The Kashmir Conflict: a Kashmiri Perspective

The Kashmir Conflict: the wars of 1965 and 1971 respectively, it was agreed that the Kashmir issue constitutes a dispute that A Kashmiri Perspective needs to be resolved through bilateral negotiations. by MEHRAJ HAJNI Since then, developments within and outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir had tremendous impacts on the psyche of the Kashmiri Muslims and resulted in their complete alienation from the rest of Kashmir is the most thorny and intractable issue India. The installation of repressive regimes by the between India and Pakistan. After the eruption of Union Government in New Delhi through unpopu- violence in the early 1990s, the conflict assumed lar and undemocratic methods, erosion of autonomy alarming proportions. It worsened Indo-Pak rela- granted under article 370 of the Indian constitution, tions and brought the two countries to the brink of the systematic encouragement of corruption and a nuclear catastrophe. Precisely for this reason, the nepotism, non-development of the state, problems international community included Kashmir among of poverty and unemployment, impact of communal the major trouble spots of the world and advised violence both within and outside the state, oppor- The Kashmir conflict both India and Pakistan to exercise utmost restraint tunistic alliances and accords between the National and start negotiations towards its resolution. A short brought India and Pakistan Conference (NC) and Congress Party, and electoral historical analysis is essential, from a Kashmiri per- to the brink of a nuclear malpractices greatly influenced the young Kashmiri spective, to understand the emergence of the Kashmir Muslims. Outside India, developments in Afghani- catastrophe. problem in its various dimensions. stan, the Iranian revolution, the situation in Eastern Europe, and the break up of the Soviet Union also Origins of the Kashmir Conflict In the 1947 partition, contributed in influencing Kashmiri youths towards In 1947, before British India was partitioned, there looking for an alternative road. India laid claim to every were around 600 princely states. Lord Mountbat- Hindu majority area, on ten, the last Viceroy, advised the rulers of these states The Roots and Growth of Militancy to accede to either India or Pakistan. Regarding the similar grounds Pakistan Many youths in the late 1980s concluded that salva- criteria for deciding which of the two dominions a laid claim over the Muslim tion lay in secession from India, which could be state should join, Lord Mountbatten said, “Normally achieved only through an armed struggle. Meanwhile, majority state of Kashmir, geographical situation and communal interests and so Pakistan had been eagerly looking for an opportunity but such claim was always forth will be factors to be considered.” These princely to exercise its influence over Kashmir and was also states acceded to either of the two dominions on rejected by India. keenly waiting to avenge the humiliation inflicted these principles. Although the rulers of Junagarh, upon it by India during the 1971 war. The growing Hyderabad, and Jodhpur wished to accede to Paki- situation in Kashmir Valley suited Pakistan, which stan, they were rejected by India on the grounds that Developments within and started providing arms and ammunition to the angry they were contravening the partition plan because the outside Jammu and Kashmir young Kashmiri Muslims. As a result, an armed majority of the populations in these princely states movement was established which received massive resulted in complete alien- were Hindus. The problem over Kashmir arose as support in Muslim dominated areas of Jammu and “India laid claim to every Hindu majority area, on ation of Kashmiri Muslims Kashmir. Apart from common Kashmiris, “govern- similar grounds Pakistan laid claim over the Muslim from the rest of India. ment employees, the police forces, the academic majority state of Kashmir, but such claim was always intelligentsia and even some top bureaucrats sup- rejected by India.” Thus a dispute over the state of ported the separatist slogans raised by the militants.” Jammu and Kashmir occurred and both the parties The situation worsened to the extent that it became a resorted to different methods and even fought wars to question of re-establishing the Indian state’s writ over acquire this disputed state. Kashmir. The tribal invasion in 1947, the “accession of In order to eradicate this armed militancy in the Kashmir” to India, and the Indo-Pak war in the same state, the Indian security forces resorted to force. The year changed the entire map of Jammu and Kashmir security forces used draconian measures, including and divided it into two parts—Indian administered identification parades, house-to-house searches, cus- Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir. The todial killings, illegal detention, rape and molestation “accession” of the state to the Union of India signed of Kashmiri women, and related coercive methods. by the then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh did not mark The counter attacks by the militants were equally the end of dispute over Kashmir for two reasons. vicious, and as a result thousands of people were First, the accession was made subject to the condi- killed and numerous others physically and mentally tion of the will of people to be ascertained after the disabled. Property worth billions of rupees was restoration of normalcy in the state. Second, the issue destroyed, as a large number of houses and even total became internationalized, as it was referred to the localities were ravaged during encounters or exchange United Nations by the government of India. Besides, in both the Tashkent and Simla agreements following 12 of fire between the Indian security forces and the the past several years had brought large-scale trouble armed militants. and trauma to the people of the state, “healing touch” As a result, for the first time since 1947, the Kash- has been described as a systematic process to heal up miri separatist movement took recourse to a violent their wounds. The significant voter turnout in the upsurge with significant mass support. Kashmir 2002 elections was an indication of the fact that the had witnessed the politics of protest and separatism people were expecting that the formation of a new earlier, and at times even militant organizations were government in J&K would usher in a new era of formed, but they failed to mobilize mass support. peace and prosperity. In the 1990s, the situation was different; there was a Unfortunately, an assessment of the performance complete disruption of the administrative machinery of the Mufti-led coalition government would reveal and the state was brought under Presidential rule for that it failed to fulfill the people’s expectations. six years from 1990-1996. During this period there Mufti’s promises also proved to be Machiavellian in was a complete political vacuum as almost all the nature. The corruption and misuse of official posi- pro-Indian political parties became dormant or irrel- tions by the bureaucrats and politicians continued Pakistan started providing evant. The separatists floated their own organizations. unabatedly. The demolition drive launched against Elections were held in 1996 for the state legislative illegal construction on state land ultimately turned arms and ammunition to assembly, resulting in the National Conference (NC) into a campaign against poor people and not against the angry young Kashmiri led by Farooq Abdullah forming the government. the illegal construction of rich drones. The number Muslims. But the low voter turnout and the unending violence of unemployed persons in the state crossed over the in the state rendered the government completely two hundred thousand mark. The record of human impotent. Besides, the failure of the government to rights violations reached an all time high. Custodial To eradicate armed fulfill its election promises—including the restoration killings increased by three times as compared to the of autonomy to the state, ending human rights viola- era of Farooq’s government. The plight of Kashmiri militancy in Kashmir, Indian tions, relief to the victims of violence, safe return of migrants did not change and they could not return security forces resorted Kashmiri Hindus to their homes, and an end to the to their respective homes despite the tall claims of the to identification parades, unemployment problems—made it unpopular. Thus government that normalcy had been restored. The house-to-house searches, in the 1990s, the armed movement gained momen- council of ministers was expanded up to 45 percent tum, while good governance remained a far cry, with of the total strength of the state assembly. custodial killings, illegal human rights issues assuming significance. However, Mufti’s government cannot be ignored detention, and rape and in terms of its positive role in supporting the ongoing molestation of Kashmiri The Challenges of Governance in peace process between India and Pakistan. During Contemporary Kashmir Mufti’s tenure in office, the peace process gained women. Elections were again held in 2002 for the J&K state momentum and the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus legislative assembly. These elections are considered to service was opened for the passengers of Jammu and The 1990s marked the first be important for the following reasons: first, despite a Kashmir. After completion of its three years, the PDP time that a Kashmiri separat- boycott call by the separatists, more then 34 percent of eligible voters participated in the elections; second, handed over the chief minister post to its coalition ist movement mobilized the strongest regional party of J&K—the National partner, the Congress Party, in 2005. The immediate significant mass support. Conference—was voted out of power and a new challenges of the Congress-led coalition government coalition government led by the Peoples Democratic were to work for the rehabilitation of victims affected Party (PDP) and the Congress came to power under by the October 2005 earthquake, and carry forward Significant voter turnout in the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

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