From Burhan to the General Assembly, now What?

If the Indian armed forces had not killed the Hizb commander, Burhan Wani, all would not have been well in Kashmir. Various factions among the “separatists” had already joined hands. Kashmiris saw their unification as a preparation for a post-Eid offensive against New Delhi on the question of construction in Kashmir Valley of townships for ex-servicemen and Pandits, actions that heightened Kashmiri existential anxieties. However, Burhan’s death, on July 8, 2016, the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr when people were still busy with festivities, sparked off such an unprecedented uprising that it has completely overshadowed the pre-Eid discourse about the Pandit Enclaves and the Sainik Colony. In the last 13 weeks, the government’s massive use of force to quell the uprising has resulted in the killing of about 100 persons, blinding of about 500, and injuring of about 15000.

This massive human suffering has brought international attention to the dispute causing consternation among the ruling elite in India. The International community has certainly seen its faith in India’s democratic credentials shaken.

Pakistan, that views itself as the traditional protector of Kashmiris, made several efforts to highlight the human rights violations and the ensuing humanitarian tragedy. Kashmiris, who have always wished the UN to play its role on Kashmir, expected Pakistan to adequately highlight Kashmir issue at its 71st General Assembly session.

However, when on September 21, 2016 the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly, the issue related to cross-border terrorism took an international centre stage following the September 18 Uri Attack that claimed 19 Indian Army soldiers. But for the Uri attack, India would have found it embarrassing to face the General Assembly session as a human rights violator whose forces blinded scores of children with shotgun pellets.

The Uri attack, which many believe was staged, afforded the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj an opportunity to cast her country as a victim rather than an aggressor before the General Assembly. Conveniently forgetting the terrorism unleashed by the State in Kashmir, she focused on the ‘terrorism of non-state actors’ and described it to be the biggest violation of human rights. Also, she emphatically proclaimed Kashmir to be an integral part of India, in total disregard to Kashmiri aspirations.

Therefore, the Uri operation, irrespective of who masterminded it, proved to be of advantage to India in that it offered them a chance to avoid facing Kashmir issue. Therefore, New Delhi feels triumphant. The Uri operation may be a setback to the self-determination movement in Kashmir on international front, yet the present anti-India uprising continues with full public support and involvement. At a psychological level, Kashmiris have succeeded in taking control of their space as the Government is visible only in the shape of men with guns in Khaki uniforms.

Pakistan, despite the criticism it faces on account of its alleged failure to decisively dismantle the terror machine, has this time around succeeded in discrediting Indian narrative on the issue of Kashmir.

All the three parties – Kashmiris, Pakistan and India – feel victorious in their own way. No one is ready to concede from their respective current positions. The obtaining stalemate favours only the war-mongering media houses, self-styled strategic affairs experts, and opportunists who thrive on the continuance of a dispute. This is where the problem lies.

It is high time for statesmanship to claim its role to pacify the situation and find a permanent solution. Pakistan owes it to humanity in general and to its own people in particular to dismantle the terror machine set up in 1980s by USA on Pakistan soil. As Pakistan is itself a victim of terror, Pakistan will benefit from twining Kashmir with terrorism as core issues given that both issues hurt it and its people.

In India, the BJP exhibited 56 inch chest of the macho man and engaged in anti-Pakistan bluff and bluster. This won them votes. But they could not harm Pakistan even when halfway through their term of office. India’s common man has lost faith in the efficacy of 56 inches. So the ruling BJP, in order to divert common man’s attention, now indulge in Indus Water rhetoric. But they should know that this rhetoric could prove counterproductive both at the regional and international level.

The pro-freedom leadership in Kashmir occupy a position of moral strength as of now. If they announce a truce at this juncture it would not be construed as surrender but an orderly retreat. Instead of proceeding further with the ongoing uprising, they should first ponder on how the Uri-type covert operations, masterminded by anti-Kashmiri actors, wreck the genuine self-determination movement in Kashmir. Multiple agents pursue their own mercenary and sectarian agendas. In fact “azadi” will always remain in danger of being devoured by monsters of sectarianism and Talibanism. These monsters will devour “azadi” just as sharks devoured the fish caught by Hemingway’s Old Man after putting in maximum possible effort to bring it ashore.

(1 October 2016 Kashmir Reader)