time would
bury in the soil of heaven
(Shariq Lone)
My English literature teacher, a Kashmiri by lineage, was reading us ‘The Merchant of Venice’ during the class. He was telling us how the Shakespearian play was set in Venice and how the canals added to the beauty of the ‘city of love’ when his tone suddenly changed and he started talking about Kashmir. For a second, we students were stunned and he seemed lost - he was talking of the beautiful and bountiful Kashmir valley. And when some student moaned ‘The Merchant of Kashmir’, Mr Saleem Kashmiri returned to the class from his reverie. Thereon, he was known by us backbenchers as the ‘The Merchant of Kashmir’ and this misnomer did intensify my inquisitiveness when couple of decades later I started researching on South Asia with focus on the existent issue of Kashmir.
This year on 5th August 2021, it will be two years of the abolition of special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by the Hindutva-inspired Modi regime and wretched 74 years of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), full of pain and anguish. Since last 2 years (730 days; to be more specific) IIOJK is virtually under lockdown; plebiscite seems more elusive than ever (under the current circumstances); and the tale of never-ending atrocities by Indian forces continue unabated without any intervention from any country and human rights organization. It is a well acknowledged fact that Human rights take a backseat in IIOJK, with over half a million soldiers deployed there – an equivalent to one soldier for nearly 25 Kashmiris – who are involved in plethora of unlawful killings, disappearances, rape and torture. Despite the fact that United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has chosen to remain quiet on Kashmir since many years, the human rights of Kashmiris remain undisputed and the hashtag #KashmirBleeds speaks volumes for the international community to stop turning a blind eye to India’s violation of those rights. A BBC report in 2011 stated that over 6000 unmarked graves were discovered in IIOJK and then there were reports by international media outlets including The Guardian in 2012 which claimed discovery of mass graves. It spoke of 2,700 unmarked single or mass graves spread across 55 villages of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts of IIOJK. At this news, there was some commotion in international media and human rights organizations – a little effort to show support for the Kashmiris – which, as the custom is, eventually ended in utter silence. These unceremonious burial sites provoked relatives of the missing to demand an investigation but the ‘much-lauded parliamentary democracy in India’ turned deaf. Old habits die hard – especially those which are seven decades old; discovery of unmarked and mass graves was a big enough folly – a blunder – and possibly the Indian Army has become expert at hiding such from the world. Since the abrogation of article 370 and 35a of Indian constitution by the BJP-led government and subsequent introduction of laws, have given the leverage which the Hindu fascists desired since long – to change the demographic profile of J&K, in favour of Hindu minority, and pave the way for any future plebiscite and elections to legitimize its actions and ‘inactions’. To quell dissident voices, torture remains an institutionalized policy of the Indian armed forces and police. India is specifically employing a strategy of psychological warfare – to extract its ‘pound of flesh’ – which includes collective punishments, curfew, home demolitions (effectually paving way for erecting Hindu settlements), night raids coupled with electricity cuts for days.
Asif Iqbal is currently attached with School of Strategic Studies. He is a freelance researcher and geopolitical analyst with focus on South Asia. Tweets: @asifash
shooting indiscriminately in crowd of protestors (using the so-called pellet guns with the specific aim to blind them), disappearances, torture, arbitrary imprisonment (with thousands languishing in jails; credits to Public Safety Act), exile, censorship and extra-judicial killings (‘only’ 37 killed last month).
The emphasis is to breakdown the will and frankly speaking that is what the people in IIOJK have – an unbreakable and unfathomable WILL – to be FREE.
The impunity with which Indians are repressing the Kashmiris, has compelled many sane voices in international media to speak out from time to time against the Indian aggression and inhumane treatment, with seldom coherence. Robert Fisk believed that India was getting assistance from Israel to handle dissidence in IIOJK and Jerusalem Post on 14 September 2008 validated the same by reporting that “India seeks IDF help in Kashmir Conflict”. CJ Werleman, an independent journalist, lately claimed that “relationship between Israel and India as relationship of mutual convenience” and “We are moving towards a human rights apocalypse in Kashmir.” Howsoever, India under PM Modi – like Shylock – remains deaf and mute to reasoning and on its human rights excesses on Kashmir. Despite efforts by Government of Pakistan, India does not want to talk on Kashmir and the mantra of ‘atoot ang’ looms large. The unholy alliance of US and India, in form of the Quad, for a renewed challenge to the Chinese dragon, seems to have added another knot in the solution of Kashmir, which for coming times is only going to add to the woes and anguish of Kashmiris.
Under the existing circumstances, Pakistan needs to: 1) bolster its diplomatic efforts in a streamlined manner and its ambassadors the world over be given specific targets to highlight the plight of Kashmiris and countering the Indian lobby in the US and Europe, especially when India would be presiding over UNSC. A leaf from the Gotabaya Doctrine cum strategy may assist in activating the diplomatic staff the world over. 2) India has its plate full with an offset in Afghanistan; losing grounds to the Chinese dragon in Ladakh and parts of Arunachal Pardesh; border disputes with Nepal over the Kalapani territory and Myanmar (other than China and Pakistan); unrest in Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland; and undue exposé in Pegasus scandal. These are some of the faultiness which can be exploited in exposing Indian repressive and invasive policies on the international fora. 3) An unbiased appraisal of the performance of ‘ineffective’ and ‘ceremonial’ Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir. Akin to the targets given to ambassadors, performance targets be given to them. 4) Simple lip service and words of solace in newspapers and customary media reports wouldn’t make any difference and is inept to challenge the powerful Indian narrative. Pakistani journalists, media (including journalists and media unions and forums having international associations) and social media vigilantism need to be more vocal and versatile to challenge the Indian narrative at domestic and global level. Film is a powerful medium to raise awareness at international level, and needs to be pursued. 5) Events like Kashmir Premier League (KPL) which irked India, actually add panache to the national narrative – Indian outrage has attracted more international attention than the actual event would have. Rather than being capricious, similar events need to be planned in depth. 6) Garner enough international support through aggressive diplomatic efforts and media awareness where India itself asks Pakistan to talk on Kashmir.
Mr Saleem Kashmiri is the Merchant of Kashmir; if not languishing to return to homeland of his forefathers, then withering in the passionate hope for a better future of his Kashmiri brethren. And Modi like Shylock – albeit RSS – is devising ways to devour his pound of flesh and seeking to quench his never-ending thirst.
Asif Iqbal is currently attached with School of Strategic Studies. He is a freelance researcher and geopolitical analyst with focus on South Asia. Tweets: @asifash