There are occasions when people get so carried away while attacking their opponents and detractors that they inadvertently end up revealing the darker side of the organisation, group or belief that they themselves support unconditionally. And this is exactly what happened when Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaz Umar Farooq hit out at Northern command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh for his comment that 2018 has been remarkable year for the security forces in Kashmir.
It all started when Lt Gen Singh, while addressing the media after inaugurating the Kalai Bridge constructed by Border Roads Organisation over Suran River in Poonch district said, The year 2018 has been a remarkable year for armed forces on the security front, and added that More than 250 militants were killed, 54 others arrested and four others have surrendered. Use of the phrase remarkable year upset Mirwaiz sahib and he very rightly expressed his angst while addressing Fridays congregation at Srinagars historic Jamia Masjid by condemning Lt Gen Singhs statement as being unfortunate and inhuman.Having voiced this crisp condemnation, there was no reason for Mirwaiz sahib to have gone on and on because by doing so he has unnecessarily mentioned certain things that shows those who are supporting and encouraging the armed struggle in very poor light.
The Hurriyat (M) chairman went on to ridicule the army for patting its back on killing young men and boys, some as young as 14, while some budding intellectuals and academics, and calling it remarkable. The 14 year old being mentioned by him is deceased militant Mudasir Ahmad Parrey who was killed in a gunfight with security forces in December last year. By making this reference, Mirwaiz sahib has inadvertently confirmed that militant groups are openly flouting international law by recruiting minors as militants and since the Hurriyat officially accepts legitimacy of the armed struggle it becomes a party to this wrongdoing. Thus, how can the joint resistance leadership (JRL) expect the world to support the self determination campaign when it has a constituent that not only advocates use of violence and but also violates international laws by recruiting child soldiers?
The Mirwaiz also said that, the armed force of a country that prides itself in the history of its freedom struggle… sells the killings of these armed youths as a great achievement to people of India.” He also mentioned that It is simply the intensity of their passion that drives these young boys, who are poorly trained and starved of ammunition to be able to give a real fight, in this greatly unequal battle to an armed force of a country. The Hurriyat (M) chairman may have said all this with the sole intention of mocking the army and to gain international sympathy for the militants. However, his admission about our freedom fighters being poorly trained and starved of ammunition, due to which they are not able to give a real fight raises several questions regarding the policy being followed by militant groups for training and arming young boys who join their ranks.
It is obvious that those who join militancy will have to face and fight the security forces. Thus, if militant commanders are using their cadres who arepoorly trained and starved of ammunition to fight the army, then they have a lot to answer for because using young boys who cannot give a real fight literally amounts pushing Kashmiri youth to certain death! Mirwaiz sahib has rightly observed that young Kashmiris join militancy due to the intensity of their passion and thats why it becomes the moral responsibility of the United Jihad Council (UJC) and other militant groups to ensure that these invaluable assets are well trained and armed so that they have a good chance of survival during gunfights with security forces. However, statistics prove that this is not the case as our freedom fighters are dying within a very short span of time after picking up the gun. Thus, by admitting that militants are poorly trained and starved of ammunition, the Hurriyat has only given a shot in the arm New Delhis assertion that young Kashmiris are being used as cannon fodder by the pro-Pakistan camp!
A humble suggestion to the JRL is that they should control their emotions and carefully measure their words while speaking on the issue of armed struggle. This is because the international community doesnt quite appreciate the idea of anyone using violence to achieve a political objective even if the same happens to be one that has the endorsement of the UN in the form of its resolutions. And when the whole world (including those sympathetic to the Kashmir cause like Pakistan and international associations like Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) maintains that there can only be a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, then it is amply clear that the idea of using the gun to achieve this is, (whether we like it or not), completely out of place!
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |