The State of Jammu & Kashmir, once regarded as a piece of paradise on earth has turned into hell & have become a battle ground of precious lives. After India and Pakistan were separated, Pakistan tried to takeover Kashmir. That time Maharaja d had no army to resist Pakistani invasion, So he sought help from India with a caveat that after war India will call back its army and leave it to people to decide their future by means of free and fair plebiscite. After India broke the accord Kashmir turned into a territorial conflict between China, India and Pakistan. The primary argument for the continuing debate over its ownership is that India has failed to conduct the promised plebiscite. But that is not the whole truth and as a matter of fact, neither side has adhered to their commitments and are in violation of United Nation’s resolution of 13th August, 1948.
While India chose not to hold the plebiscite, Pakistan failed to withdraw its troops from the region as was required by the resolution.
Consequently, Kashmir became a battle ground where death and destruction is a norm for last 7 decades. Thousands of civilians have lost their precious lives during the conflict. Even the state resorts to mass violation of Human Rights by carrying out extrajudicial executions, arbitrary disappearances and forced labour during detentions. Moreover, the intransigence has increased since the muscular policy adapted by BJP led Govt of India and the dialogue seems a distant dream.
Those familiar with Kashmir’s history would be aware that violence in Jammu and Kashmir erupted in late 1980s and the trigger was direct rule from Delhi. Sometimes, the demand is for Azadi and at times it is for Greater Autonomy etc and in nutshell Kashmiris have shown their flexibility for the resolution of the dispute unlike New Delhi and Islamabad who remain entrenched in their respective positions thus blocking any possibility of resolution.
I would say current movement is not so much about Azadi for Kashmir as it is about Azadi from these rigid positions adopted by the two countries claiming to be the well wishers of Kashmiris.
In an attempt to crush a rising movement in the region seeking liberation from the status quo two countries seem to be strange bed fellows.
Mushtaq Bhat
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