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OUR INTIFADAH PERCEPTIONS
Muhammad Farooq Rehmani Americans called Kashmir a flashpoint i.e, the point at which anger, indignation, etc becomes uncontrollable——an impressive view shared by many in both East and West. For the time being this definition dazzled many In Pakistan and Kashmir with joy, and the news papers wrote editorials over the importance of Kashmir conflict. But Bill Clinton passed his two terms as the President of the USA in White House without breaking the ice over Kashmir .On the contrary, he visited India, praised Indians, and delivered sermons of peace to Pakistanis on their TV, without referring much to the fate, future and ordeal of Kashmiris, groaning under Indian guns.
The lesson is simple. We should never live on wishful
thinking, Nor rely upon reveries. The term flashpoint has a different
connotation in the eyes of the controllers of the world politics. The
international brokers have their own motives and designs. They are never
moved by our tearful eyes, nor do they subscribe to our views on UN
resolutions. Kashmir is described’ as a flashpoint not because of a decade
old uprising in Srinagar and Jammu, but because Pakistan’s nuclear identity
is looked as a potent threat to the strategic and economic interests of US
and her allies and expansionist designs of India in the region. Perhaps
without experimenting a nuke device, Pakistan otherwise would not have
gained this bit of western concern over Kashmir. The great sacrifices of
Kashmiri people have their own definite, meaning, message and force for the
world.
Nevertheless, are the world powers eager to work for a just
and durable solution of Kashmir question or do they try to linger it on for
yet another fifty years? By analyzing different factors and political
events, one can infer that the
giant
political
brokers believe in statuesque and sanctity of the disputed LOC in J&K. This
is evident from the Camp David and other pacts on the middle east question.
The same was manipulated in the former state of Yugoslavia——where after the
massacre of the Muslim inhabitants of Bosnia—Herzegovina and Kosovo, a so
called autonomy was granted to them at the mercy of NATO powers and Serb
killers.
This is being followed by India in Kashmir. A systematic
brutal ethnic cleansing by the Indian troops and the rented militants is
taking place in each and every corner of Kashmir for the last
12
Years.
Even
during the so called cease—fire by India ,there was no let up in civilian
killings, custodial deaths, extra—judicial killings, torching of homes and
humiliation of women by occupation forces. Some governments have described
Kashmir as a difficult question, which they suggest should be kept pending
till easier matters are settled by India and Pakistan. Even the US
officials, who follow the situation of South Asia vis-a-vis Kashmir,
hesitate to predict any significant US role in unraveling the Kashmir knot.
During
the last decade of Kashmir, uprising, a good number of Kashmir specialists
in Europe, US and the South Asia made hectic academic and diplomatic
activities to find out a road map for resolving the Kashmir imbroglio. Such
people tried to prevail on India and Pakistan, and also approached the
Kashmiri leaders of the divided region, but failed to bring together
Kashmiri groups or academicians to discuss the issue and its possible
solutions. Even there where specialists, who tried to know any disgusting
reasons(if there)inherent in the mind-set of the people, who have been
dealing with the problem
since forties of the last century. One of this type of discourses took place
in Washington 1n1999,where participants agreed that any solution of Kashmir
was years away and some people may die first, not violently, But of old age,
before hatred and distrust of partition year can be
forgotten, concluded Summit Ganguly of Hunter college New York. Another
speaker Schaffer, once the top US diplomat for South Asia said, “talk on
Al-Quads, the Kashmir question might best be perched on a back burner for
the indefinite future while confidence grows”. “Kashmir may be the last of
the issues to be settled, said Stephan Cohen of Brookings. It may be the
wailing wall, he said, every bit as intractable an issue as the Al-Quds
edifice, also known as the western wall. (quotes Dawn/International Tribune
5/5/1999)
In view of these views, we fear the dangerous zone of the
third world can become more risky by every passing day, as the situation is
vulnerable, and can ill-afford to linger on for future.
The people of Kashmir, especially the freedom fighters have
altogether different perceptions with regard to their struggle for freedom.
There are multiple reasons, responsible for tough stand in the mind-set of
Kashmiri youth. They argue if the Indian army is adamant to eliminate
Kashmiris young men anywhere and anytime, then why not to taste the death
like a valiant patriot while fighting for a national cause. Hence the
familiar slogan/term of a Muslim society-Jehad attracts Kashmiris,
particularly when they see everywhere innumerable graves and graveyards of
their beloved ones spread.
Kashmiri
patriots believe if the wishes of Kashmiris are not respected, and
the solution is left at the mercy of circumstances, negative and reactionary
forces and their agents will try to wipe out the people of Kashmir,
destabilizing South Asia militarily, economically and politically and
evoking war phenomenon further. Because the free use of sophisticated
weapons everywhere and advancement of arms technology is ominous for the
world peace, urging on all warring nations and factions to resolve their
conflicts or face destruction.
Kashmiris never liked bloodshed, nor they desire it today. But
the armed struggle to urge upon their established national political
objectives, has been thrusted on them by India and her militarism in
Kashmir. The present gene rations are of the view that had intifada or the
armed struggle been launched in post-partition years or even in sixties,
Indian militarism would have been contained and the humanity had not
suffered so much. Moreover UN would have made definite progress towards the
resolution of Kashmir problem long before, and no power had declared Kashmir
resolutions as obsolete.
Again the political analysts and historians opine if the
liberation struggle is abandoned without any concrete breakthrough, it will
add to sad pacts and unlucky episodes of our history. The indifferent would
be under no obligation to intervene in the conflict, thus encouraging
sanguinary Indian rule in Kashmir. The ill-fated Kashmiris would be
slaughtered like sheep and goats as before or massacred like Spanish Muslims
by cupid crusaders’ in 15th century. Who cared later for those enlightened
and progressive Spanish Muslims ,who had made marvelous contributions to
Europe in the realm of science, medicine, art, architecture, culture and
civilization?
Kashmiris
generations have learnt from their past. Our sons are of a different mettle,
and we can not surrender before our killers, who want to see us fall into
the oblivion. Let clarion call be heard by every one.
Freedom fighters of Kashmir, supporters of the
movement, and the political thinkers who work to reshape this hazardous
struggle of life and death for a bright and better future have before them
the testing instances of the histories of South Asia, Algeria, Palestine,
Vietnam, Afghan, Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania etc. A callous
disregard for humanity and the sanctity of women by occupation troops has
increasingly threatened peace and security and progress of mankind in the
20/21centuries.
All different historical episodes join together to form a breeding ground
for unrest and radicalism among the Muslims the world over. They are to be
understood and not to be held in contempt or disdain. The logic behind
Kashmir V/S India is very simple. Kashmir wants freedom/right of
self-determination as promised under Independence Act, UN SO resolutions,
India-Pakistan pledges and principles of humanity and freedom. In return
India has followed a terrific policy of systematic/selective cleansing of
Muslims over years in the J&K, resulting in collapsing of the social fabric
in the Kashmiri homes and hearths. Muslim inhabitants and even minorities
living under the state
terrorism
have been
facing worst insult and humiliation to their women for long. The dense
cities, hamlets and thin villages equally receive dead bodies of their near
and dear ones on daily basis, thus changing our fertile soil——plains,
forests and meadows into the graveyards of martyrs.
Kashmir
can never forget her valiant Sons and daughters who sacrificed their today
for our tomorrow. These glorious sacrifices will always reverberate in our
life to regenerate the soul of nation. we caution every body that whatever
the priorities of governments or international bodies, Kashmiris will risk
everything to regain their freedom and social and cultural order, ensure its
success and permanent glory. How lucidly an English poet sings,
If winter
comes, can spring be far behind.
In their struggle for rights and freedom, Kashmiris
have been and are being misquoted and misrepresented by vested interests
time and again, but they have themselves also misinterpreted or miss
analyzed historical situations and thus have got entangled by the forces of
reaction and chaunism. We are again on the cross roads Let us remain
vigilant, lest the awaiting fruits of our great sacrifices in the form of
freedom, free expression and democracy are robbed by opportunists and
exploiting elements. Here some wise and Sincere workers should stand up and
prevent people from making an error of judgment. Nevertheless, the
unprecedented sacrifices of our people for political freedom, we face still
a mess and monotony of sermons, and the world watching closely our aims and
actions has yet to search a moral sense and rationale in our political
activities.
We must
understand a stark reality that every country small or big, developed or
developing has his own political, economic and Strategic interest Vis-a-vis
other countries or peoples. We as
freedom
fighting people of Kashmir should focus on future, create, nourish and
protect our ideas and interests. Our Organizations and leaders should
address the genuine and recognized political cause for which so much human
blood continues to spilt in the paradise on earth. Let no gossip be sold to
the people in mosques or elsewhere, if we follow the last revealed
Book-Holy Qur’an. This would honestly and truly be representing the people
and upholding the mission of martyrs ,who fought without seeking any kind of
worldly reward.
By addressing the pulse of the people, and also the situation we can
overcome hazards of our tedious journey, and thus our nation will sing in
chorus the victory song of freedom. Famous English poet Mathew Arnold has a
verse of praise for great men and great people: —
He took the suffering human race,
He read each wound ,each weakness clear,
struck his finger on the place
And said thou ailest here and here.
I believe
the sacred blood of Kashmiris, shed over years for the noble cause of
freedom, and Islam will at long last win the day, and the people of Jammu
and Kashmir will receive applause from the world and heavens for their long
perseverance and determination. #End#27/06/01 |
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