The Kashmir Dilemma: A Way Forward

Mohammed Ajeeb 

London: Tragic events in history can generally be linked to the desire to subjugate our fellow humans. This reality is even now being played out in different parts of our Contemporary world with conflicts abound. The quest for the global stability remains a distanced dream.

The scenarios of oppression are being practised by the powerful nations without hindrance or deterrent. Most commentators would agree there are two obvious modern examples of this phenomenon:

One being Palestine and the other being KASHMIR

Since the partition of India, this part of the world has suffered four inconclusive wars. Over seventy five years later, military and diplomatic tensions still characterise the region’s geopolitics.

The death of Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 2016 at the hands of Indian occupying forces sparked protests in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. The violence that followed accounted for  more than 1000 deaths with  over 15 000 being  injured. The occupying forces have ruthlessly and unashamedly pursued a policy of   dehumanisation involving brutal methods of torture, not least of which is the gang rape of women.

The Indian government’s decision in August 2019 to abrogate articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution added a new tone to the region’s politically desolate complexion thus removing the special status accorded to citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and giving Indian citizens the right to buy land and property within the state.

This was a deliberate attempt by the Indian government to deprive and displace the citizens of Kashmir. We now have the situation where 10 million Kashmiris are being deprived of basic medicines. Hospitals are out of bounds. They live under strict curfew in a communication vacuum.

In order to intensify the stranglehold, some 10 000 additional paramilitary troops have been deployed in Srinagar, bolstering the 800 000 members of the Indian security forces already stationed there.

For some time, Indian political life has been dominated by the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing nationalist paramilitary organisation regarded by many as the parent organisation of the ruling BJP. With the apparent blessing of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the RSS is inculcating in young Hindus notions of racial, religious and moral superiority over Muslims and  other faith minorities and anyone else who dies not fit their prism of superiority . Muslims, Christians, low-caste Hindus and members of other minorities who refuse to convert are being lynched or burned alive.

This policy of enforced submission has led some commentators to make comparisons with Nazism. This is not too fanciful of a suggestion given the historical links that RSS had with the Nazi movement in Germany.

But it’s unclear as to why the nominal standard bearers of global liberty are still standing on the touchline with pretention of being the neutral spectators. The UN seems an increasingly toothless puppet of the powers who bankroll its existence. And any hope of support from the United States, never a steadfast ally of Muslims, is extremely circumstantial.

So how can the region move forward?

Sadly, the Pakistani regime continues to suffer economical and political crisis and not able to make any sagacious and bold decisions hoping that the  international pressure will force India to lift the siege and end the occupation. But it’s a long-term strategy with no certain outcome. Those suffering in the region are not holding their breath in anticipation.

War is often mooted as a solution. A limited conventional war would find support in some domestic political quarters but seems likely to prolong the bloody stalemate. The drastic option of a full-blown nuclear engagement, which strangely finds support in some extremist circles, would be a collective insanity.

And diplomatic efforts, as noted above, have tended to consist of foot-shuffling equanimity. The view among Western leaders has long been that Kashmir is a bilateral dispute that should be settled through dialogue. No shift in this policy has been prompted by the dreadful events in Kashmir. The opportunities of lucrative trade with India further re-enforces  the argument for non- interventionist policy based on vested economic interest.

Hence, well-intentioned appeals to international goodwill are likely to fall on deaf ears. Thus without a full-fledged war or a miraculous restoration of bilateral communication, how can the situation be addressed?

The solution I’m proposing may well be seen as a controversial and desperate measure. But these are desperate times. This solution was first mooted and recommended by the late K.

H. Khurshid, a highly shrewd and honest political leader of Liberation League and second President of AJ&K, many years ago.

Initially, the Pakistani-administrated zone of the state of Jammu and Kashmir would be declared the Provisional Independent State of Jammu and Kashmir. To be legitimised, it would need to be recognized internationally. Pakistan should be the first to bite the bullet. If it took this brave step and recognised the fledgling state, other friendly nations would follow.

Recognition by the UN would then be sought. I believe that recognition would be granted if Pakistan and others moved first.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Indian-occupied Kashmir and of Jammu and Kashmir would be invited to join the Provisional government, which would enjoy political support from a Pakistani administration. A joint defence pact would be signed.

The combined Kashmiri leadership would demand an end to the siege of the occupied Kashmir , which would be followed by the withdrawal of all but a skeleton armed force required to maintain law and order. All political and civil freedoms, including freedom of movement of all Kashmiris from both sides of the Line of Control, would be restored.

This free, independent state would act as a buffer between India and Pakistan and a force for restoring peace to the region. It could be an economically self-sufficient state, its economic sustainability afforded by reinvigorated tourism and the exploitation of mineral resources.

Kashmir would become the Switzerland of Asia.

But this can only be achieved if the Pakistani and Indian administrations wholeheartedly trust Kashmiris to manage their own destiny. Both sides need to divert resources away from militarism and into improving health and welfare. After all, on both sides of the divide, half the population lives below the poverty line and in perpetual misery.

As Nelson Mandela famously said, ‘It always seems impossible until it is done.’ It’s time we got this done.

The writer is UK’s first Muslim Lord Mayor. He was awarded the CBE in 2001.