Jammu & Kashmir: Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Kashmiris?

I promised myself that my first post would be about Kashmir if I ever convinced myself into writing again. It is an issue really close to my heart since the struggle for independence from Indian occupation is as old as me now. I happened to share my date of birth with the Kashmir Solidarity day and ever since I was a kid, I remember how human chains were formed across the country in solidarity with the Kashmir cause. Or at least that’s what PTV showed as major news back then. What hurts me is the fact that it is 3 decades and we’ve been making human chains only until August 05, 2020 when Indian Parliament revoked article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution that stripped the state of Jammu and Ladakh of the significant autonomy it had on the basis of the succession agreement that happened in 1947. Only then we realized how important of an issue it was for us.

The heavenly states of Jammu Kashmir have an economy completely shut since August of 2019. This autonomy guaranteed in Article 370 of the constitution, the path for the Kashmiri people go get independence after the succession of states in Indian Subcontinent completed, was snatched. A population that was depending on trade, tourism and it’s small IT industry was land locked and all communication channels were terminated snatching away livelihood of 12 million Kashmiris. Most of us cannot imagine the trauma this could cause since we’ve not been through any such ordeal. The closes we ever got was on sensitive days like the 10th of Muharram when networks temporarily suspend and major roads are closed on the name of security. We all know how that one day feels. Curfue on the other hand, is something my parents might have experienced in War times but those around my age group dont know what it really means. For an year, full and partial curfews are a norm in Kashmir.

When I’m writing this, we have spent two Eid-ul-Azha, Ashura and one Eid-ul-Fitr enjoying our religious freedom to the extreme despite being Corona struck in the last three events. There was a huge hue and cry on the temporary suspension of activities in the mosques during lockdown; imagine that lockdown was imposed using brutal force and there was no end? Kashmiris cannot group for religious activities and every time they end up being successful, they’re treated with sheer force, tear gas and pellet guns. The latest of such events happened on the day of Ashura in 2020.

Less was done in terms of real actions throughout the early 2000s with only a few attempts from then Marshal Law Administrator, Chief Executive, President and I don’t know what else General Pervez Musharraf engaging the Indian leadership towards a workable solution. His excellency Asif Ali Zardari and his political party Pakistan Peoples Party comes into power and it seemed as if the Kashmir issue took a back seat. The only time they mentioned Kashmir issue was probably twice in the United Nations General Assembly sessions through their term. The expenses on these trips is a story in itself of how insanely and cruelly taxpayer money was spent on the luxury of the excellency. The successor Oligarch Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef  probably put this issue in the trunk despite the fact that he had good relations with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi considering the later took a trip to Lahore on the wedding of someone in Nawaz’s family on his way back from Afghanistan. Probably the relationship of economy weighted better than relationship of emotions or least solidarity.

The current government has made anyone who is concerned over the issue slightly comfortable and proud at the same time. Not just they made direct mentions of Indian brutality from the start of their term, they also started lobbying on this issue. To my point of view and considering how the greater picture of the global systems work, this was long overdue. Before efforts were made by the current government, it only appeared as if Pakistan was in the Kashmir corner with China sitting at a distance discreetly helping the issue but doing nothing significant. And then we had statements pouring in from Turkey and Iran. The constant mention of this issue got it recognition from the American President Donald Trump though I was never convinced with his offer to mediate the issue his British brethren created in the first place in 1947-8.

The display of extreme indifference to the issue from the Muslim world is extremely alarming too. A consumer market of 1.2 billion Indians is ranking higher in priority for most of the Arab Muslim World than a few million Muslim population. It also makes me wonder when was the last time they came in together? Perhaps in forming the 47 state alliance under the patronage of Donald J. Trump in what appeared as a custodianship of the Custodians of Kaaba. Palestine and Kashmir are two issues long pending in the Muslim world and with UAE aligning its foreign relationships with Israel, it is hard to imagine any major voice of concern over any of these issues. I would like to commend the local leadership for another blunt move that none ever did in the history of Pakistan; call out Saudi Arabia on its silence over the Kashmir Issue. The Arab dominating Organisation for Islamic Cooperation has failed to convene a single summit exclusively on Kashmir. India is so important to them that UAE invited Sushma Swaraj as a Guest Attendee in the event that happened in UAE. Pakistan boycotted the event but that didn’t deter UAE from paving its way with India through the OIC observation.

The Global Politics is taking a paradigm shift as we speak. Friends from a decade ago are on strange terms with each other and foes of the past are talking friendships now. Turkey, Iran, Malaysia and Qatar are moving in a new era of joint cooperation and it is time Pakistan gracefully switches boats. Not attending the Kuala Lumpur Summit was a huge mistake in itself but it is never too late. Pakistan government needs to advance on its lobbying effort globally and gain as much support as it can on an issue that is humanitarian above everything else. I’m already excited to see China all pumped up in Ladakh region against the Line of Actual Control between China and India. If it all comes down to a mix of show of power and diplomacy, let’s do it. Events like Pulwama Attack, the alleged Balakot Strike and the following skirmish between Pakistan and Indian Air Force in February 2019 has exposed the Indian game enough to the international observers. We just got to keep making efforts in getting as much support from like minded countries and human rights group globally as possible.

I am hopeful that one day, really soon, we’ll have a Kashmir that is independent. My reason isn’t just Imran Khan or the current government. What has happened most recently seems to be a tipping point for all stakeholders involved. The killing of freedom fighters like Burhan Wani and Riyaz Naikoo made it evident that this 30 years old struggle isn’t settling down for anything less then a FREE Kashmir. If only thing these killings did in my opinion is rejuvenate the Independence Movement. Narendra Modi thought he could easily silence this struggle through revoking the special status of the state and sending hundreds of thousands of Army men; locking down all the Kashmiri leadership both pro and against the Government in Delhi. He made the Kashmiri leadership realise how Quaid-e-Azam was right in fighting for a separate Muslim state. At least, they cannot justify Delhi to Kashmiris anymore without a blow from the Kashmiri people.